REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Specification No FOR BART PLAZA FOOD VENDORS RESPONSES WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Transcription

1 Finance Department General Services Division Dear Interested Party: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) Specification No FOR BART PLAZA FOOD VENDORS RESPONSES WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY The City of Berkeley is issuing this request for information to qualified firms or individuals to operate food services and retail businesses at Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza. This is a Request for Information (RFI), not an invitation to bid. Responses will not be opened publicly. Potential respondents should review this RFI document in its entirety to gain an understanding of the City's intent, applicable processes and how submitted information will be used. Information packages must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, May 1, All responses must be in a sealed envelope and have "BART PLAZA FOOD VENDORS" and Specification No clearly marked on the outer most mailing envelope. Please submit one ( 1) unbound original and three (3) unbound copies of the responses as follows: Mail or Hand Deliver To: City of Berkeley Finance Department/General Services Division 2180 Milvia Street, 3rd Floor Berkeley, CA Issuance of the RFI does not obligate the City to negotiate or award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the respondent in the preparation and submittal of responses to this RFI. Through this RFI process the City desires to gain knowledge of the capability of firms or individuals interested in providing the desired services and to assess the feasibility and utility of issuing permits and licenses for such services. The City of Berkeley is not obligated to any respondent as a result of this RFI. For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Jordan Klein, Economic Development Manager, via at jklein@ci.berkeley.ca.us no later than April 16, Answers to questions will not be provided by telephone or . Rather, answers to all question or any addenda will be posted on the City of Berkeley site at It is the vendor's responsibility to this site. For general questions concerning the submittal process, contact purchasing at ,,,, (We forward to receiving and reviewing your response. \s cerelyi,! ' 2180 Mil via Street, Berkeley, CA Tel: TDD: Fax: E-mai I: finance@ci.berkeley.ca. us Website:

2 City of Berkeley Specification No Page 2 of 4 I. BACKGROUND Over twenty-thousand people per day travel through Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza ( BART Plaza or the Plaza ), the public space at the southwest corner of Center Street and Shattuck Avenue. Other than the four (4) downtown San Francisco stations, Downtown Berkeley is the most heavily used BART station. The heart of our Downtown, the plaza is critical to the economic and social vitality of Downtown Berkeley, and the entire City. In 2013, the City of Berkeley and BART were awarded a $7.8 million grant from Alameda County Transportation Commission to enhance Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza. The renovation project includes a new main entrance, plaza pavers, lighting, and landscaping. The goals of the project are to: improve transit operations; enhance BART riders' experience by increasing comfort, visibility and safety; and improve the quality of public open space. In coordination with this major public works project, the Civic Arts Commission has invested approximately $325,000 to install sound and light poles that will provide infrastructure for public performances, ambient sound and light installations, and public address. A number of City departments are working closely with BART to ensure the implementation of these critical projects and the successful reopening of BART Plaza in summer The City of Berkeley plans to activate the soon to be reopened BART Plaza with public art, arts and cultural activities, commerce, and other public space enhancements. The purpose of these various activities and amenities is to ensure that the new BART Plaza is a successful public space that is welcoming and accessible for everyone, with a strongly defined sense of place that emphasizes Berkeley s rich arts community and cultural fabric. The specific components include temporary sculpture, sound installations, arts and cultural live programming, kiosks, and food vendors. See Attachment A, BART Plaza Activation Map for a graphical presentation of the renovated plaza. The City seeks to pilot a program whereby up to two (2) vendors will provide commercial food services and/or food retail at BART Plaza. Preference will be given to nonprofit entities or social enterprises that benefit youth, low-income people, or disadvantaged populations. The purpose of this RFI is to assess market interest, gather information to determine if the City should issue permits and licenses, and identify prospective firms or individuals to participate in the pilot program. Only those firms or individuals that respond to this RFI will be considered for participation in the pilot program. II. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES REQUIRED The City of Berkeley will issue up to two (2) business licenses to firms or individuals operating food services businesses within the following parameters: The program will be piloted for a 12-month period. The City Manager retains the right to cancel the pilot at any time. If successful, the program may be renewed, subject to approval by City Council. Businesses are subject to compliance with all applicable permits, regulations and codes, including but not limited to public works regulations, local and state health and safety regulations, and business license review, and associated expenses shall not be covered by the City of Berkeley. Businesses may operate within designated ten foot by ten foot (10 x10 ) areas at BART Plaza. Operations must be primarily bound within a self-contained mobile food facility or a canopy tent. All facilities and materials must be removed from the Plaza daily; no property may be stored overnight at the Plaza. Access to electrical power will be available at the site. No other utility access will be available. Business operations must not obstruct fire lane access or impede transportation operations. Operators must demonstrate access to restroom facilities. Operators are responsible for solid and liquid waste management. III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Responses to this RFI should include the following information, organized in separate sections. The RFI response should be concise and to the point. This RFI and all response hereto will become part of the public record, including any proprietary information or trade secret that is not conspicuously marked.

