BANGOR, Maine — The University of Maine System is sifting through proposals from groups that want to help the state’s universities reach their commitment to purchase 20 percent of their food locally by 2020.
The deadline to submit proposals passed on Nov. 4.
The system received three responses, according to UMaine System spokesman Dan Demeritt. As with any solicitation for services, the system keeps the identities of applicants and details of their proposals confidential until a selection is made in order to ensure a fair, objective process, he said.
“We received a strong response from potential vendors and look forward to moving ahead with our goal of 20 percent local food by 2020,” said Rudy Gabrielson, chief procurement officer for the UMaine System, in a Thursday news release. “We’re already engaging with the community about how best to carry out this initiative and appreciate the discussion and feedback, both now and when the award is announced.”
The competitive bidding process started in late August, when the system published a request for proposals. The system will score those submissions based on cost, sustainability, use of local food and economic impact on the state.
The winning vendor will provide food services at six of the system’s seven campuses. The UMaine System spends about $8.6 million per year feeding students and staff under its current contract, which expires after a decade in July 2016.
The University of Maine handles its own food services but also has pledged to hit the 20-percent-local mark.
While the system is mum on who submitted proposals, a new group calling itself the Maine Farm and Sea Cooperative took the unusual step of issuing a news release last week announcing it had sent in a bid and plan. The group of farmers, fishers and distributors touted itself as “uniquely positioned” to deliver what the system was looking for. The cooperative says its first major goal as an organization is to win the UMaine System contract.
Food is considered local if it is harvested or produced within 175 miles of the campus at which it is served. However, a food provider that does business with any campus may sell food to any of the other seven campuses, according to the system. That definition was developed through discussions with Maine farmers and surveys of 2,500 dining hall customers, according to the system.
The system expects to announce the group awarded the food services contract by the end of January 2016.
Follow Nick McCrea on Twitter at @nmccrea213.