New York State Contract Reporter #260930BP

SUNY Potsdam Campus Dining Services

SUNY Potsdam is seeking an experienced food-service operator to manage and grow dining across its campus. - Government buyer: State University of New York (SUNY), SUNY Potsdam, Procurement Services; procurement contact is Michelle McCarthy, Director of Procurement Services. - Requested service: Comprehensive campus dining operations, including residential dining and meal plans, retail and convenience food, catering, concessions, vending and micro-markets, and service for events, summer programs, camps, conferences, and reduced-population periods. - Meal-plan structure: Residential options include 19 meals per week with 100 Flex credits ($3,437), 14 meals per week with 700 Flex credits ($3,437), and 9 meals per week with 1,000 Flex credits ($3,098). Commuter options include 1,500, 1,000, 500, or 300 Flex credits, and a $750 option with 75 meal swipes and 100 Flex credits. Commuter plans include a reusable to-go container. - Notable requirements: Emphasis on affordability, student experience, expanded evening and weekend access, dietary inclusion, and a specialized top-nine-allergen-free zone. The operator is also expected to support sustainability, food recovery, local and regional sourcing, technology, reporting, continuous improvement, and revenue growth. - Financial proposal: Respondents are asked to provide meal-plan and retail pricing, revenue projections, commissions or revenue sharing, minimum guarantees, capital investment, university charges, and financial assumptions. Financial schedules cover Years 1–5 and use 220 board billing days as a planning estimate. - OEMs and vendors: No product manufacturers or prospective bidders are named in the solicitation. Potential competitors include Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, Sodexo, Chartwells Higher Education, and AVI Foodsystems.

Description

SUNY Potsdam is soliciting proposals for dining services under a ten-year services contract, with an anticipated term from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2037. The procurement covers the campus dining program, including residential meal plans, retail and convenience dining, catering, and related services. Proposals require attendance at a mandatory pre-bid site visit and must be submitted in a sealed bid, in triplicate, with an electronic response; the financial and cost proposal must be submitted separately from the technical response. The proposal deadline is November 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST.

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