Qualified restaurant concession operator and lease space opportunity

San Bernardino County's Department of Airports is soliciting proposals for a qualified restaurant concession operator to lease and operate a cafe and/or craft brewery at Apple Valley Airport. The procurement seeks a vendor to design, operate, staff, market, and maintain a food and beverage facility within Building A-190 (Rooms 7, 8, and 11) with non-exclusive patio access, offering tapas, small plates, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and craft beer services in both dine-in and take-out formats. Qualified proposers must demonstrate financial capability through audited or unaudited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year, annual reports for the previous two years, and a three-year financial proforma with revenue projections; maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including general liability ($2,000,000 combined single limit), workers' compensation, and environmental liability ($5,000,000); and register with the County's Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) prior to submission. The RFP timeline includes a voluntary site walk between January 5-15, 2026 (with an earlier optional walk December 1-12, 2025 requiring three-day RSVP), a deadline for submitting questions by January 23, 2026, a proposal submission deadline of March 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST, and a tentative contract award date in May 2026. Evaluation criteria emphasize meaningful job creation, long-term employment opportunities, and community engagement, including participation in the annual Apple Valley Airshow. The lease term will range from a minimum of ten years to a maximum of twenty years with possible extensions based on contractor performance and negotiations.

The County requires a minimum monthly lease payment of $250 or 9% of gross income (whichever is greater), with additional revenue sharing through commercial charges and fees, and a security deposit equal to one month's minimum rent. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are detailed in the available documentation, and no incumbent vendor information is disclosed. All proposers must comply with prevailing wage requirements as established by the California Department of Industrial Relations and complete mandatory DIR registration; prevailing wage determinations for construction and maintenance workers across San Bernardino County range from approximately $16.50 to $112.74 per hour depending on classification, with rates available through the DIR's Prevailing Wage Determination system. The contract is subject to Board of Supervisors approval, and all proposers must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. While the RFP does not specify an exact award value or budget, the financial structure is based on lease payments and revenue-sharing mechanisms tied to the operator's gross income performance at the facility.