FY26-RFI

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Commissary Products for Fiscal Year 26, seeking detailed product information from potential vendors interested in supplying goods for resale to incarcerated inmates at state prison facilities. The procurement specifically targets a wide range of product categories including beverages, chips/crackers, cookies/candy, fish/meat, grocery items, clothing, and specialty items, with a particular emphasis on healthier and nutritionally valuable products. Vendors are required to submit comprehensive product information, including UPC bar coding, "sell by date", shelf stability, and individual sales labeling by September 25, 2025. The RFI process includes two critical attachments: Attachment "A" listing Products of Interest and Attachment "B" detailing Current Commissary Products. TDCJ has established a specific contact for this opportunity, Guadalupe Gomez, who can be reached at (936) 437-3890 or Guadalupe.Gomez@tdcj.texas.gov, with a deadline for submitting questions set for Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The department may request product samples for evaluation and is not limited to the products currently listed in the attachments.

While the RFI does not explicitly outline set-aside designations or specific vendor restrictions, the procurement appears open to vendors capable of meeting TDCJ's detailed product requirements. The solicitation suggests that if TDCJ decides to carry certain products, a formal bidding solicitation will be subsequently issued. No specific budget ranges or award values were directly specified in the provided documents. The disclaimer accompanying the RFI emphasizes the critical importance of vendors submitting their contact information (name, phone number, and email) to ensure receipt of potential amendments, which will be posted on the Electronic State Business Daily. Vendors are advised that they are solely responsible for proactively confirming receipt of all amendments prior to the closing date. The TDCJ's mission statement underscores a broader objective of providing public safety and promoting positive change in offender rehabilitation, which may implicitly influence product selection criteria. Interested vendors should carefully review the comprehensive attachments and be prepared to provide detailed product specifications that align with the department's rehabilitation-focused mission.