RFP 26-31 Acquisition of Property by Lease for a Nibble Shared Community Kitchen in Union Square

Location:	Massachusetts
Posted:	Dec 19, 2025
Due:	Feb 4, 2026
Agency:	City of Somerville
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	X - Lease or Rental of Facilities
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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CITY OF SOMERVILLE

Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor

Procurement & Contracting Services Department

City Hall | 93 Highland Avenue | Somerville, MA 02143

Request for Proposals #26-31

Acquisition of Property by Lease for a

Nibble Shared Community Kitchen in Union Square

I. Introduction

City of Somerville, through its Procurement & Contracting Services Department, is seeking to lease

property for use as a shared kitchen coordinated by Nibble, located in the neighborhood of Union Square

and serving the City of Somerville.

II. Background

Nibble is a decade-old Somerville Arts Council initiative that grew out of the ArtsUnion Project; its

programming began with tours of Union Square’s international markets, which led to a blog, a book,

cooking classes, the Nibble Entrepreneurship Program (NEP), and Nibble Catering. Nibble focuses on

how food tells endless stories about cultural identity and conveys a rich sense of place. Nibble promotes

and supports food-related businesses and culinary entrepreneurs, especially from immigrant

communities.

The City of Somerville seeks to create a multi-use globally-inspired food space that would build a

pipeline for aspiring food entrepreneurs and be a culinary destination for the greater Boston area. We

envision a space that is raw, funky and boasts an international flavor that encapsulates the delicious

flavors of Somerville and its immigrant communities. This community-driven space would expand upon

the Somerville Arts Council’s “Nibble” programming, including rotating pop-up restaurants, cooking

classes, and the entrepreneurship program. During off hours, the kitchen would be used for Nibble

catering.

A Nibble Kitchen is an operational expansion that will serve as a more stable platform for Nibble to

build upon NEP, which is geared toward immigrant communities and supports aspiring entrepreneurs

with licensing and certification, business and planning, product development, marketing workshops and

offers vending opportunities.

Over the past decade Union Square has gone from overlooked to up-and-coming – and culinary tourism

has played a significant role in this urban makeover. The area boasts a diverse array of international

restaurants and markets and there are numerous food-themed events like the Ignite Street Food and Fire

Festival, the Fluff Festival and Nibble programming. Yet as development pressure in the square

accelerates, occupancy costs increase and are a barrier to entry for new food entrepreneurs, especially

immigrant entrepreneurs. Somerville still needs affordable retail space that caters to new food

entrepreneurs who don’t want or can’t commit to a long-term retail lease as well as space that cultivates

food experimentation and training. Nibble Kitchen still serves this need.

The proposed food space also would support place-making goals. The flavor of Union Square derives in

large part from its non-chain independent spirit and diversity. This global flavor lends soul and

authenticity to the area and a Nibble Kitchen would help cement and preserve this Union Square flavor

in the face of intensified development pressure, displacement and gentrification. Nibble is deeply

connected to Union Square, in terms of programming, business partnerships and branding. So this is

where we seek to create a kitchen and retail space.

The City currently wishes to enter into a multi-year lease agreement, pending approval of the City

Council. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law c. 30B, §16, the City is required to conduct a

competitive solicitation process to acquire interests in real property with a cost in excess of $35,000.

The City seeks to acquire by lease appropriate space for a shared kitchen space with the following

specifications:

A. Location

The property must be located within the Bow Market Development within Union Square.

B. Space, Parking, and Loading Requirements

At a minimum, the preferred space will be approximately 450 square feet and large enough to

accommodate a full commercial kitchen with the opportunity for a small tasting counter or flexible

shared seating for a full-service restaurant including adequate in-unit storage space. The space

sought is to be delivered as a clean white box, per Appendix C, unless the lease is awarded to the

previous landlord. There are no parking requirements for the use of the space. The space would have

access to loading areas for deliveries. The shared kitchen will have typical restaurant

power/utility/phone/data needs.

C. Lease/Purchase

The City is seeking to acquire the property by lease.

D. Broker

The City will not pay a broker’s commission or finder’s fee of any kind. The selected proposer will

be required to certify that it has not dealt with a broker and to hold harmless and indemnify the City

from and against any claim for a broker’s commission or finder’s fee.

E. Due Diligence Matters

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Union Square Shared Kitchen

Any lease agreement shall include a due diligence period for environmental testing with an absolute

right on the part of the City to terminate the lease without recourse if such testing reveals the

presence of or threat of release of oil or hazardous materials or substances.

F. Estimated Timetable

RFP released

Deadline for Submitting Questions on RFP

RFP due by

Initial evaluation of RFPs

Mayor’s Recommendation to City Council

City Council Approval

Execution of Lease Agreement

Closing Date/Lease Commencement Date

December 19, 2026

January 21, 2026 12:00PM

February 4, 2026 at 2:00PM

February/March 2026

April 2026

May 2026

May 12, 2026

G. Governing Law

This acquisition of an interest in real property is governed by the Uniform Procurement Act, M.G.L.

Chapter 30B, Section 16.

