722310: Food Service Contractors

The Department of Defense buys food service contracting primarily through military installations and logistics centers. The Commanding Officer at a major naval facility, regional commanding generals, and military installation contracting offices at bases like Fort Benning, Fort Jackson, and Fort Leonard Wood are the largest buyers. Most awards go to unrestricted competition, though the Small Business Administration set-aside program accounts for a significant portion of opportunities. Vendors range from small local operators to large national firms.

The median award of $8.5K masks wide variation in deal size. While most contracts are modest, the top buyer alone has issued 27 awards totaling $3.69B, indicating that some contracts are substantially larger. With 1,398 distinct vendors competing for 72,098 awards over 27 years, the market is fragmented but active. A firm considering entry should expect moderate competition in the unrestricted pool and potentially less crowded conditions in SBA set-asides, which represent about 14 percent of awards.

Watch the 211 contracts expiring within the next 12 months, valued at $1.38B. These represent immediate recompete opportunities at installations across the military. Monitor active notices, currently at 18, for signals about which bases are seeking new vendors or expanding service areas. Changes in military staffing levels or base consolidation could shift demand, particularly at the largest buyers like Norfolk and Fort Leonard Wood.