Cooking Class and Camp Instruction for Youth

The City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department is seeking qualified consultants through Request for Proposals (RFP) #194620 to provide comprehensive cooking instruction services for youth culinary classes and camps. The three-year contract will cover year-round classes targeting children ages 7-17, with quarterly classes during Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions, and summer camps from June through August. Each seasonal class series will consist of 8 sessions with 12-20 students, while summer camps will run Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm with 12-24 participants, held at the Lucie Stern Community Center Kitchen. Consultants must develop curriculum, provide experienced instructors, ensure kitchen safety, and maintain high-quality programming. Key requirements include completing background checks, providing proof of insurance, and adhering to city guidelines regarding class management and communication. The proposal submission deadline is Wednesday, July 9, 2025, before 3:00 pm, with electronic submissions required through the City's OpenGov procurement system. Evaluation criteria will focus on the proposed curriculum, instructor qualifications, program quality, and total rates over the 3-year contract period.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The contract will be structured as a Not-To-Exceed Budget Per Task, with consultants responsible for creating a marketing plan and proposing reasonable resident/student rates to encourage community participation. While no incumbent vendors were identified, the city will handle registration, facility provisions, and inclusion of classes in publicity materials. Instructors must be at least 18 years old, with recommended CPR/First Aid certification. Insurance requirements are stringent, mandating comprehensive coverage including Worker's Compensation, Employer's Liability, General Liability, Automobile Liability, and Professional Liability, with minimum coverage limits of $1,000,000 for most categories. The City of Palo Alto must be named as an additional insured, and insurance must be obtained from companies with an AM Best's Key Rating of A-:VII or higher. While specific budget ranges were not explicitly stated, the cost proposal template provides a framework for consultants to propose pricing for seasonal cooking classes and summer camps, with an estimated 61 students annually for seasonal classes and 144 students for summer camps.