Food Services for Pierce County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center

Pierce County (hereafter known as the "County") is seeking a full-service food program for the Pierce County Jail and Juvenile Court (Remann Hall). The Pierce County Jail (PC Jail) serves meals to incarcerated adults and Corrections Deputies. The Juvenile Court serves meals to detained youth, juvenile detention staff, students attending the Day Reporting School, and youth enrolled in the weekend alternative detention programs.

Background

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFP-069
• Department: Procurement and Contract Services
• Department Head: Bert Kalalau (County Purchasing Agent)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-09-23T23:30:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-09-16T16:00:00.000Z — Vendors are asked to participate in a mandatory site tour/kitchen walk through being held on September 16, 2026 the following conditions must be met: *Each vendor will be allowed to send a maximum of two staff for the tour. *Company representatives should plan to bring, and provide government issued ID or Driver's license *Clipboards, and note pads are acceptable items to bring and carry with you for information taking. Photograph, and audio recording are prohibited inside the facilities. *No cell phones, briefcases, or handbags will be allowed in the jail. Safe storage will be provided for use during the tour. *Representatives will go through metal detectors at both sites.  Site Address/Parking Information Pierce County Jail Walkthrough 9am-10am -Meet at Pierce County Jail: 910 Tacoma Ave South -Meet in the Lobby on the 4th floor & have government-issued photo ID ready to present. -Paid parking is available off of Yakima and Nollmeyer Lane directly behind the County City building. Remann Hall Walkthrough 11am-12pm -Meet at 5501 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406 Administration Building (“B” Building), check in with receptionist & have government-issued photo ID ready to present. -Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the meeting place. There is no fee to park.

Evaluation Criteria

• Management and Operations Capability (13 pts)
• Meal Production and Menu Compliance (13 pts)
• Service Delivery Requirements (9 pts)
• Quality, Safety, and Compliance (9 pts)
• Staffing and Training (13 pts)
• Inventory, Facilities, and Equipment (9 pts)
• Coordination and Communication (3 pts)
• Financial and Cost Information (19 pts)
• Continuity of Services and Emergency Preparedness (9 pts)
• Certification and Standards (3 pts)
• Interviews (20 pts)
• Interview (if applicable) (100 pts) —

  Pierce County may interview the top ranked from the evaluation list. If interviews are conducted, rankings shall be determined by Pierce County using the combined results of interviews and proposal submittals

Submission Requirements

• Administrative Questions
• Proposer Confirmation (required) —

  As an authorized representative of the Proposer, having carefully examined the Request for Proposals, propose to furnish services in accordance therewith as set forth in the attached proposal.

  I further agree that this proposal will remain in effect for not less than sixty (60) calendar days from the date that proposals are due, and that this proposal may not be withdrawn or modified during that time.

  I hereby certify that this proposal is genuine and not a false or collusive proposal, or made in the interests or on behalf of any person not therein named; and I have not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any Contractor or supplier on the above work to put in a false proposal or any person or corporation to refrain from submitting a proposal; and that I have not in any manner sought by collusion to secure to myself an advantage over any other contractor(s) or person(s).

  In order to induce the County to consider this proposal, the Proposer irrevocably waives any existing rights which it may have, by contract or otherwise, to require another person or corporation to refrain from submitting a proposal to or performing work or providing supplies to Pierce County, and Proposer further promises that it will not in the future directly or indirectly induce or solicit any person or corporation to refrain from submitting a response or proposal to or from performing work or providing supplies to Pierce County.

• Ownership and Copyright of Submitted Materials (required) —

  By submitting a proposal, I agree that all documents, reports, proposals, submittals, working papers, or other materials prepared by the Proposer pursuant to this proposal shall become the sole and exclusive property of the County, and the public domain, and not property of the Proposer. The Proposer shall not copyright, or cause to be copyrighted, any portion of items submitted to the County in response to this procurement.

