Dining Services Transition

Pace University is undergoing a transition in dining service vendors beginning April 2011.  This website will keep the community abreast of the steps being taken to bring in a new vendor by January 2012.  We encourage you to check the site often for progress reports, and to offer your thoughts and opinions on the message board.   

Here are the steps that will be taken to ensure a smooth transition. 

  • A request for qualifications (RFQ) for a new food service vendor was issued the week of April 4.
  • In April, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued to the qualified companies that respond to the RFQ (RFP).
  • A committee of faculty, staff, and students, was formed to help develop the RFP and choose the new vendor. 
  • The vendor will be selected in October of 2011.
  • The new vendor will take over food service responsibilities on or around January 1, 2012.
  • Take the Secret Shopper Survey and tell us what you think.
     

a ratingAn "A" for Eating 
We are pleased to report that after an in-depth inspection by the New York City Department of Health, the dining facilities at One Pace Plaza received two “A” ratings, one for Café 101 including the kitchen, the other for the Spotlight. The grades will be posted at both facilities. “We all worked hard to achieve the A rating and we are committed to maintaining it!” said Mary Lieto, executive director of Auxiliary Services.

 

DineOnCampus at Pace University

 

September 6, 2011 

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

With a new academic year about to commence, I want to take this opportunity to update everyone on our efforts regarding the selection of a highly qualified management company that will provide students, staff, faculty, and guests with a food service operation that meets the highest standards in the industry.  This selection process is one of several ambitious projects that will enhance the student life experience.

An advisory committee comprised of students, faculty and administrators was established to assist in this process. Thus far, the committee has reviewed bidders’ proposals and participated in interviews with selected companies.  All companies being considered have strong credentials and genuine interest in serving the Pace community.

In order to be very thorough in its review, the committee recommended that the university extend the evaluation timeline and date upon which our new dining services contract will begin.  This additional time will help ensure that the company ultimately selected will provide the high quality food service the university community expects and deserves. Specifically, the extended timeline will allow the following steps to occur:  

  • Conduct additional due diligence to address the questions and concerns that committee members raised about the bidders during the review and interview processes.
  • Receive additional information from bidders in response to follow-up questions posed to them by the university. 
  • Allow other important university stakeholders (additional student leaders, legal counsel, bond counsel, etc.) sufficient time to participate in the review process. 
  • Allow committee members the opportunity to perform site visits at selected accounts during the academic year when dining services are in full operation. 
  • Conduct a second round of interviews with finalists.
  • Conduct thorough negotiations with the selected company to secure the best possible services for the university.

Chartwells, the vendor that replaced Lackmann Culinary Services at the end of spring semester, will continue to serve as the interim dining services provider on a month-to-month basis. We anticipate that a decision to select our long-term provider will be made by the first week of October, with the successful bidder beginning operations on or about January 1, 2012.

No matter which vendor is ultimately chosen, Pace community members can expect high quality food, safe and sanitary conditions, first-rate customer service, and innovative food concepts at reasonable prices.  We will not wait for a new contract to initiate changes; Chartwells is already making improvements on each campus based on feedback it received from student focus groups and surveys conducted since last spring. We also will continue with our food advisory committee, secret shopper program, dining focus groups, and customer surveys to be sure everyone’s needs are met.

Finally, I’m pleased to report that our Spotlight and Café 101 dining facilities received “A” ratings from the city’s board of health on July 15, 2011.  I’d like to thank Chartwells, our Facilities Management team under the direction of Victor Jabar, and my Auxiliary Services team for their diligent work in ensuring that our Manhattan operations received the city’s highest sanitation grade. 

Please forward any questions or comments to me at auxiliaryservices@pace.edu.

Sincerely,

Mary Lieto Executive Director for Auxiliary Services
Executive Director for Auxiliary Services