Food Services, System Wide (Cooperative)

Houston City College (HCC) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for system-wide food services across its 19 campuses, targeting multiple independent school districts and municipalities in the greater Houston area. The procurement seeks vendors capable of providing three distinct service models based on campus enrollment: Prepared Food Service for high-enrollment campuses (700+ students), Grab and Go Food Service for medium-enrollment campuses (500-700 students), and Prepared Food Vending for smaller campuses (fewer than 500 students). Key objectives include establishing food service operations that ensure high food quality, service reliability, customer satisfaction, and compliance with health and safety regulations. Vendors must demonstrate expertise in operating food services in semi-captive educational environments. The RFI timeline includes a non-mandatory pre-submittal meeting on January 8, 2026, at HCC's Administration Building, with written questions due by January 13, 2026, and responses provided by January 16, 2026. Proposals are due January 22, 2026, by 2:00 PM local time, with an anticipated administrative award recommendation in February 2026.

The procurement explicitly requires certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) subcontracting participation, mandating that vendors submit a formal subcontracting plan prior to commencing work. HCC will provide capital costs at five designated campuses and cover certain operating expenses like utilities, licenses, and fees, while expecting vendors to operate as self-sustaining providers responsible for food, labor, and marketing costs. The contract structure allows for a five-year initial term with options to renew for up to five additional one-year terms, subject to mutual agreement. Financial terms, including commission rates and cost allocations, will be negotiated in the final contract. HCC reserves the right to award separate contracts to multiple service providers and may participate in the School Food Authority program to generate additional reimbursable meal revenue. All proposal responses become HCC property and are subject to the Texas Public Information Act, with only clearly marked "Confidential Information" potentially exempt from public disclosure. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed in the RFI, the procurement suggests a comprehensive, multi-campus food service solution with potential for significant operational scope.