• Supplemental Attachment Confirmation (required) —

  I confirm I have reviewed the content of the following attachments included under this RFP: Sample Agreement and any other documents as identified as "sample" in the Attachments section and acknowledge I understand and agree to these requirements should my organization receive a contract as a result of this proposal.

• Insurance Requirements (required) —

  By submitting a proposal, I understand and agree that if awarded funding from this RFP, the organization must be able to meet all insurance requirements based on services being purchased, prior to contract execution, and types of insurances may include, but are not limited to:

  • Commercial General Liability Insurance: Required on all contracts. Standard levels are $1M occurrence/$2M aggregate (may be higher/lower, depending on value of contract and type of service).
  • Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance: Required when the Contractor uses owned, rented, or leased automobiles to complete the services as required per the contract. Higher coverages may be required for fleet/large passenger vehicles.  
  • Workers Compensation Insurance: As required by Washington State.
  • Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions Insurance: If the Contractor provides services such as analysis, consulting, counseling, daycare, legal, medical, nursing, pastoral, medical, or other services that require professional licensing.
  • Abuse and Molestation: If the Contractor will be working directly with youth under the age of 18, elderly, disabled or other vulnerable populations.
  • Cyber/Privacy and Security Insurance: If the Contractor is doing work that could give the Contractor access to personal or sensitive information from within the County's network or on the Contractor's personal computer, or lead to breaches of security, leading to a loss of privacy or identity theft.
  • Crime/Employee Dishonesty Insurance: If the Contractor is in the custody or control of Pierce County funds such as cash, credit cards, checks or physical property.
  • Other insurance(s) applicable to services being purchased: Such as Excess or Umbrella Liability Insurance if the contract is in excess of $500,000.

  In addition:

  • Pierce County shall be named as an "Additional Insured" which must be provided in the insurance endorsement; and
  • Insurance requirements also apply to any subcontractors hired by the main Contractor to deliver services, where applicable.

  Please see "Exhibit D" in the SAMPLE AGREEMENT under attachments to see full insurance requirements. If you have questions regarding insurance requirements, please submit them through the “Question & Answer” section of the RFP. 

• Debarment Certification (required) —

  As an authorized representative of the Proposer, I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the organization and its principals:

  1. Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal department or agency;
  2. Have not within a three-year period preceding this proposal been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property;
  3. Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a government entity (Federal, State, or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b) of this certification; and
  4. Have not within a three-year period preceding this proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated for cause or default.
  5. Does not employ any person nor contracts with any person or agency excluded from participation in federal health care programs under either 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7 (§§1128 or 1128A Social Security Act) or debarred or suspended.

  By checking the confirmation, I understand that a false statement on this certification may be grounds for rejection of this proposal or termination of any award. In addition, under 18 USC Sec. 1001, a false statement may result in a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both. 

• Organization Information
• Authorized Individual (required) —

  Please provide the name and title of the individual authorized to execute a contract on behalf of the organization.

• Organization Information (required) —

  Please provide the legal name, any d/b/a names, years in business, local address, billing address if different, email address, and phone number of the organization making the proposal.

• Organization Tax ID Number (required) —

  Please provide the Employee Identification Number (EIN).

• Organization Contacts (required) —

  Please provide the name, phone, and email for:

  • Executive Director/CEO/President
  • Financial Manager/CFO
  • Contract Manager
• Washington State Unified Business Identification (UBI) Number (required) —

  Please provide the organization's UBI number. 

  WARNING: Failure to provide a UBI number may be cause for the application to be disqualified from competition. 

• Unique Entity Identification (UEI) Number (required) —

  An organization must have, at the time of submission, an active UEI number when the funding is identified as federal. Please list your UEI as issued by Sam.gov. 

  Funding may or may not create a subrecipient relationship between the organization and the County.   

  WARNING: Failure to provide a number OR if the UEI number is NOT ACTIVE may be cause for the application to be disqualified from competition. 

• Scored Proposal Questions
• Management and Operations Capability (13 points) —

  1. Describe your managerial and administrative experience operating large scale food service programs. 

  2. Describe your company’s history providing correctional or institutional food service operations, including years in business and the size/scope of comparable contracts. 

  3. Explain how your company will ensure uninterrupted food service and your operational approach to providing all meals for:

  a. Pierce County Jail (adult population and correctional staff) 

  b. Remann Hall Juvenile Detention (youth, staff, and Positive Youth Development programs) 

  4.Provide a transition and start up plan outlining key milestones ensuring full operational capability by or before November 21, 2026. 

• Meal Production and Menu Compliance (13 points) —

  1. Provide your proposed process for creating Adult and Juvenile 21-day cycle menus that meet all NCCHC, state, and federal requirements. Include proof of registered dietitian on staff in submission. 

  2. Explain your procedures for documenting and obtaining approval for menu variations and substitutions. Include both inmate and staff menus upon the price point quoted in the RFP. 

  3. Describe the following; 

  a. how you will ensure calorie counts meet required standards without using filler calories 

  b. how religious, medical, and special dietary accommodations will be identified and documented 

  c. how you will fulfill your plan for providing holiday meals, monotony breakers, and sack lunches for approved programs. 

  4.Provide example 7-day menu.

• Service Delivery Requirements (9 points) —

  1. Explain your approach to on-site cook-and-serve operations for the adult population, including transporting trays to both Main and New Jail units. 

  2. Describe your approach to the juvenile food service workflow, including preparation, cart/warming procedures, coordination with Juvenile Detention Officers, and tray return processes. 

• Quality, Safety and Compliance (9 points) —
   

  1. Describe your food safety and sanitation program, including compliance with Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department requirements and ensure how meals are delivered at correct temperatures, in a palatable, visually acceptable conditions. 

  2. Provide your plan for record keeping, including daily meal counts, production records, and monthly reporting. 

  3. Provide plan to deliver and preparation of staff meals separate from inmate population to two separate locations and by contracted personnel only.

• Staffing and Training (13 points) —

  1. Provide a detailed staffing plan for both facilities, including staffing levels, qualifications of proposed Food Service Director, Assistant Food Service Director and all roles. 

  2. Describe your training program for your staff, including: 

          • Food safety 

          • Security awareness 

          • Emergency response 

          • Modified diet requirements 

          • Personnel and inmate worker supervision (adult only) 

  3. Describe your training to avoid inmate manipulation.

• Inventory, Facilities, and Equipment (9 points) —

  1. Describe your process for maintaining accurate ongoing inventory, minimizing food waste and maintaining inventory control. 

  2. Explain your purchasing and reimbursement procedures for food supplies and consumables. 

  3.Describe how you will disclose and return to the County supplier rebates, incentives, or allowances   

  4. Provide your plan for maintaining a minimum five-day emergency food supply at all times. 

• Coordination and Communication (3 points) —

  1.Describe how your staff will coordinate with correctional and juvenile court administrative teams. 

  2. Provide examples of communication protocols, meeting schedules, problem solving approaches, and escalation procedures. 

• Financial and Cost Information (19 points) —

  1. Provide two detailed cost proposal including food, labor, supplies, administrative overhead, and all expenses required under the RFP. 

  a. Cost proposal using minimal inmate labor

  b. Cost proposal entirely reliance contract labor

  2. Describe your process for ensuring charges to the County remain reasonable and necessary. Include a sample invoice.

• Continuity of Services and Emergency Preparedness (9 points) —

  1. Describe your plan for ensuring continuous food service during emergencies, staff shortages, or facility disruptions. 

  2. Explain how you will coordinate with the outgoing contractor to ensure a seamless transition. 

• Certification and Standards (3 points) —

  1. Describe how you will meet all standards in Section 1.4.13 of the scope, including requirements for storage, sanitation, chemical handling, personal hygiene, food safety practices, and other Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department compliance measures.

• Does this RFP contain federal funding? (required)
• Multiple Applications (required) —

  Will the RFP accept multiple proposals from a single vendor?

• Will proposer interviews be conducted? (required)