Manufacturing food products for government nutrition programs including school lunch, food banks, and military rations. Find active federal and state all other miscellaneous food manufacturing contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend under NAICS 311999 is estimated at $200–300 million, driven primarily by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service for school lunch and food bank programs, DoD's Defense Logistics Agency for troop rations, and Bureau of Prisons for inmate meals. Contracts are typically large IDIQs or BPAs with multiple awardees, competing on price and production capacity. Demand is steady and non-cyclical, tied to nutrition assistance and military readiness. The market is moderately concentrated among a few large manufacturers, but small businesses can compete via set-asides.
These agencies are the largest buyers of all other miscellaneous food manufacturing services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 311999 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
Focus on USDA's FNS and DoD DLA Troop Support solicitations, which often use total small business or 8(a) set-asides. The single highest-leverage move is to obtain a USDA AMS or FSIS inspection certification, as most buyers require it for food safety compliance. Also, register in SAM with the correct PSC code (e.g., 8945 for food, oils, and fats) and actively search for '311999' on beta.SAM.gov. Build relationships with DLA contracting officers through industry days.
Work is typically awarded via LPTA (lowest price technically acceptable) due to standardized food specifications. Common vehicles include GSA Schedule 47—FSC Group 89 (Food Service Equipment and Supplies), DLA Troop Support Prime Vendor IDIQs, and USDA's commodity processing agreements. Best-value tradeoffs are rare; price is the primary factor.
You need USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) certification for commodity processing, and often a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. Some contracts require Kosher or Halal certification. Check each solicitation's specifications.
Yes, for contracts over $150,000, the Miller Act requires performance and payment bonds. However, many IDIQ orders under $150,000 may not require bonds. Check the individual task order.
Moderately competitive. Many contracts are set aside for small businesses, but you'll compete against other small manufacturers. Key differentiators are price, production capacity, and past performance with similar agencies.
Award sizes vary widely: individual task orders can range from $10,000 to $5 million. IDIQ contracts often have a $10–50 million ceiling over 5 years. Base period awards are typically $1–5 million.
Yes, many large primes like Sysco or US Foods subcontract specialty food manufacturing. Register as a subcontractor in SAM and network at USDA and DLA industry events. Subcontracting can be a low-barrier entry.