Direct Commodity - Shelf Stable Cheese

The City of New Haven and Board of Education Food Service are soliciting proposals under solicitation 2027-RFP-403 for the procurement of commercial and commodity shelf stable cheese for the 2026 summer year and the 2026-2027 school year. The products will support school lunch programs, community centers, and emergency food distribution, serving approximately 17,500 to 20,000 meals per day over roughly 224 service days. The scope includes the supply of 20,000 portions each of vintage, ranch, jalapeno, and cheddar cheese sticks or planks. All products must be made from pasteurized milk, be free from artificial preservatives, and maintain a minimum shelf life of 12 months from the date of delivery. Packaging must be food-grade, FDA compliant, tamper-evident, and individually wrapped and sealed. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the City of New Haven eProcurement Portal by October 27, 2026, and must be divided into separate technical and price proposals. Award decisions will be based on a weighted scoring system considering firm fixed pricing and the ability to partner with minority and women-owned business enterprises. Selected vendors must be capable of fulfilling orders within 10 business days and delivering to multiple municipal locations within New Haven between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday, with all shipping fees prepaid. The contractor is required to maintain general and product liability insurance with a minimum AM Best rating of A- and comply with federal and state equal employment opportunity regulations. Invoices are to be submitted through the designated e-invoice portal, with payments issued on Fridays.