Farmers Market Prepared and Pre-packaged Food Vendors Main Street and Pico Markets

The City of Santa Monica Economic Development Department is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure prepared and pre-packaged food vendors for operation at two weekend Certified Farmers Markets: the Saturday Pico Market at Virginia Avenue Park and the Sunday Main Street Market. Qualified vendors must provide prepared or pre-packaged food and beverages in the ancillary or community event section of these markets, offering high-quality products that provide value and complement existing local offerings while maintaining uniqueness. Applicants may apply for one or both market locations and must operate from a Certified Commercial Kitchen for production, packaging, storage, and cleaning of all products. Prohibited product categories include juices, jams, jellies, salsa, pickles, shelled nuts, nut butters, oils, milks, cheeses, dried fruits, and dried meats. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with temporary event booth operations, proven customer service standards, commitment to sustainable practices, compliance with all federal, state, county, and municipal food safety regulations, proof of a Department of Public Health Community Event/Seasonal Event Temporary Food Facility Permit, and a Public Health Operating Permit for food processing and storage locations. The evaluation will award up to 60 points for value and product concept, including vendor uniqueness and support for community wellbeing and fair pricing, and up to 40 points for qualifications and experience. The deadline for vendor questions is March 19, 2026, with responses provided by March 26, 2026, and proposals are due by April 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM.

The City will execute a firm-fixed contract for an initial one-year term with four optional one-year renewal periods exercisable at the City's sole discretion, with no identified set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organizational type. Preference is given to vendors physically located in Santa Monica or Santa Monica resident operators. Selected vendors must comply with the City of Santa Monica's Single-Use Carryout Bag Ban Ordinance and Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance, requiring use of marine-degradable disposable food service items and prohibition of single-use plastic bags except for prepared food transport. All vendors are required to procure and maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, name the City as an additional insured, obtain a City business license if conducting business in Santa Monica, and pay stall fees equal to 12 percent of gross daily sales to the City plus a separate $2 per market legislative fee remitted to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Vendors must also comply with the City's Fire Code requirements for tent and canopy operations, cooking equipment placement, electrical safety, and fire extinguisher standards as outlined in the Fair and Festival General Requirements and Guidelines. No specific budget range or award value is published in the solicitation; compensation is structured as a percentage of daily vendor sales rather than fixed contract amounts.