Write an iPhone app - Phase 1

First off a little about us. We are a technology driven, fast-growing business in Arlington, TX. We are called Dot It Restaurant Fulfillment. I'm the IT Director of the company and I've just been charged to find a consultant firm that will work with us on building us a custom phone app. Ok, so here's a little background. Our current website is basically an online catalog ([login to view URL]) We are currently developing a brand-new website that should be live by Nov 1. From this website we will be marketing all of our services, and one of those services is a branded mobile service, so we figured we probably need a mobile app so we have a presence there. So, in conjunction with our new website launch on November 1st, we want to launch a mobile app. We're going to divide the whole app building project into 2 phases. This post is for PHASE 1. PHASE 1: The design of an iPhone app that allows a user to setup a profile for their restaurant. After they register it takes them straight to our current catalog online - which is mobile enabled so it should be a seamless handoff. If it doesn't look as elegant as we think it will, we'll need to develop around that so it does look elegant. Within this app we'll have an About us section, an in-depth profile section (where they set some standards for their account us), a settings area (Where the profile is and general app settings are), and some featured products that will link you directly to the catalog when clicked. I would really like for the browser to launch within the app, maybe have a bar across the top that keeps the UI rooted in the app at all times....even though they're using Safari to view the catalog from our website. Other than that, there's not really any more functions that we need the app to do. In a nutshell the user should be able to: (1) Create a profile (Keep in mind this profile is not just name, address, email kind of thing. This will have a LOT of preferences.) (2) Browse our online catalog (3) View the about us section (3) Purchase through our online catalog (staying rooted in the app) We would like this app to cross platforms and have an Android version so keep that in mind when you're thinking architecture. That's really it for PHASE 1. That's what you're bidding on. PHASE 2 we'll save for another project posting before I go into a lot of detail. But because PHASE 1 needs to be the foundation for PHASE 2 I need to tell you something about it too. On PHASE 2 we want the app to have a QR Code reader ability using the native iPhone app Passbook's technology we want them to be able to scan a QR code from a magazine ad, or a website ad, or off the product itself and then the system would go to our database and pull that product for the user to see on the app. Then they'll have the option to purchase that product and customize it to their needs. Pulling some of the content from the information in the user's profile and from user entry we would offer the ability to customize that product and order it online, have it shipped to your preferred addy and in most cases charged directly to the restaurant account. (assuming they are an established customer with us) However, we will need to be able to accept credit cards as well as a "Bill To Account" option. So remember, you're bidding on PHASE 1 when you bid. But I'll be happy to provide more details if it will help you bid more accurately. Also, when you bid don't expect an immediate awarding. I have to present your bid to the board and have it blessed by the Catholic church (I'm kidding). But we're not dragging our feet on this. It's a top project on my radar. And just to give you a quick hint, make sure you're able to handle PHASE 2 of this entire project when bidding on PHASE 1. I want to build a relationship with someone and grow the app with that specific somebody. So only apply if you're skilled to handle this kind of a project. Thank you. Happy bidding.