East Orange Child and Adult Care Food Service Program

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, a designated sponsor in the State of New Jersey, is soliciting sealed bids from qualified food service management companies for the East Orange Child and Adult Care Food Service Program (CACFP) for Fiscal Year 2023. This comprehensive procurement seeks to secure a vendor for the provision of pre-packaged Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snack meals, meticulously adhering to USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program regulations (7 CFR Part 226) and specific bid specifications. The service scope encompasses daily delivery, Monday through Friday, starting Wednesday, July 5, 2023, for a projected 1231 children, aged 0-18. The contract duration is from July 5, 2023, to June 30, 2024, requiring the provision of meals to various program sites, including preschools and daycare centers across East Orange, Orange, Maplewood, Bloomfield, Newark, and Irvington, as detailed in Schedule A. Prospective contractors must demonstrate robust financial capability to manage a contract of this scale, possess adequate food preparation facilities with current state or local health certificates, and meet all applicable health, safety, and sanitation standards. Essential qualifications also include a proven track record of successful performance in similar food service contracts, demonstrating extensive experience in meal preparation, delivery logistics, sanitation protocols, and packaging standards. Bidders are required to comply with New Jersey Public Laws concerning Affirmative Action (1975 C#127, N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27-1.1 et seq.) and disclosure of company ownership (1977 C #33). No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are explicitly mentioned, but bidders are expected to thoroughly examine all specifications prior to submission. Sealed bids, conspicuously marked "EAST ORANGE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FY 2023" or "2023 CACFP" on the outer envelope, must be submitted along with a sample dinner. Bids are due by Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 11:00 AM, to the East Orange City Hall Council Chamber, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Required submission documents include a Bid Document Submission Checklist, Bid Bond (10% of estimated total bid), Consent of Surety, Performance Bond (25% of estimated total bid initially, 100% upon award), Proposal Bid Sheet, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Statement of Ownership, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, and certifications regarding investment activities in Iran, Russia, or Belarus. The Purchasing Agent, Racquel C. Ferguson, can be contacted at (973) 266-5162 or racquel.ferguson@eastorange-nj.gov UNLOCK for procurement inquiries. Bid documents became available on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, and can be obtained from the Division of Procurement or downloaded from www.eastorange-nj.gov.