1. Welcome

Thank you for your interest in hosting an Iowa Café! The Iowa Café program works with local restaurants and food establishments for meals to:
  • Reduce Hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition
  • Promote socialization of older people
  • promote health and well-being with access to nutrition and health promotion/disease prevention services to delay onset of chronic diseases

All Iowa Café partners contract directly with Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) to host an Iowa Cafe to provide meals for older adults.

NEI3A seeks proposals to provide this service.

Contracts are awarded to responsible contractors whose proposals demonstrate to be most advantageous to the area's program, price, and other factors considered. NEI3A decides on who to award.

Contracts are procured through a competitive bidding process in compliance with the Iowa Administrative Code and Federal guidelines. Bidders may be contacted for additional information or presentation while bids are reviewed.

Successful contractors will operate under a contract for 12 months with an option to extend the contract an additional 24 months, contingent upon continued Older Americans Act funding to the Area Agency on Aging and upon successful fulfillment of contract obligations and consumer satisfaction. Parties must enter into a legal contractual agreement before the contract period begins. Reimbursement is on a per meal basis.


Iowa Cafe requirements
  • Consumer Eligibility
Individuals age 60 or older and their spouse regardless of age are eligible. Those under age 60 with disabilities who live with an adult over the age of 60 and accompany them to the meal are also eligible. “Eligible” also means consumers have the opportunity to voluntarily contribute towards the cost of the meal. Consumers are encouraged to voluntarily contribute as they are able; no eligible consumer is denied service if they are unable to unwilling to make a contribution.
  • Menu and Nutrition Requirements
Iowa Café meals must provide 1/3 of the Dietary Reference Intakes and Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Foodservice establishments must submit a menu for the Iowa Cafe that follows the Iowa Nutrition Services Guidelines prior to serving meals under this Program. If needed, NEI3A will assist in creating menus with items you already serve so there is no need to make brand new recipes or menu items. Small modifications are usually required to ensure meals meet the nutrition guidelines. Please see the Iowa Nutrition Services Guidelines for more information

You may offer a set daily menu, or may offer different daily menus (“specials”) to provide choices for participants. Once the menu is established, foodservice establishments must offer meals according to the approved menu; however, consumers may decline any element of the meal. The foodservice establishment is not required to offer substitutions beyond the planned menu.

Menus may be modified upon prior approval by and consultation with NEI3A. Menu items must be offered to participants as listed on the approved menu. Serving sizes for each menu item shall be available upon request by participants.

Proposals must include a draft of the menu offered to Iowa Café participants as part of the proposal materials submitted to NEI3A.

  • Food Safety
Older adults are especially susceptible to foodborne illness. Foodservice establishments must keep current its licensure and food safety protection manager. The site is subject to monitoring at any time. NEI3A will also monitor on a yearly basis, and will provide you with a tool for you to self-monitor on a yearly basis.
  • Technology
The Iowa Cafe Program uses a card scanning system to track how many meals are served at each location and to whom. NEI3A issues scanning cards (keychain size plastic cards) to program participants when they are admitted to the Program.

NEI3A provides a tablet (ipad) to the foodservice establishment to scan cards. This equipment is for The Iowa Café program use only. Foodservice establishments must have internet access to use this system.

Each time a participant eats a meal, the foodservice establishment scans the participant’s card. Invoices are generated based on these scans to reimburse the foodservice establishment for meals served. Scan cards are loaded with a pre-determined number of meals per month.

Best practices for foodservice establishments include:
• Scan the participant’s card at the time the meal is ordered to ensure there are meals available;
• Keep the keycard process as discrete as possible for a better participant experience;
• Do not refer to Iowa Café meals as “free” or “discounted;” meals are offered on a “voluntary contribution basis.”

Video links below show a demonstration of the software for foodservice establishments to check-in meals and participants to check their card balances on their own mobile device:
• Foodservice Establishment Demonstration Video
• Participant Card Balance Demonstration Video
  • Voluntary Contributions
Foodservice establishments must refrain from describing meals as “free” or discounted. Each consumer must be given an opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the cost of the meal per the Older Americans Act and Iowa Administrative Code. These contributions are invested back into the program to serve more meals to more participants. NEI3A will mail voluntary contribution letters to each individual on a monthly basis in order to collect contributions.

To minimize confusion for participants, establishments will include gratuity with their calculated meal rate.
  • Nutrition Education
NEI3A provides Nutrition Education to Iowa Cafe participants. NEI3A staff coordinates with foodservice establishments for 60 minutes per month outside of busy dining hours to provide nutrition education to Iowa Cafe participants. NEI3A also produces newsletters to be placed in the dining room or other conspicuous area to encourage participants to read.
  • Registration Forms
Consumers must complete a registration form to begin receiving meals and update their registration yearly. Registration is required to participate. Registration can be completed in-person or by calling NEI3A.
  • Quarterly Meetings
Foodservice establishments will identify a person to serve as primary contact for communication with NEI3A. NEI3A will hold quarterly meetings with foodservice establishments to review rules, inform establishments of any program changes, and to garner feedback
  • Reimbursement
Foodservice establishments will be reimbursed on a per meal basis. Invoices are generated through the SeniorDine system as described above.
Selection of Foodservice Providers
Please complete the following application to be considered as an Iowa Cafe partner with NEI3A. NEI3A reviews applications through the following framework
  • Timely response and full completion of this Request for Proposal - 10 points
  • Nature and extent of the applicant's experience serving older individuals who are of greatest economic need (low income) and/or social need (racial/ethnic minorities, those who speak English as a second language, and rural individuals) - 15 points
  • Nature and extent of the applicant's experience to prepare and provide meals at a foodservice establishment - 35 points
  • Cost effectiveness - 40 points


This request for proposals closes May 22nd, 2025 12 noon central time. NO PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME.

Please click "next" to continue the application process.

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