Food Service Paper Goods and Disposable Products

Meriden Public Schools is seeking qualified vendors to supply and distribute food service paper goods and disposable products for the 2026–2027 school year under solicitation RFP027-04, with an anticipated contract value of approximately $210,000. The contract period begins September 1, 2026, and ends June 30, 2027, with an option to extend for up to one additional year, not exceeding five years total. Vendors must deliver products to seven designated school locations across Meriden, Connecticut, on an every-other-week schedule, while also accommodating emergency orders on short notice. All items must comply with federal, state, and local sanitation standards during receipt, storage, handling, transportation, and delivery, and vendors are required to submit delivery tickets and credit memos in duplicate, signed by school cafeteria staff, with invoices clearly listing the school name and pricing consistent with the submitted proposal. Payment terms stipulate settlement within 30 days of invoice date, administered by the Meriden Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Program, and monthly statements must be sent to district offices by the fifth working day of the following month. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the City eProcurement Portal by 11:00 a.m. EST on July 16, 2026, and include a completed Technical Proposal Workbook, Cost Proposal Workbook in Excel, and mandatory certifications: a notarized Non-Collusive Bid Statement, an electronically signed Certification Regarding Debarment and Suspension verifying non-exclusion from SAM, and an electronically signed Certification Regarding Lobbying complying with the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment. Awards will be made to the most responsive and responsible bidder, with evaluation weighted 45% to cost proposal (evaluated on pricing, product quality, nutritional information, and adherence to specifications), 25% to service delivery approach (including electronic ordering capabilities, substitution policies, and prompt payment discounts), and 15% to qualifications and K-12 experience. Vendors must maintain Connecticut state licenses, carry general liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance, and retain all contract records—invoices, rebates, and supporting documentation—for at least three years after final payment. Compliance with federal regulations including 2 CFR 200 (federal funding accounting standards), 2 CFR 200.216 (prohibition on covered telecommunications equipment), 2 CFR 200.3