Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

RFI: CBPTENDERMEALS24 --------------------------------------- Amendment 1 - 12/12/2023 This amendment is included to clarify the following with regard to any meal proposed as a solution under this inf... RFI: CBPTENDERMEALS24 --------------------------------------- Amendment 1 - 12/12/2023 This amendment is included to clarify the following with regard to any meal proposed as a solution under this information request: - All meals must be able to be served without the use of utensils or other cutting/portioning requirements. Any menu recommended should not include the requirement for utensils or additional cutting or chopping for tender age children. ------------------------ This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI). This RFI is released pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 – Market Research and issued solely for information and planning purposes. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or Government use of such information. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by CBP in developing and refining its Acquisition Strategy, Statement of Work, and Performance Specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract solely on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to same. The U.S. Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this RFI. All responses become the property of the U.S. Government and shall not be returned. BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR RFI: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), through its component office of the United States Border Patrol (USBP) has a continuing requirement for the provision of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved meals delivery and distribution services (preparation of meals, delivery of meals, distribution of meals, and clean-up services) to non-citizen migrants temporarily held at locations throughout the Southern Border (SB) area of operations. The meals required are for migrants temporarily held until their processing is complete and they are transferred to better-equipped facilities or otherwise transferred out of CBP custody. The foremost consideration and priority regarding the welfare and nutrition for migrants is that they are expeditiously transferred out of CBP Custody. While in temporary holding, each migrant shall receive three (3) meals a day, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an emphasis on the safety of food sources and meeting basic, age-appropriate caloric intake and hydration needs. All food must meet USDA and FDA health standards, which include Federal, State, and County health and food handling regulations. Food offered for consumption must meet the following minimum requirements: It must be obtained from licensed wholesale or retail sources; prepared in a licensed location, e.g., restaurant, commercial kitchen, or bakery; and stored and transported by means that effectively prevent microbial growth, contamination, or adulteration. Refer to the following for safe handling of food: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling A licensed company that has passed all health certification standards for operation as a food-handling facility must prepare it. Current and applicable health certifications shall be included with the proposal. All food handlers and servers shall comply with applicable Federal, State, and local health laws and regulations. While working onsite, all Contractor employees shall follow CBP COVID-19 workplace safety protocols. General meal plans/menus must be developed in consultation with a registered nutritionist/dietitian to ensure that age-appropriate nutritional standards are met, variety from day to day and within the span of a day (i.e., breakfast, lunch and dinner) is provided, and that food is age-appropriate for palatability and consumption. The expected average meals required at any location may be as high as 3000 for each meal period (breakfast, lunch and dinner), or 9000 total meals daily. During periods of higher apprehension rates, meal volume may increase to over 5000 per meal period, or 15,000 total meals daily. Standard meals delivery and distribution periods shall be between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Meals delivered outside of those periods, e.g., meals for late arrivals, may be required. REASON FOR RFI: The standard age groups for this type of acquisition are as follows: Tender Age Children (Ages 2 through 12) Older Children (Ages 13 through 17) Adults (Ages 18 and older) For the purposes of this RFI, the U.S. Government is requesting sample information and/or potential menu items that would meet all requirements of this need for the following age groups: Tender Age Children (Ages 2 through 5) This age group is a special age-group that has been identified which may potentially lead to a fourth category for this type of acquisition and indicated as follows in future solicitation actions: Tender Age Children (Ages 2 through 5) Children (Ages 6 – 12) Older Children (Ages 13 through 17) Adults (Ages 18 and older) The goal is to determine the feasibility and viability of a menu for Children in age group 2 through 5, including the potential differences available between that age group and Ages 6 through 12, if any, as well as the potential ease of splitting the Tender Age Children group into two separate categories with regards to supply and additional cost factors which may become an issue. The U.S. Government is requesting the following information, at a minimum, in response to this RFI (additional supporting documentation and/or information may be provided): What type of menu would be available and/or recommended (in accordance with the FDA/USDA guidelines as outlined) for the new Tender Age Children group? What difference, if any, would there be in splitting the current Tender Age Children category into two groups with regards to potential increased cost-effectiveness and supply chain availability? What are the risks involved in splitting the current lower age category with regards to providing meal services in bulk? Is there an alternate solution for this requirement to provide meals for children in the 2-5 age group that is recommended for review? RESPONSES: The Government shall retain the results of this market research for a period not less than 18-months, for potential reference and review, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10, Subpart 10.002(b)(1). The information obtained from industry responses to this RFI may be used by CBP in developing and refining its Acquisition Strategy and/or future solicitation action. Responses shall be the minimum length necessary to accommodate all requested information and submitted via e-mail only. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the www.sam.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement. INSTRUCTIONS AND RESPONSE GUIDELINES: Emailed responses are requested to be received by the RFI Contracting Officer (CO) Frank S. Duarte at the following address by no later than January 5, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time (ET): frank.s.duarte@cbp.dhs.gov. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must clearly indicate the following in the email subject line: RFI – CBPTENDERMEALS24. *** Question submission: Interested respondents must submit any questions concerning this RFI at the earliest time possible to enable the Agency to respond, but no questions shall be accepted after December 20, 2023, 3:30 P.M. ET. Questions must be submitted directly to the RFI CO at the email address indicated above. *** There are no attachments included with this RFI. Please respond in accordance with the extensive information provided above. Please provide the information you deem relevant to respond to the specific inquiries of the RFI. Information provided will be used solely by CBP as market research. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid, or Request for Quotation (RFQ), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. All information contained in this RFI is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. The Government is not required to respond to any information provided in response to this RFI. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor www.sam.gov for additional information pertaining to this RFI.