RFP No. 26-01 EXCLUSIVE FOOD & BEVERAGE OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT AT THE COLUMBUS CONVENTION AND TRADE

The Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center Authority is issuing RFP No. 26-01 to procure exclusive food and beverage operations and management services at its 180,000-square-foot facility located in Muscogee County and Columbus City. The procurement seeks a qualified vendor to provide comprehensive concessions, catering, food and beverage operations, and management services for banquet, meeting, and special event activities. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience in food service and catering management, with vendors expected to submit detailed proposals addressing qualifications and capabilities with references (weighted 20 percent), financial proposals and capital investment plans (25 percent), management, operations, and marketing strategies (25 percent), and demonstrated past performance (30 percent). Vendors must provide pro-forma income statements projecting annual F&B sales between $2.5 million and $4.5 million and submit a capital investment proposal to address kitchen equipment and infrastructure improvements identified in an April 2025 audit. Submission requirements include E-Verify compliance evidence, conflict of interest and federal compliance affidavits, business licenses, Form W-9, proof of insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence naming the Trade Center as additional insured, detailed qualifications, client references, staff resumes, transition and operational plans, and comparable facility information. A mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit will be held on February 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time with required RSVPs, proposals are due electronically by March 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to Executive Director Hayley Tillery, companies will be short-listed by March 26, 2026, finalist presentations are scheduled for April 23, 2026, contract negotiations will be completed by April 30, 2026, and authority approval of the final contract is expected by May 28, 2026, with operations commencing July 1, 2026.

The RFP does not identify specific set-asides or restrictions limiting participation to designated enterprise categories, meaning the procurement appears open to all qualified vendors meeting the stated requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Vendors must hold all required alcoholic beverage permits and licenses, with the Executive Director retaining sole authority to determine at which events alcoholic beverages may be sold, and must maintain Worker's Compensation, General Liability, and Automobile Liability insurance as specified. The selected vendor will operate under an initial five-year contract with an option to renew for one additional five-year period commencing July 1, 2026. Based on the anticipated annual F&B sales projections of $2.5 million to $4.5 million, the total contract value over the initial five-year term could range from $12.5 million to $22.5 million, though the RFP does not specify a guaranteed minimum revenue or specific award value.