Snack and beverage vending services

Midlands Technical College, through the State Fiscal Accountability Authority's Division of Procurement Services, is seeking exclusive Snack and Beverage Vending Services contracts for six campuses: Airport, Beltline, Harbison, Northeast, Batesburg-Leesville, and Fairfield. The solicitation requires two separate contracts - one for beverage services and another for snack services - with vendors responsible for providing, maintaining, and servicing vending machines across these locations. Vendors must supply a diverse range of products, including beverages, snacks, and healthy options, while ensuring machine maintenance, cleaning, and immediate service for mechanical issues. The evaluation will be based on best value using weighted criteria: 60% for Commission Amount and Financial Incentives, 25% for Marketing Proposal and Customer Service, 10% for Quality and Number of Products, and 5% for Qualifications and Experience. Key submission requirements include machines that are brand new or less than five years old, capable of accepting cash, coins, and debit cards, and providing monthly operating statements. The pre-proposal conference is scheduled for August 29, 2024, at 10:30 AM via Microsoft Teams, with site visits required beforehand, and final offers must be submitted online by October 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM ET, with questions due by September 4, 2024.

The contract does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The current incumbent vendors include Pepsi Bottling Group for beverage services and Canteen Vending Company/Campus Group for snack services, both of which will be replaced by the new contractors. The existing infrastructure encompasses approximately 61 cold beverage machines, 5 hot beverage machines, 30 snack/candy machines, and 2 cold food machines across the campuses. The current annual vending sales average $814,000, with the beverage contract requiring a minimum guaranteed commission of $45,000 or 48% of gross sales (estimated at $93,000), plus a $20,000 annual support fee. The snack contract requires a minimum guaranteed commission of $30,000 or 20% of gross sales (estimated at $75,000), with a $5,000 annual support fee. The initial contract term is two years, with three one-year renewal options, for a maximum contract period of five years, and an estimated start date of November 22, 2024. Notably, the vendor will have exclusive access to Sweet Aromas outlets on Airport and Beltline Campuses, adding potential value to the contract.