by Sunny Astorga
Staff Writer
The Board of Regents will vote today on whether to extend the university's contract with food-service provider Aramark in order to allow for more time and more bidders.
The original contract Aramark is working on was approved by the Board of Regents in 1990. Since then, Aramark has received six extensions. The latest one would commence May 16 and end in December 1998.
"Contracting for food service is complex," said Eduardo Aguirre, chairman of the Board of Regents. "You're dealing with equipment and services that just can't be turned on and off."
Aguirre said it is more difficult to change food service contractors in the middle of the year and even the summer because of the constant on-campus activity.
"The best time for a change in a food service contract is at the end of the year. Not at the end of this year, but (in) 1998."
Aguirre added that, more importantly, this extension will allow time for more bids.
The Board of Regents agenda states the bidding process initiated in Fall 1996, which had two bidders, was stopped because "it did not provide the level of competition anticipated."
Regent Beth Morian said, "It may be that Aramark is going to be the best (bid), but we need the ability to find a food contractor if they may be able to give better service and a better price."
The last extension, which occurred in April 1996, intended to do just that by hiring a consultant from the Cornyn Fasano Group to analyze the food service.
The consultant would assist the university in preparing a "Request For Proposal," the parameters presented to bidders that instruct them how and what to bid on.
Andrew Becker, outgoing Residence Halls Association president, served as a student representative on the RFP committee that met with the consultant.
Becker said everything from prices, food quality and hours of operation was discussed in RFP meetings with the consultant.
"If there is not a lot of outside competition, (the university) does not feel confident in granting a long-term contract," Becker said. "(The university) went with the extension because there is simply no way of determining if we're getting the better deal."
Becker said increasing the number of bidders may be difficult due to Aramark's established relationship with the university.
"Aramark has a very long-standing contracting on-campus. Outsiders may think it is impossible to compete," he said.
Becker added that it may also be difficult for food contractors located in other parts of the United States to provide such a complex service.
"It may not be cost-efficient for them. Aramark is all over Texas, and it is easy for them to hold the lines of communication," Becker said.
Becker said that, while the RFP committee has kept him well-informed of meetings in the past, he assumes no meetings have occurred this semester since he has not been made aware of any.
"I haven't been involved in a RFP meeting in a while," Becker said. "The last meeting would have been last semester, maybe even last summer."
In the meetings that did occur, Becker said the consultant went out of his way to meet with commuters and residents.
"I'm not at all dissatisfied with the level of input from students sought," Becker said.
Student opinions on Aramark food service vary.
Maria Guajardo, a freshman electrical engineering major, said Aramark should improve the high prices, but added that she is generally satisfied.
"I like the food. When cooked the right way, it's good," Guajardo said.
Not everyone was as generous. Michael Whitley, a junior University Studies Quad resident, said, "I think anything other than Aramark could be a better deal."
The new extension also seeks to expand the RFP for the next long-term contract to include catering, concessions, vending and convenience stores, most of which are presently provided by separate vendors.