SPECIAL NOTICE
S -- Cafeteria Services
- Notice Date
- 12/12/2012
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 722310
— Food Service Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Room 537C, MSC-7663, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7663
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7663
- Solicitation Number
- NIHOD2013405
- Archive Date
- 2/8/2013
- Point of Contact
- Oghogho Joy Ajao, Phone: 3014435655
- E-Mail Address
-
ajaooj@mail.nih.gov
(ajaooj@mail.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY : This is a request for information (RFI) to be used for market research purposes only. The Government is conducting market research to assist in determining the appropriate acquisition strategy for a performance-based food service contract at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), main campus in Bethesda, MD. The Government is seeking responses from all businesses capable of performing the required services. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE or PROPOSAL. Responses to this announcement are not considered quotes or offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses will not be used for evaluation in any resultant solicitation for this requirement. All information received in response, however, will be handled as proprietary information in the same manner as an offer. Failure to respond to this RFI will not in any way preclude participation in future solicitations. The Government will not be held responsible for any costs incurred in response to this announcement. Participation is strictly voluntary. All responses to this request must be received in writing, no later than January 24, 2013 at 3:00 PM. EST. Background NIH is the largest of 11 agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services and the principal biomedical research arm of the Federal Government. NIH conducts basic, clinical, and applied research on a broad spectrum of diseases and health problems within 27 different Institutes and Centers (IC), each with its own specific research agenda. The Clinical Research Center, located on the Bethesda campus is the world's largest research hospital devoted exclusively to clinical investigation. Its role is to support clinical research done by all the other ICs, as well as to conduct research done by its own staff. Most of NIH's funding is awarded through competitive grants to research institutions in every state and around the world but 10% goes to supports projects conducted by nearly 6,000 scientists in its own laboratories, most of which are on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Campus Layout and Demographics The Bethesda campus occupies 320 acres in Montgomery County, Maryland, approximately 5 miles northwest of Washington, DC. It is the primary workplace for over 80% of the NIH workforce. Based on the FY11 building census, 18,029 workers are employed at the Bethesda campus and the census is expected to grow to ~20,000 the next time it's taken. The NIH community is widely diverse in every way. Current Food Service Providers Eurest Dining Services currently operates five (5) cafeterias and two (2) coffee bars on the Bethesda campus, under a performance-based contract that employs union labor under a collective bargaining agreement (see table below). Service Location Hours of Operation Annual customer count (FY 12) Cafeteria Bldg 10/ACRF M-F | 6:30am-8:00pm W/H | 8:00am-6:00pm 399,074 Cafeteria Bldg 10/B1 Level M-F | 6:30am-2:30pm 388,201 Coffee Bar Bldg 10/CRC (Au Bon Pain) M-F | 6:30am-8:30pm 420,617 Cafeteria Bldg 31/Level 1 M-F | 6:30am-2:30pm 323,635 Cafeteria Bldg 35/Level 1 M-F | 6:30am-2:30pm 89,007 Coffee Bar Bldg 40 Atrium (Cyber café) M-F | 6:30am-5:00pm 68,432 Cafeteria Bldg 45/Level 1 M-F | 6:30am-2:30pm 117,969 Under separate agreement with the Government, the Maryland Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (MBEPB) independently overseas the operation of two (2) cafeterias, as well as five (5) concession stands under the Randolph-Sheppard Act (as amended), which provides employment and business opportunities for visually impaired vendors through the Maryland Department of Education. This agreement will continue to be managed separately from the new food contract. General Scope of Work Provide prompt, efficient, and courteous full-scale, food service on the NIH Bethesda campus 365 days/year with at least one food service facility open 7 days per week/365 days per year to meet the needs of the diverse employee population with varying work patterns and non-standard office hours; and provide catering services for conferences, special events, and public functions held on the Bethesda campus. The contractor should be able to provide a variety of daily menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner as needed. The food and beverage selections should always be delicious, nutritious, reasonably priced, and include a range of dietary alternatives for customers to choose from (i.e., vegan, vegetarian, organic, etc.). The Government proposes the contractor make a capital investment of $1.5 million, at a minimum, for equipment and facilities over five (5) years. Contractor's suggested retail pricing structure will be subject to approval by the client. The proposed period of performance is five (5) years with three (3), one (1) year option periods and award incentives used to inspire outstanding contract performance. The proposed financial model may include some rent, utilities, and some equipment maintenance. However, the Government is open to negotiating alternative investment strategies, financial models, and terms of performance. Suggestions are encouraged and should be included in your response to this RFI. The Government may incorporate proposed models of interest into the RFP without attribution. Minimum Requirements •· Meet all licensing/insurance requirements and comply with other Federal, state, and local laws •· Deliver full service food preparation and production to accommodate a diverse constituency •· Provide on-site management/leadership and be accessible to client 365/24/7 •· Provide regular staff development training/performance evaluation and incentives •· Deliver outstanding customer service/ hospitality policy and provide routine training for all staff •· Set strict safety and sanitation guidelines, policies, and demonstrated practices •· Set high standards for facility operation and equipment maintenance •· Offer diverse, rotating menu selections with nutrition facts and guidelines •· Offer robust nutrition/ wellness programs and campaigns •· Demonstrate corporate social responsibility and recycling initiatives •· Provide reliable strategy for collecting/ reporting customer feedback •· Provide sound strategy for fiscal accountability, records and risk management •· Develop a partnership with NIH that contributes to the customers' overall enjoyment of the dining experience (i.e., avoid long lines, offer friendly customer service, etc.) Information Requested Interested vendors should provide a statement that addresses the following information and describe how your company is capable to meet each of the minimum requirements, listed above. Please submit all responses and inquiries in writing via email by the stated deadline: •· Describe in detail your industry experience performing each of the minimum requirements (listed above) on a comparable scale and include when, where, and how long performed •· Provide evidence of business capacity, capital feasibility, and number of years in business •· Provide company's full name, address, phone, and point of contact with email address. Place of Performance NIH Main Campus 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 Contracting Officer Ms. Foteni (Tina) Tiffany 6011 Executive Blvd, Rm 6011/529J Rockville, MD 20892 tiffanif@mail.nih.gov |301.402.3079 Point of Contact Ms. Oghogho (Joy) Ajao Contract Specialist 6011 Executive Blvd, Rm 6011/625C Rockville, MD 20892 ajaooj@mail.nih.gov |301.443.5655
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/OLAO/NIHOD2013405/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NIH Main Campus-9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN02947076-W 20121214/121212234316-07462de37c56fdad6d0eb245ff97124a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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