DEPARTMENT: Convention & Sports Facilities
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Michael J. Sawaya
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 1
SUBJECT:
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Catering & Concessions Contract
SUMMARY:
This is a staff briefing on the process and recommendation for the selection of a contractor to provide exclusive catering and concession services for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This contract covers all food and beverage service on an exclusive basis for events held in the Convention Center (includes the Lila Cockrell Theatre). Included are the rights to provide event-related non-edible merchandise services (including novelties, souvenirs and programs) for a commercial event. The selected vendor will be responsible for booking catering business for the Convention Center, and becoming an integral member of the Convention Center's Customer Outreach Program.
The current Catering and Concessions Contract at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center was approved by City Council in October 1996. Through various renewals and extensions, this contract is set to expire on December 31, 2015. In order to provide sufficient time in the event of a transition from the incumbent contract, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in May 2014.
The RFQ was released for eight months, and two Pre-Submittal Conferences were held in June and July, 2014 to allow for vendor questions and clarification to the RFQ. Three responses to the RFQ were received; however one was disqualified from the process for failing to meet the requirements of the SBEDA Ordinance. Specifically, the proposal failed to document how the subcontracting goals established for this contract would be met and failed to request a waiver from these goals.
The evaluation committee consisted of representatives from the City Manager's Office, Convention & Sports Facilities Department, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Co...
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