OAM24018S - Food Services at USHR- Attachment 0001.pdf

Attachement-0001

Catering, Food and Vending Services at the United House of Representatives

(OAM24018S)

Supplement to Source Sought

Sources Sought:

This is NOT a solicitation for a proposal, proposal abstract, or quote. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding qualified business sources. The responses to the information requested will assist the House in determining the appropriate acquisition strategy for future requirements.

Background:

The U.S. House of Representatives is in search of seasoned, forward-thinking contractors proficient in delivering food, catering, event, vending, and convenience store services to House Members, staff, and visitors. Flexibility in service hours is essential to accommodate the House community's diverse schedule. The ideal contractor would be established, financially stable, possess extensive experience and demonstrate adaptability as a food service provider capable of offering imaginative and innovative solutions tailored to the House's needs.

Acknowledging the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food service industry, the House recognizes the necessity for evolution in its approach. The traditional model of cafes, vending, and catering may no longer be the most effective means of providing high-quality products and exceptional customer service at reasonable prices.

In anticipation of the 2025 food service re-compete, the House is proactively gathering information on contractors with expertise in post-pandemic food service solutions. The House seeks innovators who can offer creative strategies to address evolving needs while ensuring excellence in food, catering, event management, vending, and convenience store offerings for the House community.

Food Service Clientele:

The House currently has three basic components – manual food service operations, in-house catering and event services, and vending services. The manual food service operations include food service outlets located in the Capitol and the five House office buildings. The vending operation spreads across the House office buildings, Capitol, and two off-site locations. Catering events are held in several multi-purpose rooms and in many non- traditional locations. In addition to the components listed above, there may be an opportunity for a vendor(s) to manage several already established branded concepts located throughout the House campus.

The customers that typically use the House food service facilities include Members, Members' staffs, support staff, constituents, and visitors, including tourists, trade groups, issue advocates, and staff from office buildings nearby. Pre-pandemic, there were approximately 10,000 people working in the House portion of the Capitol complex. The clientele run the entire spectrum in terms of food preferences and income levels.

It is critical that the Contractor understands, accepts, and accommodates the unique environment at the House. From the perspective of the Contractor, providing food services to the House community is unlike any other government food service operation. The operation is highly visible and includes areas of activity that are often important to Members, staff, and constituents.

Any potential contractor must understand the difference between “In session” and “Out of session” and how they affect volume of food service. "In session" refers to the period during which Congress meets to conduct its legislative business on Capitol Hill. “Out of session" refers to periods when Congress is not formally meeting, during which members of Congress may not be on campus.

Food Service Goals:

The House aims to establish its food service operations as the preferred dining option for the House community. The Contractor shall consistently deliver a quality dining experience by providing high-quality food at reasonable prices, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and delivering exceptional customer service. Any potential contractor staff is expected to provide high quality food at reasonable prices served with outstanding customer service in all food service, catering, event services, and vending areas.

The Contractor shall ensure a quality dining experience on a consistent basis. In addition, the vendor may be responsible for all aspects of a food service operation to include the quality of food, cleanliness, speed of service, preventive maintenance on equipment and most importantly, offer value to the customer.

Prices must be competitive with other restaurants, cafeterias, snack bars, vending operations, and catering operations that offer comparable food services in other government and corporate office buildings in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

The Contractor must provide consistently high-quality food and service on a daily basis, as well as a variety of menus and concepts. Staff must be courteous, knowledgeable, and professional, always presenting a positive image. The House requires the use of the latest technology applications in the food service operation. Online ordering for pick-up, point-of-sale payment options, wireless-enabled capability, and a variety of communication tools are mandatory requirements.

The Contractor must be innovative in all areas of the food service operation, not only in the application of technology but in communication methods, customer outreach, and feedback.

Potential contractors are encouraged to propose new, innovative ways to provide food service given the challenges of the House environment and the aftermath of the pandemic.

It is not a requirement that potential vendors be able to provide service to the entire campus. Vendors may identify and propose a solution for a specific location or concept on the Campus. The table below represents an approximate list of current and proposed food service locations.

Potential Locations Details Ford – Cafeteria (Lower Campus Cafeteria) Services the Ford House Office Building

(Breakfast and Lunch) Ford - Micro-Store Located in the Ford House Office Building Ford - Vending Located in the Ford House Office Building O’Neill - Vending Located in the O’Neill House Office

Building O’Neill - Coffee Concept (Proposed) O’Neill - Micro Store Located in the O’Neill House Office

Building Rayburn - Cafeteria (One of two main Upper Campus Cafeterias)

Services the Rayburn House Office Building (Breakfast and Lunch)

Rayburn - Coffee Concept (Proposed) Rayburn - Vending Located in the Rayburn House Office

Building Rayburn - Burger Concept (currently Steak & Shake)

Vendor may propose to keep/manage the brand or re-brand the location with a new concept.

Rayburn - Pizza Concept (currently &Pizza) Vendor may propose to keep/manage the brand or re-brand the location with a new concept.

Rayburn - Deli Concept (currently Subway) Vendor may propose to keep/manage the brand or re-brand the location with a new concept.

Longworth – Cafeteria (One of two main Upper Campus Cafeterias)

Services the Longworth House Office Building (Breakfast and Lunch)

Longworth - Smoothie Concept (Jamba) Vendor may propose to keep/manage the brand or re-brand the location with a new concept.

Longworth - Micro-Store Located in the Longworth House Office Building

Longworth - Dunkin Donuts Located in the Longworth House Office Building

Longworth – Vending Located in the Longworth House Office Building

Cannon Rotunda - Coffee Concept Located in the Cannon House Office Building

Cannon - Vending Located in the Cannon House Office Building

Cannon - Fast Casual (Proposed) Cannon – Au Bon Pain Vendor may propose to keep/manage the brand or re-brand the location with a new concept.

Capitol Dining Room Located in the Capitol Building Capitol Carry Out Located in the Capitol Building Capitol Vending Located in the Capitol Building Catering Operations Campus Wide (Multiple Kitchens)

Submission:

The Capability Statement shall meet the following criteria:

On page one (1) of the Capability Statement, begin by providing your company information as follows: Company name, address, phone number, CAGE code, DUNS number, GSA Contract Number (if applicable) and point of contact (name, phone, and e-mail). Capability Statement must be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe PDF format, single spaced, 11-point font (excluding charts and graphics) and the entire document shall not exceed 20 pages in length to include all attachments, charts, etc. Capability Statements must include but are not limited to (a) company’s core capabilities (b) corporate experience and management capability; and examples of prior completed Government contracts (if any), references, and other related information.

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

This Sources Sought does not obligate the House to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The House reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the House to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the House is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Please note that the United States House of Representatives is not subject to Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR) or any of its supplements.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The House reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).