Catering Services for 2026-2027 Hurricane Season

The City of Bartow, Florida, is seeking qualified vendors to provide emergency standby food catering services for the 2026–2027 hurricane season, targeting the support of 100 to 250 personnel during crisis events such as hurricanes and natural disasters. The services must include the preparation and delivery of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverages to ensure that city employees and emergency responders remain nourished and capable of performing critical public safety and restoration functions. The city intends to award contracts to up to three vendors to ensure continuous service availability based on competitive pricing and operational readiness, minimizing disruptions during extended emergency periods. All services are subject to federal requirements since the City plans to seek reimbursement through FEMA, and vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers must fully comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations as outlined in the attached FEMA clauses. Proposals must be submitted by the deadline of August 5, 2026, and all work will be performed within Bartow, Florida, with the City’s municipal facilities serving as the primary location for meal distribution during emergencies. The solicitation, identified as ITB 26-23, is issued under the Grants program and is open to eligible vendors through the City’s procurement portal. Primary contact for questions is Sarah Jones, Grant Administrator, who can be reached at the provided email and phone number, with additional support available from Senior Procurement Analyst Evan Markewich. Vendors are expected to demonstrate proven capacity, logistical reliability, food safety compliance, and the ability to scale operations rapidly under pressure, ensuring the City’s workforce and emergency teams remain operational during life-threatening and high-stress situations.