Pouring_Rights_RFP_(final).pdf

Smithsonian Institution

Request for Proposal No. M-17000501-0000

Comprehensive Beverages at

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Date of Issue: July 12, 2017

I. INTRODUCTION

A. About Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institution is a non-profit trust instrumentality that was created by act of

Congress of the United States in 1846. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological

Park and nine research facilities. The Institution’s mission is the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.”

The Smithsonian’s statement of values and code of ethics require that Smithsonian’s revenue-generating activities support the Smithsonian mission and protect the

Smithsonian's reputation, integrity, and independence. Smithsonian’s revenue-generating activities must be consistent with the Smithsonian mission, culture, governance, and status as a trust instrumentality of the United States and a tax-exempt organization.

B. About Smithsonian National Zoological Park

Founded in 1889, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (the “Zoo”) is part of the

Smithsonian Institution. Today, the Zoo sits on 163 acres in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park and is home to more than 1,500 animals across 300 different species. The Zoo is one of Washington D.C.’s, and the Smithsonian’s, most popular tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors from all over the world each year.

The Zoo instills a lifelong commitment to conservation through engaging experiences with animals and the people working to save them. Friends of the National Zoo

(“FONZ”) is the nonprofit partner of the Smithsonian's National Zoo that helps the Zoo save species by raising funds to support their mission, providing educational and fun experiences, and inspiring members and guests. FONZ supports operations at the Zoo in a number of different capacities from organizing and operating after-hours events, to managing the retail shops and helping to oversee the food service facilities.

C. About the Project. The Smithsonian Institution is seeking proposals for a comprehensive beverage contract for the Zoo. The successful offeror will be required to provide high quality, competitively priced beverages and demonstrate the following in its proposal:

1. Experience in high volume, efficient beverage delivery to quick serve food facilities;

2. A comprehensive range of products, including healthy products and products acceptable for families and children;

3. A favorable price/value ratio for the patrons; and

4. Financial stability.

The Smithsonian will consider contracting separately for public-facing beverage vending services, potentially resulting in two contract awards to different offerors: one contract for the provision of beverages in the Zoo’s food service facilities (the “beverage concession program”) and one contract for public-facing beverage vending (the “vending program”). In connection with the provision of beverages, the Smithsonian will consider proposals for granting exclusive pouring rights to the provider, as described in Section

III. E. The Smithsonian will require an initial five (5) year contract term commencing on

January 1, 2018, with a mutually agreed upon option to extend for one (1) additional five-year period.

II. DESCRIPTION OF FOOD SERVICE FACILITIES.

A. Food Service Facilities. The Zoo operates its food service facilities through concessionaires that negotiate the price of their beverages directly with and make beverage purchases directly from beverage providers. With the exception of catering, after-hours events, non-public vending and staff-only facilities, the Zoo requires its concessionaires to comply with

Smithsonian restrictions as to beverage and brand types. A list of the Zoo’s food service facilities included within the scope of this RFP is attached hereto in Exhibit A. A list of the

Zoo’s public-facing beverage vending machines is also included on Exhibit A. The

Smithsonian and the selected offeror for the beverage concession program may incorporate additional Zoo food services facilities into the contract by mutual agreement, as such food service facilities are opened by the Zoo. The Smithsonian and the selected offeror for the vending program may incorporate additional vending machines into the contract, either at existing locations or at new locations, by mutual agreement.

B. Closing of Facilities/Interruption of Service. The Smithsonian reserves the right to close the Zoo’s food service facilities or cause the services therein to be temporarily interrupted to accommodate any and all construction, restoration or repair activities, government policy, or for any other reason deemed appropriate by the Smithsonian. In addition, the Smithsonian reserves the right to limit any facility’s hours in order to accommodate special events and programs.

C. Excluded Food Service Facilities.

1. Catering and After Hours Events. The Zoo’s food service facilities are used from time to time for events co-hosted with outside (non-Smithsonian) parties. These parties select their own caterers, which will not be subject to the beverage concession program contract and will not be covered by any type of exclusivity described in this RFP.

2. Vending and Staff-Only Facilities. The Smithsonian has beverage vending machines in staff-only areas of the Zoo and public vending machines providing snacks/candy.

Beverage vending in non-public areas and all non-beverage vending will not be subject to the beverage concession program contract or the vending program contract awarded pursuant to this RFP and will not be covered by any type of exclusivity described in this

RFP.

