Project Information

Bid Title

Temporary Food Operation at Iowa Memorial Union

Issuing Agency

Iowa State University

Location

Iowa

Published Date

Feb 19, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 3, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

18563

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Information

Type	Request for Qualifications - Sealed
Status	Issued
Number	18563 (Temporary Food Operation at Iowa Memorial Union)
Issue Date & Time	2/19/2026 11:00:00 AM (CT)
Close Date & Time	3/3/2026 03:00:00 PM (CT)
Question Cut Off Date	2/24/2026 03:00:00 PM (CT)
Notes	The University of Iowa (hereafter, The University/University) located in Iowa City, Iowa, desires to obtain written proposals from qualified and licenses food service Suppliers to provide temporary food service retail operations at the Iowa Memorial Union. Please be aware that this bid has a quick turnaround.  All Suppliers are cautioned to allow ample time for the submittal of RFQL responses well before the due date time requirement. Bids must be submitted via the eBid system.

Contact Information

Name	Andy Lane
Address	202 PCO Iowa City, IA 52242-2500 USA
Phone	(319) 335-1207
Fax
Email	andy-lane@uiowa.edu

Bid Documents

Document name	Format
Bid Invitation	Acrobat / PDF	BINVAVL	9126913

Bid Attachments

File Name	Description	File Size
Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025.09.11 FINAL.docx	Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025 September 11	59 KB	339779	6942247
Standard Terms and Conditions 2025.09.11 FINAL.pdf	University of Iowa Standard Terms and Conditions 2025 September 11	212 KB	339779	6942253

Attachment Preview

18563

Temporary Food Operation at Iowa Memorial Union

Issue Date: 2/19/2026

Questions Deadline: 2/24/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Response Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Contact Information

Contact: Andy Lane

Address: Purchasing

PCO

202

202 PCO

Iowa City, IA 52242-2500

Phone: (319) 335-1207

Email: andy-lane@uiowa.edu

Page 1 of 14 pages

Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18563

Event Information

Number:

18563

Title:

Temporary Food Operation at Iowa Memorial Union

Type:

Request for Qualifications - Sealed

Issue Date:

2/19/2026

Question Deadline: 2/24/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Response Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

Notes:

The University of Iowa (hereafter, The University/University) located in Iowa City,

Iowa, desires to obtain written proposals from qualified and licenses food service

Suppliers to provide temporary food service retail operations at the Iowa Memorial

Union.

Please be aware that this bid has a quick turnaround. All Suppliers are

cautioned to allow ample time for the submittal of RFQL responses well

before the due date time requirement. Bids must be submitted via the eBid

system.

Billing Information

Contact: AP

Address: AP

PCO

202

202 PCO

Iowa City, IA 52242-2500

Phone: (319) 335-0115

Fax: (319) 335-2443

Bid Attachments

Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025.09.11 FINAL.docx

Professional Services Agreement with Travel Addendum 2025 September 11

Standard Terms and Conditions 2025.09.11 FINAL.pdf

University of Iowa Standard Terms and Conditions 2025 September 11

Requested Attachments

Proposal

(Attachment required)

Supplier must provide a detailed proposal as described in Attribute #8.

Audited Financial Statements

(Attachment required)

Supplier must provide audited financial statements as requested in Attribute #17.

Download

Download

Page 2 of 14 pages

Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18563

Bid Attributes

1 Request for Qualifications

RFQL responses MUST be submitted electronically through the eBid system. RFQL responses submitted by any

other means will not be accepted.

Read & Acknowledged

(Required: Check if applicable)

2 General

The University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa (hereafter, “University”) desires to obtain written proposals from

qualified suppliers to provide a temporary food service location at the Iowa Memorial Union in a timely, accurate and

professional manner. The objective of requesting proposals is to acquire services of a reputable and proven

supplier with a demonstrated ability to provide food services.

Although the University has listed general criteria that will be used in its final evaluation, the University does not

intend these criteria to limit the Supplier's creativity in preparing a proposal it believes will accomplish the

University's goals. The use of specific supplier will be based on the Supplier's performance.