III. Proposal Submittal Requirements

One original and one electronic copy (on flash drive) of the proposal must be submitted marked

“Acquisition of Property by Lease for a Nibble Shared Community Kitchen in Union Square.” Proposals

must be received by the Procurement & Contracting Services Department, City Hall, 93 Highland

Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143 no later than 2:00PM on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. No faxed

or electronically mailed (e-mailed) proposals will be accepted. Late submissions will not be accepted

and will be returned to the Proposer unopened. In the event City Hall is closed, the deadline is at the

same time on the next day City Hall is open for business.

Proposers can submit hard copies via above process, or via BidExpress, detailed below. BidExpress.com

is an online bidding platform where bidders can also submit all required documents. The fee to use this

service is approximately $50.00 unless your company has a subscription with BidExpress. You can

access the bid package and forms via the City of Somerville BidExpress page at:

https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/33100/home. For any technical assistance while submitting the

online bid, please contact the BidExpress Customer support team at www.bidexpress.com. All bids will

be timestamped and must be received no later than due date and time.

The RFP opening will be conducted virtually using Zoom at the link below. All proposals submitted by

the deadline will be opened and recorded in public, and all information contained in the proposals is

public information.

Live RFP Opening Link:

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87957791647?pwd=fELNzAb4sS3Ayre4xm7hr3HS60nzMk.1

Meeting ID: 879 5779 1647

Passcode: 526211

Request for Proposals

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Union Square Shared Kitchen

The Proposal shall contain the following:

A. Letter of Transmittal

The proposal shall include a letter of transmittal stating the full legal name of the owner of the

property and the address of the property. The letter must be signed by the owner and addressed to the

Chief Procurement Officer, City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.

B. Description of Property

1. A basic floor plan of the proposed property, including the square footage.

2. Confirmation that space is (or will be modified to be) accessible to persons with disabilities.

3. A minimum of six color photographs (sized at least 5”x 7”), three interior and three exterior,

of the existing space. If proposed space is currently or proposed to be under construction, an

additional submission of three renderings shall also be submitted.

4. A written description of amenities, including, if any, bathroom, kitchen, air conditioning,

power, gas, plumbing hook-ups, wiring to support technology, and number and type of

dedicated and/or shared restaurant tables and seats available.

5. Clearly stated hours when Tenant can access the rented space. Bidder to clarify if there are

any hours when Tenant cannot operate in the leased space.

C. Term Sheet

Bidders are to complete the attached price form in its entirety.

For the proposed lease, the term sheet must include:

• initial term of lease – minimum of five (5) years

• options to renew – one (1) option to renew

o the renewal would be for a period of three (3) years, for a total potential term of eight

(8) years,

o the rent to be adjusted using the lesser of the CPI or then current fair market rents for

commercial space in Union Square, or predetermined amount to be agreed upon by

bidder and the City

• base rent (stating what is included in base rent)

• how payment of real estate taxes, insurance, and operating expenses will be allocated

between landlord and tenant and what the estimated dollar amount is for the initial 5-year

term

• Tenant must have the right to make interior alterations or improvements

• unqualified right on the part of the City to assign or sublet

• option to terminate the lease on an annual basis with one-hundred and twenty (120) days

in advance written notice

• insurance requirements for landlord and for Tenant

• any known title encumbrances

• in the case of a condominium lease:

o itemized annual budget for common area expenses,

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Union Square Shared Kitchen

o percentage interest of the unit; and

o common area fee payable by the unit and whether included in rent.

E. Title Documents

1. Proposer’s deed to property.

2. Copy of title insurance policy for property, if any.

3. Master Deed, Condominium Trust, and Master Deed Plans, if a condominium.

F. Timeline

The proposal shall include a timeline which takes into account the City’s timetable in paragraph II-F

above.

G. Certifications of Good Faith and Mandatory Disclosure pursuant to Campaign

Contributions Ordinance

1. An executed Certification of Good Faith, pursuant to G.L. c. 30B, §10, a copy of which is

included as Appendix A.

2. An executed Mandatory Disclosure and Certification regarding any campaign contributions,

pursuant to requirements of the City’s Campaign Contributions Ordinance Sec. 15-71 to 15-

76, a copy of which is included in Appendix A.

H. Disclosure Statement for Transaction with a Public Agency Concerning Real Property

Envelope #1 shall include an executed Disclosure Statement, as required by G.L. c. 7, s. 40J, a copy

of which is included as Appendix B.

IV. Procedures for Evaluation, Selection and Execution of Lease

A. Initial Review: The City will accept for consideration only those proposals that meet the

submission requirements. Proposals failing to meet these requirements (outlined in sections III

and VI) may be rejected.

B. Site Visits: City staff will conduct site visits for all competitive, qualifying proposals, to verify

the information provided in the proposals, and to perform detailed evaluations of the proposed

space. The proposer should be present at the site visit or should arrange to have someone present

who has the knowledge and authority to represent him or her.

C. Evaluation of Qualifying Proposals: Any proposal that the City has determined as non-

qualifying will be rejected by the City. The City will notify the proposer in writing. All

qualifying proposals will be evaluated on the qualitative criteria and compared with regard to the

City economic development objectives for this project as outlined in this RFP. The City will then

prepare a cost analysis, which estimates and compares total costs of the lease for all proposals

evaluated. The City will then make the final selection of a proposal or proposals.

Request for Proposals

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Union Square Shared Kitchen

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

RFP 26-31 Acquisition of Property by Lease for a Nibble Shared Community Kitchen in Union Square

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