RFP - Food Services for the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department

Harris County, Texas, through the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, is soliciting competitive proposals for comprehensive food services operations beginning May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods subject to approval. The vendor must provide three daily meals and snacks to youth residents and meal service to supervisory staff across four facilities: Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, Harris County Youth Village, Harris County Leadership Academy, and the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program. Meals must meet nutritional standards of 2,800 calories and 75 grams of protein daily, with menus requiring a 28-day non-repetitive cycle that accommodates medical, religious, and personal dietary preferences, all subject to registered dietitian approval submitted at least six months in advance. The vendor is responsible for all labor costs, food purchases, supplies, equipment maintenance, facility cleaning, and premium 24-hour coffee service; Harris County provides kitchen facilities, equipment, and utilities. Cooks and kitchen staff must earn a minimum of $22.00 per hour, and all staff must pass criminal background checks, tuberculosis testing, and drug screening at the vendor's expense. The contract includes estimated monthly quantities of 1,200 breakfasts, 1,200 lunches, 1,200 dinners, 314 afternoon snacks, 314 late-night snacks, and 9,420 snacks for the Trust-Based Relational Intervention program. Proposals must be submitted online through Bonfire or as sealed hard copies by 2:00 p.m. Houston time on April 27, 2026, and shall be evaluated based on professional qualifications and experience (25%), turnaround time (20%), professional reputation and compliance (15%), menu quality and food samples (15%), pricing (10%), references (10%), and experience with similar governmental entities (5%). The vendor must demonstrate a minimum of four years of relevant experience and shall be required to present and prepare sample meals at a Harris County-provided location during evaluation. Award will be made to the responsible vendor whose proposal represents the best evaluated offer, with Harris County reserving the right to award to single or multiple vendors as Primary and Secondary providers, contingent on Commissioners Court approval.

Harris County does not identify specific set-asides for Historically Underutilized Businesses, Minority Women Business Enterprises, or other disadvantaged enterprises, though the Subcontractor Listing Form requires disclosure of whether subcontractors hold such certifications or Certified Section 3 status. All vendors must comply with Harris County's minimum wage policy requiring $21.65 per hour (adjusted annually), provide evidence of non-debarment status, complete Texas Form 1295 disclosing interested parties, and obtain minimum insurance coverage including Workers' Compensation with Employers' Liability of $1,000,000, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, and Umbrella coverage of $1,000,000. Vendors with ownership interests must certify compliance with Texas child support requirements and obtain tax residence certification confirming current tax compliance with Harris County. No incumbent vendor or existing contractor is identified in the RFP documentation. Performance is monitored through weekly inspections using Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points standards, with specific deficiency deductions ranging from $5 to $1,500 per violation and health inspection requirements of 90 or greater scores; failure results in a $5,000 deduction. Upon contract expiration, the vendor must provide phase-in and phase-out services with a minimum two-week overlap at no additional cost. The RFP does not specify an overall contract value or budget range; pricing shall be submitted on the provided Fee Schedule with all costs on an all-inclusive basis with no additional charges permitted beyond listed line items.