Great Falls College MSU Pour & Beverage Vending Rights

Great Falls College Montana State University (MSU) is seeking proposals for exclusive beverage vending, bottling, and pour rights across all campus facilities through Request for Proposal (RFP) Number MSU-RFP-2025-0712. The procurement solicits a comprehensive beverage service provider to supply soft drink products, excluding hot beverages, dairy, and alcoholic beverages, with a detailed market basket of 17 different product categories including bottled water, soda, energy drinks, and tea. The successful contractor will be responsible for providing 5-10 vending machines, beverage coolers, ice barrels, and fountain dispensers at no cost to the college, with delivery times restricted to Monday-Friday between 7:30-11am and 1-5pm. Proposals will be evaluated using a 500-point scoring system, with 60% (300 points) allocated to Scope of Project, 10% (50 points) to Offeror Qualifications, and 30% (150 points) to Cost Proposal. The solicitation was posted on April 25, 2025, with proposals due by May 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM MDT, and vendors can earn up to 50 bonus points by addressing the "Equal Pay for Montana Women" requirement.

The contract opportunity includes several unique provisions that may restrict or shape potential bidders, such as compliance with Montana House Bill 356 requiring vendors to certify they will not discriminate against firearm-related businesses. Vendors must submit a current W-9, provide company contact information, and demonstrate financial stability through references and company experience. The initial contract term runs from execution through April 30, 2026, with potential for renewal in one-year intervals for up to seven years. The contractor will receive a 38% commission on cash collected from vending machines and must provide 6-8 post-mix product flavors. Insurance requirements include $1,000,000 per occurrence commercial general liability coverage, automobile liability coverage, and $2,000,000 in cyber/data information security insurance. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract allows the college flexibility to bring in other beverage companies for special events or non-competing beverage types, ensuring operational autonomy while securing a primary beverage service provider.