Fresh-like Products with Extended Shelf-lives
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 US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) Combat Feeding Division is conducting a Sources Sought to identify potential sources for fresh-like products with extended shelf-lives. This initiative aims to procure dry single ingredients or dried ready-to-eat convenience meals for Military Field Feeding and Navy Standard Core Menu. Responses are due May 15, 2026.
Scope of Interest
DEVCOM-SC is seeking advanced drying technologies for single ingredients (especially dried produce) and commercially available dried convenience meals. These products must be applicable for both expeditionary field feeding and shipboard environments, offering highly palatable, nutrient-dense alternatives to traditional freeze-dried or retort processed items. The goal is to improve ration acceptability, decrease underconsumption, and significantly reduce storage footprint. Solutions related to freeze-drying or retort processing are specifically excluded.
Key Specifications:
- Shelf-Life: Minimum 36 months at 80°F ambient, or 6 months at 100°F.
- Rehydration Time: Target 10-12 minutes using hot water.
- Preparation: Easily prepared (e.g., shipboard galley, heating pouches, field canteen).
- Compliance: Must meet Army Regulation 40-25 for nutrition, sensory acceptability, and caloric density.
- Logistics: Must demonstrate weight and volume reduction compared to fully hydrated or retort processed equivalents.
- Maturity: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, 7, 8, or 9.
- Packaging: Commercially available.
- Cost: Provide estimated unit costs at scale.
Submission Requirements
Interested parties should submit a White Paper (maximum 5 pages, double-spaced, 10pt font) electronically to the specified email addresses. The paper should include:
- Company information (name, CAGE code, address, POC).
- Discussion of relevant current products/services, proposed alternatives, and implementation history.
- Details on proposed hardware.
- For foreign companies, discussion of future collaboration with the US Government. Additional documentation (e.g., presentations, spec sheets, test data) is accepted and does not count towards the page limit. Vendors should also provide safety certification, government approval, and test data.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought (Information and planning purposes only; not a solicitation).
- Set-Aside: None specified.
- Response Due: May 15, 2026, 5 PM EDT.
- Questions Due: May 11, 2026, 5 PM EDT.
- Published: May 1, 2026.
Important Notes
This is solely for market research; no contract will be awarded from this announcement. It does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue one. The Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response. Not responding does not preclude participation in any future RFP.