FEMA Tender of Service Virtual Industry Day

Quick Summary

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Meals for Survivors. This RFI seeks to identify industry capabilities to provide disaster meals for emergency response and steady-state operations across CONUS and OCONUS. The information will support contingency planning and requirements development for mass feeding operations. Responses are due by March 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.

Purpose & Scope

FEMA's Logistics Management Division is conducting market research to assess industry's capacity to supply disaster meals. The goal is to ensure FEMA can provide up to 3.5 million meals for 72 hours in a catastrophic disaster scenario. This RFI is for information gathering only and is not a solicitation for a binding contract. It will inform future acquisition strategies.

Key Requirements

FEMA is interested in capabilities for:

• Meal Types: Mandatory Reduced Sodium Meals and Survivor Daily Rations (30-36 months shelf-life). Optional Commercial and Short Shelf-Life Meals (9-29 months shelf-life). Meals must be shelf-stable, self-heating, and nutritionally dense, meeting detailed nutritional specifications.
• Quantities: Capability to deliver up to 3.5 million Reduced Sodium Meals and 1.75 million Survivor Daily Rations within 30 days for steady state. For emergency response/surge, capability to produce and ship up to 1 million Reduced Sodium, 1.75 million Survivor Daily Rations, 1 million Commercial, and 1 million Short Shelf-Life meals within 72 hours of notification.
• Delivery: Throughout CONUS, OCONUS, and U.S. territories to multiple FEMA Distribution Centers and warehouses. Emergency deliveries must commence within 72 hours of order award.
• Packaging & Labeling: Must meet Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) standards, use heat-sealable flexible pouches, be palletized on certified wooden pallets, and include Time-Temperature Indicator (TTI) labels. Labeling must comply with FDA/USDA regulations, including production/lot/expiration dates and nutritional facts.
• Tracking: In-transit visibility (ITV) via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) or FEMA's Logistics Supply Chain Management System (LSCMS). Contractor staff must be trained on LSCMS.
• Anticipated Contract Structure: An IDIQ contract with one base year and four option years is anticipated, with an estimated start date of March 18, 2027.
• NAICS Code: 311991 - Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing.
• PSC: 8970 - Composite Food Packages.

Submission Details

• Response Deadline: March 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.
• Questions Deadline: March 16, 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 or Adobe Acrobat PDF, unclassified.
• Page Limit: 15 pages (excluding cover page).
• Content: Cover page (company info, UEI, POC) and responses to RFI questions (max 10 pages). Questions cover capabilities, maximum daily packaging capacity, ability to meet SOW packaging specs (with illustration), estimated per-meal pricing, foreseen SOW challenges, and feedback on the requirements document.

Important Notes

This RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to contract. Responses are not offers and will not form a binding contract. Respondents are responsible for all associated expenses. FEMA will not provide additional information or notify respondents of market research results. Potential organizational conflicts of interest must be mitigated.