Field rations

Tender description

The Defence Food Team (DFT) within Leidos Supply Ltd (LSL) is considering a potential requirement for the provision of a range of Operational Ration Packs (ORP) under a framework agreement(s). The ORP is for consumption by the UK Ministry of Defence. The ration range currently includes, but is not limited to, a 24-hour Individual General Purpose (GP) ration (including 24-hour Cultural and Ethnic (C&E), Enhanced and Cold Climate (CC) variants), 8-hour Single Meal Ration (SMR), 10-Man Group Feeding Ration and Emergency Survival Rations (ESR). All rations contain ambient stable components and will normally be stored and distributed in ambient temperatures. However for operational purposes ORP may be stored and distributed at lower and higher temperatures/humidity for part of its shelf life. The products and packaging must therefore account for this possibility to maintain the food in a wholesome condition. The main ORP is the 24-hour GP ration, which currently consists of meal retort pouches (breakfast, lunch and dinner), pudding retort pouches, powdered drinks, sweets, chocolate bars, fruit/cereal bars, nuts, chewing gum, teabags, coffee sachets, whitener sachets, sugar sachets, water sterilisation tablets, wet wipes, a pack of tissues, windproof/waterproof matches and a combined spoon/fork (spork). The current annual consumption volume of the 24-hour GP ration is circa 1 500 000 rations. The 24-hour C&E rations are a variant of the 24-hour GP ration and include Vegetarian, Sikh/Hindu, Halal and Kosher rations. The current annual consumption volume of all the 24-hour C&E rations is circa 100 000 rations. The 24-hour CC (dehydrated) ration is a variant of the 24-hour GP ration but the main meal and pudding pouches are all freeze dried. The current annual consumption volume of the 24-hour CC ration is circa 30 000 rations. The 24-hour Enhanced and 8-hour SMR rations are also a variant of the 24-hour GP ration and additionally include a Flameless Ration Heater. The current annual consumption volume of all the 24-hour Enhanced and SMR rations is circa 15 000 and 120 000 rations respectively. The 10-man group feeding ration prepared by a chef currently includes components such as main meal retort pouches, tinned meats, tinned desserts, tinned fruit and vegetables, large pasta and rice packs, biscuits, fruit/cereal bars, powdered drinks, teabags, powdered milk, sauce sachets, flour, bicarbonate of soda, dried yeast, cooking oil, salt and pepper, sugar, garlic powder, dried onions, dried herbs, tin opener and refuse sacks. The current annual consumption volume of the 10-man ration is circa 200 000 rations. All 24-hour and SMR rations are currently packed in inner polyethylene bags and supplied in an outer fibreboard carton. The 10-man ration is currently packed in 2 fibreboard inner cartons within an outer fibreboard carton. All outer cartons shall meet minimum performance criteria, including minimum compression and burst strength and minimum water resistance requirements. All ration cartons are packed on NATO Standard Four-Way Pallets to specified menu stacking requirements and maximum weight and dimensional (including height) requirements. All 24-hour, SMR and 10-man rations must have a minimum remaining product shelf life of 24 months (2 years) from the date of delivery into the Defence Fulfilment Centre (DFC). The ESRs currently include components such as drinking water pouches, fruit flavoured sweets, sugar cubes, beef stock drink, coffee sachets, water purification tablets, salt sachets and high calorific energy bars. The ESRs must have a minimum remaining product shelf life of 48 months (4 years) from the date of delivery into the DFC. All rations must meet the specified component requirements and complete ration pack calorific and nutritional values and shall be compliant with food safety, legality and quality in accordance with EU/UK legislation. LSL is currently formulating the requirement and its procurement strategy and is considering an integrated ration solution. Under this solution the supplier holds responsibility for producing the ORP to meet the specified requirements and to deliver complete rations. Expressions of Interest are invited from suppliers who have an interest in part or all of this requirement. LSL intends to contact suppliers who express an interest, in order to obtain market and supplier information and to help better formulate the requirement and procurement strategy. We intend also to hold a Market Interest Day in the spring of 2020 for all suppliers who express an interest, in order to gather further market information and to fine tune the requirement and procurement strategy before launching the tender bidding process in the summer of 2020. Contract commencement date is currently anticipated as 1.4.2022.