Inside Iowa State

Nov. 18, 2005

Bid deadline extended in food services study

by Anne Krapfl

The process to select a food service provider on campus will take a little longer than previously announced. Prospective bidders now have until Dec. 16 to submit their proposals, said vice president for business and finance Warren Madden, a leader of the campus team that will evaluate the bids.

Under the new timeline, the evaluation team would complete its work by mid-February, with a final decision by President Gregory Geoffroy by the end of February.

Madden said the size and complexity of the food service operation is the reason for extending the deadline. A first addendum to Iowa State's Request for Proposals (RFP), containing additional information requested by vendors, was issued last week. Questions continue to come in, and work on a second addendum has begun, said Cory Harms, assistant director of ISU Purchasing.

ISU Dining is preparing a proposal, and the three large companies that provide most of the outsourced food service on university campuses -- ARAMARK, Chartwells and Sodexho -- also are expected to bid, Madden said.

Harms said a few smaller food service providers expressed early interest, but none have verified their interest in receiving addendums as they are issued.

During their annual review of residence systems at the regent universities last March, members of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, criticized the accumulating debt owed to the residence department by ISU Dining (in excess of $1 million at the time). The board told ISU officials to study the problem and review alternatives.

A financial combining on July 1 of all food operations -- residence dining centers with all retail operations (cafes, stores, vending and catering), reducing staffing and closing some facilities has helped stem the losses. Dining center revenues pay some of the residence department's debt on building projects.

Madden emphasized that any outcome is possible at this point. "No decisions have been made on whether to outsource campus dining services.

"The evaluation team, which includes students, faculty and staff, will review all proposals that come in and make recommendations," he said. "We want the process to be as open as possible."

He noted that about 80 percent of ISU Dining customers are students, so satisfying that audience is especially important.

"No decisions have been made on whether to outsource campus dining services. The evaluation team, which includes students, faculty and staff, will review all proposals that come in and make recommendations. We want the process to be as open as possible."

Warren Madden, a leader of the campus team that will evaluate the bids