The required documentation of expertise and qualifications outlined in this request is intended to serve primarily as

a general guide for each statement of qualifications, with the minimum requirements listed. Each Supplier is

expected to submit a fully detailed statement of qualifications, which adequately describes the advantages and

benefits the University would realize by selecting the Supplier.

The University may at its option, require oral presentations if deemed necessary, in considering the University's best

interest.

Interested Suppliers are invited to submit qualifications for the Supplier and the individual qualifications of the

Supplier’s representative(s) designated as key personnel to be assigned to the University if selected, as described

in the RFQL.

Read and Acknowledged

(Required: Check if applicable)

Page 3 of 14 pages

Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18563

3 Background

The University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a broad-based public university of international stature. As of fall 2025, its enrollment

totaled 31,563 students. It is recognized for its academic achievement; leadership in research; and its academic

health system, University of Iowa Health Care. As of Fiscal Year 2026, the University has an overall budget of $6.3

billion and employs approximately 20,150 full-time faculty and staff. More information can be found at the Office of

the Registrar.

The University of Iowa Health Care

University of Iowa Heath Care is Iowa’s comprehensive academic health system, which includes the Roy J. and

Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, the UI Health Care clinical enterprise, and UI Physicians, the multispecialty

medical and surgical group practice. The clinical enterprise includes medical centers on the university campus,

downtown Iowa City campus, and North Liberty campus in the neighboring community of North Liberty, Iowa. UI

Health Care also has outpatient clinic locations in the Iowa City area and communities throughout the state. The

downtown campus, formerly Mercy Iowa City Hospital, joined UI Health Care in January 2024. The North Liberty

campus, the first construction of a new hospital away from the university campus, opened in April 2025. At its

medical centers and clinics, UI Health Care provides adult and pediatric primary and specialty care to patients and

families from across Iowa, throughout the nation, and around the world. Its clinical enterprise is comprised of more

than 1,200 staff physicians and dentists, nearly 875 resident and fellow physicians, and over 6,000 nursing team

members. Collectively, the three medical center campus locations include more than 1,000 inpatient beds. For fiscal

year 2024, UI Health Care reported more than 34,000 inpatient admissions and over 1.3 million clinic visits at its

medical centers and clinics. UI Health Care is ranked annually by U.S. News & World Report as the state’s top

medical center and one of the nation’s best hospitals, with several of its specialties ranked among the top 50 in the

country. UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital is Iowa’s only children’s hospital nationally ranked by U.S.

News. UI Health Care was the first in Iowa to be designated a Magnet Hospital (2004) by the American Nurses

Credentialing Center and the first in Iowa to be re-designated four times (2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023). Through

innovation, collaboration, and expertise, UI Health Care is committed to providing safe, high-quality care with

excellent service and exceptional outcomes. In addition to serving as a center for highly specialized care, UI Health

Care conducts research to better understand, prevent, and treat injuries and illnesses, and it also educates

students and trainees in medicine and allied health professions.

4 Objective and Intent

The Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) is currently undergoing renovation and is expected to remain under renovation

through calendar year 2027. To facilitate the required construction activities, existing food service locations within

the IMU must be closed, significantly limiting food service options for students, visitors, and staff. The objective of

this Request for Qualifications (RFQL) is to obtain the services of a reputable, properly licensed, nationally

branded, food service provider to produce food off-premise and bring their product to campus to sell food at a

temporary location within the IMU. The University's preference is for a provider of hot sandwiches to compliment the

existing food services available at the IMU.

These services are required to begin immediately following the University’s spring break (March 15–March 22,

2026). Business operations for this food service need must commence on Monday, March 23, 2026, and will

continue through June 1, 2027. In the event the renovation schedule is extended, any resultant agreement may

also be extended to ensure uninterrupted food service operations through renovation completion.

