RFP Alcoholic Beverage Concessionaire for Festivals and Special Events

The City of Richardson, Texas is soliciting proposals under RFP No. 701-27 for an alcoholic beverage concessionaire to operate festival and special-event concessions under a revenue-sharing agreement, with a pre-proposal conference on October 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. via Zoom and proposals due November 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The procurement carries no set-asides or preference programs. Proposers must hold, or demonstrate the ability to obtain, a valid Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission license.

The concessionaire handles all staffing, permitting, licensing, inventory, equipment, point-of-sale operations, and compliance for the program at each designated event. Proposers must show at least five years of experience operating alcoholic beverage concessions at festivals or large-scale public events and provide three to five municipal or governmental references. Designated events include the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival (30,000 estimated annual attendance), the Cottonwood Art Festival (held twice annually in May and October, 30,000 attendance each), the July 4th Family Festival (5,000), and Huffhines Harvest Fest (5,000).

Required insurance includes commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, liquor liability of $4 million per occurrence and aggregate, workers' compensation with $500,000 employer's liability, business automobile liability of $1 million per accident, and $2 million excess liability. The City must be named as additional insured on all applicable policies.

The initial term is one year from award, with the City holding options for four additional one-year periods on the same terms. Either party may terminate on sixty days' written notice, and the City may terminate within the first six months for unsatisfactory performance. Compensation is a percentage commission on total event sales. Proposers must outline commission percentages payable to the City, additional staffing and service fees, and any guaranteed minimums.

Proposals are scored on a 100-point scale: 40 points for qualifications and experience, 35 points for equipment and operational support, and 25 points for the proposed commission.