Open forums scheduled for NAU food service finalists

The campus community and the public can get a taste of two proposals when the companies bidding for NAU’s food-services contract hold open forums next week.

The contract will cover the student dining program and operation of the NAU-city of Flagstaff conference center.

Representatives from Aramark will give an overview and answer questions about the campus dining program from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and 2:45 to 4 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Kaibab Room of the University Union.

Aramark will discuss the conference center operation, including food service, at a separate session beginning at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1, also in the Kaibab Room.

Sodexho representatives will discuss their campus plans and answer questions from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and 2:45 to 4 p.m. Feb. 2 in the University Union Kaibab Room. The conference center discussion will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Kaibab.

NAU has invited companies to bid on a five-year contract with five one-year renewal options.

“Both Aramark and Sodexho are capable and have conference center divisions,” said Jane Kuhn, fiscal and operations director of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

RFPs went out in September with responses arriving Dec. 1. The responses are being evaluated by a large group from both the university and the city, and a contract is expected to be in place in March.