Concessions & Leases
Thank you for your interest in starting a concession at San Francisco International Airport. SFO's concessions provide the Airport's patrons with quality food, beverage and retail offering, as well as passenger services such as banking and luggage carts.
SFO's upcoming Concession opportunities and current Concession bids and RFPs are listed below. Parties interested in an opportunity should review the complete posting, including all attached files, and contact the person indicated for any additional information on the proposal or process.
View Current Opportunities for Concessions & Leases ›
Request Proposal Notification ›
A concession refers to "an entity which has entered into an agreement with the Airport that allows it to provide food and beverage, retail or services directly to the traveling public."
The Revenue Development and Management Department (RDM) of the Airport is responsible for concessions. In accordance with San Francisco Administrative Code Section 2A.173, concessions are selected through a competitive process. RDM will conduct a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Bids (RFB) process to select businesses for concession opportunities.
There are four steps in the competitive selection process:
Planning Stage: Staff determines the basic business terms including type of business, location, length of lease, minimum acceptable bid, rental rate, required and optional merchandise or services, operational requirements, and construction/improvement requirements.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Bids (RFB) is issued which describes the business opportunity and establishes the qualification requirements for prospective proposers or bidders. This includes a draft lease and market data and provides instructions about how to submit a proposal or bid. The document also includes the selection criteria that the Airport will use in evaluating the proposal.
Informational Conference: Once the opportunity is made available to the public, the Airport conducts an informational conference. The purpose of the conference is to review and explain the selection process and agreement specifications. It is also an opportunity for participants to provide input for staff's consideration. Notices are sent to the participants of any changes to the qualifying criteria, business terms, or selection process.
Determining the Successful Bidder/Proposer:
RFB: All bids are opened at the same time in a public meeting. Staff announces the highest amount tendered as the "apparent successful bidder." Staff then reviews the submittals to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met.
RFP: Proposals are accepted by mail or in person. All proposals are evaluated and ranked by a panel using the criteria developed earlier in the process.
The highest bidder/top-ranking proposer then meets with a Human Rights Commission (HRC) representative and enters into a non-discrimination-employment agreement. Once staff receives notification from the HRC that the successful bidder's/top-ranking proposer's employee workforce and non-discrimination employment plan are approved, the selection process enters into the final stages.
Award: The Airport Commission, which is the Airport's governing body, approves the award of the agreement. If necessary, the agreement is then approved by the Board of Supervisors and ratified by the Mayor. The successful bidder or proposer then becomes an Airport tenant.
The process may take up to one year to complete.
Small and Disadvantaged Business Participation
Contact Revenue Development and Management:
Airport Commission
Revenue Development and Management
P.O. Box 8097
San Francisco, CA 94128
telephone: 1.800.435.9736 extension 14500
fax: 650: 650.821.4519
e-mail: SFOConcessions@flysfo.com
Useful Links
City and County of San Francisco
City and County of San Francisco Human Rights Commission
City and County of San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
City and County of San Francisco Administrative Codes
Tenant Design Guidelines (PDF)
Tenant Improvement Guide (PDF)
Because each concession opportunity is different, the rent varies. For example, a newsstand will have a different minimum proposal/bid amount than an in-line restaurant. Each business opportunity goes through a competitive selection process with a set minimum proposal/bid amount. The minimum guaranteed rent for the first year of the lease is the amount proposed/bid by the winning proposer/bidder.
Both the RFB and RFP process have a set of minimum qualifications and required documents that must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered.
For RFBs, bids are opened at a designated date and time in a public meeting. The highest bid is deemed the "apparent successful bidder." Staff then reviews the submittals to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met.
The primary difference between a RFB and a RFP is that a RFP allows for the selection of a firm based on a qualitative criterion, whereas a RFB is awarded to the highest bidder provided that they meet the minimum qualifications.
SFO typically requires a minimum of three years of experience in the concept that is available within the past five years (referred to as "qualifying years"). For each qualifying year, the proposer must have also achieved a minimum amount of gross revenues, which varies by concession opportunity.
The Airport may grant a six-month trial to test a new concept or an upcoming trend. If the concept is found to be desirable, the Airport will conduct a competitive selection process for the opportunity. The incumbent is not guaranteed the lease.
Please contact the Social Impact Office or the State of California's Business Enterprise Program.
You may mail it to:
Mailing Address:
Airport Commission
Revenue Development and Management
PO Box 8097
San Francisco, CA 94128-8097
E-mail:SFOConcessions@flysfo.com
Email Revenue Development and Management at SFOConcessions@flysfo.com to request contact information of the owners/store managers of each retail, food and beverage or service at the Airport. Once you have the information, you need to contact the tenants directly.
