Food Service in Recreation and Wellness Center

The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP #759-26-002) for food service operations within its Recreation and Wellness Center. The procurement seeks a qualified vendor to provide health and wellness-focused food and beverage services in a 475 square foot dedicated space, including protein shakes, fresh smoothies, coffee/tea drinks, nutritious sandwiches, wraps, and snack options. Proposals must exclusively use Coca-Cola branded beverages and bottled items. The vendor will be responsible for all operational aspects including opening costs, equipment maintenance, staffing, inventory management, daily cleaning, health and safety compliance, and staff training. Proposals are due by December 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM CT, with a pre-proposal meeting scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM CT. The evaluation criteria include menu quality and variety (40 points), vendor experience and qualifications (20 points), operational strategy (10 points), health and safety compliance (10 points), financial viability (10 points), and references (10 points).

The RFP mandates a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26 percent subcontracting goal, which requires specific documentation and outreach to Texas-certified HUB vendors. The contract term is three years with potential renewal for two additional one-year periods, totaling a maximum of five years. The university serves approximately 8,500 students, 2,000 community members, and 200 faculty/staff, with daily foot traffic ranging from 600-800 people and potential weekend rental groups adding 800-1,000 visitors. There is no subsidy model, and meal plan dollars cannot be used at this location. Vendors must pay $105 annually per employee parking permit, and rental terms including monthly rate and utility responsibilities are negotiable. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, historical sales data from 2022-2024 indicates substantial transaction volumes, with total smoothie sales reaching 35,837 units in the 2023-2024 academic year, suggesting potential revenue opportunities for the selected vendor.