How to bid on jail food service for Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office

What Calhoun County is buying

Calhoun County is seeking a provider to supply the labor, food, materials, and supplies needed to prepare and serve three meals a day, seven days a week, at its correctional facility. The facility has an average daily population of about 580 inmates, and meals also serve facility staff and other listed personnel.

The work includes meeting food safety, nutrition, sanitation, and security standards, maintaining service during emergencies, and supporting the County’s waste-management objectives. The contract is scheduled to run from December 17, 2026, through December 16, 2031, with two optional one-year extensions if both parties agree.

Key dates and the deadline

Questions are due November 9, 2026. The proposal deadline is November 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.

Submit through BidNet Direct, or as the notice directs, before the closing time. The opportunity lists a December 17, 2026 start date.

Who this opportunity suits

This RFP may suit food-service providers with experience preparing and serving meals in correctional settings. The County calls for professionally trained, experienced personnel and operations that can meet food-service, safety, health, nutrition, sanitation, and security standards.

A provider should also be prepared to plan for uninterrupted service during emergencies, maintain clear reporting and communication with County representatives, and work under facility oversight.

How to access and respond

Open the solicitation on BidNet Direct using the “View original source” option. The title and dates are public; a free BidNet Direct vendor account is needed to view the full notice, documents, and addenda.

Review the solicitation materials and any addenda, then submit your response through BidNet Direct or as the notice directs before November 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.

Prepare a clear, operational proposal

Explain how your team will provide three meals daily, seven days a week, and how staffing and contingency planning will support uninterrupted service. Address how you will meet the stated food safety, nutrition, sanitation, and security requirements.

Describe your food-service plan, including policies, procedures, measurable evaluation standards, reporting, and communication with County representatives. Make it easy for evaluators to see how your approach supports oversight, efficient operations, and responsible food handling and waste management.

Check the full RFP and addenda for the County’s required response format and submission instructions. Allow time to complete the portal submission and confirm it is received before the deadline.