3 City of Berkeley Specification No Page 3 of 4 Respondents are cautioned to ensure that any proprietary information or trade secrets are conspicuously marked as such. A. Firm Identification and Background: Provide the name of the firm, the firm's principal place of business, the name and telephone number of the contact person and company tax identification number. Provide the name and contact information for the firm s ownership and management team. Provide the name, background and qualifications of the individuals that will oversee operations of the food retail or services business at BART Plaza. B. Firm Experience: Describe the firm s experience operating a food retail or services establishment and complying with the California Retail Food Code. Highlight any experience operating food retail or services in the public right-of-way. Describe the firm s experience, if any, serving the Berkeley community. C. Food Retail/Services Operations Plan: Provide an operations plan for food retail and/or services at BART Plaza, including the following: Describe the type of business you propose to operate, including product offerings; Describe the facilities that you will utilize at BART Plaza, including any special equipment; Describe your regular operations including proposed hours of operation, staffing and labor, loading and unloading, staging, customer service, and other relevant activities; Describe any other facilities that you will use for loading, staging or food preparation, including the specific location(s) and proximity to BART Plaza; Describe how you will provide access to handwashing facilities and toilet facilities for your employees; and Describe your plan for solid and liquid waste management. D. Financial Projections: Provide a summary of your projected costs and revenues for one year of operations. Break out costs and revenues into specific categories. E. Nonprofit Mission and Operations: If the respondent is a nonprofit organization or social enterprise, provide background information including the organization s mission statement and board of directors. Describe how your operations will benefit youth, low-income people, or disadvantaged populations. If respondent is not a nonprofit organization or social enterprise, provide information stating how the proposed operation will benefit youth, low-income people, or disadvantaged populations. IV. EVALUATION PROCESS Evaluation will include, but is not limited to the criteria below: A. Experience and demonstrated ability of the firm and team (20%) B. Food Retail/Services Operations Plan (50%) C. Nonprofit Mission and Operations (20%) D. Overall quality of the response and conformance with RFI requirements for content (10%)

4 City of Berkeley Specification No Page 4 of 4 After a review and ranking of the submittals, the City may identify and ask the highest ranked respondents to make an oral presentation to answer any questions the City may have and to clarify proposals. The City will then determine whether to issue permits and licenses for food services or food retail activities. If the City is unable to reach agreement with the selected respondents, the City will repeat the process with the next highest and so on, if necessary. The City reserves the right to reject any and all submissions. V. SCHEDULE (dates are subject to change) Issue RFI to potential bidders: 04/05/2018 Respondent Questions Due to City by 3pm 04/16/2018 Issue Addendum / Q&A via City Website 04/18/2018 RFI due to City by 2pm 05/01/2018 Thank you for your interest in working with the City of Berkeley for this service. We look forward to receiving your information package. Exhibits: BART Plaza Activation Map Exhibit A

5 Attachment A: BART Plaza Activation Map Vendor cart (10 x10, movable) Stage (8 x16, movable)