The provider interview kit / Free download
Make every provider
answer the same brief.
Twelve interview prompts, the evidence to request, a site-visit worksheet, and an editable evaluation matrix. Built for the meeting after the sales deck.
Ask. Observe. Record the evidence.
Give every candidate the same scope and questions. Separate what you saw from what was promised. Keep mandatory requirements as pass/fail checks; agree any scoring weights before reviewing responses. An unknown answer stays unresolved.
Conversation 1 / 3 evidence requests
The operation behind the pitch
Comparable operation
Which current account resembles our volumes, facilities, meal periods, and service setting?
Comparable scope, reference permission, and named contact.
Day-to-day team
Who would run our operation, and what is the relief plan?
Organization chart, coverage assumptions, recruitment responsibilities.
Local support
Who responds when the site team needs help?
Escalation owner, visit cadence, and support included in the fee.
Conversation 2 / 3 evidence requests
The experience diners actually get
A real service day
Show us a menu and production plan for our busiest and quietest days.
Sample cycle, production method, service timings.
Dietary requirements
How are dietary requests, allergen communication, and responsibility handled?
Written process and responsible team; specialist review where needed.
Feedback and follow-through
How will complaints and participation data change the program?
Sample report, response ownership, and review cadence.
Conversation 3 / 3 evidence requests
The money and the responsibilities
Price on one basis
Can you price our exact sites, schedule, volume, and scope?
Itemized recurring and one-time charges on a common schedule.
What is outside the fee
Who pays for supplies, technology, equipment, repairs, and vacancies?
Responsibility matrix with every exclusion assigned.
Changing conditions
What happens if volumes, wages, food costs, or hours change?
Written adjustment mechanisms and relevant contract references.
Conversation 4 / 3 evidence requests
The handover and the proof
Transition readiness
What must happen before launch, and who owns each dependency?
Dated transition plan with staffing, equipment, and system dependencies.
An observed service
Can we visit a comparable operation during a representative meal period?
Agreed visit, observation notes, and follow-up questions.
Success and review
What measurable outcomes will we review together after launch?
Defined measures, data sources, owners, and review dates.
On the site visit, look beyond the plate.
Record the time, meal period, approximate volume, queue and service experience, availability near the end of service, menu and dietary communication, team interactions, and follow-up questions. Observe with permission and avoid collecting identifiable diner, patient, or student information.
The worksheet supports your procurement process. It does not replace a food-safety inspection, clinical review, or legal review.