Emergency Catering Services (GRANT FUNDED)

Collier County, Florida, through its Procurement Services Division, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Emergency Catering Services, soliciting qualified vendors to provide meal support during disaster response scenarios such as hurricanes, tropical storms, wildfires, tornadoes, pandemics, and utility failures. The contract requires vendors to deliver safe, nutritious meals and beverages at two primary locations: the Facilities Management Division campus and the County Emergency Operations Center, with potential expansion to additional sites. Vendors must demonstrate capability to prepare meals through two models: off-site boxed meal delivery or on-site mobile kitchen deployment. Proposal evaluation will be based on a 100-point scale, with points allocated across five categories: Cover Letter/Management Summary (5 points), Financial Capacity (15 points), Experience and Capacity (30 points), Plan of Approach (30 points), and Cost of Services (20 points). Proposals are due on January 16, 2026, at 3:00 PM via the Collier County Procurement Services Division Online Bidding System, with the county intending to award Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary vendors for an initial three-year contract term with potential one to two two-year renewals.

The procurement does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, though vendors must comply with E-Verify requirements and provide evidence of business registration. Vendors must submit three to ten completed reference forms from similar projects within the past five years and provide sample seven-day menus, staffing plans, mobilization timelines, and current certifications. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly named, historical context indicates the previous contract was activated four times for Hurricanes Ian, Idalia, Helene, and Milton, with total expenditures of approximately $800,000 and meal volumes ranging from 1,200 to 2,615 meals per day. The contract is grant-funded, specifically through FEMA Public Assistance, and must meet federal reimbursement requirements with detailed cost documentation maintained for five years. Insurance requirements are substantial, including $1,000,000 per occurrence Commercial General Liability coverage, with Collier County named as an additional insured, and vendors must maintain comprehensive insurance across multiple categories to be considered responsive.