by Jaclyn Roco
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The dining services proposal committee, headed by Dean of Student Affairs Loretta Rahmani, met Feb. 19 to begin the selection process for a new food service provider to start next semester for the University of La Verne.
At the meeting, faculty and students alike helped sort through possible candidates who responded to a “Request for Proposals,” a bid that the committee had sent out two weeks prior to the meeting.
“We’ve hired a consultant to help us with the process,” Rahmani said.
“The committee will recommend the top contractors. We want to make it right.”
Rahmani countered rumors of an alleged decision to fire ULV’s current provider, Aramark.
“We’re requesting bids from other companies, including Aramark,” she said.
“Aramark is part of the process so it’s not true to say that Aramark is not going to be one of the people to submit their bid. We may select them, or we may not.”
Mike Laponis, professor of communications, is also part of the board.
“The committee has been formed to look at proposals,” he said. “(Aramark) can still have the project (because) we are in the position this year to look at their proposal.”
Rahmani said that the committee has received four offers so far, including Aramark.
The bidders’ meeting was an event where the candidates had the opportunity to get together. They would answer questions and have the opportunity to conduct individual interviews with students and staff, Rahmani said.
She added that the board would need at least a month and a half to collect their own data to make the decision before the April 1 deadline.
The school plans to help the decision-making process by forming focus groups for the companies interested in serving ULV, she said.
By collecting its own data, Rahmani said the board would then be able to select the top candidates on aspects other than just financial proposals, Rahmani said.
“We’re willing to negotiate not necessarily for the cheapest, but the best food service provider with a reasonable financial cost,” she said. “We’re willing to look at that to see the best fit for La Verne.”
Some of the guidelines Rahmani said the board was looking within the proposals included: resident dining, vending, catering, sanitation, maintenance, opening expenses and insurance requirements.
These guidelines enable anybody to have a chance in becoming the new food service provider, Laponis said.
“They’re always looking to provide the best food service,” he said.
Freshman Blake Carroll had mixed reactions towards the possible change.
“I just think the food could be a little bit better now,” he said. “Actually the food this semester was much better than before. (Aramark) is doing fine for the many kids that they serve, but I think the quality of the food should change. They should serve the best that they could offer to their students.”
Rahmani said she was very pleased with the University’s decision to undergo the RFP process.
“I am looking forward to this process. It is a good time to go out for bids and to see how to improve on our dining services for the ULV community, students, faculty and staff.”
