Catering Services

The U.S. Embassy Nassau in The Bahamas is seeking catering services for an American Independence Day celebration on June 26, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with setup required from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM and breakdown to be completed by midnight on June 27, 2026. This is a labor-only contract, meaning the Embassy will supply all food ingredients after the vendor submits a detailed menu and ingredient list; the vendor is responsible for providing all serving equipment including chafing dishes, warming units, heat lamps, utensils, and staffing for nine regional American-themed food stations—New York City, Philadelphia, Saint Louis, Atlanta, Texas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington D.C., and Coconut Grove, Florida. Each station will serve bite-sized portions to accommodate up to 1,000 guests, with a minimum of 18 servers (two per station), one supervisor, and additional support personnel. The vendor must also provide 70 pre-boxed, grab-and-go staff meals to be served at 4:30 PM. All food must comply with both Bahamian health standards and U.S. food safety guidelines, and all food handlers must hold current food safety certifications. Food items must be clearly labeled with ingredients and common allergens—including nuts, shellfish, dairy, and gluten—with vegetarian options explicitly marked, and allergen and dietary information must be displayed at each station. The vendor assumes full liability for food safety and service and must maintain a minimum of $2 million in general liability insurance, with certificates of insurance, facility health inspection reports, and local business licenses required for submission. All staff must be professionally attired, trained in food service, and cleared through Embassy security protocols. Proposals are due by June 15, 2026, and must be submitted to NassauContractingOfficers@state.gov; late submissions will not be accepted. Evaluation of proposals will be based on experience with large-scale events (40%), price competitiveness (30%), staffing plan adequacy (20%), and compliance with certifications and insurance (10%). Offerors may bid on Stations 1–4, Stations 5–9, or both, and must include a detailed pricing table, at least three references from events serving 1,000 or more guests, and evidence of past performance at international or high-profile events. U.S.-based