Halal Full-Service Restaurant Operator at MCA 1.0 Building

Request for Proposal (RFP)

The Muslim Community Association (MCA) is seeking proposals from qualified and visionary vendors to lease and operate a Halal full-service restaurant in its 4,600 sq. ft. cafeteria space located in Santa Clara, California. This is a unique opportunity to build a thriving business within a vibrant and diverse community center, serving thousands of weekly visitors and hundreds of K–12 students and staff.

About MCA

MCA is one of the largest Muslim communities in the region, attracting:

• Over 6,000 attendees for Friday prayers weekly
• 500+ students and staff from Granada Islamic School (K–12)
• Numerous on-site events year-round

The cafeteria space is central to MCA’s campus and has the potential to become a hub for daily meals, school dining, and event catering.

Project Scope and Vendor Expectations

We invite proposals that demonstrate a strong vision, culinary creativity, and sound business operations. The successful vendor will:

Culinary Vision and Operations

• Operate a Halal full-service restaurant with offerings for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner.
• Submit a proposed menu, including beverage and dessert options (photos encouraged).
• Reimagine school dining for K–12 students with consistent, healthy (free of preservatives and artificial dyes, fresh offerings of fruits and vegetables, made fresh) Halal meals.  Please see Appendix A for guidance on Food and Menu Considerations.
• Clearly define the price range for products and services.
• Provide a narrative and images of the proposed aesthetic/design of the spaces (food serving area, register/check-out, dining area).

Business and Financial Requirements

• Submit a detailed business concept narrative.
• Include documentation of legal structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.) and all listed officers/owners, if applicable.
• Outline long-term goals for operations at MCA.
• Provide a comprehensive financial plan, including:
  • Estimated startup costs
  • Operating expense projections
  • Revenue assumptions
  • Operating budgets, including both operating expenses and revenues ( monthly, quarterly and annually)
  • Financing plan with supporting documents (e.g., commitment letters, bank statements)
  • Most recent county health inspection report

Management and Staffing

• Define your role in the day-to-day business and confirm on-site presence.
• Provide resume(s) of principal(s).
• Submit a staffing plan with roles and relevant experience.

Marketing and Branding

• Proposed business name and logo (if available).
• Overview of marketing and customer engagement strategy.

Facility and Lease Terms

• Space Size: 4,600 sq. ft.
• Lease Term:  a maximum of five year-term that could be renewable for a similar or lesser term.
• Proposed Start Date:  January 1, 2026 or earlier.
• Rent: At market rate
• Security Deposit: Equal to 2 months’ rent
• Condition: Leased “as is”.  All bidders will be invited to an open meeting at MCA on December 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon to visit the facility and share their queries.Tenant Improvements: Tenant responsible for all improvements at their own expense.
• Utilities: Tenant pays their share of electric, water, gas, and trash.  Such share is calculated based on the percentage of the cafeteria square footage compared to the total MCA 1.0 building square footage.
• Insurance: Liability insurance with MCA as additional insured
  • $1,000,000 per occurrence

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

• Alignment with MCA’s mission and community values
• Experience operating similar facilities (20%)
• Menu and nutrition plan (20%).  (If shortlisted, vendors will be invited to a food tasting screening to showcase the variety of food offerings proposed by some or all of the Vendor Selection Committee Members).
• Pricing and value (15%)
• Staffing plan and customer service strategy (10%)
• Financial proposal (15%)
• Sustainability or local sourcing plan (10%)
• References and reputation (10%)

Submission Instructions

Proposal Deadline: December 18, 2025
Submit Proposals To:
cafe.reboot@mcabayarea.org

Contact for Questions:  

cafe.reboot@mcabayarea.org 

Additional Notes

• Proposals must include all requested materials to be considered complete.
• MCA reserves the right to negotiate with selected vendors and to reject any or all proposals at its own discretion.

FOOD AND MENU CONSIDERATIONS

Nutritional Quality:

• Aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (please refer to Dietary Guidelines for Americans for details)
• Offers a variety of healthy, fresh, and appealing options, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Provides adequate fiber and protein.
• Minimal processed foods, saturated fats, sugar, and salt.

Menu Variety & Appeal:

• Offers diverse cuisines to appeal to all students and dietary needs (ie., vegetarian, vegan/plant-based, etc.).
• Offers appealing and culturally relevant options.
• Features popular entrée items students enjoy.
• Provides opportunities for students to try new healthy foods.

Special Dietary Needs:

• Accommodates common allergies (nuts, dairy, gluten) with clear labeling and trained staff.
• Offers options for students with religious restrictions or other specific dietary needs.

Transparency:

• Provides detailed information about menu items, ingredients, and nutritional content.
• Offers clear allergy warnings.