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THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. THIS REQUEST IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, A SOLICITATION, A REQUEST FOR QUOTES, OR AN INDICATION THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTRACT FOR THE ITEMS CONTAINED IN THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT REIMBURSE RESPONDENTS FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBMISSION OF THE INFORMATION BEING REQUESTED OR REIMBURSE EXPENSES INCURRED TO INTERESTED PARTIES FOR RESPONSES.

1. BACKGROUND

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), with headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia, operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and veterans. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

DeCA continually seeks opportunities to enhance our food waste disposal process. DeCA is exploring the feasibility of changing how we group our grocery store food waste prior to pickup, DeCA’s food waste is currently broken down into five major food groups and picked up by an external contractor.

1. PURPOSE

The focus of this RFI is to seek feedback from the Hawaii food waste industry and DeCA’s current contractor who services the four Hawaii commissaries. Comments from industry and current contractor is important and will optimize the frequency of pickup to include the number of containers used at each commissary. DeCA’s food waste is currently broken down into five major food groups. The grouping below is used to illustrate the range of food waste. The list is not inclusive and will have other food products not listed.

Group1 - Organic Waste – This material primarily from the Produce Department.

This material consists of fruits and vegetables that have been determined not to be

fit for human consumption. Commissary employees are responsible for removing

all packaging.

Group 2 - Fats, Bones and Raw Fish & Chicken - This material is the trimmings

from processing beef and pork. Out of date meat products, bacon, lunchmeat,

fish and chicken that have been determined not to be fit for human consumption.

Commissary employees are responsible for removing all packaging.

Group 3 - Store Salvage - This includes baked bread, prepared sandwiches,

baked cookies, baked pies and cakes, and other miscellaneous expired food

products that have been determined not to be fit for human consumption.

Commissary employees are responsible for removing all packaging.

Group 4 - Dairy Products - This consists primarily of eggs (all types), milk (all

types), yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and egg

substitutes that have been determined not to be fit for human consumption.

Commissary employees are responsible for removing all packaging.

Group 5 - Rotisserie Chicken Grease.

1. PROPOSED GROUPING

DeCA has three proposed scenarios to group food waste. Please provide comments on each scenario within section 4:

First waste scenario:

Consolidate Group 1, 3 and 4 into one disposal container/containers

Group 2 remains within the same containers

Group 5 into one disposal tank

Second waste scenario:

Consolidate Group 1, 3 and 4 into one disposal container/containers

Consolidate Group 2 and 5 into one disposal container/containers

Third waste scenario: DeCA is also seeking your alternate grouping ideas and why this grouping would be more reflective of industry practices, or why this grouping would be more advantageous to the Government.

Commissary Locations:

PEARL HARBOR COMMISSARY

4725 BOUGAINVILLE DRIVE

PEARL HARBOR, HI 96860-6000

Store Phone: (808) 471-8402 ext. 3155

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS COMMISSARY

698 TRIMBLE ROAD BLDG. 698

WAHIAWA, HI 96786-3699

Store Phone: (808) 655-6252

HICKAM COMMISSARY

20 HICKAM CT.

HICKAM AFB, HI 96853-5255

Store Phone: (808) 449-1363

KANEOHE BAY COMMISSARY

BLDG. 6088 MOKAPU RD. P.O. BOX 63080

MCBH KANEOHE BAY, HI 96863-3080

Store Phone: (808) 257-1465

4. RESPONSES

1. This section contains all information required to submit a response. No additional forms or other materials are needed. DeCA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources that meet the following format:
   
   A one-page cover sheet with title, organization(s), responder's technical and administrative points of contact including names, titles, postal address, phone numbers, and email addresses. Please number the pages; comments are not limited in format or practicable responses.

1. To the extent possible, all responses should be unclassified and for general access by the Government, other evaluators, and other respondents. Any material provided may be used in development of future solicitations. Any proprietary information submitted must be clearly and separately identified and marked and will be appropriately protected. The Government will NOT be responsible for any proprietary information not clearly marked.

1. All inquiries (technical), questions, or clarifications of any kind must be submitted via email to the technical POCs Jason Cornelison Jason.Cornelison@deca.mil 804-734-8000 ext. 48897 or Mark Charpentier Mark.Charpentier@deca.mil 804-734-8000 ext. 48415. Telephone inquiries will be accepted. Responses must be delivered to the POC above no later than 4:00 PM, Local Time, Fort Lee Virginia, on Nov 30 2022.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BELOW:

1. First waste scenario: Please provide a brief comment about this scenario, is this practical for grocery store waste in Hawaii.

1. Second waste scenario: Please provide a brief comment about this scenario, is this practical for grocery store waste in Hawaii.

1. Third waste scenario: Please provide a brief comment about alternative grouping ideas and why this grouping would be more reflective of industry practices, or why this grouping would be more advantageous to the Government.

5. DISCLAIMERS AND NOTES

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, does not constitute a program or contractual solicitation. DeCA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of submissions or of the information received or to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

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