Family Aquatic Center Concessionaire

The City of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is seeking proposals for a Family Aquatic Center Concessionaire to operate the concession stand during the 2026 swim season. The procurement, identified as RFP #25-PRF15, requires a vendor to manage all aspects of concession operations, including staffing, food and beverage sales, inventory management, daily cleaning, customer service, and maintenance of city-owned equipment. The Family Aquatic Center will operate from approximately June 13, 2026, through August 23, 2026, with specific operating hours Monday through Sunday. Proposers must demonstrate at least one year of concession sales or similar operations experience and the ability to obtain necessary food service licenses and permits. The evaluation criteria include Qualifications of Firm (25 points), Relevant Experience (20 points), Quality and Price of Products and Services (20 points), Compensation to the City (15 points), Sustainability (10 points), and additional points for DBE/WBE/DVB certification and local preference. The RFP was issued on October 10, 2025, with a submission deadline of October 30, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, and potential vendors may submit questions by October 17, 2025, with answers posted by October 24, 2025.

The procurement offers preferences for Woman-Owned Business Enterprises, Disadvantaged-Owned Business Enterprises, and Disabled Veteran Businesses, with specific scoring benefits for these certifications. Local vendors with a physical address in Sun Prairie receive additional scoring advantages. The contract term is one year, from January 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. City-owned equipment available for use includes a large refrigerator, upright freezer, hot dog roller, pizza oven, popcorn machine, mini donut machine, nacho cheese warmer, and microwave. Compensation structures may include a flat fee, percentage of gross sales, or a hybrid model, with the city preferring proposals that demonstrate strong revenue models and meaningful financial benefits. The concessionaire must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability, automobile liability, umbrella liability, and worker's compensation insurance. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, the successful vendor will be expected to provide a financially beneficial arrangement to the City of Sun Prairie while operating the concession stand during the summer swim season.