Queen’s Cold Beverage Consultative Committee
Queen’s University has had the current Cold Beverage Agreement in place with Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited since 2012, to provide exclusive cold beverage services to students, staff, and visitors on campus through various outlets, including residence dining halls, retail food venues, catering services, and vending machines. The contract provides funding to support student wellness and the student experience through the AMS, SGPS, and Athletics and Recreation. Although exclusive, the current agreement allows for some other cold beverage offerings on campus.
The agreement is due to expire on August 31, 2022, but will be extended for one year through August 31, 2023, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on the contract deliverables over the 2020-21 academic year, when most classes were offered remotely and campus activity was greatly reduced.
A committee of stakeholders was formed in October 2021 to meet monthly, with membership as set out below.
The group was first asked to provide feedback on options for cold beverage supply procurement, which could include the preparation of a fall 2022 RFP process (as was completed for the 2012 contract). This group was to advise on outreach to the campus community, which included surveying, focus groups, or open forums, and review the feedback received. The group has participated in developing procurement criteria and will participate in proponent evaluation and selection as applicable.
Project Updates
February 13, 2023
The RFP evaluation process has been completed. Contract negotiations are now under the direction of Procurement Services with the top scoring proponent. Non-Disclosure agreements remain in affect once a formal contract is signed.
January 16, 2023
The formal Request for Proposal (RFP) open to the public has closed. The evaluation process is underway under the direction of Procurement Services. All Evaluators have signed a Non-Disclosure agreement and are required to maintain specific details about the potential suppliers confidential.
November 9, 2022
Following a consultative period that began in October 2021 which has now concluded, a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) has been made public. Currently, the RFP is scheduled to close on December 7, 2022.
June 1, 2022
Between February 24, 2022 – April 30, 2022 the Consultative Group surveyed the campus community to help identify what factors are most important when selecting a new cold beverage supplier for the university. The survey was open to all Queen’s University staff, faculty and students with data sampling consisting of 67.25% students, 28.50% staff, and 4.22% faculty. The weighted results indicate that the criteria, in order of priority for consideration in the procurement process of the next cold beverage supplier are as follows:
- Sustainability
- Nutritional Value
- Product Quality
- Affordability
- Social Impact
- Locally Sourced
- Commitment to EDII
Cold Beverage Consultative Membership Includes:
- Two representatives from the Alma Mater Society (Commissioner of Environmental Sustainability and the Social Issues Commissioner)
- Representative from the Society of Graduate & Professional Students
- Two representatives from QBACC (Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change)
- Executive Director, Housing and Ancillary Services
- Associate Director, Housing and Ancillary Services (Chair)
- Manager of Finance, Housing and Ancillary Services
- Manager, Wellness and Sustainability, Housing and Ancillary Services
- Representative selected from the Campus Foodservice Committee
- Representative from Athletics & Recreation
- Representative from the Office of the Vice-Provost & Dean of Student Affairs
- Representative from the Sustainability Office
- Representatives from Strategic Procurement Services (ex-officio)
- Member at large representative (vacant)
This webpage will be updated through the process. Feedback for the Cold Beverage Consultative Group can be shared by emailing dining@queensu.ca