The Bureau of Indian Affairs today awarded a contract to Southern Cafeteria Operating Company, Birmingham, Alabama, for the provision of noonday meals during the coming school year at five Federal day schools on the Cherokee Reservation in western North Carolina.
Southern Cafeteria’s bid of 44 cents per meal was the lowest of those received in response to invitations issued by the Indian Bureau on July 22. The bids were opened August 15.
Signing of the contract, which will go into actual operation September 6, was largely based on experience gained under a short-range pilot contract at Cherokee last spring which developed food service costs of $0.47085 per meal over a period of 98 days. The Bureau's own operating costs for a comparable period immediately preceding were $0.4884 per meal.
The quality of the food and service provided under the pilot contract was widely praised by the Indian students, their parents and the local school officials. Under the new contract, which covers the full school year of 180 days, Southern Cafeteria is obligated to provide the same kind of food ~d service as the pilot contractor.
The five schools covered by the new contract are located at Cherokee, Big Cove, Birdtown, Soco and Snowbird.
