CSU Spur Cafe and Catering

Colorado State University (CSU) Procurement Services is seeking a restaurant operator for a cafe and catering opportunity at the CSU Spur campus in Denver's Hydro Building. The procurement involves managing a 202-square-foot cafe and bar storefront, with additional prep, dish, and storage spaces. The selected vendor will have first right of refusal for all event beverage services, including alcohol, and will manage CSU Spur's liquor license. The cafe must operate from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday-Friday, with one Saturday per month from 10am-3pm. Proposals are due by Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 3pm MT through the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System. Evaluation criteria will include the vendor's concept, service philosophy, sustainability practices, marketing strategy, and initial pricing. The operator must adhere to CSU Spur's Food Ethos, emphasizing sustainability and prohibiting single-use plastics, and must offer diverse menu options including vegetarian and gluten-free choices, grab-and-go items, and student-friendly meals.

The solicitation encourages participation from diverse businesses, with opportunities for small businesses, veteran-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises to self-certify through the provided vendor classification forms. The venue hosts over 600 annual events with 38,000 guests and welcomes over 100,000 visitors yearly, presenting significant operational opportunities. The cafe space comes fully equipped with commercial coffee brewers, refrigeration, prep stations, bar equipment, and other smallwares. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the opportunity is part of the National Western Center's broader redevelopment project, with potential for supporting local communities through employment and training initiatives. Vendors must be aware that misrepresenting business size or socioeconomic status can result in significant penalties, including fines, administrative sanctions, and potential disqualification from procurement programs.