3. Retail Shops. The Zoo makes bottled water available for sale in its retail shops. The

Zoo’s retail shops will not be subject to the beverage concession program contract or the vending program contract and will not be covered by any type of exclusivity described in this RFP.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES/PRODUCTS.

A. Products. The Smithsonian seeks offers from providers of the following categories of beverages. The Smithsonian will consider contracting for an individual category, combinations of categories, or all categories, and retains the right not to contract for any particular category.

Category 1- Carbonated

Carbonated beverages, bottled/canned

Carbonated fountain beverages, bag-in-box

Category 2 – Bottled Non-Carbonated Juices, Teas and Sports/Isotonic

100% juices, bottled/canned

Teas, bottled/canned

Electrolyte restorative sport drinks (e.g., Gatorade)

Category 3 – Fountain Juice

Bag-in-box or cassette dispensed juices (e.g., lemonade/kiwis strawberry/orange juice)

Category 4 – Bottled Waters

Single serve water

Single serve flavored water

Single serve vitamin enhanced water

Category 5 - Bottled Coffee

Coffee drinks, canned/bottled (e.g. Frappucino)

Category 6 – Bottled Energy/Nutritional

Energy drinks (e.g., Red Bull)

Meal replacement beverages (e.g., Slim Fast, V-8)

B. Excluded Products. The following products are excluded from the scope of this RFP and the

Smithsonian reserves the right to sell, or authorize the sale of, any and all such products: All non-branded juices and infusions freshly squeezed on site, milk, flavored milk, freshly prepared smoothies and milkshakes, beer (alcoholic, low alcohol, non-alcoholic), or other alcoholic beverages, any Smithsonian-branded items/beverages (including but not limited to private label bottled water), coffee and tea freshly brewed on site, hot chocolate prepared on site, and water from the public supply, which Smithsonian reserves the right to make available at dispensing equipment/fountains in its food service facilities.

C. Equipment and Services. The selected offeror must provide (at no cost to the Zoo or its food service providers) all necessary equipment to make the products available to the

Smithsonian and its food service providers. This includes, but is not limited to, fountain beverage dispensing equipment and cold product equipment (e.g., coolers). Any non-serving equipment proposed to be provided (such as, but not limited to, menu boards, tables, chairs, umbrellas, coolers and carts) must be unbranded and will subject to Smithsonian approval.

Equipment must be new or refurbished “like new” and be of maximized energy efficiency for the duration of the contract term. In addition, the selected offeror must provide routine periodic preventative maintenance and service and repairs on all of the successful offeror’s supplied equipment. Service must be provided free-of-charge, seven days per week (within a

24-hour time limit, all parts included). All equipment provided will remain the property of the selected offeror.

D. Vending. The successful offeror for the vending program shall provide automatic coin and credit card-operated beverage vending machines and associated services in accordance with the requirements specified herein.

1. The successful offeror shall furnish, install, maintain, service, repair and/or replace, and stock a minimum of eighteen (18) beverage vending machines in the locations identified on Exhibit A. Additional beverage vending machines and/or locations will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties.

2. The successful offeror must comply with Smithsonian restrictions as to beverage and brand types (i.e. if another offeror is selected for the beverage concession program, the offeror selected to provide beverage vending services will be required to comply with beverage and brand types required pursuant to the beverage concession program contract). In addition, the selected offeror shall be required to maintain ample stock of all products dispensed and sold in the machines provided.

3. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section III.C above, the Smithsonian will have the right to require that the successful offeror remove and replace any vending machine that in the opinion of the Smithsonian has deteriorated to a point where the machine is unable to provide reliable service.

4. Smithsonian responsibilities:

a) The Smithsonian will provide electricity for vending machine operation at no charge to the successful offeror.

b) The Smithsonian will provide pest control services on a regular basis in the areas where vending machines are located.

E. Product Exclusivity. For the beverage concession program, offerors may request the exclusive right to provide beverages for sale to the public at all of the food service facilities listed in Exhibit A, excepting the excluded products identified in Section III.B above and the excluded food service facilities identified in Section II.C above.

1. In association with any such exclusivity, Smithsonian will require its food service providers to purchase all beverages from the successful offeror, provided that the successful offeror is able to supply any product, or similar product, that the

Smithsonian food service providers desire to purchase.

2. Offerors may propose exclusive marketing and/or merchandising rights associated with beverage sales at the Zoo. However, in no event will provider exclusivity preclude the Smithsonian from (i) accepting print advertising in its magazines, visitor guides, or other printed media, or online advertising, or (iii) accepting donations or corporate sponsorships in support of Zoo programs, research or facilities from companies that compete with the successful offeror.

