Comprehensive Vending, Micro-Market, and Dining Solutions

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) in North Carolina has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking comprehensive vending, micro-market, and dining solutions across multiple campus locations. This procurement solicits vendor capabilities for fresh food vending units, micro-markets, smart refrigeration, staffed cafes, and catering services to modernize the College's existing food and vending ecosystem. The primary objective is to transition from student-led food operations to professional vendor management at Lee Main Campus while simultaneously scaling services to eight satellite locations including Moore Center, Emergency Services Training Center, Harnett Health Science Center, Chatham Health Science Center, Siler City Center, Center for Workforce Innovation, West Harnett, and Auto Restoration. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with educational or public-sector food service deployments, with vendors expected to submit case studies, product and service catalogs, and detailed responses to a Preliminary Analysis Questionnaire addressing fresh food production capabilities, menu diversity, dietary accommodations, POS technology with PCI-DSS compliance and contactless payment support, ADA accessibility standards, equipment maintenance and customer service processes, sustainability practices, allergen protocols, and transition planning. Vendors must furnish, install, maintain, and retain ownership of all vending and micromarket equipment while integrating with College-owned kitchen equipment at Lee Main Campus. Key deadlines include written questions due February 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST, RFI responses due February 27, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST, and scheduled vendor meetings during the week of March 9, 2026 with at least one week advance notice.

The RFI contains no set-aside designations or restrictions limiting response eligibility based on organization type or disadvantaged enterprise status. The College has reserved non-exclusive partnership rights, maintaining the ability to continue engagement with its Culinary Arts program for catering, operate food trucks, maintain self-run vending units, support student-led learning environments, and continue separate operations at the Dennis A. Wicker and Civic Center locations, thereby limiting the scope of awarded services. No incumbent vendor information or current contract values are specified in the RFI documentation. The College currently operates traditional vending and Fresh Food Units at three main campuses (Lee Main Campus, Harnett Main Campus, and Chatham Main Campus) alongside student-run cafes, which represents existing infrastructure that any awarded vendor must consider in their transition planning. This RFI is issued for planning and market intelligence purposes only and does not constitute a binding solicitation or commitment to award; vendors bear all costs associated with preparation and submission, and responses should be submitted electronically via the North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal as a single consolidated PDF.