Taunton PS Paper Products

Taunton Public Schools is issuing an Invitation for Bid to procure cafeteria paper products and supplies for the Food Services Department serving 8,241 students with approximately 5,740 daily lunches and 3,230 daily breakfasts across multiple school locations. The procurement encompasses a comprehensive range of food service paper products including portion cups and lids, foam cups, hot drink containers, plates, trays, cutlery, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, napkins, bags, cleaning supplies, gloves, aprons, and catering items, with all products to be delivered weekly between 5:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. The contract term commences on July 1, 2026, and runs through June 30, 2027, with optional renewal for two consecutive one-year periods contingent on written notification by May 15, 2027. Sealed bids must be received by 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Office of the Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations, 215 Harris Street, Taunton, MA 02780, with public opening and reading by the Finance and Law Subcommittee. Award decisions will be made within 30 days of bid opening. Evaluation criteria include bidder capability, character, integrity, reputation, experience, and quality of past performance on similar contracts within the past two years, with preference for sourcing from New England Area growers and packers. Bid prices must be quoted on a unit basis with all associated costs and delivery included, remain firm for 90 calendar days following bid opening, and exclude sales tax, with a required bid deposit of $100.00.

The procurement includes Buy American provisions requiring certification that food products are of domestic origin or substantially produced in the United States with over 51% of final processed food from U.S. sources. All contractors must comply with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 38R, requiring CORI certification, and maintain comprehensive liability insurance including Workers' Compensation at statutory rates, General Liability of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability of $500,000 per occurrence. The school district reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to award to other than the low bidder. The previous contract was awarded to Conlon Paper Products, whose pricing is available as reference documentation for prospective bidders. Historical ordering data indicates weekly usage of approximately 5 to 10 cases per week across all school locations. No specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or women/minority-owned businesses are mentioned in the procurement documents, and no explicit budget range or award value is disclosed.