Cafeteria Services for Jefferson County

Jefferson County, Texas, through its Purchasing Department, is soliciting proposals for full-service cafeteria operations at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont. The contractor must operate and manage a 3,500 square foot cafeteria facility serving approximately 1,200 county employees and members of the general public, providing breakfast, lunch, and break-time meal offerings in a cafeteria-style format with seating for approximately 97 persons. The contractor is responsible for all food purchasing and preparation, staffing, equipment maintenance, janitorial services, obtaining all required food service licenses and permits, accepting cash and credit/debit card payments, and ensuring compliance with FDA Code 2017 (Texas Supplement), all local and state health department regulations, and Jefferson County's Fats, Oil, and Grease Control Program. Operations are required Monday through Friday from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding county holidays and declared disaster closures. Menu offerings must be versatile and include healthy options such as salads, grilled chicken, and sandwiches, with both full meal and a la carte pricing. The contractor must employ one licensed Food Manager and ensure all other staff hold Food Handler Licenses accredited by the Texas Department of State Health Services or ANSI. Proposals, submitted in one original and five hard copies, are due by 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to the Jefferson County Purchasing Department at 1149 Pearl Street, 1st Floor, Beaumont, Texas 77701. The evaluation committee will convene on February 24, 2026, to score proposals, with contract award recommendation anticipated by March 4, 2026. Evaluation criteria include responsiveness to specifications (15 percent), implementation plan (25 percent), proposer qualifications and food service experience (25 percent), food service offerings and menu variety (25 percent), and proposed lease amount (10 percent), with the monthly lease amount serving as the cost proposal component.

The RFP documents do not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, nor do they reference disadvantaged business enterprise requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Jefferson County will provide utilities at no cost, standard maintenance and repairs on County-owned equipment, building systems maintenance, pest control, background checks for employees, and identification badges. The facility is equipped with commercial-grade kitchen equipment, food preparation areas, cold and hot serving lines, and a 3-door reach-in refrigerator that is property of Jefferson County and included in the lease agreement. The contract term is one year from the award date with options to renew for four additional one-year periods. The specific award value or budget range is not listed in the available RFP documentation; however, the contractor's cost proposal will consist of a monthly lease amount that represents 10 percent of the total evaluation score. The RFP is not subject to federal funding, Davis-Bacon Act wage requirements, or federal construction prevailing wage provisions.