Bid guide
How to bid on Nexgen Food Services for the Department of the Air Force
What the Air Force is buying and why it matters
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is seeking industry input for its NexGen Food Service Program. This program aims to modernize food and beverage services at three Air Force bases: Luke AFB in Arizona, Offutt AFB in Nebraska, and Shaw AFB in South Carolina. The goal is to transform traditional military dining facilities into modern, campus-style venues.
The selected contractor will manage and operate these services, including high-quality food preparation, serving, menu planning, preventative facility and equipment maintenance, custodial services, and potentially temporary or mobile feeding solutions. This opportunity is significant for firms experienced in large-scale food service management and modernization.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This is a Request for Information (RFI), published on August 17, 2026. The deadline for submitting your response is September 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. At this deadline, the Air Force will stop accepting industry feedback and capability statements.
This RFI is a pre-solicitation notice, meaning the Air Force is gathering information before issuing a formal solicitation. Site visits to Luke AFB, Offutt AFB, and Shaw AFB are tentatively planned for late 2026 (CY2026 Q4). Offerors may also be required to participate in oral presentations in San Antonio, Texas.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is suitable for firms with extensive experience in managing large-scale, multi-venue food service operations, particularly those involving campus-style dining, grab-and-go options, and automated or cashless systems. Experience with geographically dispersed operations and managing a blended workforce of contractor and military/civilian personnel is also relevant.
Firms with a strong background in facility maintenance, comprehensive cleaning plans, and compliance with Tri-Service Food Code or USDA sanitary guidelines will be well-suited. Expertise in developing menus that meet DoD nutritional standards and integrating food procurement and point-of-sale (POS) inventory databases with government IT networks is also important.
How to respond to this RFI
To respond to this RFI, you need to provide feedback and answers to specific capability questions outlined in the document. These questions cover corporate capability, geographically dispersed operations, operational and facility maintenance management, menu and nutrition, technology integration, and labor, recruiting, and subcontracting.
Access the opportunity by clicking “View original source” on the portal. If the first click takes you to the homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents, though for many bids this is not required.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
When preparing your response, focus on directly addressing each question with concrete examples of your firm's experience and capabilities. Quantify your achievements where possible, such as successful inspection ratings or the number of facilities managed. Highlight your ability to manage complex logistics across multiple, distant locations.
Emphasize your understanding of military dining environments and the unique challenges they present, including recruitment and retention strategies for a stable workforce. Detail your approach to technology integration, specifically how you can interface with government IT systems. Clearly articulate your preventative maintenance plans and how you ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from DEPT of the Air Force; the original posting controls.