The University seeks a Supplier to operate five (5) days per week, Monday through Friday, between the hours of

11:00 a.m. CST and 2:00 p.m. CST. However, if these days or hours do not sufficiently align with the needs of

students, visitors, and staff, the University reserves the right to adjust the days and/or hours of operation. Such

adjustments may include reducing the number of service days or modifying operating hours. The successful

Supplier must be flexible and willing to collaborate with the University to ensure service objectives are met.

The successful Supplier will be required to prepare all food items off-site and to store food items on-site during

operating hours in a safe and sanitary manner, in full compliance with all applicable food safety regulations. The

Supplier must provide, operate, and maintain its own point-of-sale equipment and is solely responsible for staffing

and operating the food service location. The University will not be responsible for food preparation, storage, setup,

staffing, or the sale of food. The University’s role is limited to providing the physical space necessary for the

Supplier to deliver food services to IMU patrons.

Page 4 of 14 pages

Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18563

5 Scope of Services

The successful Firm will work in partnership with the University and will be expected to fulfill the following scope of

food service operartions, but not limited to:

Operations

The Supplier will be responsible for supplying all food and other necessary supplies, plus all management and labor

necessary for the safe, sanitary and efficient operation of the food service operation.

Prepare food off-site at Supplier's facility and transport food to IMU for resale.

Ensure food is properly stored on-site to meet food safety requirements.

Begin operations Monday March 23rd and continue services through IMU renovation completion, currently

estimated to be in calendar year 2027.

Be prepared to operate five days a week (M-F) from 11:00 a.m. CST to 2:00 p.m. CST initially but adjust days

and hours of operations as needed by customer demand and University request.

Provide main entree, sides (such as chips) and drink menu at a cost competitive to industry.

Supplier shall be responsible for paying all fees associated with accepting credit or debit cards.

Supplier shall provide all employee uniforms, aprons, jackets and other related food service linens. The

Supplier will also be responsible for the laundering, cleaning, and maintaining adequate inventory of these

items. Style and design of all uniforms shall be subject for approval of the University.

Supplier is expected to obtain, at its own expense, any permits, or licenses required by any federal, state,

municipal, county or hospital ordinance of regulation related to the food services and shall pay, at its sole

expense, all taxes lawfully assessed in connection with the operation of a food service.

Supplier shall comply with all Johnson County codes.

Supplier is responsible for immediately resolving all customer complaints with respect to its food service

operations, without expense to or intervention of the University.

Signage must be posted which indicates to the customer, the University Representative to whom they may

refer to for unresolved issues.

The Supplier's management/owner shall meet, at a minimum, annually, or otherwise agreed upon frequency,

with the University designee. The purpose of the reviews will be to discuss/resolve any operational issues, to

review the business operations, ensure customer satisfaction is being achieved, and review how to achieve

continued success in the partnership between the Supplier and the University.

Cleaning

The Supplier will be responsible for always keeping the space clean and sanitary. This includes, at minimum:

The cleaning of areas in the food service preparation area

The cleaning of the servery and dining room during regular hours of operation. The cleaning of the servery

and dining room after hours shall be the responsibility of the University.

Waste containers kept in a clean and satisfactory condition at all times and emptied as often as necessary to

maintain sanitary conditions. The cleanliness of these areas must meet with the approval of the University

and the opinion or decision by the University regarding cleanliness shall be final.

6 Scope of Services - Changes

The University reserves the right to change the scope of work as required. Notices of such changes will be made in

writing by the University to the Supplier.

Read and Acknowledged

(Required: Check if applicable)

7 Supplier Requirements

Suppliers must clearly demonstrate and provide documentation substantiating that they are compliant in each of the

following areas. The University reserves, solely, the right to reject any submittals if the evidence or references

submitted by such Supplier fails to satisfy the University that said Supplier is properly qualified in any of these

areas. It shall not be the responsibility of the University to request additional information to satisfy these

requirements, if such information is not provided with the submitted response. Failure to respond to any question or

follow the instructions herein may result in disqualification

Page 5 of 14 pages

Deadline: 3/3/2026 03:00 PM (CT)

18563

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 561210Facilities Support Services
• NAICS 561320Temporary Help Services
• NAICS 722310Food Service Contractors

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