For example, marketing rights might include the right of the selected offeror to refer to itself in its promotional activities as the “exclusive” beverage provider for the Zoo, and the right to advertise and promote the selected offeror’s beverages in association or in connection with the Zoo, the Zoo food service facilities, and Zoo trademarks. Merchandising rights might include point of sale advertising, concession and menu board advertising, cups approved by the selected offeror bearing its logo, hawking trays, umbrellas, etc. The manner and location of displays will be mutually agreed upon by Smithsonian and the selected offeror. All advertising material, menu board inserts and other materials provided by the selected offeror will be provided at no cost to Smithsonian.

Offerors may propose funding for marketing activation programs at the Zoo.

3. Exclusivity is not assured. Any proposal that calls for any form of exclusivity must describe the type of exclusivity desired (e.g., product exclusivity, exclusive merchandising and/or marketing rights), scope of services/ categories of product to be provided, and the total financial package (including, but not limited to, upfront cash payments) that will be guaranteed to the Smithsonian in exchange for that exclusivity. Offerors seeking exclusivity must explain how such exclusivity will be in the best interests of the Smithsonian. Proposals also must address patron preferences and the potential effects of exclusivity on issues such as patron satisfaction.

F. Additional Requirements. The successful offeror will be responsible for all aspects of its business operations, including but not limited to: deliveries, dry and cold storage, insurance, safety inspections, and sanitation. Of particular note are the following requirements:

1. Privacy and Data Security. Compliance with Smithsonian security and privacy requirements, including Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, is essential for any Smithsonian contractor collecting payment via payment cards from Smithsonian patrons (i.e. for the beverage vending program). Any proposal that calls for collection of payment using payment cards must address how the offeror will meet the Smithsonian security and privacy requirements, attached hereto in Exhibit B (Key Contract Terms and Concepts).

2. Personnel Security. The successful offeror shall be required to obtain

Smithsonian ID cards for all delivery staff, which requires fingerprinting and a background investigation if their association with Smithsonian is greater than thirty days and they require unsupervised access to staff-only areas of

Smithsonian-controlled facilities. The successful offeror shall ensure that said ID cards are with the offeror’s delivery staff at all times while on Zoo property.

Offerors shall comply with all Smithsonian safety rules, regulations and requirements.

3. Deliveries. Deliveries can be made by the successful offeror at specified hours only (before 8:00 am) and must be coordinated with designated Smithsonian staff or food service providers. Delivery vehicles may not be left unattended in the loading dock. All deliveries must be made at the loading dock and moved through the building to the food service facilities using Smithsonian designated routes and elevators.

4. Disclosure. The Smithsonian Institution is a trust instrumentality of the United

States and has adopted a written policy for responding to requests for

Smithsonian records, including paper documents, electronic data, email, contracts, and other information stored or maintained by the Smithsonian, consistent with the principles of disclosure under the Freedom of Information

Act, 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 552 and available at http://www.si.edu/OGC/Records-Requests. Any contract resulting from this RFP will be subject to the Smithsonian’s records disclosure policy.

5. Compliance. The successful offeror shall comply with all applicable federal, state

(including the District of Columbia), and local equal opportunity, wage and tax laws covering its employees; shall be responsible for its labor relations with any trade or union representing its employees; and shall be responsible for resolving all disputes between itself and its employees or any union representing such employees.

G. Key Contract Terms and Concepts. The Smithsonian anticipates entering into an agreement(s) with the selected offeror that includes certain “Key Contract Terms and

Concepts”, attached hereto in Exhibit B. Please read Exhibit B carefully, as it contains information essential to the conduct of the agreement(s).

II. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS AND CONDITIONS

A. General Instructions and Conditions.

1. The purpose of this RFP is to provide interested parties with sufficient information to enable them to prepare and submit proposals for consideration by the Smithsonian. This RFP is being issued to companies interested in providing comprehensive beverage products and services for the Zoo

(either for a beverage concession program or a vending program or for both programs) as described in these documents. Your proposal should only address the products and services described herein.

Interested offerors should note that this is not a solicitation for a federal contract and is therefore not governed by federal procurement procedures.

2. This RFP does not obligate the Smithsonian to enter into any agreement, nor shall it be construed as authorization for companies to proceed with any work directly or indirectly related hereto.

