Fort Irwin Full Food Services - W5168W-24-R-0016

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) ONLY.  The U.S. Government desires to procure the full food service requirements at multiple locations on a small business set-aside basis provided two or more qualified small businesses respond to this SSS with information sufficient to support a set-aside.  Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.  We encourage all small business concerns in all socioeconomic categories (i.e., Small Disadvantage Business (SDB), 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business concerns (WOSB)), to identify their capabilities in meeting the requirement at a fair market price.

This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future.  This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service.  Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this Source Sought Synopsis.  The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder.  Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFQ, IFB, or RFP, if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Government wide Point of Entry (GPE).  It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the GPE for additional information pertaining to this requirement.  The GPE is located at sam.gov.   

BACKGROUND:  A continuing need is anticipated for the full food service requirements at the location listed below.  Attached are the draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) and Performance Requirements Summary (PRS).

The Government currently contracts for these services under contract W9124J-19-D-0006.

The contractor shall provide quality services in support of the installation food service program that supports the Warfighter with flexible, efficient, and cost-effective service.  The service outlined encompasses full food service functions, to include food receiving and storage, food preparation, food serving, remote site feeding, and facility sanitation duties. These services shall be performed to meet Full Food Services (FFS) at building 254 and Dining Facility Attendant (DFA) services at building 271.

The NAICS code assigned to this acquisition is 722310, Food Service Contractors, with a corresponding size standard of $47M.  The Contractor shall provide all supervision, labor, personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies, except for Government Furnished Property (GFP), to perform activities that comprise the full operation of an Army Dining Facility and full food services.

PURPOSE OF THIS SOURCES SOUGHT:  To request information on capabilities of potential offerors to provide the services described herein to determine if this will be set-aside.  Please note, full food service requirements are subject to both the priority established by the Randolph-Sheppard Act (RSA) and the preferences set out in FAR Part 19.

Electronic submissions only: Responses are due no later than 12:00pm CST on 4 January 2024 to facilitate planning and ensure maximum consideration.  The email attachments cannot exceed 9 megabytes (MB) due to the Government’s email system restrictions. DO NOT SEND ZIPPED files as the Government’s network will remove all zipped files. 

Interested business concerns should provide a brief capabilities statement package (submissions are limited to no more than 15 pages in length, single spaced, and 12 fonts minimum) demonstrating its capabilities in reference to this requirement.  A generic capability statement is not acceptable.  No specific format is mandated.  The Government prefers that your firm submits its response in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or a combination of both and the document must be searchable.  Include: Whether the experience has been as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include the services provided, the number of facilities involved, and any other relevant information you deem applicable).

The capability package shall be sent by email to the following:

Dawnnia. A. Daley, Contract Specialist, at email: Dawnnia.a.Daley.civ@army.mil

Javelin. M. Carouthers, Contracting Officer, at email: Javelin.m.Carouthers.civ@army.mil

Your email subject line should reflect: Firm’s Name, Response to the Sources Sought Synopsis for the full food services at Fort Irwin, W5168W-24-R-0016.  Note: the location(s) and corresponding solicitation number that you are responding to must be identified on the subject line.  The size limit of each email, with all attachments, cannot exceed 9 megabytes (MB) due to the Government’s email system restrictions. 

In response to this Sources Sought, please provide:

1.  A company profile to include name of your firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, number of employees, annual revenue history, CAGE code, and Unique Entity ID (UEI).  Respondents must also indicate whether they qualify as a Small Business, SDB, 8(a), EDWOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, or SDVOSB. 

2.  The key tasks you believe need to be accomplished to be successful in a full food service operation.  In essence, what key tasks should be used for determining minimum capability to provide these services? 

3.  Whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor.  If you are subcontracting any of the services out, contemplating a Joint Venture, and/or creating a teaming arrangement, please provide the name of these companies and what work they will be performing, if available. Please provide your company’s specific experience in operating a dining facility and providing comparable services. Ensure the information is in sufficient detail regarding previous experience in managing full food service operations (indicate whether the experience has been as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements (include the services provided (food prep, facility attendants, custodial, etc.), the number of meals typically served, the number of facilities involved, and any other relevant information you deem applicable).  If applicable, please provide the same experience information from any subcontracts, Joint Venture, and/or teaming partners you may propose with.    

4.  What percentage of work will be performed by the small business prime contractor and all similarly situated entity subcontractors.  Note: In accordance with FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (CLASS DEVIATION 2021-O0008).

5.  Type(s)/certifications(s) of proposed subcontractors (such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB).

6.  Information on the financial capacity of your business to meet financial obligations (i.e., payroll, payment of subcontractors, etc.).

7.  How the Army can best structure these contract requirements to facilitate competition by and among small business concerns.

8.  Identify any condition or action that may have the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition.  Please contact the MICC Advocate for Competition, Scott Kukes at email:  scott.d.kukes.civ@army.mil or 210-466-3015, if you believe that this action is unreasonably restricting competition.  Include the subject of the acquisition, this announcement, and the MICC POC information from the notice on sam.gov.  Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion.