Catered Meals

Background
The State of Tennessee, Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is seeking qualified food service vendors to provide daily, nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for children residing in DCS Transition Homes. These homes offer children and youth a safe and secure housing location while they await long-term placement options. The meals must cater to the tastes and dietary needs of children and adolescents.

Work Details
The contract requires the provision of meals as follows:

- **School Year (August through May):**
- Scheduled breakfast delivered on weekends and holidays.
- Scheduled lunch delivered on weekends and holidays.
- On-call lunch meals for children not attending school during weekdays.
- Scheduled dinner meals delivered daily.
- Scheduled evening snacks (can be delivered with dinner).

- **Summer Months (June through July):**
- Scheduled breakfast delivered daily.
- Scheduled lunch delivered daily.
- Scheduled dinner delivered daily.
- Scheduled evening snacks (can be delivered with dinner).

- **Meal Requirements:** Each meal must be child-friendly, nutritious, fresh, and ready-to-eat; include disposable serving items; rotate on a 10-day meal cycle; include a dessert option with dinner; accommodate dietary restrictions; and be available in serving sizes for groups of 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 children per location. The number of required meals will fluctuate based on the number of children in each region.

Period of Performance
The contract period is expected to align with the school year from August through May and continue through the summer months of June and July.

Place of Performance
Meals will be provided across various regions in Tennessee including West (Shelby and Gibson Counties), Midwest (Dickson, Robertson, Montgomery, Madison, Lawrence Counties), Mid State (Macon, Bedford, Davidson Counties), TN Valley (Hamilton and Marion Counties), East (Campbell, Knox, Loudon Counties), and Northeast (Sevier and Washington Counties).

Bidder Requirements
Vendors must demonstrate experience providing similar services/products and indicate which Tennessee regions they can service. They should also describe their approach to ensuring meals are child-friendly and healthy while accommodating dietary needs.