In-store specialty delicatessen and bakery resale operations to include sushi

GENERAL INFORMATION 

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, NOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/QUOTES. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SPECIAL NOTICE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION SYNOPSIS. THIS NOTICE IS BEING POSTED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSE ONLY, TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESS WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE REQUIREMENT AND TO SEEK INFORMATION FROM INDUSTRY. 

RESPONSES ARE FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND SHALL NOT BE USED AS AN OFFER OR PROPOSAL. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND IN NO WAY BINDS THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLICIT FOR, OR AWARD, A COMPETITIVE OR SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT.    

DESCRIPTION

DeCA commissaries are Government-owned and operated facilities designed to operate similar to commercial retail supermarkets, providing food items and other merchandise for resale to active-duty and retired military, and their families at a cost savings compared to the same or similar products sold in the commercial retail markets. 

The scope. The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, supervision, food products, miscellaneous operating supplies, and other items unless otherwise specified, necessary to operate a well-stocked Deli, Bakery, Sushi, and Prepared Foods Department within Commissary locations in the Contiguous United States (CONUS)   

The Defense Commissary Agency is conducting market research in anticipation of a requirement to provide in-store Delicatessen and Bakery Resale Operations to include Sushi and Prepared Foods, hereinafter referred to as Specialty Departments. The Government is seeking feedback from industry on the below methodology: 

Contractor-Owned Equipment Model 

• The contractor would provide and maintain all equipment required to operate deli, bakery, sushi, and prepared food sections. 

• The contractor would operate all food preparation and sales services. 

• DeCA would receive a lower ranging reimbursement/revenue share (e.g., profit-sharing ranging from 1.0%-2.5%). 

• There are no guaranteed sales on any products that may be offered by the contractor. See draft PWS 1.2.13. 

• The contractor will include DeCA Private Label in their assortment. 

• The contractor must meet key performance and pricing targets, including ensuring an average 25% overall market basket savings compared to equivalent commercial grocery options on KVI items. 

All Deli, Bakery, Sushi, and Prepared Foods products will be procured only from Government approved sources. Approved sources are those approved by the U.S. Army Public Health Command (APHC) and posted on the APHC website. 

How to Participate:   Interested parties are invited to submit a written response letter on a company letterhead with the following required information:    

a. Entity Name: 

b. Entity Address: 

c. Unique Entity Identifier (disregard if not currently registered at SAM.gov): 

d. Authorized Company Point of Contact (POC): 

e. POC Phone Number: 

f. POC E‐mail address: 

 Questions: 

1. What are the top three commercial best practices applicable to these services for? 

• Increasing sales 
• Providing a patron savings 

• Equipping and maintaining equipment  

2. What information would a potential source require during the solicitation phase to accurately propose equipment solutions? Please specify: 

• Site-specific utility availability (e.g., electrical, water, ventilation) 
• Space constraints and layout diagrams 

• Expected service volumes and peak operating hours 

• Any government-furnished property or infrastructure integration requirements 

• Any additional information 

3. What are typical transition milestones for deploying contractor-furnished equipment for Specialty Departments? Please describe: 

• Lead times for procurement, delivery, and installation 

• Staffing and training coordination 

• Equipment testing and operational readiness 

• Handover protocols and initial performance validation  

4. What is the average timeline for realizing return on investment (ROI) for contractor-furnished equipment in Specialty Departments? Please include: 

• ROI benchmarks based on equipment type and usage 

• Factors influencing ROI (e.g., sales volume, maintenance costs, energy efficiency) 

• Any commercial models used to accelerate ROI (e.g., leasing, shared revenue, vendor partnerships)  

5. What are common risks associated with contractor-furnished equipment in Specialty Departments, and how are they mitigated?  

6. How do contractors handle equipment failure during peak service periods?  

7. What are standard commercial practices regarding utility cost reimbursement?  

8. How does the service provider absorb the increased labor cost as result of the Service Contract Act?  

9. How does the service provider absorb mandated patron savings targets?  

RESPONSE DEADLINE AND DeCA POC CONTACT INFORMATION: Interested parties are required to submit their written responses no later than 3:00PM EST on October 8, 2025 to the following people (Contracting Officer, Ms. LeAnna Stith, LeAnna.Stith@deca.mil and Contract Specialist, Ms. Jasmine Wooten, Jasmine.Wooten@deca.mil).