MDOC Food and Food Service Products

The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP No. Dept 171, ID 190000000142) for comprehensive food and food service products to support approximately 36,500 prisoners across 28 facilities with 38 independent kitchens. The procurement seeks to establish one or multiple vendors to provide perishable and non-perishable food items, kitchen consumables, cleaning chemicals, and small-ware products, operating on a standardized 4-week cycle menu with three meals per day, seven days per week. The contract term begins April 1, 2019, with full implementation by July 1, 2019, and requires vendors to maintain a 14-day inventory for shelf-stable items and 7-day inventory for perishables. Proposals were due December 20, 2018, following a mandatory pre-proposal teleconference on November 21, 2018. The evaluation process includes technical criteria weighted across product specifications (30%), service (30%), staffing (5%), ordering and delivery (30%), and vendor questions (5%), with proposals requiring a minimum of 80 technical evaluation points to advance. Vendors must provide detailed nutritional data, with 95% compliance required for full schedule bids and 100% compliance for individual category submissions.

The RFP does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations, but notes that the State may consider economic impact to Michigan and qualified disabled veteran status in award decisions. No incumbent vendor details are provided, though the current contract (180000000669) was previously negotiated as an emergency contract without competitive bidding. The contract allows for potential four one-year renewal periods at the State's discretion and includes strict performance metrics with financial penalties for non-compliance, such as $500 per initial five occurrences of delivery issues, escalating to $1,000 for subsequent incidents. While a specific contract value is not disclosed, the comprehensive nature of the procurement covering 209 food items across multiple categories suggests a significant annual investment. Vendors must meet extensive security requirements, including mandatory background checks, security screenings, and adherence to PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) standards, with potential contract termination for serious violations. Insurance requirements are substantial, including $1M Commercial General Liability, $5M Umbrella/Excess Liability, and specific Workers' Compensation coverage.