All information and materials submitted in response to this RFP for consideration by the Smithsonian will become the Smithsonian’s property and will be returned only at the Smithsonian’s discretion.

http://www.si.edu/OGC/Records-Requests

3. Submission Process. Offerors will provide four (4) originals of the proposal along with one (1) thumb drive of the proposal. These materials must be submitted via courier in sealed envelopes or packages addressed to the office specified below, by 2:00 P.M. E.S.T. on September 6, 2017 with the subject matter of the RFP and the name and address of the company clearly identified on the packaging.

Part II (Business and Legal Information) must be submitted in a separately bound volume (separate from

Parts I and III). Materials sent via email, fax or to any other address will not be considered. Offerors shall confine said information to 50 pages, exclusive of attachments and appendices. In addition, unnecessarily elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond those sufficient to present a complete and effective response to this solicitation are not desired and may be construed as an indication of the offeror’s lack of cost consciousness. Elaborate art work, expensive paper and bindings, or expensive visual and other presentation aids are neither necessary nor desired.

a. Proposals shall be sent to:

Susan Engelhardt

Office of Contracting & Personal Property Management

Smithsonian Institution

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 350

Arlington, VA 22202

b. Questions. All substantive and administrative questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing by email to the attention of Susan Engelhardt at engelhardts@si.edu. Questions must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. Eastern on July 31, 2017 in order to ensure a response. Questions and Smithsonian responses having an impact on this RFP will be issued to all offerors in the form of an amendment.

4. Facility Tour. Offerors are invited (on a voluntary basis) to participate in an on-site “guided” tour of the Zoo’s food service facilities in Washington, DC on July 24, 2017 (specific time to be determined). The purpose of the tour is to familiarize offerors with the food service facilities and to provide an opportunity for questions regarding the facilities. Smithsonian staff will not answer RFP-related questions during the tour, only questions about the space you are viewing. All RFP-related questions must be submitted in writing per the procedures detailed above. Interested firms must submit notification of intent to attend. The notification must be submitted via email by 2:00 P.M. Eastern on

July 19, 2017 to the attention of Susan Engelhardt at engelhardts@si.edu. The tour is limited to three (3) attendees per company. Please allow approximately sixty (60) minutes for the tour.

5. Oral Presentations. At Smithsonian’s discretion, offerors in the competitive range may be invited to meet with Smithsonian representatives in person or over the telephone in Washington

D.C. to discuss their proposals and answer questions. Meetings are anticipated to be held in late

September. Travel and per diem for any such meeting will be the responsibility of each company.

6. Authorization. Companies are hereby placed on notice that the only persons authorized to conduct discussions and/or make commitments on behalf of the Smithsonian regarding this

RFP and all matters incident hereto are the Smithsonian Contracting Officer and designated representatives from the Office of Contracting & Personal Property Management.

mailto:engelhardts@si.edu

7. Cancellation. Smithsonian reserves the unconditional right to cancel this RFP or to terminate negotiations at any time without cost or liability of Smithsonian. Participation in this RFP or any resulting contract constitutes an affirmative waiver by participants of any claim to proposal preparation costs.

8. Rejection. The Smithsonian reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received as a result of this request. Noncompliance with the instructions and conditions of this RFP may result in disqualification of your proposal. The Smithsonian may refuse to consider any proposal received after the exact date and time specified for receipt.

B. Proposal Requirements. The Smithsonian’s requirements and expectations are set forth herein. Offerors should provide proposal submissions demonstrating a clear understanding of the issues and requirements associated with this RFP. Information in the proposal shall be organized in accordance with the major categories of information requested and shall contain appropriate detail, as described herein below. Part II (Business and Legal Information) must be submitted in a separately bound volume

(separate from Parts I and III). Proposals must specifically include the following:

Part 1: Technical Information

1. Provide a statement confirming whether your company is submitting a proposal for the beverage concession program, the vending program, or both programs. If submitting a proposal for both programs, please clearly delineate in all proposal information which program(s) the information relates to.

2. Product Descriptions. Describe your products and their market share and provide proposed beverage selections for each food service facility. Describe the nutritional values of each product, and any efforts your company undertakes to reduce negative effects or your product(s) on human health.

3. Implementation and Operating Plans.

a. Provision of Beverages and Services. Describe the manner in which you propose to provide the requested beverages and services, including the required resources such as necessary equipment, nutritional information reference tools for patrons, signage, and procedures for obtaining products on a routine and emergency basis. If an equipment lease will be required, please provide your organization’s standard equipment lease form.

