Seasonal Food Truck Vendors at Memorial Park

The County of San Mateo (“County”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi² and is home to approximately 750,000 residents. The County is made up of 20 incorporated cities. The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare, and natural resources of the community.

The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) serves nearly three million visitors every year. Visitors have many options when visiting the County’s unique park system. With 24 parks and recreation areas, over 16,000 acres of park land, and 190 miles of trail, the Department provides healthy outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and lasting memories.

Due to the diversity of the park system, visitors can enjoy an array of recreational opportunities, including walking; running; hiking; biking; picnicking; horseback riding; sailing; kite surfing; fishing; camping; gardening; tidepooling; volunteering; learning; sports courts; and playing on playgrounds.

Background

Memorial Park is a popular destination that serves campers, day-use visitors, and outdoor recreation programs, with peak visitor usage in the summer season. To enhance visitor amenities and improve access to convenient food and beverage options, the County is seeking qualified food truck vendors to provide seasonal services within the park from July through September 2026.

Vendors will operate within an active park environment and must be capable of delivering reliable, high-quality service while accommodating the operational needs of a remote park setting with limited connectivity. The County is interested in vendors that can offer diverse, visitor-friendly menu options, maintain health and safety standards, and contribute positively to the overall park experience. Multiple vendors may be selected to support scheduling flexibility and provide a variety of food and beverage offerings for park visitors.

Selected vendor(s) will be permitted to operate within the park during the approved dates, with no fees, rent, or financial compensation exchanged between the County and the vendor.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFP - Informal-00532
• Department: Parks Department
• Department Head: Emma Gonzalez (Director)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Project Approach (30 pts)
• Price (10 pts)

Submission Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications
• Has Proposer has been providing similar services for a minimum of three (3) years within the last five (5) years? (required)
• Vendor is not excluded, suspended, or debarred from the System for Award Management (SAM) (required)
• What is the registered Business Name and Unique Entity ID (UEI) No.? (If Applicable) —

  Unique Entity ID (UEI) numbers can be found on sam.gov

• Proposal
• Introduction and Executive Summary (required) —

  Submit a letter of introduction and executive summary of the proposal.  The letter must contain:

  • Name, title and contact information (email, phone, and address) for representative of proposer that is responsible for communication related to this RFP.
  • Name, title, contact information, and signature of person authorized to obligate firm to perform the commitment contained in the proposal.

  Submission of the letter will constitute a representation by proposer that it is willing and able to perform the commitments contained in the proposal and has not violated the terms of this RFP.

• References (required) —

  Provide TBD references for each of the following, including the name, address, and telephone number of recent clients (preferably other public agencies):

• Menu (required) —

  Provide proposed menu, including prices.

• Licensing and Permitting (required) —

  Include documentation demonstrating authorization to legally operate and sell food as a mobile food vendor in San Mateo County, including all applicable permits and licenses.

• Agreement term (years) (required) —

  Update below if needed.

• Is there an extension to this agreement? (required) —

  Is there an extension to this agreement?

• Extension (required) —

  Modify the extension information below, if needed

• Will there be a Pre-Proposal Meeting and/or a Site Visit? (required)
• Include the information that will be covered in the site visit. (required)
• Require vendors to provide References? (required)
• References (required) —

  How many references are required by the vendor? (Number)

• Use Electronic Line Item Pricing? (required)
• Allow vendors to submit Confidential Information? (required) —

  In rare circumstances where there is an expectation that proposers will need to submit trade secrets or other confidential information in order to respond to an RFP. 

• Sample Agreement (required)