Request for Applications
Provision of Daily Catering Services for
The Multimedia Education Center (MEC) S.M.A.R.T. Café
Issue Date: April 20th, 2012
Application Due Date: May 11th, 2012 (By close of business day 6:00pm)
Anticipate Start date: May 27th, 2012
Introduction
The International Research and Exchange Board (IREX), under the scope of G-MEDIA program, requests applications for provision of catering services to the Multimedia Education Center (MEC) cafe. The Center operates from 10:00am to 10:00pm every day, except Sundays. Its services are used by over 100 students daily and by more during special events. The café should provide healthy and affordable snacks, meals and beverages to the students, staff members and MEC visitors.
About IREX
IREX (the International Research & Exchanges Board) is the premier US nonprofit organization specializing in higher education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, the Near East, and Asia. Since its founding in 1968, IREX has supported over 15,000 students, scholars, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and other professionals. IREX serves as a major resource for universities, governments, and the corporate sector in understanding international political, social, economic, and business developments.
The IREX Mission
- Foster democracy in transitioning societies
- Strengthen and help internationalize educational, nongovernmental, and media organizations
- Support the highest-quality research in the social sciences and humanities
- Identify and train the next generation of leaders by working together with universities, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, governments, and corporations
About G-MEDIA Program
Funded by USAID, Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability Program (G-MEDIA) is to improve the public’s access to a range of sources of news and information by developing a more politically balanced, editorially independent, professional and viable media sector that reaches audiences across Georgia through diverse delivery channels. The program seeks to raise the quality and diversity of media content and broaden delivery channels; improve professionalism, including through university journalism education; depoliticize the regulatory environment and strengthen journalists’ capacity to address infringements to their rights and breaches of professional ethics; and improve the viability of media outlets.
IREX has designed and implemented independent media projects in more than 20 countries across Europe and Eurasia. IREX also publishes the annual Media Sustainability Index (MSI), a valuable tool that analyzes the status and progress of independent media
About the Multimedia Education Center (MEC)
The Multimedia Education Center (MEC) is a state-of-the-art training and learning facility, established by the IREX-implemented and USAID-funded G-MEDIA (Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed Citizenry and Accountability) program. The MEC is designed to meet the rapidly changing needs in journalism education and news gathering. This unique facility is equal parts laboratory, studio and forum, and offers an immersive learning environment for journalism students.
The MEC is made up of a S.M.A.R.T Media Lab, classrooms, a discussion club and a café. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for the values assigned to serve users who will occupy the facility: Scalable, Multi-purpose, Agile, Resourceful and Trusted. The S.M.A.R.T. Media Lab features state-of-the-art thinking about electronic classrooms, studio design, open space architecture, and mobile-oriented media labs.
The entire space functions as a large multi-platform stage where every square meter provides a studio-grade environment available for interviewing, editing, producing and hosting multi-platform content. One unique feature of the MEC is that the gear, furniture and even the walls can be easily moved to change the design and layout of the space.
The S.M.A.R.T. Media Lab can also be used as a live event space for lectures, movie screenings, conferences, workshops or political debates. The lab’s design also provides broadcast-quality live streaming of video from these events.
Having a café inside the MEC allows for greater comfort for students, instructors and visitors.
Task Description
The purpose of this RFA is to select a vendor to operate the MEC’s S.M.A.R.T. café on a daily basis by providing healthy and affordable snacks, meals and beverages for the Multimedia Education Center students, staff and visitors.
The S.M.A.R.T. café is a fully furnished facility with over 32 sq./m and has the ability to seat up to 30 people at a time.
Café furniture includes corner couches, round café tables with round chairs, a bar stand with plenty of cabinet space and bar stools.
Interested individuals and businesses should submit the following information in their application:
1. Vendor name, address, and name of primary contact person
2. Cover letter with the statement of qualifications and experience in the field of catering
3. An itemized breakdown of the meals and services provided and present with the final pricing including additional fees and taxes
4. List of the major equipment owned to equip the S.M.A.R.T Café
5. Proposed monthly rent payment for occupying the MEC facility
6. Resumes of key personnel and staff personnel who would be working at the MEC Café. Please include how many personnel would be allocated to the café and specify their tasks and responsibilities.
7. List of client references
8. Certificate of company registration
9. Proof that company does not have debts to the tax authorities
10. Any other pertinent information needed to evaluate proposal
In addition, interested individuals and businesses are requested to visit the site and inspect the MEC S.M.A.R.T. Café prior to submitting their application. Please refer to the contact information on the bottom to schedule an MEC visit.
Additional information
The S.M.A.R.T. Café is fully furnished and is a smoke free and odor free environment. Cooking in the Multimedia Education Center is not allowed. All food delivered must be premade and not overly aromatic. The vendor who will be awarded a bid will be responsible for bringing the necessary appliances for warming up the food if applicable, as well as an appropriate refrigeration system.
The IREX and MEC staff will review the submitted applications and they will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria.
Responsive proposals will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria:
•Cost Effectiveness (35%)
• Qualifications of key personnel (15%)
• Healthy menu: healthy snacks, meals and beverages (25%)
• Organizational capacity – ability to provide complete and thorough documentation as required (15%)
• Past references (10%)
The proposal should be submitted by: 6:00pm Wednesday, May 11, 2012
Please e-mail or deliver the application and supporting documents to the contact information indicated below.
Please submit your application to the attention of
TinatinGogolashvili-Radford
Multimedia Education Center Manager
Multimedia Education Center
10a Al. Chavchavadze St. Tbilisi 0102
Or e-mail to tgogolashvili-radford@irex.org