Procurement Ethics
As a member of the City and County of San Francisco, SFO subscribes to thePrinciples and Standards of Ethical Purchasing Conduct published by the City’s Office of Contract Administration. Furthermore, SFO Procurement adopts the below Code of Ethics to ensure we publicly serve in the highest capacity.
- Core Procurement Principles
· Public Service
We are public servants of the City and County of San Francisco. We uphold City and SFO values.
· Integrity
We aspire to act with honesty, impartiality, and fairness. We promote the collective good above our own interests.
· Respect
We recognize the inherent worth and rights of every individual. We maintain professionalism and courtesy in our roles. - Ethical Standards
To uphold the Core Procurement Principles, SFO believes that all employees involved in procurement should promote the below ethical standards:
- To regard public service as a sacred trust, giving primary consideration to the interests of the public agency that employs us
- To honor our obligations and require that obligations to our public agency be honored
- To purchase without prejudice, seeking to obtain the maximum value for each purchase
- To strive for greater knowledge of procurement methods and of the materials we purchase
- To promote the public good through our responsibilities as trusted public servants
- To conduct ourselves with fairness and dignity, and to demand honesty and truth in the procurement process
- To support the highest ideals of honor and integrity in furtherance of inspiring the public’s confidence in SFO
- To avoid unfair practices, giving all qualified vendors equal opportunity
- To refuse to accept any form of commercial bribery, and prevent any appearance of so doing
- To uphold integrity over personal aggrandizement or personal profit obtained through misuse of public or personal relationships
- To proactively identify conflicts of interest and act accordingly to prevent actions which might influence or appear to influence purchasing decisions
- To act objectively and empathetically, without discrimination
- To accord vendor representatives courteous treatment
- To promote a spirit of teamwork and unity with our colleagues
- To cooperate with all organizations and individuals involved in activities designed to enhance the development of the procurement profession
- To ensure our organization is informed and transparent
- To act in accordance with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of protected characteristics
Construction
Detailed information about construction opportunities can be found on SFO's Construction Bids and Contracts website.
Visit the Construction Bids and Contracts website ›
Technology Marketplace
The City’s Technology Marketplace, established in the 1990s, serves as an efficient procurement model for technology goods and services. The current iteration, Technology Marketplace 3.0, includes over 50 pre-qualified suppliers under multi-year Term Contracts managed by the Office of Contract Administration (OCA), set to expire on December 31, 2028.
To utilize the Marketplace, departments submit a requisition in PeopleSoft for OCA review. Upon approval, OCA issues a purchase order to a Technology Marketplace reseller, drawing from their Term Contract with the City. Departments must comply with the manufacturer’s license, use, and support terms; all other provisions are governed by the reseller’s Term Contract. Departments are not authorized to sign any separate agreements.
Contact with Technology Sourcing Management Team with questions: SFO.itt-tsm@flySFO.com
Learn more about the Technology Marketplace ›
Professional Services
For listings of SFO's upcoming Professional Services opportunities and current Professional Services bids and RFPs, please visit Current Opportunities. Parties interested in an opportunity should review the complete posting, including all attached files, and contact the person indicated for any additional information on the proposal or process.
View Current Opportunities for Professional Services ›
Ground Transportation
For permit information and forms for ground transportation providers, such as charter, commercial shuttle, courtesy shuttle, crew shuttle, shared-ride van, hotel shuttle, limousine, off-airport rental car shuttle, parking shuttle, scheduled and taxi, please visit SFO Ground Transportation Permit Processing.
For listings of SFO's upcoming Ground Transportation opportunities and current Ground Transportation bids and RFPs, please visit Current Opportunities. Parties interested in an opportunity should review the complete posting, including all attached files, and contact the person indicated for any additional information on the proposal or process.
View Current Opportunities for Ground Transportation ›
Aviation Support Services
Thank you for your interest in applying for an Aviation Support Services Permit at San Francisco International Airport. Airline service providers assist airlines with a wide variety of services that fall under the airlines’ responsibilities under their individual Lease and Use Agreements or Operating Permits.
View more information about Aviation Support Services and Apply for a Permit
Tenant Improvement
Tenant Improvements are guided by the Tenant Improvement Guide (TIG) which serves as a basic reference for Airport tenants, their consultants and contractors to plan, design, demolish, construct and install improvements within Airport property. This includes all rentable land and building space at the San Francisco International Airport. Tenant improvements are subject to procedures, standards and regulations outlined in the TIG which can be accessed on theABR, A&E Standards, and Tenant Improvement Guide page.
Mechanics Lien
Information involving Mechanics Lien Rights can be accessed on the ABR, A&E Standards, and Tenant Improvement Guide page.
Prevailing Wage Requirements
Information regarding Prevailing Wage Requirements can be found in the Airport Rules and Regulations.