City's RFPs For Food, Drink, Health, and Financial Advice - National Local News Day
The City of Westerville has four active requests for proposals now open, spanning financial services, employee benefits, and vending operations. Together, they show the city seeking outside vendors for both back-office functions and public-facing amenities, with deadlines arriving throughout April and contract start dates later this year or at the start of 2027.
The City of Westerville is seeking proposals for investment advisory services to help manage its short- and long-term investment portfolio, which averages about $150 million to $170 million a month. The selected firm would advise on investment and reinvestment of city funds, recommend and implement transactions, coordinate with the city’s custodian bank, monitor credit quality, and provide monthly and quarterly portfolio reports. Westerville is seeking firms registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with at least 10 years of market experience, and errors and omissions insurance. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. April 29, with written questions due April 17 and services expected to begin Jan. 1, 2027.
Westerville is also seeking proposals from insurance carriers and third-party administrators for supplemental benefits administration and insurance services covering about 470 eligible city employees. The request includes life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, short-term disability administration, medical review services, FMLA administration, and consultation on optional voluntary benefits such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, identity theft protection, pet insurance, long-term care, and legal aid. The selected contractor would also handle enrollment support, claims processing, reporting, customer service, and integration with the city’s ADP HR and payroll system. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. April 14, with services set to begin Jan. 1, 2027.
The city is separately soliciting bids for exclusive cold beverage vending services at the Westerville Community Center, Westerville Sports Complex, and Highlands Park Aquatic Center. The RFP calls for at least 7 beverage vending machines and 2 soda fountain dispensers with 8 heads and attached ice bins at the aquatic center. Vendors would be responsible for installation, stocking, maintenance, repairs, and service within eight hours of a call, with machines required to be new or like-new and equipped with bill validators and PCI-compliant card readers. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. April 21, and the city expects service to begin July 1.
Westerville is also requesting proposals for food vending machine services at the Westerville Community Center, where the city seeks at least 2 machines. The city said machines must be new or like-new, include bill validators and PCI-compliant card readers, and carry products such as candy, cookies, crackers, chips, pretzels, and breakfast bars, with 50 percent of offerings expected to be healthy foods or snacks. The vendor would be responsible for installation, stocking, maintenance, repairs, and service within eight hours of a service call. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. April 21, with service scheduled to begin July 1.
Local News Day, observed April 9, is a reminder that strong communities depend on strong local reporting. In Westerville, The Westerville News daily news email has been the only daily source of local news for the past three years, providing consistent coverage of the city’s government, schools, development, businesses, and public life. At a time when so much attention is scattered elsewhere, that kind of steady, independent reporting helps keep residents informed about the decisions and changes shaping their community. Local News Day is a chance to recognize the value of that work and the role local journalism continues to play in keeping Westerville connected to itself.
Look at the local news outlets listed below to find news relevant to your area. As traditional news distribution methods evolve, following and subscribing to a local news source is the best way to stay informed about your community.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Reader funding, including subscribers, protects editorial independence, so coverage is guided by journalists rather than owners or corporate profit goals. It also reduces pressure to chase clicks, letting the newsroom focus on stories worth readers’ time. And it helps keep the site accessible to everyone, including people who can’t pay or live in places where a free press is under threat.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, This Week in Toledo, and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
