2-Fooda letter sole source 2025-2026.pdf

This is a sole source exemption letter from Fooda, Inc. to City Colleges of Chicago regarding RFP #MWJ1801 for Cafeteria, Vending, Catering and Kiosk Food Services. The letter, dated February 20, 2026, seeks a sole source exemption specifically for childcare meal services at the college's childcare centers. Fooda is requesting renewal or extension of its existing contract as the exclusive food service provider for these childcare operations.

Fooda justifies the sole source exemption based on operational and safety requirements unique to the childcare meal service. The childcare centers lack private kitchen facilities and rely on shared campus cafeteria kitchens for meal receipt, storage, and preparation. Fooda's operations include on-site sanitation oversight by a licensed sanitarian, dedicated hot holding equipment, and refrigeration systems. The company argues that introducing a competing provider would create unnecessary operational risks related to food time, temperature control, and sanitation standards, ultimately affecting the safety of the children served. The kitchens are licensed exclusively for Fooda's use, and the company maintains that its integrated service model provides comprehensive oversight that would be compromised by shared kitchen arrangements with another provider.