Meals for Survivors Request for Information (RFI)

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding FEMA's RFI for MEALS (Mass Emergency Assistance Logistics Support) IDIQ contract.

• Contract Structure: FEMA intends to make multiple awards. Task orders will be competed based on best value. Vendors must provide both mandatory meal types (Reduced Sodium and Survivor Daily Rations) and cannot bid solely on optional CLINs.
• Contract Value: A guaranteed minimum of $2,000.00 exists for the IDIQ, with a minimum of one truckload per task order. The overall ceiling is still being estimated.
• Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated based on best value.
• Quantities: Estimated annual quantities are 4 million Reduced Sodium meals and 2 million Survivor Daily Rations for steady-state replenishment. Surge order volumes vary based on disaster scope and inventory.
• Delivery Requirements: Production and shipping must begin within 72 hours of delivery order award, including weekends and federal holidays. Deliveries are typically to disaster sites but can be diverted.
• Geographic Coverage: Contractors must support deliveries nationwide, including CONUS, OCONUS, and U.S. territories.
• Meal Specifications: The SOW's prohibition on nuts governs over example menus. For Reduced Sodium Meals, only the entrée component must be self-heating. Menus and nutritional profiles are due at proposal submission.
• Shelf-Life: A 30-36 month shelf life remaining upon delivery is the standard for proposal compliance.
• Inventory Storage: FEMA owns pre-purchased inventory stored at vendor facilities, but vendors are responsible for spoilage or damage. Storage fees have a separate CLIN.
• Transportation Costs: Transportation costs will be evaluated under a separate CLIN, not included in the unit meal price.

These clarifications provide essential details for vendors preparing proposals, particularly regarding mandatory requirements, delivery timelines, geographic scope, meal specifications, and cost structures. Vendors should ensure their proposals address these points comprehensively.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Statement of Work (SOW) outlines the requirements for providing meals to disaster survivors, aiming to ensure FEMA has the capacity to provide meals for up to 3.5 million survivors for 72 hours, totaling 33.1 million meals.

• The contractor must be capable of delivering various meal types during both steady state (stock replenishment) and emergency response/surge operations.

• Deliveries are required to all 48 contiguous states (CONUS) and may be required on weekends and federal holidays.

• The contractor must provide in-transit tracking information.

• Mandatory: Reduced Sodium Meals and Survivor Daily Rations with a shelf-life of 30-36 months remaining upon delivery.

• Optional: Commercial and Short Shelf-Life Meals (9-29 months shelf-life) during Emergency Response/Surge Operations.

• Detailed nutritional requirements, including calorie limits, fat, sodium, and specific micronutrients, are provided for each meal type.

• Specific prohibitions include nuts and certain other ingredients.

• The IDIQ contract will have one Base Year (12 months) and four (4) Option Years (12 months each).

• The period of performance for each delivery order will be established at the delivery order level.

• Packaging specifications are modeled after Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) standards, requiring heat-sealable flexible pouches.

• Pallets must be constructed of non-manufactured wood, heat-treated and certified, with specific dimensions and shrink-wrap requirements.

• All packages must be labeled with Nutrition Facts in accordance with FDA/USDA regulations.

• Reduced sodium products must be clearly labeled "REDUCED SODIUM".

• Survivor Daily Rations must be labeled "SURVIVOR DAILY RATION" and include specific bilingual information.

• Delivery is required to designated FEMA Distribution Centers (DCs) and warehouses across the US.

• Steady State: Deliver up to 3,500,000 reduced sodium meals and 1,750,000 Survivor Daily Rations within 30 days of the order.

• Emergency Response/Surge: Capability to produce and ship up to 1,000,000 Reduced Sodium Meals, 1,750,000 Survivor Daily Rations, 1,000,000 Commercial Meals (optional), and 1,000,000 Short Shelf-Life Meals (optional) within 72 hours of notification.

• Delivery acceptance hours for steady state are typically Mon-Fri, 7 am-3 pm local time.

