Dining Facility Services - Mess Attendants & Contingency Cooks
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Air Force is soliciting proposals for Dining Facility (DFAC) Services, specifically Mess Attendants and Contingency Cooks, at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. This Full and Open Competition opportunity seeks a qualified provider for a Firm Fixed-Price IDIQ contract. Proposals are due April 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM GMT.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide Mess Attendant services for cleanliness, sanitation, organization, serving, dishwashing, waste disposal, and basic food preparation at the Knights Table, Hot Pit (RAF Lakenheath), and Gateway (RAF Mildenhall) dining facilities. Contingency Cook services are also required for special and emergency situations, activated via task orders. Site Managers are to be provided for each facility to oversee performance and quality. Services are considered mission essential.
Contract Details
- Type: Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
- Duration: 5-year ordering period from contract award (anticipated May 2026 - May 2031). Mess Attendant task orders are annual (12 months), Contingency Cook task orders are 6-month periods.
- NAICS: 722310 (Food Service Contractors) with a $47,000,000 size standard.
- Set-Aside: Full and Open Competition (Unrestricted).
- Funding: Contingent upon availability of appropriated funds.
Key Requirements
Personnel must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. Required certifications include ServSafe for Mess Attendants and Cooks, and ServSafe Managers for Site Managers. Installation access processing can take 6-8 months for UK nationals and under 90 days for US nationals, with escorted access provided during a 60-day transition. The contractor must develop and implement a Quality Control Plan (QCP). Compliance with UK TUPE regulations (PWS 4.13) is mandatory; no post-award price adjustments for TUPE-related costs are anticipated. Pricing must be monthly and fixed, absorbing all costs including premium pay.
Submission & Evaluation
Quotes must be submitted electronically in English and organized into three volumes:
- Technical Volume: Includes Executive Summary, Performance Plan, and Mission Essential Plan. Evaluated as Technically Acceptable/Unacceptable.
- Past Performance Volume: Requires 3-5 examples, evaluated via Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ) for recency, relevance, and ratings. Evaluated as Technically Acceptable/Unacceptable.
- Price Volume: Includes a Price Schedule (Attachment 6) with unit and extended prices for all CLINs. Evaluated for realism, reasonableness, and balance. Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose quote is technically acceptable and offers the most advantageous price. Offers must be held firm for a minimum of 120 calendar days.
Important Dates
- Questions Due: March 20, 2026, 2:00 PM GMT (deadline passed).
- Site Visit: March 26, 2026, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM GMT (deadline passed).
- Proposals Due: April 10, 2026, 2:00 PM GMT.
Points of Contact
- TSgt Roman Pavlovich (roman.pavlovich@us.af.mil)
- MSgt Kenneth Schleckser (kenneth.schleckser@us.af.mil)
- Hannah Foster (hannah.foster.3@us.af.mil)