Warewashing

West Hartford Public Schools' Nutrition Services Department issued a Request for Proposal on April 24, 2026, seeking comprehensive warewashing services for the 2026-2027 school year across 16 school locations. The solicitation closes on June 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM EDT, with the contract period running from July 1, 2026, through August 15, 2027. The procurement encompasses equipment maintenance and repair services, chemical supply delivery, and related sanitation support for dishwashing machines throughout the district. Vendors must provide nine primary chemical categories including liquid sanitizer (6% bleach), all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, pot and pan cleaner, metalsafe automatic dishwasher detergent, no-spot/drying agents, de-limer, bleach test strips, and liquid dish soap in quantities sufficient to meet West Hartford/Bloomfield Health Department and district sanitation standards. The proposal must include detailed pricing (numerical format only), brand names, package sizes, item numbers, cost per case, and approximate daily use costs, along with specifications for equipment service inspection frequency (yearly, quarterly, monthly, or other), inspection fees, repair charges for parts and labor, travel charges, and emergency service turnaround times. Required qualifications include provision of Material Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals, training guidelines for proper chemical use, service reports documenting inspections and repairs, references from other school systems served, and certification that products are biodegradable and carry Green Seal, EcoLogo, or EPA Design for the Environment labels where available. All deliveries must be completed by 1:00 PM to designated school sites, with late deliveries subject to rejection, and vendors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including $1,000,000 commercial general liability, $1,000,000 automobile liability, and statutory workers' compensation limits.

The procurement is open to all qualified vendors with no specific set-aside designations mentioned in the solicitation documents. Vendors must comply with the William F. Goodling Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998 domestic preference requirements and provide certifications regarding equal opportunity status, debarment status, and non-collusive bidding practices. Bid prices must remain firm for the entire contract duration, though vendors are encouraged to clearly indicate cash discounts for prompt monthly payments made by the 15th of the following month. The West Hartford Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids and award the contract in the manner best serving the district's interests, with contract termination available to either party with 60 days' written notice and potential renewal upon mutual agreement. The estimated total contract value has not been publicly disclosed in the solicitation documents. Interested vendors should direct all questions regarding bidding, pricing, and product inquiries to Lisa Farrah at West Hartford Nutrition Services, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107, by telephone at (860) 561-1679 or by email at lisa_farrah@whps.org, with no site visits or bidders' conferences scheduled.