Food Service Operations RFP - DCB-27-002

Dakota College at Bottineau is soliciting proposals for a qualified food service contractor to manage campus food service operations and provide catering for college events. The contract term begins July 1, 2027, and ends June 30, 2030, with the state reserving the right to execute up to three 12-month renewal options. To be eligible, offerors must demonstrate at least five years of dining management experience in a university environment of comparable scale. The successful contractor will be responsible for operating Jack’s Dining Hall, maintaining strict temperature controls for food safety, and adhering to USDA, FDA, and NSF standards. All meat must meet USDA L.M.P.S specifications, and specific grade requirements such as USDA Choice for beef and lamb must be met. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale, weighted toward the scope of work strategy (45 points), experience and qualifications (35 points), and the cost proposal (20 points). Submissions must be delivered electronically via NDBuys as two separate documents: a technical proposal and a cost proposal. The cost proposal must include pricing for residential meal plans, catering benchmarks, and management fees. The contract is governed by North Dakota law, with exclusive adjudication in the District Court of Burleigh County. Payment terms are set at 45 calendar days following the receipt of a correct invoice. The contractor must also ensure ADA compliance for all user-facing components and implement a quality assurance program with measurable results.