A proposed delivery and service schedule must also be included with your proposal.

b. Merchandising and Marketing. Describe your proposed plan for merchandising and marketing beverage items at the food service facilities, including any investment in equipment such as menu boards, coolers, and carts.

c. Organization. Please provide the proposed organization chart for the

Smithsonian account(s) including the names and titles of support staff that shall be involved during the implementation and include the duties that each staff person will fulfill. Specify who in your firm will be involved in providing corporate oversight for the

Smithsonian account. Please take note of security requirements detailed in Exhibit B

(Key Contract Requirements).This section must also include what in-house capabilities your company has versus what will be outsourced. For any capabilities that would be outsourced, please identify the vendors proposed for outsourcing.

d. Transition Plan and Timeline. Provide a transition plan and timeline assuming contract award in Fall 2017 and estimated launch on January 1, 2018, with an emphasis on avoiding disruption to services provided.

e. Small Disadvantaged Business Participation. Describe any participation of small, small disadvantaged, veteran, or women-owned small businesses (“SDBs”) as it relates to the performance of this contract whether through an ongoing joint venture, joint teaming arrangement, a creative and innovative subcontracting plan or otherwise.

f. Non-Discrimination. Describe your organization’s policies that prohibit discrimination (including harassment) on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, and disability. Also, describe any actions such as recruitment strategies, training programs, and affirmative action plans that your organization has initiated, proposed or will maintain in order to uphold its commitment to workforce diversity.

g. Environmental Stewardship. Please describe your organization’s commitment to sustainable practices and efforts to reduce negative effects on the environment. Include methods such as resource or energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste minimization, and recovered material content. Please describe any plans for collecting and recycling beverage containers from the Zoo.

h. PCI Compliance. If your proposal involves collecting payment via payment cards from Smithsonian patrons, demonstrate compliance with Payment Card Industry

(“PCI”) Data Security Standards by attaching a copy of your current, complete, comprehensive, and signed PCI Data Security Standard (DSS) Attestation of Compliance.

i. Equipment Maintenance. Detail policies, procedures and practices that proactively ensure the highest quality care and maintenance of equipment proposed to be provided including but not limited to daily handling, regularly scheduled preventative maintenance, including record keeping thereof and client communications protocols in the event of equipment failure or damage.

Part II: Business and Legal Information

1. Pro Forma Statements. Please provide pro forma statements for the food service facilities for at least a five (5) year period.

a. The pro forma statements must contain a statement of proposed fees and all start up/take over and direct costs, proposed vending commissions (if proposing on the vending program), overhead and administrative fees, if any.

b. If your proposal for the beverage concession program includes any form of product exclusivity, describe guaranteed payments for exclusivity and total or annual payments, as applicable, and all proposed terms related to such exclusivity.

c. Please detail the up-front and annual commitment proposed and all proposed terms related to merchandising and related equipment (e.g., menu boards, carts, coolers, etc.).

d. Describe the accounting system that will apply to the Smithsonian account(s) and reports that will be available or provided to the Smithsonian, including the methods for tracking sales both directly from Offeror and from its bottlers. All reports should conform to the Smithsonian’s fiscal year which is approximately October 1 to September

30. This fiscal calendar and weekly reporting will be strictly enforced.

e. Describe the price for each proposed product. Provide estimates of price increase strategies for increments over a five year term.

2. Key Contract Terms and Concepts; Sample Contract. Provide an explanation of any exceptions or deviations your company will require with respect to Exhibit B (Key Contract

Terms and Concepts), attached. Exceptions will not automatically cause a proposal to be deemed unacceptable. However, exceptions not providing obvious benefit to the Smithsonian Institution may result in rejection of a proposal as unacceptable. Please also provide a sample of your standard agreement for comprehensive beverage services and/or vending, if such samples exist.

3. Statement of No Material Litigation. Provide a statement from your organization certifying that there is no material litigation, either pending or threatened, or any contractual or business relationship involving your organization or any of its principals, shareholders, partners, officers, or employees which would prevent or limit your organization from providing any services described in this RFP, or would hinder your organization’s ability to achieve fully the stated objectives and an affirmative statement that your company is responsible and able to conduct business in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States. To be provided as a signed, certified document with your proposal.

4. Representations and Certifications of Offeror. Please complete the

Representations and Certifications form, attached hereto in Exhibit C, and sign and return with your proposal.

