Updated US Army Reserve Restaurant Catering and Grocery Request RFI 3.2022.docx

SPE300-22-DLA-GRO

Request for Information (RFI) Meal Support– US Army Reserve/National Guard Restaurant, Catering and Grocery Request

Description: US Army Reserve/National Guard Restaurant, Catering and Grocery Request RFI

Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to conduct market research seeking to identify vendors who would be interested in offering on a possible forthcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide United States Army Reserve (USAR) and possible National Guard units with restaurant catered meals and/or grocery request fulfillment in support of Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s Subsistence meal support efforts. DLA is contemplating entering into contracts that provide fresh meals from a restaurant, caterer and/or individual grocery order support services for lunchtime meals on weekends when consuming meals on site at a military dining facility is not an option for USAR units. Meals will be required across the US and Puerto Rico. Army Reserve locations can be found at: https://www.usar.army.mil/Locate-a-Reserve-Unit/Reserve-Unit-Locations/. The National Guard may also be included in this initiative. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a formal Request for Proposal, or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this RFI. All inquiries must be submitted in writing via email to Alyssa.Marley@dla.mil, Nancy.Fernandez.dla.mil and Lisa.Quinn@dla.mil. The Government will not entertain any further requests to meet individually with a contractor and will not respond to any telephonic inquiries in response to this RFI.

Please see the below requirements for a description of the possible acquisition. Please respond to either or both requirements based on your service capabilities.

Target Audience: All Interested Businesses Applicable NAICS codes: 722310 for Food Service and Catering providers; 722511 for Full-Service Restaurants; 722513 for Limited-Service Restaurants; and 445110 for Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except convenience) stores.

Meal Support – US Army Reserve Restaurant/Catering Requirement:

Description

1. DLA is looking for vendors to provide US Army Reserve units with individual fresh meals to be served as either dine-in restaurant style plating or in to-go containers (family style is not acceptable). Buffet style is acceptable but only if eating in the restaurant.

2. A single location should expect a maximum of approximately 510 requests per meal. 80% of meals will be required on Saturdays and Sundays and there will be no guarantee of meals per day/week/month.

3. Meal components will be IAW standard industry practices and MyPlate.gov standards and include the following:

· 5-7 oz protein minimum (10% of total meals requested may require plant-based protein)

· 3-6 oz vegetables minimum

· 3-5 oz grains minimum

· Meal option of a full-size salad 14-20 oz of vegetables

· All appropriate condiments shall be provided with each meal

· Individual meal ingredients shall be removable by the restaurant to avoid allergens

· Provide 12-20 oz noncarbonated beverage

4. Reserve units will have the option to dine-in, take meals to-go or have meals delivered to specified locations.

5. Units will give the vendor 12-hour notice of final headcount.

6. Vendors are required to be approved by the Army Public Health Command.

Please respond to the following questions:

Are you going to prepare meals at each location or are you going to bring in already prepared meals from another site?

What type of meals will be provided? Please provide sample menus and include a menu of non-carbonated beverages you have available.

Can you support the meal component requirements listed above? If not, what will you be able to offer?

For restaurants/caterers: Are you currently an approved vendor by the Army Public Health Command?

Is the headcount number you can support dependent on the type of meal?

What is the minimum head count you will support for individual meals and what is the maximum headcount you can support?

How will meals be served – pre-boxed, plated, self-serve, dine-in, to-go?

If the potential offeror is part of a franchise, can other franchise locations provide back up support in the event that the original offeror is not able to perform?

What geographical area does the contractor serve? Are you able to support multiple locations simultaneously? (The vendor must be able to support locations nationwide.)

How quickly could you respond to the request to provide meals? Will the 12-hour notice of final headcount suffice?

Can you make weekend deliveries if requested?

Are you able to offer a nationwide firm fixed-price per meal with billing broken down by order/unit (not per total Brigade)?

Will you be able to accept ordering via EDI transactions and invoice for payments in WAWF? If so, can each individual vendor location do so? If not, what ordering/payment process will you be able to accommodate that will provide a proper audit trail for the Army? Are you able to accept online/portal-based ordering? If not, would you prefer phone or fax requests?

What is your business size and NAICS code?

Are there any minimum- or maximum-dollar value order limitations?

Meal Support – US Army Reserve Grocery Request Requirement:

Description

1. DLA is looking to set up a contract vehicle where US Army Reservists can “shop” for local grocery items on an individual basis with the following requirements:

· The least expensive item will be charged (example: store brand corn at .99 vs name brand at 1.49)

· Local and National coupons will be honored.

· All produce will be best quality available (do not procure low quality items).

· Semi-perishable items will have at least 30 days minimum of sell by date.

· Perishable items will have at least 3 days minimum of sell-by date.

· Orders will be placed NLT 24 hours prior to pick-up.

2. Foods will be selected from the vendor’s inventory and picked up by the soldiers at the selected establishment. Delivery may be made by the vendor but no delivery charges will be assessed. If delivery is made, all orders will arrive in one truck at one delivery time.

3. A single location should expect a maximum of approximately 510 requests per meal. 80% of meals will be required on Saturdays and Sundays and there will be no guarantee of meals per day/week/month

4. To avoid waste, perishable items (meats, fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc.) must be available in 5 -10 pound increments or smaller and semi-perishable items (canned goods, jars, pasta, spices, etc.) must be available to purchase by the individual item. Cases that are in excess of actual quantity needed will not be acceptable.

5. Customers must be notified of any food items that are not in stock or those requiring substitution so that changes can be approved within 24 hours of pick-up or delivery.

6. Vendors are required to be approved by the Army Public Health Command.

Please respond to the following questions:

Can you support the above shopping requirements under 1. of the grocery request description? If not, what can you comply with?

What is the minimum/maximum order count you will support for individual grocery requests?

If the potential offeror is part of a franchise/grocery chain, can other locations provide backup support in the event that the original offeror is not able to perform?

What geographical area does the contractor serve? Are you able to support multiple locations simultaneously? (The vendor must be able to support locations nationwide.)

Do you carry products from sanitarily approved sources? If yes, which items?

How quickly could you respond to a grocery order request? Will you be able to provide within the requested 24 hours?

Can you accommodate weekend orders, if requested?

Are you able to have billing broken down by order (not consolidated) with receipts itemized by SKU, which include item titles that are easily identifiable (example: 3 lbs carrots = $2.99, 5 lbs lettuce = $3.49, 2 lbs tomato = $1.75 NOT 10 lbs produce = $8.23)?

Will you be able to accept ordering via EDI transactions and invoice for payments in WAWF? If so, can each individual vendor location do so? If not, what ordering/payment process will you be able to accommodate that will provide a proper audit trail for the Army? Are you able to accept online/portal-based ordering? If not, would you prefer phone or fax requests?

What is your business size? and NAICS code?

Are there any minimum- or maximum-dollar value order limitations?

Responses:

If you are interested in offering on such an opportunity, please provide an emailed response by 4:00 PM EST on Friday March 11, 2022 to Alyssa Marley (Alyssa.Marley@dla.mil), Nancy Fernandez (Nancy.Fernandez@dla.mil) and Lisa Quinn (Lisa.Quinn@dla.mil).

Please have the subject of the email response read “US Army Reserve Restaurant, Catering and Grocery Request RFI”.

Proprietary information or trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All government reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protecting from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described in 41 U.S.C. § 423. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified.