Brand‑Name Justification FBI HQ Cafeteria/Food Services

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is awarding a six-month bridge contract, from August 14, 2026, to February 13, 2027, to Sodexo Management Inc. for cafeteria and food services at its Headquarters in the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, DC, under a sole-source justification to meet unusual and compelling urgency. This firm fixed-price contract, valued at $275,000, is necessary to ensure continuous, uninterrupted food service for approximately 4,000 federal employees and contractors without requiring personnel to leave the secure perimeter, which would expose them to security risks, including potential surveillance by foreign adversaries and compromise of sensitive communications within SCIFs. The contract preserves existing operations, including licensed franchise outlets of Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, and maintains compliance with an established Collective Bargaining Agreement that governs labor conditions and workforce stability, avoiding costly disruptions, labor strikes, or legal complications from switching vendors mid-term. The decision to bypass competitive procedures is grounded in the incumbent vendor’s unique capability to seamlessly continue operations with a pre-cleared workforce already embedded within the secure facility, a qualification no other contractor can match within the required timeline. While no formal evaluation factors, line-item pricing, or inspection standards beyond operational continuity and security compliance are detailed, the justification emphasizes the catastrophic productivity loss—estimated at 45 to 60 minutes per employee daily—resulting from re-entry security procedures, as well as the risk of mission degradation from service interruption. The procurement is not subject to small business set-asides or socioeconomic considerations, and formal representations or certifications from the offeror are not required due to the urgent, non-competitive nature of the action. The contract is structured as a temporary bridge to support the development and future solicitation of a longer-term arrangement with potential for enhanced services, while maintaining the current operational, labor, and security frameworks. Delivery and performance occur entirely on-site at the J. Edgar Hoover Building, with inspection and acceptance the responsibility of the FBI, and payment administered through its Facilities Acquisition Unit. No FOB terms apply, and the contract includes no options or detailed delivery schedules, reflecting its limited, mission-critical scope.