• During emergency declarations, delivery must commence within 72 hours of the delivery order award.

• In-Transit Visibility (ITV) and Tracking: Contractors must use Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or log into LSCMS for tracking, providing specific data points immediately upon dispatch.

• Contracting Required Training: Two individuals from the contractor's staff must be trained in FEMA's Logistics Supply Chain Management System (LSCMS).

• Record Keeping and Acceptance: FEMA representatives will sign for receipt of meals, but this does not imply acceptance. Inspection occurs at the final destination.

• Transportation: Requirements for drop trailers, vehicle condition, driver hours, diversion, reverse detention, and insurance ($300,000 minimum cargo insurance) are detailed.

• Optional Vendor-Managed Inventory: FEMA may pre-purchase inventory maintained at the vendor's location.

• Restocking Fee: May apply if an order is reduced or cancelled before receipt.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Logistics Management Division, Distribution Management Division, Supply Chain Integration Branch. The purpose is to identify and assess industry capabilities to provide disaster meals for emergency response and steady-state operations within the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). The information gathered will support contingency planning, requirements development, and operational readiness assessments for mass feeding operations during disasters and other emergency scenarios.

• NAICS Code: 311991 - Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing

• Product Service Code (PSC): 8970 - Composite Food Packages

• Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date: 3/18/2027

• Attachment: SOW, packaging and marking requirement revisions (indicated in red).

• Due Date for Questions: March 16, 2026

• Due Date for RFI Responses: March 27, 2026, by 3:00 PM EST.

• Submission Method: Electronically to Danyelle Wilcox (Danyelle.wilcox@fema.dhs.gov) and Danielle Sweetney (Danielle.Sweetney@fema.dhs.gov).

• Email Subject Line: "RFI Response FEMA-Meals for Survivors"

• Format: Unclassified, proprietary information clearly marked. Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).

• Page Limitations: 8.5 x 11 inches, standard 11-point font (10-point for charts/tables). Max 15 pages for the response body, excluding a cover page.

• Required Cover Page Information: Company Name, Company Address, UEI Number, Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone, Email).

Respondents are requested to provide information on:

• Capability to provide various meal types (including shelf-stable and special dietary options) and quantities for rapid mobilization (within 72 hours) and steady-state stock replenishment (within 30 days of contract award) to CONUS and OCONUS locations.

• Maximum daily packaging capacity under surge conditions.

• Ability to meet packaging specifications outlined in the SOW, with an illustration.

• Estimated per-meal pricing for both Steady State and Emergency Response.

• Foreseen challenges with the SOW (packaging, delivery, meal types).

• Feedback on the attached requirements document for clarity.

• Any additional relevant information.

• Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot form a binding contract.

• FEMA will not provide additional information or notification regarding responses.

• Respondents are responsible for all associated costs.

• Potential organizational conflicts of interest must be addressed and mitigated.

• FEMA reserves the right to utilize non-proprietary technical information in future solicitations.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the requirements for providing meals to disaster survivors, aiming to ensure FEMA has the capacity to provide meals for up to 3.5 million survivors for 72 hours in a catastrophic disaster.

• The contractor must be capable of delivering various meal types during steady state and disaster response operations.

• Deliveries are required to all 48 contiguous states (CONUS), OCONUS, and U.S. territories.

• The contractor must provide in-transit tracking information to the Government.

• The IDIQ contract will have one Base Year (12 months) and four (4) Option Years (12 months each).

• The period of performance for each delivery order will be established at the delivery order level.

• Mandatory Meal Types: Reduced Sodium Meals and Survivor Daily Rations with a shelf-life of 30-36 months from the date of manufacturing.

• Optional Meal Types: Commercial and Short Shelf-Life Meals (9-29 months shelf-life remaining upon delivery) for Emergency Response/Surge Operations.

• Detailed nutritional requirements, including calorie, fat, sodium, and micronutrient levels, are specified for each meal type.

• Packaging specifications are modeled after Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) standards.

