Dining Services Consulting Request for Proposals Issue Date: November 13, 2020 Proposals Due: November 24, 2020, 5PM

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Colleges of the Fenway (COF) is a 25-year-old consortium and 501C3 organization based in , Massachusetts comprised of Emmanuel College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, MCPHS University, , and Wentworth Institute of Technology. With a combined student body population of approximately 16,000, Colleges of the Fenway seeks operating efficiencies and relationships with suppliers who provide high quality services and products to higher education clients. Purpose: The Colleges of the Fenway (“COF”) invites qualified and responsible vendors with expertise in Dining Services to assist three consortium member institutions in the development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for dining service vendors, administration of the RFP process, and possible implementation of a dining services program. Members wish to enhance the dining experience for students, faculty, staff and guests; develop engaging dining options that foster vibrant campus communities; and optimize the unique location of member institutions in the Fenway neighborhood to expand dining service revenue.

Timeline: • COF releases Request for Proposal for Dining Services expertise 11/13/2020 • Questions accepted until 5PM 11/18/2020 • COF responses sent to all bidders by 5PM 11/20/2020 • Final and best proposals due by 5PM 11/24/2020 • Evaluation committee review period ends 12/1/2020 • Award contract to finalist 12/4/2020 • Kick-Off meeting with COF and selected consultant 12/7/2020 • Selected consultant assists COF members to implement a new dining program by 7/1/2021

Proposal Submission: Final proposals should be submitted to [email protected] no later than 5PM on 11/24/2020.

Questions: It is the responsibility of the Bidder to inquire about any requirement of this RFP that is not understood. Responses to inquiries, if they change or clarify the RFP in a substantial manner, will be forwarded to all parties that have received a copy of the RFP. Inquiries from invited respondents must be made to [email protected] before 5PM 11/18/2020. Answers will be compiled and sent to all invited bidders by 5PM 11/20/2020.

SCOPE OF SERVICES The Dining Services Consultant will provide professional management of a COF Dining Services Request for Proposal process with the goal of implementing an updated dining service program by 7/1/2020.

Dining Services Request for Proposal

1

• Develop RFP for COF Dining Services based on the needs and expectations of COF, including considerations for sustainability, nutrition/ health, cultural sensitivity, menu variety, revenue generation opportunities, and creating a dynamic and engaging dining experience • Develop evaluation criteria for RFP responses • Develop evaluation criteria for vendor presentations • Attend all vendor presentations in association with the Dining Services RFP • Review all proposals and evaluate utilizing the developed evaluation criteria • Develop a financial evaluation along with financial projection for full contract term

Dining Services Contract Award • Provide consultation to COF officials throughout contracting process • Assist COF in reviewing and proposing appropriate contractual language • Assist in development of talking points • Assist COF officials with contract negotiations

Post Award • Assist in development of a program evaluation- including but not limited to evaluation tools and techniques so COF officials are able to evaluate the program to make certain performance and contractual obligations are met on a quarterly/ annual basis.

Optional Services • Consultants may be engaged for additional services- including implementation of dining service program. Proposals should include information on any additional services COF may consider.

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS Each response shall also include any other information the Bidder feels is significant in making an informed decision relative to the proposal. • Contact Information o Name of proposing firm o Website, address, telephone o Authorized agency representative, title, email, telephone o Location of office that will manage the project

• Executive Summary o Briefly state the understanding of the Scope of Services of this RFP. o Describe resources and experience relevant to the Scope of Services including specific expertise in providing dining service consultation to higher education institutions and experience managing collaborative projects with multiple agencies. o The number of years the bidder has been in business providing relevant services.

• Professional Experience o List five (5) clients who may be contacted as a reference (client names, addresses, telephone numbers, and names of client representatives and dates of service). o Provide at least three (3) examples of similar work completed for consortiums or collaboratives involving multiple institutions.

2

• Proposer’s Approach o Describe methodology and approach in providing Dining Consulting Services to the COF based on Scope of Services. o A project plan and proposed timetable outlining the methodology to seamlessly transition food service providers without causing an interruption in services provided to the campus community (if necessary).

• Additional Information o Additional information, not specifically requested above, that your company considers necessary for fair evaluation of the proposal.

• Pricing Proposal o Bidder is expected to provide sufficient pricing details to permit the COF to understand the basis for the quotation. Please disclose any additional charges that would be incurred by the COF, including but not limited to travel expenses and any other financial terms. Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated on many criteria deemed to be in COF’s best interests; including, but not limited to: the experience of Bidder, proposed approach to address scope of work, ability to meet timelines, and costs to member institutions.

Award of Proposal: Presentations may be requested of one or more Bidders deemed by the evaluators to be the best suited among those submitting proposals based on the selection criteria. After presentations have been conducted, evaluators may select the bidder which, in its opinion, has made the proposal that is the most responsive and most responsible and may award the contract to that bidder. COF may cancel this RFP or reject any or all proposals at any time prior to an award.

Contact Information: The contact for the coordination and dissemination of all information regarding this RFP is: Suzy Mason, Senior Director Collaborative Business Services, Colleges of the Fenway [email protected]

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Expenses: Expenses for developing and presenting proposals shall be the entire responsibility of the Bidder and shall not be chargeable to the COF. All supporting documentation and manuals submitted with this proposal will become the property of the COF unless requested by the Bidder, in writing, at the time of the submission, and agreed to, in writing, by the COF. Sensitive/Confidential Information During the assessment and/or project, the contractor may have access to sensitive and/or confidential information, the privacy of which is legally protected or the disclosure of which is legally prohibited. The contractor will be required to keep such information confidential to the fullest extent provided by state or federal law. Governing Law This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

3

Indemnification The Vendor shall indemnify and hold harmless the COF and its agents and employees from and against all claims, for infringement of any United State Patent, or damages, losses, and expenses including attorney fees arising out of or resulting from the performance of the work, furnishing of services, or furnishing of materials, good, or equipment, as required by the Request for Proposal, including but not limited to claims regarding defects in materials, good, or equipment, which is caused in whole or in part by any breach of contract, or omission of the successful proposer(s), any sub-vendor(s), or anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone for whose acts any of them may be liable. Cancellation/Termination: If the Contractor defaults in its agreement to provide service in accordance with the contract terms, COF may take whatever action it deems necessary to provide alternate services and may, at its option, immediately cancel this Contract.

Equal Opportunity: In the execution of the contract, the Contractor and all subcontractors working with COF, COF member institutions agree not to discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability or veteran’s status and to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Sexual Harassment: COF is committed to providing a positive environment for all students and staff. Sexual harassment, whether intentional or not, undermines the quality of this educational and working climate. COF has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that all students and employees can learn and work in an environment free of sexual harassment.

Other Terms & Conditions: The awarded vendor will be required to execute the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Terms and Conditions document - link below. http://inside.massart.edu/Documents/departments/administrative_services/PU-Comm-TandC.pdf

4