The ROM recently issued an RFP for food and beverage services at the Museum, including Food Studio, c5, and private event catering. As evaluation of submissions is currently underway, to respect the confidentiality of this process and be fair to all caterers who have bid, the ROM cannot comment in detail until this process is complete.
The ROM is using a fair and equitable process and has proceeded with due diligence. In order to ensure fairness to all bidders, the ROM engaged the services of a third party Fairness Commissioner who has been involved as an advisor to the ROM from the beginning of the process.
A section of the RFP solicits catering companies to join a Preferred Caterers list (for private event catering only). The ROM is seeking four or five preferred caterers. One of the criteria is that each pay a flat annual fee to the ROM of $10,000. Candidates are not allowed the opportunity to offer more. The defined catering criteria for candidates includes quality of service, food concept, presentation, and corporate experience. In return, the ROM provides many valuable benefits. In addition to the opportunity to be one of a small group providing event services at a premium downtown tourist attraction, caterers receive high value marketing exposure in a variety of premium industry/trade and public media channels, including both mass and target market advertising, and inclusion on the ROM's website catering page and promotional materials.
The Preferred Caterers List is non-exclusive and the terms of the RFP allow the ROM to authorize up to 20 uses of other caterers per year in order to ensure that we retain needed flexibility for potential clients (these caterers would not, however, be promoted by the ROM).