Food services

Trident Technical College (TTC) is seeking a comprehensive food services contractor to operate retail cafes and micro-markets across multiple campuses in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, South Carolina. The solicitation requires a vendor to provide full-service food operations including cafeteria-style snack bars, hot and cold food items, sushi, salads, daily hot lunch specials, and self-checkout micro-market services at various campus locations. The contractor must maintain a Health Department Grade "A" rating, employ a full-time Professional Chef with at least five years of management experience, and an on-site Food Service Director with a two-year degree in food service management. Key proposal submission dates include a pre-proposal conference on September 10, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. via Microsoft Teams, with site visits available September 1-3 and 7, 2021. The proposal submission deadline is September 30, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., with questions due by September 10, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. Proposals will be evaluated primarily on approach and capabilities, followed by experience and qualifications, and price. The contract is structured as a one-year initial term with four one-year renewal options, spanning from November 11, 2021, to November 10, 2026.

The solicitation does not specify specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The contractor will be compensated through a commission percentage on gross retail food sales, with a minimum acceptable rate of 3%. Historical annual sales prior to COVID-19 ranged from $400,000 to $500,000 across all locations. TTC will provide existing facility spaces, utilities, and basic infrastructure, while the contractor assumes responsibility for labor, food procurement, equipment, supplies, cleaning, and personnel management. The contractor must accept multiple payment types, including meal cards, debit cards, credit cards, electronic payments, and cash. Insurance requirements include a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage, and the contractor must maintain valid SCDHEC permits and licenses. The solicitation targets service for a diverse commuter-based population of over 12,000 students, with service locations including campuses in Thornley, Berkeley, Mount Pleasant, Palmer, and Dorchester, as well as the South Carolina Aeronautical Center's Asado retail cafe.