By Tara Fischer
Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Association’s general manager is looking to make a food and beverage contract recommendation to the board of directors next month.
Matt Ortt Companies is the community’s current food and beverage vendor. In March 2018, the group signed a two-year deal with Ocean Pines to manage the neighborhood’s food service locations: the Ocean Pines Yacht Club, the Ocean Pines Beach Club, and the Clubhouse Bar and Grille. The initial arrangement was extended by five years in 2020.
Ortt’s contract with the community ends on April 30, 2025. As the agreement nears its completion, OPA released a request for proposals (RFP) on Sept. 13 to seek out potential new food and beverage vendors.
At the OPA Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Oct. 26, Viola reported that the association had received “multiple bids, definitely more than one,” vying for the new contract as of the Oct. 18 deadline. The agreement awardee should be announced soon.
“The team is working on it,” Viola said. “I believe it is on track. I am looking somewhere around November to make a recommendation to the board.”
OPA Board of Directors Vice President Rick Farr said the decision to seek proposals from firms outside of the Matt Ortt Companies was based on advice from the homeowner association’s legal counsel, Bruce Bright of Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy, and Almand, and the community’s governing documents regarding the RFP process.
The OPA bylaws state that “all purchases and contracts for services or supplies for the Association shall, to the fullest extent practicable, be made by open competitive procedures.” Despite the broadened search, Matt Ortt Companies could still bid on the new contract.
The Ocean Pines community has largely expressed satisfaction with Matt Ortt’s operations.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the day the community announced the proposal request, OPA resident Budd Shea wrote on the community’s online forum, “Ortt has done an outstanding job, but…nothing helps business better than competition.”
Viola assured board members that his team is reviewing all proposals and will soon submit a final recommendation.