Off-Campus Caterers
Deliveries/Drop Offs
Off campus caterers can be approved to drop off or deliver meals on campus (cannot set up on-site). They may not sell or offer food for sale on campus. Below is a list of all off campus caterers who have met UCI requirements by submitting the required Liability and Health documentation, listed in the Off-Campus Catering Approval Packet. Off campus caterers may be used to deliver food for events occurring prior to the UCI approval expiration date. Caterers whose approval has expired will not appear on the list and can contact UCI Dining Services to submit updated documents. The list is updated on the 15th of each month. If you are interested in using one of these caterers for a full catering set up, please see below as an exception and a signed amendment confirming wage and benefits parity will be required.
Full Catering Service
If you are looking to host an event that requires catering set up and service on-site, please review Regents Policy 5402, and Article 5 of the AFSCME SX and EX collective bargaining agreements. Both the collective bargaining agreements and the Regents Policy 5402 require that the University utilizes in-house employees (UCI Catering) before resorting to private contractors (off campus caterers).
Based on Article 5 and the Regents Policy 5402, UCI Catering is required to provide the catering service with University employees. If UCI Catering is unable to do so, an exception must be requested and reviewed by Procurement Services and Enterprise Workforce Relations (EWR). Please note, if the event will be hosted in a state-funded facility, an exception cannot be approved by EWR or UCI Procurement. Exceptions or “carve-outs” to the Article 5 contract requirements will require an amendment to be put in place between UCI and your off campus caterer, with the assistance of EWR, and Procurement Services, to confirm that your caterer is paying wage and benefits parity. Below is a list of available options based on Article 5 and the policy:
Current Options Based on Event Location:
- If your event is being held on campus and is not in a state-funded facility:
- Option 1: Drop off/delivery of meals by an approved off-campus caterer (no set up on-site)
- Option 2: Contact UCI Catering (catering@uci.edu or call (949) 824-1423) to provide full catering service with in-house/University staff
- Option 3: Request for review of exception to Article 5 and Regents Policy 5402
- Exception from the policy to be determined by EWR and UCI Procurement Services
- If provided exception – requires signed amendment w/off campus caterer confirming Wage and Benefits Parity
- To request for review of your event, please contact EWR or Procurement Services
- Exception from the policy to be determined by EWR and UCI Procurement Services
- If your event is being held on campus and in a state-funded facility – exceptions cannot be provided.
- Option 1: Drop off/delivery of meals by an approved off-campus caterer (no set up on-site)
- Option 2: UCI Catering provides full catering service with in-house/University staff
- Option 3: Consider changing the venue/event location
For additional questions or clarifications regarding Regents Policy 5402 or Article 5, please contact UCI Dining or contact Snehal Bhatt, Chief Procurement Officer and/or Leslie Kleiman, Senior Director of Workforce Relations.
Alcohol Services
Off-Campus Caterers are approved to provide food, NOT to provide and serve alcohol. Please visit the Alcohol section for more information on approved alcohol service.
Food Delivery Services
Departments interested in ordering catering services through a food delivery service will need to ensure that both the delivery service and off campus restaurant has submitted the University required documents and are currently approved. Please contact UCI Dining Services for a list of approved delivery services.
For more information on off-campus approved caterers and approved delivery services, please contact (949) 824-2759 or send an email to food@uci.edu.
Connect With Us