SDM USD - Aramark Additional Questions.pdf

This document is an Aramark Additional Questions addendum to the South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) dining service operations request for proposals, affecting six public universities and two university centers across South Dakota. The RFP solicits comprehensive food service management operations including dining, catering, alcohol service, nutrition programs, technology systems, and sustainability initiatives. Proposals are due October 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST, with a mandatory pre-proposal conference scheduled for August 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM CST via Zoom and campus site visits from July 28 through August 6, 2026. Offerors may propose for individual campuses or multiple institutions and must submit separate campus-specific proposals. Contract operations commence July 1, 2027, with an initial five-year term and four optional one-year renewal periods subject to annual performance review. Finalist interviews are scheduled for November 9-19, 2026, with potential best and final offers through December 4, contract award anticipated April 12-23, 2027.

The three additional clarification questions address critical operational details: Aramark sought clarification on door rates and meal-plan pricing methodology across University of South Dakota and South Dakota Mines, as campuses do not require replication of current pricing structures and expect proposers to identify daily rates, commissions, fees, and revenue-sharing arrangements. The second and third questions request PDF building drawings with dimensions for the retail space in Muenster at University of South Dakota and the 24/7 market at Rocker Square at South Dakota Mines; these documents were to be provided via email to offerors present during the pre-submission conference call. Current meal plan enrollment totals approximately 18,400 students annually across institutions. Financial proposals must include separate pricing per campus covering residential meal plans, facility fees, and commissions as percentages of gross revenue from multiple sources, with estimated transition costs ranging to approximately $836,000. All communications and questions must be directed to Jessica Preister, AVP for Business Services & Auxiliary Financial Operations at the University of South Dakota.