• Meals must be packed in heat-sealable flexible pouches and labeled according to FDA and USDA regulations.

• Pallets must be constructed of heat-treated and certified wood, with specific dimensions and shrink-wrap requirements.

• Time-Temperature Indicator (TTI) labels are required.

• Delivery is required to specific FEMA Distribution Centers (DCs) and/or warehouses, with defined operating hours.

• During emergency declarations, delivery must commence within 72 hours of delivery order award.

• During steady state, delivery acceptance is between 7 AM and 3 PM local time, Monday-Friday.

• Steady State: Capability to deliver up to 3,500,000 reduced sodium meals and 1,750,000 Survivor Daily Rations within 30 days of order.

• Emergency Response/Surge Operations: Capability to produce and start shipping up to 1,000,000 Reduced Sodium Meals, 1,750,000 Survivor Daily Rations, 1,000,000 Commercial meals (optional), and 1,000,000 Short Shelf-Life meals (optional) within 72 hours of notification.

• Restocking Fee: May apply if an order is reduced or cancelled.

• Contracting Required Training: Contractor staff must be trained in FEMA's inventory system (LSCMS).

• Record Keeping and Acceptance: FEMA representative signature required for receipt, but does not imply acceptance.

• Transportation Requirements: Specific requirements for drop trailers, vehicle condition, driver hours, diversion, and insurance are detailed, particularly for emergency response.

• Optional Vendor-Managed Inventory: FEMA may pre-purchase inventory maintained at the vendor's location.

• Nutritional Profile Submission: Contractor must provide detailed nutritional profiles and ingredient descriptions for FEMA approval.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Logistics Management Division, Distribution Management Division, and Supply Chain Integration Branch. The purpose is to identify and assess industry capabilities to provide disaster meals for emergency response and steady-state operations within the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). The information gathered will support contingency planning, requirements development, and operational readiness assessments for mass feeding operations during disasters and other emergency scenarios.

• NAICS Code: 311991 - Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing

• Product Service Code (PSC): 8970 - Composite Food Packages

• Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date: 3/18/2027

• Attachment: Includes SOW, packaging, and marking requirement revisions (in red).

• Due Date for Responses: No later than 3:00 PM EST, March 20, 2026.

• Due Date for Questions: No later than March 16, 2026.

• Submission Method: Electronically to Danyelle Wilcox (Danyelle.wilcox@fema.dhs.gov) and Danielle Sweetney (Danielle.Sweetney@fema.dhs.gov).

• Subject Line: "RFI Response FEMA-Meals for Survivors"

• Format: Unclassified, Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).

• Page Limit: 15 pages for the response, excluding a cover page. Standard 11-point font (charts/tables 10-point).

• Cover Page: Company Name, Address, UEI Number, Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone, Email).

• Contractor RFI Response to Questions: (Max 10 pages)

• Capability to provide various meal types (shelf-stable, special dietary) and quantities for rapid mobilization (within 72 hours) and steady-state replenishment (within 30 days) to CONUS/OCONUS locations.

• Maximum daily packaging capacity under surge conditions.

• Ability to meet packaging specifications outlined in the SOW (request for illustration).

• Estimated per-meal pricing for both Steady State and Emergency Response.

• Foreseen challenges with the SOW (packaging, delivery, meal types).

• Feedback on the attached requirements document for clarity.

• Any additional relevant information.

• This RFI is for information gathering only and does not constitute a commitment to contract.

• Responses are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a binding contract.

• Respondents are responsible for all associated expenses.

• FEMA reserves the right to use non-proprietary technical information in future solicitations.

• Potential organizational conflicts of interest must be mitigated prior to contract award.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Logistics Management Division, Distribution Management Division, Supply Chain Integration Branch. The purpose is to identify and assess industry capabilities to provide disaster meals for emergency response and steady-state operations within the Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). The information gathered will support contingency planning, requirements development, and operational readiness assessments for mass feeding operations during disasters and other emergency scenarios.

