Vending Machine Services for DPS

The City of Cincinnati Department of Public Services (DPS) in Hamilton County, Ohio is issuing a Simplified Request for Proposals for vending machine services to provide food and beverage options to employees and visitors across seven DPS facilities, including Fleet Services, Director's Office, TROD (two locations), NOD, Parking Facilities, and Traffic Aids. The procurement requires qualified vendors to supply new vending machines equipped with credit card payment capabilities, tap and mobile payment options, and equipment capable of independent operation from the City's internet network. Specific equipment needs include multiple 20-ounce soda/juice machines, 12-ounce soda machines, combination soda/juice/sports drink machines, and snack/candy machines distributed across locations serving between 30 and 191 people per facility. The vendor must provide a diverse product mix including traditional snacks, healthy items, and dietary restriction options with both perishable and non-perishable selections, while obtaining and maintaining all necessary licenses and permits for selling perishable items. The vendor retains all proceeds from vending machine operations with no City funding expended on equipment purchase, rental, installation, or maintenance. Evaluation criteria consist of Experience (15 points), Approach (35 points), Cost (25 points), and Economic Inclusion certification status (25 points). The RFP was released on May 7, 2026, with a deadline for written questions on May 14, 2026, and proposal submissions due by 12:00 PM ET on May 21, 2026. The initial contract term is five years with an option to renew for up to five additional one-year terms at the City's discretion.

The City of Cincinnati encourages participation from vendors certified under its Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Emerging Local Business Enterprise (ELBE), and Supportive Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) programs, with Economic Inclusion certification status weighted significantly at 25 points in the evaluation criteria. Offerors must meet specific qualification requirements, including disclosure of any judgments, contract breaches, or substantial noncompliance issues within the past five to ten years, criminal convictions related to construction or contracting, current debarment status by any public body or federal agency, and any failures to execute contracts after selection. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's Bonfire portal and include an executed Affidavit of Accuracy and Signature Page with notarization and appropriate signatory authorization documentation specific to the offeror's legal entity type. The RFP does not specify an award value or budget range, as the vendor retains all revenues generated from vending machine operations. No incumbent vendors or specific infrastructure integration requirements are identified in the procurement documentation. The City reserves the right to reject any or all responses and may require oral presentations before contract negotiation.