Food Service at the Coast Guard Academy

The Department of Homeland Security US Coast Guard is conducting a sources sought notice for comprehensive food service operations at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. This market research initiative seeks contractors capable of providing full dining services for two facilities - the Cadet Wardroom and the Coast Guard Dining Facility - serving approximately 1,100 cadets and other eligible patrons. The contract requires preparing and serving meals in multiple formats including family style, buffet, and cafeteria service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with emphasis on high-quality, nutritionally balanced meals meeting detailed specifications including premium entrees and ethnic emphasis meals. Respondents must provide both a rough order of magnitude for pricing and demonstrate technical capability and approach to fulfill the performance work statement requirements. The response deadline is October 19, 2025, with no specific formatting required for pricing estimates.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, limiting competition to qualifying small businesses. The contract structure includes a base year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, followed by four additional one-year option periods extending through March 31, 2031, representing a potential five-year total contract duration. Historical meal volume data indicates significant daily operations, with the technical exhibits revealing major kitchen equipment valued at approximately $756,680 supporting the dining operations. Additional contract responsibilities include food inventory management, sanitation standards compliance, staff uniform provision, monthly training programs, daily employee health examinations, and support for various academy events including picnics, banquets, and chapel coffee services. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining strict health and safety protocols while delivering consistent food quality, nutrition, and variety to meet the academy's demanding operational requirements.