Sources Sought Notice - Tailored Operational Training Meal.docx
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- Attached to
- Tailored Operation Training Meal (TOTM)
- Solicitation number
- SPE3S1
About this file
This sources sought notice requests information from potential offerors for a Tailored Operational Training Meal contract. The TOTM is an alternative operational training meal provided to National Guard and Reserve forces for inactive duty training. The meal consists of a self-contained flexible bag containing 950 calories, an entrée, fruit, beverage base, and flameless heater. The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support currently provides the TOTM under contracts set to expire. Interested parties are asked to provide company information, business size, points of contact, experience on government contracts, production capabilities, and delivery timelines. Offerors are also asked if they would offer fixed pricing for a potential five-year contract given current market volatility and supply chain issues.
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Sources Sought Notice Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM) Item Background
| The purpose of the Tailored operational Training Meal (TOTM) is to provide an alternative operational training meal that engage in Inactive Duty Training (IDT) such as the National Guard and Reserve forces, for use in situations where deployment of traditional operational ration meals is not mandated. The TOTM became available in May of 2001. This effort was executed to promote this doctrine requirement and the “train as you fight” philosophy, while meeting the customers’ budgetary needs. As a training tool, this meal will aid units in gaining familiarity with the preparation, usage, consumption and disposal of a pre-packed meal similar to the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). |
| The Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM) is a totally self-contained packet consisting of a meal packed in a flexible meal bag that is lightweight and fits easily into military field clothing pockets. The TOTM employs commercial packaging to reduce costs. There are 3 sets of menus currently available. Each set of these three varieties is comprised of 6 menus. Each case contains two of each menu for a total of twelve meals per case. |
Menus typically contain an entrée, a wet-pack fruit, a beverage base, a flameless ration heater, a dining kit and other assorted components. The contents of one TOTM meal bag provide a minimum of 950 calories. Except for the beverages, the entire meal is ready to eat. While the entrée may be eaten cold when operationally necessary, it can also be heated in a variety of ways including; immersion in hot water while still sealed in its individual entrée package. A Flameless heating device has also been packed into each meal bag to heat the entrée. This product is designed to be a “just in time”/Direct Vendor Delivery (DVD) item with a 7-10 day delivery lead time. The shelf life of the TOTM at the time of delivery to the customer will be 18 months to no less than 12 months shelf life when stored at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Operational Rations such as the TOTM are only sold to the U.S. Military Services and other authorized federally-funded agencies. DLA Troop Support is prohibited from selling this item to the private sector (individual, business or other organizations). Individual National Guard units curr4ently purchase the TOTM through their supporting United States Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) activity. The TOTM is currently only available within the 48 contiguous Continental United States (CONUS) region. The Tailored operational Training Meals are currently provided by DLA Troop Support and were established under the previous contracts SPE3S1-19-D-Z122 and SPE3S1-19-D-Z123.
Commercial Item Determination The Tailored Operational Training Meal is similar to the standard MRE in packaging and contains many of the same components. The TOTM provides a lower caloric count for less intensive training environments allowing the trainee to become familiar with the MRE without providing an excessive amount of calories.
| There are currently a few different types of rations provided by the Government and commercial contractors. The MRE, MRE Religious Kosher/Halal, Meal, Cold Weather, and Survival rations are just a few examples of the meals offered for military use only. Manufacturers sell their own branded rations commercially to customers that use the meals for outdoor activity, emergency situations, and for work in extreme weather conditions. Although these items are available on the commercial marketplace, the meal bag and components are packaged in military specific packaging which is not the same as seen on the internet. |
| The TOTM is considered a non-commercial item since there are few packaged meals were found on-line that offer comparable features to the TOTM, but not packaged in the same materials as this item. The TOTM is more comparable to the MRE instead of these commercial items due to the military specific packaging. |
Please respond to the following:
1. Provide a brief description of your company (name, address, type of business; CAGE Code if applicable).
2. Business Size: Large_____ Small______ Number of Employees: _____
3. Primary point of contact’s phone number and email address.
4. Secondary point of contact (if any).
5. Has your organization previously performed on government contracts(s)
6. Are the materials for the Tailored Operational Training Meal (TOTM) different from your normal production?
7. What is a realistic delivery schedule after receipt of award? Subsequent delivery orders?
8. DLA intends on issuing a Five-Year contract with ordering periods in lieu of options, would you be willing to offer pricing up front for five years (a different price for all five years)?
9. Considering the increase in prices, market volatility, supply chain disruptions are there any concerns that your capabilities for producing, assembling, and shipping the TOTM Ration? How has your business been affected over the last couple years and what factors will affect this TOTM procurement?
Additional Comments/Concerns:
We encourage and appreciate your participation. Please respond via e-mail to Michael.Olsakowski@dla.mil
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .