Rucker FFS Final JA 2 6.11.26_Redacted.pdf

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

Control Number:

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

JUNE 2025

a. Background: The Army is launching DINEX with the goal of seeking innovative, flexible solutions that deliver superior outcomes compared to the existing food service model. DINEX strategically aligns with the Department of War's (DoW) Acquisition Transformation Strategy by prioritizing flexibility, speed, and commercial innovation over legacy systems. The DINEX objective directly embodies the strategy’s mandate to adopt a "Commercial-First" approach and leverage the rapid innovation available in the private sector. To achieve this, DINEX utilizes the preferred alternative acquisition pathways: employing a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) allows us to solicit and evaluate cutting-edge commercial solutions, while the intent to award an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) ensures we can streamline the negotiation process, attract non-traditional providers, and structure the resulting partnership around measurable, performance-driven superior outcomes. This combined use of a CSO and an OTA is a direct implementation of DoW’s directive to maximize acquisition agility, rebuild and diversify the industrial base, and ultimately deliver better, faster results for the warfighter.

b. A draft CSO was issued to industry on 11 December 2025, with the final

CSO was released on 20 May 2026 and due 30 June 2026. The resulting OTA includes Fort Rucker as a prototype garrison for the Army’s new approach. Based on this, the Army no longer needs a 5-year contract.

c. The requirement is for a non-competitive, five (5) month base performance period with seven (7) one (1) month option periods, with the current incumbent, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1.

This action is necessary to prevent an unacceptable delay in mission-essential services and to ensure the seamless execution of the Army’s strategic Dining Excellence (DINEX) initiative. The DINEX OTA, which includes Fort Rucker as the prototype garrison, is currently scheduled for award in November 2026.

d. Pursuing a full, competitive solicitation for a short-term, seven (7) month requirement would necessitate dedicating significant acquisition and legal resources over a 60-90 day period to acquire a service that will be immediately superseded by the DINEX OTA. This diversion of resources would directly delay the execution of the far more critical DINEX CSO/OTA timeline (final CSO release planned for 20 May 2026), threatening the Army's ability to achieve the strategic objective of awarding the OTA by Summer 2026. The seven (7) month base performance period with five (5) one (1) month option periods extension allows the end of the interim requirement an additional two (2) months of service to accommodate potential delays with the scheduled award of the DINEX OTA.

e. Awarding a new, short-term contract (approximately 1 year) to a non-incumbent would also require the Government to incur duplication of costs of a 30-day contractor transition twice in less than a year: once for the new, short-term contractor and a second time for the contractor awarded the DINEX OTA. Extending the current incumbent avoids the need for any transition costs for the interim period, reserving

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

Control Number:

CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON

JUNE 2025

those resources for the final transition to the new strategic OTA.

f. Direct negotiations with facilitate a quicker procurement process, enabling services to commence more rapidly, which is particularly beneficial for the maintenance of cafeteria operations that require prompt and continuous service.

g. The Contracting Officer has determined that the incumbent is able to continue providing the required food services at a reasonable cost, with food of a high quality that is comparable to that currently provided. Notably, the SLA is the incumbent contractor, and its employees have the proper sanitation practices, personnel, staffing, menu pricing and portion sizes, menu variety, budget and accounting practices, and proven history to perform these services.

h. Impact if not approved: Failure to approve this action will result in a break of services of Fort Rucker’s FFS operation and closure of their two dining facilities due to the extended acquisition process required to fill the gap prior to the award of DINEX. As a result, Fort Rucker’s training mission will be significantly impacted and Solider readiness degraded.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition: In accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(4), this action will not be synopsized. The MICC-Fort Eustis will conduct direct negotiations with in accordance with 20 U.S.C. § 107 and 34 C.F.R. § 395.33(d).

a. Effective competition: Because this is a sole source action, effective competition is not applicable.

b. Subcontracting competition: In accordance with RFO 19.109(a)(1), federal contractors are required to develop and maintain an acceptable subcontracting plan if they are other than a small business and the estimated dollar value of the base contract and all option periods exceed or is expected to exceed $900,000. The Government will require a plan from the SLA in support of this action unless there is an appropriate justification for the Contracting Officer to waive the requirement.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: While competitive contracting processes are often the norm in public procurement, in the given circumstances surrounding the current end-of-year timeline for the establishment of the DINEX Army Food Service IDIQ, an expedient approach to continue FFS without incurring a break-in-service is in the best interest of the Government.

8. Market Research: The following market research was conducted within 18 months of award and is still current, accurate, and relevant in accordance with procedures at FAR 10.002(1). In accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 205.205-71, DFARS 206.302-1(d), and DFARS Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI) 206.302-1(d), a sources sought for the current requirement was posted to SAM.Gov on 30 May 2025 to 3 June 2025 with 11 total vendors submitting capability statements in response (see table in section 9). The contracting officer’s