Food service and catering government contracts
In fiscal year 2026, federal agencies obligated $1.28B on food service contracts so far (Defense contracts arrive about 90 days late, so the year's total is still rising). Department of Defense bought the most, followed by Department of Agriculture. 15 food service contract opportunities are open now on SAM.gov, and 111 contracts worth $1.29B with options end in the next 12 months.
Running dining facilities on military bases and at federal sites, and catering for agencies.
Set-asides: at least 7% of FY2026's food service contract dollars ($95.30M) went through contracts set aside for small businesses, most through small business and 8(a) set-asides. Many orders under larger contracts carry no set-aside code, so this counts only what is reported. How set-asides work →
Open notices
- 183 SVF FY27 RSD Meals · Combined Synopsis/Solicitation · due 2026-10-22 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- Thanksgiving Meal Catering Services – DLA Susquehanna · Solicitation · due 2026-10-23 · No Set aside used
- New Mexico Army National Guard (NMARNG) Dining Facility (DFAC) Food Services · Sources Sought · due 2026-10-28 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- San Juan MEPS Noon Meals · Solicitation · due 2026-10-28 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- San Juan MEPS NM · Presolicitation · due 2026-10-28 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- Concessionaire Food & Beverage Services · Sources Sought · due 2026-10-30 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- 4th - Cleveland MEPS NM - New · Solicitation · due 2026-11-02 · Small Business Set Aside - Total
- Presidio of Monterey (POM) FFS, W5168W-27-R-A015 · Sources Sought · due 2026-11-02
Agencies buying food service work, FY2026
- Department of Defense $987.57M
- Department of Agriculture $150.19M
- Department of Homeland Security $83.52M
- Department of Justice $16.04M
- Department of Veterans Affairs $9.39M
- Department of State $9.29M
- Department of Transportation $7.26M
- Department of the Interior $6.90M
Companies winning it, FY2026
- Sodexo Management Inc. $205.12M
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. $121.96M
- Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency $101.05M
- Texas Workforce Commission $72.57M
- South Carolina Commission for Blind $53.26M
- Southern Foodservice Management Inc $40.54M
- Sardis Catering Inc. $33.63M
- Global Connections to Employment, Inc. $28.72M
- The State of California $28.04M
- Work Services Corporation $22.50M
Where the work is, FY2026
- District of Columbia $145.74M
- Illinois $122.35M
- Texas $115.73M
- Georgia $108.32M
- North Carolina $106.46M
- South Carolina $64.27M
- Virginia $61.73M
- California $60.98M
- Oregon $50.05M
- Washington $28.53M
Money by year
Obligations (money committed) in prime awards, from USAspending.gov.
Contracts ending in the next 12 months
111 contracts, $1.29B with options. The largest:
| Contract | Incumbent | Ends | Value with options |
|---|---|---|---|
| FA820124C0024 HILL AIR FORCE BASE DINING FACILITY (DFAC) FULL FOOD SERVICE | Utah Department of Workforce Services | 2026-10-31 | $19.44M |
| FA703722C0001 FULL FOOD SERVICE @ 5 HATS, FT. MEADE, MD. | Maryland State Department of Education | 2026-10-31 | $9.25M |
| W91QVN26FA409 DFAC 2ID_COOK AND FLOOR MANAGER POP: FROM15 MAY 2026 TO 31 OCTOBER 2026 | El Dorado Resort Co.,ltd. | 2026-10-31 | $4.67M |
| W911RX26FA016 AUGMENTEE COOK SUPPORT | Kansas Department for Children and Families | 2026-10-31 | $2.26M |
| N6264926PH030 | Ican Resources Inc | 2026-10-31 | $1.67M |
| 70Z08424CSEAT0001 MESS ATTENDANT SERVICES AT BASE SEATTLE, WA | Atwork! | 2026-10-31 | $1.51M |
| 70Z08425CKETC0001 BASE KETCHIKAN, AK FULL FOOD SERVICE | Soa - Dolwd | 2026-11-30 | $5.34M |
| 70Z08424CDL940005 FULL FOOD SERVICE USCG SECTOR SAN DIEGO, CA | CA Dept of Rehabilitation | 2026-11-30 | $4.47M |
| 70Z08422CAA850700 FULL FOOD SERVICES @ USCG SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON, TX | Glistening Spaces Inc | 2026-11-30 | $4.13M |
| 70Z08424CCCOD0001 JANITORIAL / MESS ATTENDANT SERVICES FOR BASE CAPE COD | Genco General Contractors of Puerto Rico Corp | 2026-11-30 | $2.15M |
How the government buys food service work
- The Randolph-Sheppard Act gives blind vendors licensed by state agencies a priority for cafeteria and dining contracts on federal property, including many military dining facilities.
- Service contracts over $2,500 fall under the Service Contract Act: the solicitation includes a Department of Labor wage determination, the minimum wages and fringe benefits you must pay on the contract. Price from it, not from your commercial rates.
- Many dining facility attendant contracts are on the AbilityOne Procurement List.
Industry codes
Federal contracts are filed under NAICS industry codes. This page counts these; each has its own page with every office that buys it and the newest awards.
- NAICS 722310 Food Service Contractors · SBA small business size standard: Average annual receipts of $47 million or less
- NAICS 722320 Caterers · SBA small business size standard: Average annual receipts of $9 million or less
Getting started
- Register in SAM.gov, the step before any federal award.
- How small-business set-asides work and whether you count as small.
- How to read a SAM.gov notice and decide whether to bid.
- Get new food service notices by email when they are posted.
Related lines of work
From USAspending.gov prime awards (obligations: money committed) and SAM.gov notices, updated daily. Sources and limits