EUR/Athens - Catering services for the celebration of 250 Years of American Independence in Athens, Greece.

The U.S. Embassy Athens, under the Department of State, has awarded a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract valued at $245,705 for comprehensive catering services to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, on July 2, 2026. The event will serve approximately 3,000 guests, including dignitaries and a distinguished musical performer, across multiple venues within the SNFCC—Lighthouse, Lighthouse Terraces, and Panoramic Steps—with a menu featuring elevated American cuisine, including passed hors d’oeuvres, themed food stations, and premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, all while accommodating dietary restrictions such as vegetarian and gluten-free options. The contract was justified under FAR 6.103-1 due to the exclusive contractual rights held by the selected vendor, Deipnosofistirion S.A., which operates the only Michelin-starred restaurant within the SNFCC and possesses unique operational access, infrastructure, and proven capability to execute the complex, high-profile event without competition. All services must be delivered on-site using the vendor’s existing facilities and staff, with mandatory integration of in-kind American product donations into the service presentation. Performance is limited to a single event window from 19:00 to 24:00 local time, with acceptance occurring at the venue upon satisfactory delivery aligned with stringent quality expectations tied to the vendor’s Michelin-star reputation and prior experience managing SNFCC events. No line-item breakdowns, options, or extended terms are included, and the contract contains no specified payment offices, invoicing systems, accounting codes, or formal inspection checklists, though oversight responsibility rests with the U.S. Embassy Athens. The contracting officer is Dresden A. Kalin, with no designated COR or COTR named, and the vendor’s UEI, CAGE code, size status, or socioeconomic certifications are not referenced. Packaging, delivery terms, and submission protocols are irrelevant due to the on-site, service-only nature of the work, and no formal evaluation factors or proposal submission guidelines were documented beyond the justification for non-competitive award based on exclusivity and operational necessity.