Sushi Bar Operations

Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina is issuing Request for Proposal RFP55-012326 to procure sushi bar operations services for its campus food services program. The primary location is the Cascades Cafe in the Plemmons Student Union at 263 Locust Street, Boone, NC 28608, with packaged sushi distribution required to five additional campus locations. The vendor must operate a comprehensive sushi bar offering traditional sushi rolls, poke bowls, ramen bowls, and boba tea, with mandatory vegan and allergen-free options including gluten-free and products free of the top nine allergens. The facility provides approximately 290 square feet of dedicated space including a 9'x18' dry storage room, 8'x16' food preparation area, rice cooking station, double-door freezer, coolers, and shared dishwashing equipment. The sushi bar must maintain minimum weekly gross sales of $2,000 and operate from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM during all business days when the premises are open, including summer months. The vendor must employ a full-time on-site manager with ServSafe certification and adequate trained staff, maintain a sanitation grade of at least 92 (preferably 95) from the State or local Health Department, and assume responsibility for all certification and inspection fees. Evaluation will be based on product quality and variety, vendor qualifications, vendor experience and reliability, vendor response time, and pricing. Written questions must be submitted by January 30, 2026, with proposals due by February 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. The contract term runs through June 30, 2027, with optional renewal for up to three additional one-year terms at the State's discretion.

The University will provide utilities, basic cleaning supplies, point-of-sale system integration, and dining facilities at no cost to the vendor, while the vendor must supply all equipment, ingredients, and delivery services with proper temperature control documentation. Vendors must register with North Carolina's Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP), provide at least three customer references, complete a financial condition certification, and comply with North Carolina's General Terms and Conditions. The procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) participation goal of 10% diverse subcontractor utilization, and all vendors must comply with state and federal requirements including E-Verify employment authorization verification. No specific incumbent vendor or award value has been identified in the RFP documentation. Interested vendors should note that the University retains the right to require employee replacements and will integrate the selected vendor's operations with existing point-of-sale systems and campus dining infrastructure.