Meals Johnston, IA W912LP27Q4000
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE ARMY.NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU.JFHQ USPFO IA.USPFO IA PROCUREMENT.W7M8 USPFO ACTIVITY IA ARNG · Response deadline: Thu, 29 Oct 2026
What the government is buying
The Department of the Army, National Guard Bureau is seeking a contractor to provide food services—specifically, meals—for its operations in Johnston, Iowa. This is a standard requirements-type contract for meal preparation and service, falling under NAICS code 722310 (Food Service Contractors). Under this classification, contractors typically provide operational food services at institutional, governmental, commercial, or similar locations. The work may encompass meal planning, preparation, serving, and related kitchen operations, though see the solicitation for the complete statement of work and specific performance requirements.
The Army National Guard frequently contracts for meal services to support training exercises, drill weekends, and other Guard activities where feeding personnel at scale is necessary rather than relying on individual meal allowances or commercial restaurants.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Dept of the Army, National Guard Bureau, JFHQ USPFO Iowa |
| Notice type | Combined Synopsis/Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | W912LP27Q4000 |
| NAICS | 722310 (Food Service Contractors) |
| Set-aside | Small Business Set Aside – Total |
| Response deadline | October 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM Central Time |
| Place of performance | Johnston, Iowa |
Who can bid
This opportunity is set aside exclusively for small businesses under NAICS 722310. To qualify, your business must:
- Meet the Small Business Administration's size standard for NAICS 722310 ($47.5 million annual average receipts for food service contractors)
- Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) with active status
- Hold any required federal food service certifications or state/local health permits applicable to commercial kitchen operations in Iowa
Veteran-owned, women-owned, HUBZone, and 8(a) small businesses may receive additional evaluation consideration if they meet the primary small business requirement, though the solicitation does not indicate further socioeconomic set-asides beyond the total small business restriction. Joint ventures and mentor-protégé arrangements are permissible if structured to comply with SBA affiliation rules.
How to put together a competitive bid
Given the compressed timeline—posted October 26 with an October 29 deadline—speed and precision matter.
Demonstrate operational readiness. The government buyer needs confidence you can execute meal service immediately and reliably. Highlight your existing kitchen infrastructure, staffing availability, and experience with similar institutional contracts. If you operate near Johnston, emphasize local response capability and reduced logistical risk.
Address food safety directly. Submit current ServSafe certifications, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals food establishment licenses, and your HACCP plan. Document your last health inspection results. Food service solicitations often include unannounced inspections as a performance metric.
Pricing strategy. For meal contracts, the government typically evaluates price on a per-meal or per-person-day basis. Structure your pricing to show transparency in food costs, labor, overhead, and profit. Be prepared for the possibility of firm-fixed-price or time-and-materials arrangements; see the solicitation for the specified contract type.
Past performance documentation. Even with a short fuse, assemble referenceable contracts for comparable meal services—ideally for military, correctional, educational, or healthcare institutional clients. Include performance metrics like on-time service rates, customer satisfaction scores, and inspection results.
Personnel plans. Detail your approach to hiring, training, and retaining food service workers in the Johnston labor market. Military meal contracts often require background checks or security clearances; state your capacity to process these.
Next steps
Read the full solicitation immediately on SAM.gov using solicitation number W912LP27Q4000. The Combined Synopsis/Solicitation format means the award may follow shortly after the deadline with limited post-question periods.
Confirm the exact deadline. The response deadline is October 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM Central Time (note the -05:00 offset may shift with daylight saving time; verify current local time).
Submit through SAM.gov or the specified electronic system before the deadline. Late submissions are typically non-negotiable in Army acquisitions.
Contact the contracting officer listed in the full solicitation with any questions, but recognize the three-day window leaves minimal time for formal Q&A.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →