Open federal opportunities

FY27 1st QTR Bread

JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF.FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM / BUREAU OF PRISONS.FMC FORT WORTH · Response deadline: Fri, 23 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Fort Worth intends to procure bread for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027. This is a recurring food supply procurement for a federal correctional institution with medical facilities, meaning the contractor will deliver bread products on an ongoing schedule to meet institutional feeding requirements. Bread supply contracts for federal prisons typically involve regular deliveries of sliced bread, hamburger buns, and hot dog rolls to support inmate meals and staff dining operations. FMC Fort Worth is a mixed-security facility with male inmates, including those requiring medical or mental health care, which drives consistent demand for standard food service items.

Key facts

Who can bid

This solicitation has no small business set-aside, meaning it is open to all responsible bidders regardless of business size. Both large and small businesses may compete. The NAICS code 311999 covers "All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing"—a classification that includes bakeries and bread manufacturers that don't fall under more specific bread manufacturing codes.

To be competitive, bidders should have experience in commercial or institutional food supply, particularly bread production and delivery. The Bureau of Prisons typically requires suppliers to meet food safety standards, including FDA compliance and possibly Safe Quality Food (SQF) or similar certifications. Any bidder will need to demonstrate capacity for scheduled delivery to a secure facility, which involves coordinating with institutional receiving procedures including vehicle inspections and escorted access. See the solicitation for specific security clearance requirements for delivery personnel.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand the delivery requirements. Bread contracts for Bureau of Prisons facilities typically specify delivery windows, quantity fluctuations based on inmate population changes, and just-in-time delivery to maintain freshness. Review the solicitation for exact delivery schedules, lot sizes, and whether the contract requires frozen, fresh, or par-baked products.

Price strategically for a full quarter. The first quarter of FY27 runs October through December 2026. Your pricing should account for seasonal wheat price variability and potential fuel cost fluctuations affecting delivery. The Bureau of Prisons often evaluates bids on total evaluated price including delivery costs to the dock.

Document your production capacity and backup plans. FMC Fort Worth requires reliable supply—any interruption affects inmate meals and institutional operations. Be prepared to show your bakery's daily production capacity, contingency suppliers, and how you handle equipment failure or supply chain disruption.

Address food safety explicitly. Detail your HACCP plan, recall procedures, lot tracking capabilities, and third-party audit results. The Bureau of Prisons takes food safety seriously given the controlled environment and population health considerations at a medical center facility.

Consider teaming if you're a smaller bakery. Without a set-aside, you may compete against national food distributors. A partnership with a regional distributor or another bakery could strengthen your delivery network and pricing position.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 15B50927Q00000001 to obtain the complete specifications, delivery schedule, evaluation criteria, and pricing instructions. Note the October 23, 2026 response deadline—at midnight Central Time—which leaves minimal time from the October 20 posting date. Prepare your bid submission immediately given this tight turnaround, and verify whether the Bureau of Prisons requires electronic submission through SAM.gov or physical delivery to a specified location at FMC Fort Worth.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →