Campus Dining Services

Eastern Connecticut State University is soliciting sealed proposals for comprehensive campus dining services at all University locations, with proposals due September 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and a mandatory pre-proposal conference on August 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Student Center Room 217. Site visits must be completed by August 22, 2026.

The contract covers residential dining, retail dining, catering, and related food service operations serving approximately 3,783 students (3,506 full-time, 277 part-time). Current facilities include Hurley Hall Dining (450-seat capacity), Hurley Hall Market, Student Center Food Court (117-seat capacity), and optional Library Cafe operations. Fall 2027 meal plan enrollment is projected at 1,800 students across unlimited and block meal plan options. The contractor assumes responsibility for all food, beverage, labor, operating supplies, equipment maintenance, cleaning, sanitation, and pest management; the University provides facilities, utilities, major equipment, and building maintenance.

ECSU is a union campus with food service employees represented by Local 217; contractors must demonstrate experience in union environments and comply with Connecticut Department of Labor wage requirements. Current annual dining revenue ranges from $6.4 million to $7.3 million across board plan fees, dining dollars, cash and Express Cash sales, and catering services. The University operates under a commission-based financial model and requests proposers submit pricing using this baseline structure while also encouraging alternative financial models.

The initial contract term runs five years from July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2032, with one optional five-year renewal term subject to mutual agreement and satisfactory performance. The contractor must provide a $250,000 performance bond and maintain comprehensive insurance including $1 million commercial general liability, $1 million automobile liability, $10 million umbrella coverage, and statutory workers' compensation.

Proposals are evaluated on company qualifications (10%), technical approach and dining program (25%), innovation and student experience (25%), management team (15%), and financial proposal (25%). Questions are due September 1, 2026 via the ECSU Bonfire bidding portal. Bid prices must remain firm for 60 days from submission.