Dining Services

The State Fiscal Accountability Authority (SFAA), Division of Procurement Services is soliciting proposals for comprehensive dining services at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA). This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks a contractor to manage all food and dining operations, including meal plans, catering, retail dining, and concessions across campus facilities such as the main dining hall, Starbucks, The Station, Pacer Market, food truck, Convocation Center, and athletic event concessions. The contract will run for ten years, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2035, with a pre-proposal conference and site visit scheduled for March 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Proposals are due by May 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with the award to be posted on June 2, 2025. Key objectives include providing high-quality, nutritious food options, excellent customer service, and meeting the diverse needs of the campus community. The contractor will be responsible for all food preparation, staffing, marketing, and facility maintenance, with the university providing equipment and utilities. Evaluation criteria will likely include financial proposals, service quality, operational capabilities, and proposed investment in campus dining infrastructure.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types. The financial arrangement requires the contractor to receive all meal plan funds and collect payments, with a management fee of up to 5% of gross sales and the university receiving 60% of net income beyond the management fee. Current annual sales are approximately $3.16 million, with meal plans representing 70.8% of total sales. Residential students are required to purchase meal plans, with options ranging from unlimited to declining balance plans. The business proposal template indicates a minimum investment requirement of $5,600,000 in Year 1 and $150,000 in Year 8 for equipment, fixtures, and facilities upgrades. Additional financial considerations include annual catering incentives of $20,000, 5 discretionary meal plans per semester, and a 1% small ware replacement accrual. Vendors must provide detailed financial projections, including anticipated customer numbers, average check amounts, and daily sales estimates, with commission rates ranging from 8-15% across various sales categories.