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OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR DINING SERVICES MARCH 2, 2026 Table of Contents SECTION 1 Overview and Objectives ...................................................................... 4 1.0 Objectives of this RFP and the Role of the Contractor ............................................4 1.1 College Background.................................................................................................4 1.2 Project Description...................................................................................................4 1.3 Current Dining Services ...........................................................................................5 1.4 Additional Requirements and Terms of Service ......................................................5 SECTION 2 Submission Procedures and Reservation of Rights ........................... 5 2.1 Submitting Proposals ...............................................................................................5 2.2 Late Submissions .....................................................................................................7 2.3 Closing Date Extensions ..........................................................................................7 2.4 Inquiries ...................................................................................................................7 2.5 Response to Inquiries ...............................................................................................7 2.6 Additional Information ............................................................................................7 2.7 Reservation of Rights ...............................................................................................8 2.8 Terms and Conditions ..............................................................................................8 2.9 Approval by Board of Trustees ................................................................................8 2.10 Addenda ...................................................................................................................8 SECTION 3 Proposal Contents ................................................................................. 9 3.1 Contractor Cover Letter and Profile ........................................................................9 3.2 Insurance ................................................................................................................11 3.3 Scope of Work and Deliverables ...........................................................................11 3.4 Cost Proposal .........................................................................................................14 SECTION 4 Projected Timeline .............................................................................. 15 4.1 Projected Timing ....................................................................................................15 4.2 Changes to Projected Timing .................................................................................15 SECTION 5 Evaluation and Award ........................................................................ 15 5.1 Evaluation ..............................................................................................................15 5.2 Interviews, Presentations and Demonstrations ......................................................16 5.3 Rights Reserved .....................................................................................................16 5.4 Disqualification ......................................................................................................16 5.5 Contract Negotiations ............................................................................................16 5.6 Best and Final Offer ...............................................................................................17 5.7 Award and Contract ...............................................................................................17 SECTION 6 General Terms and Conditions .......................................................... 17 SECTION 7 RESPONDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................ 21 SECTION 8 Bid Form .............................................................................................. 22 Appendix A –Historical Gross Revenue ................................................................ 23 4 SECTION 1 Overview and Objectives 1.0 Objectives of this RFP and the Role of the Contractor Owens Community College (College) is utilizing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit and engage food service management companies and other providers of dining options. It is intended that the successful Contractor (the Contractor) will operate retail food services, catering, and other dining related activities as detailed in this RFP. The deadline to submit sealed proposals to College is 12:00PM(EST) on April 6, 2026. For purposes of this RFP, the terms “offeror” or “vendor” or “contractor” may be used interchangeably and shall be defined as the consulting or professional services firm that is interested in responding to this opportunity. The term “bid” and “proposal” may be used interchangeably to indicate material submitted to College by a vendor in order to be considered for award of a contract. The terms “offeror” or “selected contractor” may be used interchangeably in reference to a vendor selected by College through this RFP for contract award. 1.1 College Background Owens Community College began as a technical institute under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Education. The first classes were offered in Toledo on September 13, 1965 with less than 200 students. Two years later, in 1967, the College was chartered by the Ohio Board of Regents as a technical college. In 1994, the College was chartered as a comprehensive state community college with a district encompassing Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties, and parts of Ottawa and Sandusky counties. Owens Community College now has two campuses: the Toledo-area campus located in Perrysburg Township, Ohio and the Findlay-area campus located in Findlay, Ohio. The College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. College students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor's degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. Owens Community College has approximately 6,400 students, 136 full-time faculty, 460 adjunct faculty, along with 349 full-time staff and 18 part time staff. 1.2 Project Description Owens Community College is soliciting proposals from qualified Contractors to provide creative proposals for retail dining, convenience store operations, and catering for the Owens Toledo and Findlay campuses. Please be aware that traditional snack vending is operated by the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Business Enterprise Program. 5 1.3 Current Dining Services The facilities of the Toledo area campus include a fully operational commercial grade kitchen, serving area, and dining area in College Hall (The Fireside Grill). There is an additional fully operational kitchen, serving, and dining area in the Student Health and Activities Complex. The facilities of the Findlay campus include a fully operational commercial grade kitchen including a retail serving area. In addition to the existing facilities Contractors are encouraged to propose new concepts either within the footprint of the current operation or at alternate locations. Maps of the campus, including individual building floor plans, are located at the College’s website ( www.owens.edu/locations) Additional details on the equipment will be available during the walk-through scheduled for March 16, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. beginning at the Toledo area campus Fireside Grill. 1.4 Additional Requirements and Terms of Service The above-mentioned services are expected to begin as soon as practical for the start of the Fall semester which begins on August 24, 2026 once a contract is signed and purchase order is issued. During the term of any contract resulting from this RFP, the Contractor shall be engaged by the College solely on an independent contractor basis, and the Contractor shall therefore be responsible for all the Contractor's business expenses, including, but not limited to, employees' wages and salaries, insurance of every type and description, and all business and personal taxes, including income and Social Security taxes and contributions for Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Compensation coverage, if any. SECTION 2 Submission Procedures and Reservation of Rights 2.1 Submitting Proposals Interested vendors should submit two (2) hard copies (one original and two copies) and one (1) electronic copy to be emailed to david_wahr@owens.edu , (preferably in a searchable PDF or Microsoft Word format) no later than 1:00PM(EST) on APRIL 6, 2026 to: David Wahr Director, Business Operations Owens Community College 30335 Oregon Road Perrysburg, OH 43551 6 Note: If you wish to submit your proposal in person or via a courier service, deliver to: David Wahr Director, Business Operations Owens Community College Administration Hall 114 (inside the 112 office suite) 30335 Oregon Road Perrysburg, OH 43551 Each Proposal must be submitted in an envelope marked Owens Community College DINING SERVICES RFP. The subject line of any e-mail must read: DINING SERVICES RFP REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL: Proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that the College may properly evaluate the Contractor's capability to provide the required services. The Contractor must clearly state in the proposal any exceptions to or deviations from the specifications or terms and conditions. The College is not liable for any costs an offeror incurs in responding to this RFP or for participating in the evaluation process, regardless of whether the College awards the contract through this process, cancels, or reissues this RFP for any reason, or contracts for the work through some other process or through another RFP. Contractors are required to submit the following items or information: A. Respond in order to all of the items listed in Section 3 of the RFP and provide written narrative responses to each of the proposal requirements. B. Provide a cost proposal in the form provided by the College as required in Section 3. C. Return of completed Attachments and forms including: 1. Contractor’s Acknowledgements signed and completed as specified. 2. Bid Form, signed and completed as specified. This document includes the name, title and telephone number of Contractor's authorized agent with authority to bind the firm and answer official questions concerning the offeror’s proposal. 3. Offshore Services form D. State any exceptions to or deviations from the specifications or terms and conditions in this RFP, including the Sample Contract. All specifications or terms and conditions not identified as an exception are considered accepted by the Contractor. 7 Failure by any offeror to complete, sign (if applicable), and submit these required materials with their proposal may result in rejection of the proposal as being non-responsive and disqualified from further consideration. The College reserves the right to not review any submitted materials that include information or materials not required in the RFP. 2.2 Late Submissions Contractors are solely responsible for delivery of Proposals to the location designated in Section 2.1 on or before the closing date and time specified in Section 2.1. Any Proposal or revision or amendment thereto received after the date and time specified or improperly marked or submitted must be disqualified. Price corrections may only be made before the closing date and t