Catering Solicitation No. 693JK426R500001 for DOT Secretary’s 58th Annual Awards Ceremony

The Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary is soliciting fixed-price proposals for comprehensive catering services for the DOT Secretary's 58th Annual Awards Ceremony scheduled for June 11, 2026. The procurement requires a qualified contractor to provide food preparation, service, floral arrangements, labor, dishware, linens, and all necessary equipment for two events: a Special Awardee Recognition serving approximately 50 people and an Awards Ceremony Reception serving 800–950 attendees. Contractors must employ a District of Columbia-licensed food service manager onsite, ensure all staff possess appropriate food service certifications, and comply with health and sanitation standards while transporting pre-prepared food and equipment since DOT provides no cooking or storage facilities. Evaluation will be based on four equally weighted criteria: Technical Plan (compliance and thoroughness), Past Performance (minimum three federal agency references within 3–5 years), Experience (relevant large-scale catering background), and Pricing (total fixed cost). The proposal submission deadline is 11:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time on March 29, 2026, with a pre-proposal site visit held on March 17, 2026, and the contracting officer James H. Mowery III serving as the primary point of contact.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside under NAICS 722320 (Caterers), with a size standard of $9 million, and no incumbent contractor is identified. The contract will be awarded as a fixed-price Purchase Order with no budget disclosure by DOT. The period of performance extends from May 7 through June 19, 2026, with services to be delivered at DOT Headquarters in Washington, DC 20590. Key requirements include providing vehicle and driver information at least five business days prior to the event, maintaining Comprehensive General Liability insurance with minimum limits of $500,000 per person and Workers' Compensation coverage of $100,000 per person, and complying with comprehensive fire safety procedures including the use of ethanol gel fuel only in chafing stations with mandatory staff monitoring and ABC-type fire extinguishers positioned within 10 feet of stations. All non-managerial food service and kitchen staff must hold current food handler certifications, and contractors must file a certification of insurance within three days of award with cancellation notice required within five days.