DNR - Catering to Bemidji State University March

The State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a formal Request for Bid (RFB) to procure catering services for a Tribal Training event at Bemidji State University American Indian Resource Center, located at 1500 Birchmont Drive, Bemidji, Minnesota 56601. The solicitation, issued January 23, 2026 as SWIFT Event No. 2000017911, seeks comprehensive catering services for up to 110 attendees on March 26 and 27, 2026. The required services include breakfast (March 27 only, 7:30 AM–8:30 AM), morning and afternoon breaks on both days, lunch at 12:00 PM on both days, dinner on March 26 at 5:30 PM, and all-day beverage service (coffee, tea, and water) beginning at 8:00 AM both days, with all meals provided in buffet-style format that accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary requirements. All catering charges must include taxes, service charges, delivery charges, and gratuity in the itemized bid price submitted on the provided Price Schedule (Exhibit D). Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, commercial automobile liability insurance with appropriate limits based on vehicle capacity, and workers' compensation insurance. Prospective bidders must submit written questions by February 2, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time to sheri.karpenko@state.mn.us, and all responses must be submitted electronically through the Supplier Portal no later than February 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with non-electronic and email submissions rejected. The contract term is effective March 1, 2026, or upon full execution, whichever is later, and expires June 30, 2026, and the State reserves the right to reject any and all responses, inspect facilities prior to award, and cancel the solicitation if deemed in its best interest.

The State of Minnesota is committed to diversity and inclusion in procurement and offers preference points to certified Targeted Group (TG), Economically Disadvantaged (ED), and Veteran-Owned (VO) businesses equal to 12 percent of total available points, as well as 6 percent preference points to eligible DEED/DHS providers. The solicitation encourages participation from Minnesota-based small businesses and businesses meeting diversity criteria, including those majority-owned and operated by racial minorities, women, individuals with substantial physical disabilities, veterans, service-disabled veterans, or businesses located in economically disadvantaged counties, with eligible firms encouraged to contact the Office of Equity in Procurement at Procurement.Equity@state.mn.us or 651-201-2402 for certification information. Contractors may not subcontract services and must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, with all food clearly labeled for allergens. The State does not guarantee a minimum number of attendees, and contract prices remain firm regardless of attendance variations below the estimated 110, with the State retaining the right to cancel the event without penalty if facility conditions could disrupt conference activities. The State will pay invoices within 30 days of receipt of an undisputed invoice per Minnesota Statute 16A.124, and responders should specify prompt pay discount terms available ranging from net 30 to various percentage discounts within 10 to 30 days. No specific budget or award value range is provided in the solicitation; pricing will be evaluated based on the itemized cost proposals submitted by responsive bidders on the Price Schedule.