Vending Services

Wake County, North Carolina is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP #26-031) to procure comprehensive vending machine services for beverage and snack distribution across multiple county-owned and leased facilities. The County seeks a qualified vendor to furnish, maintain, stock, and replenish electronic vending machines dispensing beverages (including soda, juice, water, coffee, and hot chocolate), fresh snacks, microwavable foods, and prepared sandwich items at 28 designated locations spanning Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, and surrounding areas, requiring placement of 67 beverage machines, 47 snack machines, and one sandwich machine. Key deliverables include providing current-model machines less than two years old with energy-efficient occupancy sensors and cashless payment capabilities, maintaining machines in excellent condition with service response within 24 hours and restocking within 48 hours of requests, employing trained personnel with background checks, and generating detailed monthly sales reports accessible via a vendor-provided web portal. The County requires vendors to comply with Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities and Dietary Guidelines for Americans, prominently display healthy vending options with superior placement and comparable or lower pricing, and maintain nutritional labeling compliance with Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. Proposers must submit detailed qualifications including company information, three client references with contact details, machine specifications with photographs, years of business operation, and staff availability hours. Vendors are required to conduct site inspections of all vending locations prior to proposal submission. Questions must be submitted by March 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with addenda issued by April 3, 2026, if necessary; proposals are due April 14, 2026, at 2:00 PM via the WC Bonfire Portal. The contract will be awarded in May 2026 with services commencing July 1, 2026, for an initial one-year term with five optional annual renewals.

The RFP contains no disclosed set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or small business designations, and no information regarding incumbent vendor status is specified in the procurement documents. However, Wake County has implemented a formal policy prohibiting contract awards to County employees or entities in which County employees hold direct or indirect financial interests. Pricing must remain competitive with comparable facilities in the Wake County/Raleigh area while allowing the vendor reasonable profit; the County will not collect revenue or commissions based on equipment or sales. Vendors must obtain comprehensive insurance coverage including Workers' Compensation Insurance with statutory limits and $500,000 employers liability, Commercial General Liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Professional Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per claim with $2,000,000 aggregate where applicable. All insurance carriers must maintain an AM Best rating of "A-/VII" or better. The RFP is governed by North Carolina law and subject to the state's Public Records Act; all submissions become public record after contract award unless clearly marked as confidential trade secrets meeting statutory requirements. No specific funding amount or budget range is disclosed in the available procurement documents, with pricing to be negotiated as part of the proposal evaluation process.