Café Provider for Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is seeking proposals for a food-service provider to operate the existing cafe space at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. The contract consists of an initial two-year term with four optional two-year renewals. The selected provider will be responsible for full cafe operations, including staffing, inventory management using FIFO rotation, and the provision of nutritional and allergen information for all products. The university is open to various business models, including cost-plus or full-risk concession arrangements, and the contractor will have the discretion to establish retail menu pricing. The anticipated daily population is approximately 1,130 people, and the provider must supply their own point-of-sale hardware. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Jaggaer portal by September 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Award selection is based on the best overall proposal, considering qualifications and suitability rather than price alone. Key requirements include compliance with PCI DSS security standards, adherence to OSHA and VDLI safety regulations, and the use of clean, climate-controlled vehicles for all deliveries. Meat products must meet Federal Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications and Virginia Department of Agriculture regulations. Additionally, the contractor must follow Virginia Tech's Licensing and Trademarks Administration procedures and provide a plan for utilizing Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned subcontractors if they are not SWaM certified themselves.