27-11-COA Lease of CLC Food Service Space

The City of Salem, Massachusetts is requesting proposals for a lease of food service space at the Mayor Jean Levesque Community Life Center, 401 Bridge Street, with proposals due September 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., and a mandatory pre-proposal site visit on August 21 at 9:00 a.m.

The awardee will operate a commercial food service establishment while continuing to distribute meals through the AgeSpan senior meal program and providing continental breakfast. The facility currently operates Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and served approximately 620 meals per month in 2025. The lease term is an initial one year with two optional one-year renewals exercisable at the City's sole discretion, commencing in fall 2026 or as mutually agreed.

The City charges zero rent for the lease duration. The selected vendor must undertake all necessary renovations to suit the facility for the proposed use and is responsible for utilities, signage approval, rodent control coordination, kitchen maintenance, recycling participation, and cooperation with government inspections. Any permanent improvements become City property upon lease termination. The lease is non-assignable without City consent.

Minimum qualifications include no delinquency in tax or financial obligations to the City and $1 million property and casualty insurance naming the City as the insured. Award criteria include operational experience (preferably more than five years in both restaurant and catering), menu variety and nutritional compliance with federal Title III-C requirements, demonstrated community support and ties, and language offerings in Spanish and English.

The City will award the contract within 60 days of the proposal deadline.