Food Delivery and Courier Services, HES
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 Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs is soliciting proposals for Food Delivery and Courier Services for Havasupai Elementary School (HES) in Supai, Arizona. This is a Total Small Business Set-Aside for a new requirement involving complex logistics, including helicopter sling operations. Proposals are due March 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM MST.
Purpose & Scope of Work
This combined synopsis/solicitation seeks a contractor to provide reliable, secure, and temperature-safe weekly food delivery (Thursdays, with 24-hour emergency services) and end-to-end package courier services for educational materials to HES, located in the remote Grand Canyon. The scope includes:
- Food Delivery: Pickup from "Red Barn," transport to the helipad, and coordination of helicopter sling delivery to HES, ensuring USDA/FDA-compliant temperature control and chain of custody.
- Package Courier: Receiving, handling, and delivering educational materials and Compensatory Education resources to HES via a designated USPS-approved address. The contractor is responsible for coordinating helicopter sling operations and obtaining rates directly from the Havasupai Tribe. This is a new requirement with no prior historical data or contractor.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Anticipated Time and Material (T&M) Purchase Order.
- Period of Performance: Base year (12/15/2025 - 12/14/2026) with four (4) one-year option periods; the exact period will be updated upon award.
- NAICS Code: 492110 (Couriers and Express Delivery Services), Size Standard: 1,500 Employees.
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5), including socioeconomic small business firms.
- Place of Performance: Havasupai Elementary School, Supai, Arizona. Dedicated work hours not to exceed 20 hours per week.
Submission Requirements
Proposals must be submitted electronically to Felicia.Aspaas@bie.edu by the due date and acknowledge all amendments. Submissions require two volumes:
- Technical Volume (<=10 pages): Address capabilities, key personnel, and past performance. Must demonstrate understanding of the requirement and ability to perform both primary SOW tasks.
- Price Volume: Include a completed pricing schedule and total quoted price. Pricing must separate labor costs (fully burdened, fixed hourly rates) and helicopter costs (projected actual, with verification of contact with Havasupai Tribe). Mileage adjustments beyond 100 miles require providing the prospective commercial address and its mileage to the helipad. Key Personnel: The Courier is the only key personnel. Proposal must identify the individual by name and include a resume (2+ years food delivery/courier, food safety, temp-sensitive), valid driver's license, current Food Handler Card, and proof of recent criminal background check (or willingness to undergo). Past Performance: Submit three references for similar efforts within the past three years, including specific contract details and POCs.
Evaluation Factors
Award will be made on a Best Value Trade-off basis, considering:
- Technical: Understanding of scope, approach, and relevant technical experience.
- Key Personnel: Qualifications and experience of the designated Courier.
- Past Performance: Government's confidence based on similar efforts (reliability, quality, timeliness).
- Price: Reasonableness and cost realism. The Government may award to other than the low-priced quoter if a superior technical submission or reduced performance risk warrants it.
Key Dates & Contacts
- Response Due Date: March 24, 2026, 10:00 AM MST.
- Anticipated Award: Approximately two weeks after RFQ closes.
- Primary Contact: Felicia Aspaas, Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist, felicia.aspaas@bie.edu, (480) 252-0702.
Special Notes
All contractor personnel must undergo and pass a BIE federal background check (Tier I with Child Care). Indian Preference recruitment and hiring practices apply. Key personnel must be U.S. citizens.