About this opportunity
AI summaryThe Saint Louis Zoo seeks catering and events linen rental services to support internal, private, and catering events across multiple zoo departments. The selected vendor must handle offsite laundering, inventory maintenance, rush requests, delivery bins, sample options, and scheduled deliveries and pickups. Eligibility is limited to onshore United States organizations. Bidders must submit questions by the end of the day CST on November 20, 2026. Proposals and completed pricing forms are due through BidNet Direct by 1:00 p.m. CST on December 1, 2026. The Zoo will evaluate proposals based on relevant experience weighted at 20% and cost and overall value weighted at 25%, alongside responsibility determinations.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- Saint Louis Zoo
Scope of work
- Table linens, spandex table covers, table runners, and cloth napkins
- Professional laundering and sanitation of rented linens
- Scheduled deliveries and pickups on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Wheeled, covered linen bins or carts for clean and soiled linens
- Full credit for unused linens returned folded in original packaging within seven days
- Provision of swatches, sample linens, color cards, or catalogs on request
- Replacement and correction delivery services for shortages, incorrect items, or rejected linens
- Quarterly usage reports detailing quantities rented by item and location
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Relevant Experience | 20% |
| Cost and Overall Value | 25% |
Minimum qualifications
- Maintain inventory, staffing, transportation, and laundering capacity to support required event volumes
- Ability to support three to four events of 300 to 400 guests in a single week
- Ability to provide a single order of up to 60 120-inch round linens and 50 90x132-inch linens in one color
Documents to include with your response
- Company Profile and Relevant Experience narrative
- Description of laundering, sanitation, and inspection process
- Statement of standard lead time for new orders and special-order linens
- Completed Appendix A – Vendor of Record Pricing Form
- Required certifications, if applicable
- Disclosed exceptions or deviations from RFP requirements
- Addenda acknowledgment
Key dates
- RFP Issued
- November 6, 2026
- Deadline for Questions
- End of Day CST on November 20, 2026
- Deadline for Questions (Instructions section)
- End of day, October 21, 2026
- Proposals due
- 1:00 p.m. CST on December 1, 2026
- Proposals due (Instructions section)
- 2:00 PM on October 28, 2026
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic submission
- Instructions
- Submit via BidNet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/missouri/saintlouiszoo in a single PDF named FirmName_ProjectName_RFP.
Contract details
- Term
- January 1, 2027 or date of last authorized signature through December 31, 2028, with an optional renewal term
- Place of performance
- Saint Louis Zoo - Forest Park (One Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110) and Saint Louis Zoo - WildCare Park (12385 Larimore Road, St. Louis, MO 63138)
- Insurance and bonding
- Commercial General Liability on an occurrence form (ISO CG 00 01 or equivalent) with per project aggregates; Professional Liability where applicable; Workers' Compensation per State of Missouri requirements; Employer's Liability. Saint Louis Zoo named as Additional Insured. Waiver of subrogation required.