Request for Information (RFI): Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs), Kosher and/or Low Sodium

The Maryland Office of State Procurement within the Department of General Services has issued an RFI for Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) that are Kosher and/or Low Sodium, with responses due October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM. This is market research to inform a future statewide procurement; respondents may be contacted for additional information but the RFI does not constitute a commitment to award or reimburse response costs.

The RFI seeks vendor capability and pricing data for shelf-stable meals suitable for distribution to disaster survivors and incident workforce personnel in austere environments. Each meal must contain a minimum of 1,020 calories and include an entree, side item, and dessert. Vendors must provide per-unit pricing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees in both Kosher and Low Sodium variants, though pricing will be collected for research purposes only and not evaluated in the RFI phase. Kosher meals require 10–14 business day lead times and 24-month shelf life from production; all meals must maintain a minimum shelf life of three years from delivery. Meals are packaged 12 per case, 48 cases per pallet, with standard delivery by truckload (50–52 pallets per 53-foot trailer). Contractors may offer product returns with restocking fees not exceeding 10 percent. Desired delivery timeframes range from 24 hours (5–50 truckloads) to 14 days (200–500 truckloads).

The anticipated contract is a Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity agreement commencing in the fourth quarter of 2025 with a multi-year term and potential renewal options. OSP intends to award one or more contracts and may designate portions as Small Business Preference (SBP) or Small Business Reserved (SBR) to maximize Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Veteran Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) utilization. The contract may be structured by geographic region across Maryland counties. Responses must be submitted via email to Procurement Officer Tierra Ali-Said. OSP is also soliciting vendor feedback on specification restrictiveness, MBE/VSBE subcontracting opportunities, appropriate participation goals, and suitable Small Business Reserved designations.