• NAICS Code: 311991 - Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing

• Product Service Code (PSC): 8970 - Composite Food Packages

• Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date: 3/18/2027

• Attachment: SOW, packaging and marking requirement revisions (in red).

• Submission Deadline: No later than 3:00 PM EST, February 20, 2026.

• Questions Deadline: No later than February 10, 2026.

• Submission Method: Electronically to Danyelle Wilcox (Danyelle.wilcox@fema.dhs.gov) and Danielle Sweetney (Danielle.Sweetney@fema.dhs.gov).

• Email Subject: "RFI Response FEMA-Meals for Survivors"

• Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).

• Page Limit: 15 pages (excluding cover page). Standard 11-point font, 10-point for charts/graphs/tables.

• Content Requirements:

  • Cover Page (Company Name, Address, UEI Number, POC information).
  • Contractor RFI Responses to questions (No more than 10 pages).

Respondents are requested to provide information on:

• Capability to provide various types of meals (shelf-stable, special dietary) and quantities for rapid mobilization (within 72 hours) and steady-state replenishment (within 30 days) to CONUS and OCONUS locations.

• Maximum daily packaging capacity under surge conditions.

• Ability to meet packaging specifications outlined in the SOW, including an illustration.

• Estimated per-meal pricing for both Steady State and Emergency Response.

• Foreseen challenges with the SOW (packaging, delivery, meal types).

• Feedback on the attached requirements document for clarity.

• Any additional relevant information.

• This RFI is for information gathering only and is not an offer or commitment to contract.

• Respondents are responsible for all expenses incurred in responding.

• FEMA will not provide additional information or notify respondents of market research results.

• Respondents should be aware of potential organizational conflicts of interest (OCI).

Statement of Work (SOW)

To outline the requirements for providing meals to disaster survivors, ensuring FEMA has the capacity to provide up to 3.5 million meals for 72 hours in a catastrophic disaster scenario.

• Deliver various meal types during steady state and disaster response operations.

• Deliveries to be made throughout 48 contiguous states (CONUS), OCONUS, and U.S. territories.

• Provide in-transit tracking information to the Government.

• Deliveries must meet specified shelf-life requirements upon delivery.

• Packaging and labeling must comply with federal regulations (FDA, USDA, DLA standards).

• Nutritional content and ingredient descriptions must be provided and approved by FEMA.

• Meals must be shelf-stable, self-heating, and nutritionally dense.

• IDIQ period: One Base Year (12 months) and four (4) Option Years (12 months each).

• Delivery Locations: Multiple FEMA Distribution Centers and warehouses across CONUS and OCONUS, including specific addresses and operating hours.

• Mandatory Meal Types: Reduced Sodium Meals and Survivor Daily Rations (30-36 months shelf-life).

• Optional Meal Types: Commercial and Short Shelf-Life Meals (9-29 months shelf-life for SSL).

• Packaging: Must meet DLA standards, use heat-sealable flexible pouches, and be palletized on certified wooden pallets.

• Labeling: Must include production date, lot number, expiration date, Nutrition Facts, and "REDUCED SODIUM" where applicable.

• Delivery: Must accommodate steady state and emergency response operations, with specific timelines for emergency declarations (within 72 hours).

• Tracking: In-transit visibility (ITV) required via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or LSCMS.

• Training: Contractor staff must be trained on FEMA's Logistics Supply Chain Management System (LSCMS).

• Insurance: Minimum $300,000 in cargo insurance required for TSPs.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a flyer announcing a "FEMA Tender of Service Program 2026 Virtual Industry Day" webinar. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time. Registration must be completed by January 29, 2026, 5:00 PM EST.

This document is relevant to potential bidders as it provides information about an upcoming industry day focused on the FEMA Tender of Service Program for the 2026 program year. It outlines the topics to be discussed, including an overview of the program, expectations for the onboarding process, maintaining eligibility, and requirements for existing FEMA-Approved TSPs. It also provides a registration link and details on how to join the Zoom webinar. Attendance does not guarantee contract award.