Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise Program

The Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise (BBE) administers one of the largest vending and food service programs operated by people who are legally blind in the United States.  The Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise Program provides job opportunities in the food service sector for eligible blind persons under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Job opportunities include: snack bar, cafeteria, highway vending machines, or non-highway vending.

Most of the information in this section is for trainees or managers in Florida. But, if you are legally blind and a United States citizen, you might want to consider the Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise Program as your career choice. Read about the Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise Program to see how you can begin an exciting career as a manager of a vending or food services facility.

Important Notices

This is a list of important notices and items of immediate concern.

BBE OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

New Facility Location: Tyndall Air Force Base Florida
Facility Type: Military Dining
Deadline to Apply: Friday, June 14, 2013

A unique food service business opportunity is currently available for bid at the Tyndall Air Force Base, which is located 12 miles east of Panama City, Florida. The contractor will be responsible for food preparation as well as typical kitchen/dining facility operations (cashier services, cleaning services, grounds maintenance, minor equipment maintenance, etc.) in the dining facility and the Raptor Quick Turn facility, both located on Tyndall AFB. It is estimated that both facilities combine to serve approximately 20,000 meals per month. This information is directly from the pre-solicitation announcement on the FedBizOpps website. This opportunity was posted as a pre-solicitation on May 21, 2013 and we have responded and expressed interest, requesting that the Randolph-Sheppard Act priority be applied. We have also requested the opportunity to directly negotiate.

This opportunity is unique from other Business Enterprise facility opportunities in the following ways:

  • It is extremely time-sensitive.
  • This is a facility that we do not currently have. We have to submit a detailed proposal that is accepted and an award made.
  • There is no guarantee that our proposal will be accepted and that we receive the award to operate the facility.
  • We have to select a vendor before we submit a proposal.
  • The selected vendor will have to select a food service teaming partner which will prepare a competitive proposal in behalf of BBE and has the expertise to execute the Department of Defense contract while working with our vendor.
  • The contract length is four years. There is a base year which is the first year and there are three option (renewal) years. After that time the contract would likely be rebid.

This contract is expected to be awarded to the successful proposer in September, 2013 with a probable start date to begin operations of November 1, 2013. This unique military dining opportunity requires that the selected vendor review a number of potential food service teaming partners who have extensive experience in providing food service to military bases. The vendor must then choose one to partner with, and ultimately, contract with. At this point, the selected teaming partner would bear the responsibility to develop the proposal and submit it in the required timeframe.

The Division of Blind Services/ Bureau of Business Enterprise will assist in this process, but is limited to only providing names of potential teaming partners as a measure of guidance. The leadership of the State Committee of Vendors will also assist in providing counsel and direction. Placement of a BBE vendor in this facility is contingent upon the FL Bureau of Business Enterprise being awarded the contract for the food service. There is no guarantee that will happen. We do believe that priority consideration should be given to BBE as the State Licensing Agency under the Randolph-Sheppard Act.

The selected vendor has an estimated earning potential of $70,000 - $80,000 per year. This is an estimate of what the current teaming partner at Eglin has suggested and our previous experience at Eglin AFB. The selected vendor is also expected to be actively involved in the day to day operations of the facility. This BBE selection process will be considered on a Special Type I selection. The Type I process will be followed with the first priority being meeting the needs of the facility.

What you must do if you are interested?
Contact Compliance Officer Alan Risk by telephone, email or fax.
Email: Alan.Risk@dbs.fldoe.org
Telephone: (850) 245-0350
Fax number: (850) 245-0364

The DEADLINE to apply is 5:00 PM on Friday, June 14th.

May Selection Cycle

There are seven facilities available for the May Selection Cycle, including three rest areas, three cafeterias, and one vending route.  May 31, 2013 is the deadline for all applications to be received in the State office.  The Selection Cycle exam will be administered on June 19, 2013 and interviews will be conducted July 9-11, 2013.  Individual facility information and application instructions can be accessed via the “Business Opportunities” link.

2013 Biennial Seminar Registration:

The 2013 BBE Biennial Seminar will be held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Drive in Orlando, August 9-11. The deadline to register for this year's conference is June 14, 2013.

This event will be very beneficial to all our vendors and trainees. Attendance will earn up to 1.5 CEU credits, which is half of the CEU's required by the Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 6A-18.0421.

Seminar registration can be made by completing the registration form and returning via email, fax, or US mail to Janet Chernoff no later than June 14th.

Individual hotel reservations can be made direct by calling the Rosen Plaza toll-free at (800) 627-8258 and advising them you are associated with the block of rooms reserved by the Florida Division of Blind Services. Room rate will be $105.00 + tax per night. To make reservations use the group code BID # 40764.

Local attendees that do not need overnight accommodations are not required to reserve hotel rooms but must register for the seminar.

Contact Janet Chernoff (850) 245-9406 if you have any questions.

Biennial Seminar Registration Form (Word DOC)

On-line Monthly Business Report:

Monthly Reporting Instructions (Word DOC)
  
For more information on how to register for on-line reporting, contact Adam Gaffney at phone 850-245-0318, email adam.gaffney@dbs.fldoe.org or Glenda Josey at phone 850-245-0325, email glenda.josey@dbs.fldoe.org

Florida Bureau of Business Enterprise
Providing Tools and Support for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Food Service Industry