Dining Service Operations for SDBOR Institutions

The South Dakota Board of Regents is requesting proposals for comprehensive food service management operations at six public universities and two university centers, with proposals due October 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST. Offerors may propose for one campus, multiple campuses, or all six institutions and must submit separate campus-specific proposals for each. A mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held August 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM CST via Zoom, and campus site visits are scheduled July 28 through August 6, 2026.

The scope encompasses dining operations, catering services, alcohol service management, nutrition and wellness programs, technology and POS systems, and sustainability across Black Hills State University (Spearfish), Dakota State University (Madison), Northern State University (Aberdeen), South Dakota State University (Brookings), South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Rapid City), and University of South Dakota (Vermillion), plus USD-Sioux Falls and BHSU-Rapid City centers. Current meal plan enrollment totals approximately 18,400 students annually, ranging from 1,071 at Northern State to 8,333 at SDSU. Contractor-provided POS systems must be offered at no cost to universities, which retain ownership of campus credential card systems.

Financial proposals must include separate pricing per campus covering residential meal plans, facility fees where applicable, and commissions as percentages of gross revenue from meal plans, catering, retail dining, convenience stores, summer conferences, and athletic concessions. Capital investment commitments and transition compensation for unamortized incumbent assets are required; estimated transition costs range from approximately $836,000 at BHSU. The initial contract term is five years with an option to renew for four additional one-year periods, subject to annual review and satisfactory performance. Contracted operations commence July 1, 2027.

Evaluation prioritizes food quality and dining experience (45 technical points), operational expertise (40 points), and financial value (up to 100 points). Proposals are scored on technical criteria (up to 140 points) and financial criteria (up to 100 points). Finalist interviews are scheduled November 9–19, 2026, with potential best and final offers November 23 through December 4. Contract award is anticipated April 12–23, 2027. Submissions must include a minimum of five non-SDBOR references from similar-sized institutions, at least one within the past two years and one where services ended within the past two years.