5. Insurance. Insurance certificates evidencing your organization’s insurance coverage in accordance with Exhibit B.

Part III: Contractor's Technical, Financial and Corporate Resources. Please provide the following:

1. Offices. Include location of corporate headquarters and all corporate regional office(s). Identify state of incorporation. If not a corporation, explain organizational structure and legal status.

2. Sales and Profits. Include gross sales and profits during 2012-2016, as well as financial statements for the last three years. Attach annual reports for the last three years

(provided audited reports if available; if not available, provide reports certified by an officer of your organization).

3. Business Types. Describe all categories of business in which your organization is involved including beverage production and services and all other types of business, as well as the percentage of total corporate sales and profits for years 2012-2016 which are derived from the beverage business(es).

4. Current Experience; References. Identify and describe three (3) comparable (size, volume, etc.) organizations which you currently serve and provide the length of service of the account, name and address, contact name, telephone number and email address of an appropriate contact that Smithsonian may contact for reference purposes. Identify and describe any new accounts where you were not the incumbent that your organization gained during the past year.

5. Account Evaluation. Describe evaluation programs that will be used to monitor the Smithsonian account and how these programs will provide timely feedback and result in adjustments to the beverage services at the Zoo. Such programs may include, but are not limited to, sample customer satisfaction surveys and related computer generated programs. Please provide the frequency with which said programs will be implemented and provide samples of such programs currently used by your organization.

6. Corporate Resources. Describe the corporate resources, if any, that will be made available to the Smithsonian for this account on a regular basis for consulting on items such as, but not limited to, promotion ideas, design ideas, and marketing assistance. Describe type of consultation expertise, projected consultation frequency, consultation product, and the interface with on-site management team(s).

7. Responsiveness; Communication. Describe how you will ensure Smithsonian concerns are addressed in a timely and effective manner. Describe chain of communication, response protocol, and amount of time required to respond to Smithsonian inquiries or concerns.

IV. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Subject to the discretion of the Smithsonian, any offeror may be selected who is deemed responsible, whose proposal conforms to the requirements in all of the RFP documents, and is judged, based on the evaluation criteria below, to represent the best value to the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian will not select a company whose proposal is determined to be unacceptable to the Smithsonian. Proposals

(whether for the beverage concession program or the vending program or both programs) will be evaluated against the following factors:

A. Business and Legal Terms. Pro forma statement and financial return to Smithsonian, and

(for the beverage concession program) benefits/constraints resulting from any form of exclusivity requested.

B. Proposed Product Line. Quality and diversity of proposed product line, including beverage quality, value and variety.

C. Management and Implementation. Proposed implementation and operating plans/approach, consistent with the requirements of this RFP, including local and corporate staffing, PCI compliance (for the vending program), marketing, commitment to workforce diversity and utilization of

SDBs, and environmental stewardship.

D. Qualifications and Experience. Offeror’s corporate resources, reputation, experience, evidence of ability to commit to the Smithsonian account, account evaluation procedures and methods.

E. Past Performance. Past Performance of your company (e.g., compliance with contract requirements, quality of products/services provided, timeliness of performance, cost control, business relations). The Smithsonian may use past performance information obtained from other than the references identified by the offeror.

All evaluation factors other than the Business and Legal Terms factor, when combined, are more important than the Business and Legal Terms factor alone. The Smithsonian reserves the right in all cases to be the sole judge determining whether a company meets the evaluation criteria.

V. DEADLINES

Notification of

Intent to Attend

Facility Tour: Due via email to engelhardts@si.edu by 2:00 PM E.S.T. on July 19, 2017

Facility Tour: Will be held on July 24, 2017 (specific time to be determined).

Questions Due: All substantive and administrative questions about this RFP must be submitted in writing by email to the attention of Susan Engelhardt at engelhardts@si.edu.

Questions must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. E.S.T. on July 31, 2017 in order to ensure a response.

Proposals Due: Four (4) originals of the proposal along with one (1) thumb drive of the proposal must be submitted via courier in sealed envelopes or packages addressed to the office specified above by 2:00 P.M. E.S.T. on September 6, 2017.

Oral Presentations: Oral presentations are anticipated to be scheduled in late September.

VI. EXHIBITS

Exhibit A – Zoo Food Service Facilities

Exhibit B – Key Contract Terms and Concepts

Exhibit C – Representations and Certifications of Offeror (OCon Form 650), to be completed and returned with proposal.