Response to Offeror Questions document.docx

Q&A for USD Pouring Rights and Vending Services RFP

RFP# USD03302026

1. Can you share a full year’s volume, broken out by the following categories? – See exhibits A & B as attached.

a. Delivery Method (full-service vending vs. direct delivery for retail/foodservice)

b. Product type

c. Package

d. Flavor

e. Location

2. Can you confirm whether Sodexo currently operates concession stands in the following facilities? Yes, the facilities listed below are where Sodexo operates concession stands.

a. DakotaDome

b. Sanford Coyote Sports Center

c. Wellness Center Natatorium

d. Softball Complex

e. Track & Field Complex

3. Could you please describe your current athletics support? Specifically, can you provide an inventory of your sideline kit equipment and outline what would be needed to support your teams at their current level?

a. 5-gallon container quantity – 6

b. 10-gallon container quantity – 20

c. Squeeze bottle quantity – Approximately 300

d. Squeeze bottle carrier quantity – Approximately 20

e. Towel quantity – Approximately 200

f. Sideline cart quantity – 6 small carts, 4 football sideline carts

g. Cups quantity – Don’t have a specific number. A lot.

h. Cooler/Ice chest – 15

4. Please provide details on your annual athletics free product support, including package and brand quantities. – Our current vendor considers this proprietary.

5. Please list any additional athletic support currently provided by your supplier. – Our current vendor gives $10,000 per year that can be used for Gatorade equipment or Gatorade product.

6. Are there any other considerations important to the athletics department that would be beneficial to the university? – Nothing specific, but we are open to consider any offer.

7. Would the university consider a longer-term agreement for the next pouring rights contract, as opposed to the term outlined in the RFP? – Offerors can proposed longer-term agreements. The University may or may not consider them.

8. Will we have the opportunity to present our proposal in person, or will this be a submission process only? – Currently we are requesting proposal submissions, but may wish to have vendors present in person or online to clarify proposal criteria or answer questions.

9. For clarification, please define “mobile credential compatibility” as it relates to vending machines in this RFP. – The ability to process a transaction via a person’s smartphone or watch using Bluetooth or NFC capabilities. This is not required but preferred.

10. Will the Sioux Falls campus be considered part of the contract proposal? – No, this RFP only considers the Vermillion, SD campus.

11. Should the Coyote Sports Properties proposal be submitted at the same time for the University to review, or will that be negotiated at a later date? – Please submit a proposal to Coyote Sports Properties (CSP) at the same time. The proposal to CSP will be considered in evaluations.

12. As the current agreement reads, there is a requirement of allowing two (2) competitive items to be sold in up to fifteen (15) vending machines. Will this be a stipulation of the new agreement? – Our preference is to have this included in the new agreement.

13. Will Red Bull be allowed to be sold in Sodexo locations as it is currently? – Yes, we would allow Red Bull to be sold in Sodexo locations.

14. Occupancy-sensing power saving features through VendMiser will result in warm products and result in several minute delays for the payment bezel to reboot. In addition, this result in loss of telemetry and the machine not dexing on schedule, meaning sales information is not being communicated in a timely manner. The only feasible alternative would be to remove panel lighting. Is this sufficient to meet this requirement? – There is no requirement that the machine “power down” when there is no person present, only that display lighting power on through occupancy-sensing technology.

15. In Paragraph 12, Section D, of the RFP, we are asked to provide the recommended selling price for each item. Outside of vending, it is not our practice to recommend a selling price, i.e. at Sodexo. Is this request actually for wholesale price for items to be sold at retail, foodservice, and concessions locations, as this is not requested anywhere else in the RFP? – Please provide recommended selling prices for vended products and wholesale prices for items to be sold at retail, foodservice and concessions locations.

Exhibit A – Package and Flavor – 4/1/25 through 3/31/26

4/1/2025 thru 3/31/2026

Exhibit B – Vending Numbers 8/1/24 through 7/31/25