284-20250515102440 Lauderdale

Lauderdale County, Mississippi is seeking proposals for a comprehensive Detention Facility Food Services contract through RFP No. LC030-2025, targeting a qualified vendor to provide meal services for the Lauderdale County Detention Center. The procurement solicits a contractor to prepare and deliver three daily meals for an inmate population averaging 150-250 inmates, with facility capacity up to 290 inmates. The contract requires providing a 2,800-calorie daily menu meeting nutritional standards, handling all food and consumable supplies, maintaining a 14-day emergency food supply, and ensuring clean and sanitary food preparation. Key contractor responsibilities include staffing a kitchen with a manager and supervisor, providing staff uniforms, conducting background checks, and implementing random drug screenings for employees. Proposals are due by June 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CDT, with vendors able to schedule site visits by contacting the Jail Administrator. Selection criteria will emphasize the proposer's experience in correctional facilities, financial stability, operational plan, menu quality, and proposed price per meal, with costs to be presented as a graduated price break schedule based on meal volume.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The proposed contract term is three years, spanning from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, with a potential automatic one-year extension. Vendors can submit electronic bids through Central Bidding or submit sealed bids via mail, courier service, or hand delivery to the Lauderdale County Purchasing Department. The County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and waive informalities in the bidding process. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the available documentation, the pricing mechanism suggests a per-meal cost structure that will vary based on the number of meals served. Bidders are prohibited from withdrawing their submissions within 30 days of the bid opening without the Board of Supervisors' consent. Detailed specifications and bid documents are available for download from the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors website or the Central Bidding platform.