Vending Machine Concession Services

Sussex County, New Jersey is soliciting proposals for vending machine concession services through a vendor-driven competitive contracting process. The County seeks qualified vendors to provide customized vending solutions across seven County locations: Division of Social Services, Prosecutor's Office, Fleet/Public Health Nursing, Administrative Building, Judicial Center, Sheriff's Office, and Historic Courthouse. Respondents must propose appropriate vending machine types (drink, snack, or combo machines), product offerings across three categories (beverages, snacks, and fresh/refrigerated items), and service models tailored to each facility's specific needs and workforce demographics. Machines must accept multiple payment methods including bills, coins, and electronic payments (debit/credit and mobile payments), maintain modern and energy-efficient standards, and display vendor contact information for customer service. The County incurs no direct costs for vending services, with the awarded vendor solely responsible for all furnishing, installation, maintenance, stocking, repairs, and removal expenses, with compensation derived exclusively from product sales. Proposals will be evaluated on a weighted basis: Management experience and qualifications (40%), Technical capabilities including permits, licenses, repair procedures, response times, and machine inventory (40%), and Financial/Value considerations including pricing methodology (20%). The County reserves the right to award to one or multiple vendors. Key deadlines include an April 15, 2026 Request for Information response deadline, an April 22, 2026 questions deadline at 3:00 p.m., an April 29, 2026 proposal due date, and an anticipated May 12, 2026 award date at 11:00 a.m. All proposals must be submitted through the Sussex County Bonfire portal (sussex.bonfirehub.com) or in sealed envelopes to the Office of Central Purchasing at 1 Spring Street, Newton, New Jersey 07860, with award determinations made within sixty days of bid receipt.

The procurement documents do not identify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting respondent eligibility; however, all respondents must comply with New Jersey Labor and Employment Laws, equal employment opportunity provisions, and the State's Pay-to-Play law requiring annual disclosure of political contributions exceeding $50,000. Respondents must carry comprehensive insurance at their own expense, including Workers' Compensation with $1,000,000 employers liability coverage, General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, and Professional Liability of $2,000,000, with the County named as additional insured. Required submission documents include a W-9 Form, New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, pricing proposals with proposed price ranges for each product category, Certificate of Insurance, and compliance certifications addressing affirmative action regulations, prohibited Russia and Belarus activities, Iran investment activities, and Americans with Disabilities Act conformance. The contract period is twelve consecutive months from the award date, with the County reserving the right to renew for four additional one-year periods and to terminate contracts for convenience with 60 calendar days' notice. No incumbent vendors or specific budget values are listed in the procurement documentation; compensation is based solely on product sales with no guaranteed volume, usage, or minimum number of machines, and the County retains sole discretion over machine placement and may remove, relocate, or modify machines at any time.