In Fall 2009, Coppin State University (CSU) hired PKC to assist the University with rebidding its foodservice and bookstore contracts. The University needed additional locations to serve the growing campus and many students commented that they wanted longer hours and more variety including healthier options. The bookstore was not consistently stocking the correct amount of text books for students in a timely manner and lacked product variety including school spirit items.
Our team conducted focus groups and personal interviews with a wide variety of campus constituents. This work was followed by a web-based survey. From there, PKC developed preliminary recommendations for the dining services including more flexible and value-added meal plan options, customer-friendly hours of operation, facility enhancements, suggestions regarding menu variety and selection, possible enhancements to the campus catering program and other programming details.
Regarding the Bookstore, our team recommended extended hours, a greater variety of school spirit items and contractual language to ensure the proper ordering of books in the future. Our recommendations were embraced by the University and our team used these recommendations to draft two separate RFPs that were sent to all interested foodservice management and bookstore management companies.
Once the bids were received, our team used customized and proprietary evaluation templates to illustrate the companies with the most comprehensive and creative proposals for both foodservice and the bookstore. We also assisted the University with in-depth interviews with the finalist companies. Finally, our team assisted CSU with contract negotiations and the development of management agreements for both auxiliary service programs that will ensure past issues do not arise in the future and that the contract can be easily administered by the University.
As a result of our work at CSU, the University secured a three-year contract with two optional one-year extensions with guaranteed commissions annually for dining services and a five-year contract with guaranteed commissions for the bookstore.
