WINTERVILLE�With the new Craig Goess Student Center set to open in early 2009, Pitt Community College is seeking proposals from vendors wanting to manage an expanded array of food and/or vending services, including catering. PCC administrators issued a request for proposals for a new food services contract on Oct. 1 and set an Oct. 31 deadline for submissions. The college is seeking a three-year deal plus two optional years with a vendor that would manage cafeteria line services, catering and vending machine services on and off campus. Vendors bidding on the PCC food services contract must attend a mandatory pre-bid conference at the college on Oct. 15. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Everett Building (Room 141) and will include a walk-through of the Goess Center, which will include a kitchen with commercial-grade restaurant equipment and student, faculty and staff dining facilities. PCC administrators view the Goess Center�s opening as an opportunity for the college to expand and improve upon its current �snack bar� facility. A new and expanded dining area in the Goess Center is to include wireless Internet access and food services provided from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. �We'll expect the bidders to include a variety of healthy and quality food choices at reasonable prices,� said Susan Everett, Vice President of Administrative Services at PCC. Everett noted that PCC is a member of the Pitt County Department of Health�s Winner�s Circle Healthy Dining Program, meaning the college must make a minimum of one Winner�s Circle food choice available at all times. PCC administrators hope to have the bidding process for its food services completed by Nov. 26 with a contract awarded by Dec. 18. |