Market Research for Student Meal Plan & Food Services

Utah Tech University is requesting information from vendors capable of conducting comprehensive market analysis regarding student dining operations under RFI 26-0910, with responses due September 26, 2026. This is an information-gathering vehicle, not a Request for Proposal, and does not guarantee a future procurement or contract award.

The scope addresses mandatory student housing meal plans and third-party food service providers. Utah Tech University intends to use the market research to inform strategic decisions about managing mandatory resident student meal plans either in-house or through external providers. Required research areas include peer institution benchmarking for public universities of similar size, financial implications and pricing models for mandatory meal plans, operating models for dining service administration (self-operated, fully outsourced, or hybrid), and available methodologies for gathering student and stakeholder data through surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

Responses must be submitted via the Utah Public Procurement Place (U3P) website in four separate PDF files: Executive Summary, Market Research Insights, Relevant Experience, and Pricing Information. Vendors should provide information on capabilities, available services, and pricing structures for market research services.

Utah Tech University reserves the right to invite selected vendors for further discussions and notes that only vendors who submit RFI responses will be considered responsive if an RFP is issued subsequently. No specific funding amount or contract term is identified in this RFI.