How to win federal food service contracts
To win federal food service contracts, register in SAM.gov, find notices under the food service NAICS codes in the states you work in, and bid first on small business set-asides, which made up 85% of the 249 food service solicitations posted in the last 12 months. Today there are 13 open notices, and the busiest buyer over the past year was the Department of the Army.
The market today
Right now there are 13 open federal food service notices, 8 of them open for bids. 2 close within the next 7 days. 7 are set aside for small or certified businesses, so fewer companies can compete. Over the last 12 months agencies posted 249 food service solicitations and published 27 awards with a median value of $180K. The busiest buyer was the Department of the Army, with 187 solicitations.
| Open notices today | 13 |
| Closing within 7 days | 2 |
| Set aside for small or certified businesses | 7 |
| Solicitations posted in the last 12 months | 249 |
| Published awards in the last 12 months | 27 (median $180K) |
From public SAM.gov data, updated October 20, 2026. See every open food service notice.
Who buys food service work
Food service is bought for military dining facilities, VA medical centers, federal prisons, Job Corps centers and events. Contracts range from full dining facility operation to one-off catering.
The busiest buyers in the last 12 months:
- Department of the Army: 187 solicitations
- Department of the Navy: 14 solicitations
- US Coast Guard: 10 solicitations
- Department of the Air Force: 7 solicitations
- US Marshals Service: 5 solicitations
The states with the most open food service work today: Illinois (1), Pennsylvania (1), Oregon (1), California (1), Missouri (1), Maryland (1).
Rules to know before you bid
- Food service contracts are service contracts covered by Service Contract Act wage determinations.
- On some dining facility contracts on federal property, blind vendors licensed by state agencies have a priority under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, so read the solicitation for that clause.
- Expect food safety, sanitation and menu requirements in the Performance Work Statement.
NAICS codes for food service
Agencies tag each notice with one NAICS code, and that code sets the size standard for small business set-asides. These are the codes BidFox follows for food service:
- 722310 Food Service Contractors
- 722320 Caterers
- 722330 Mobile Food Services
How to win your first one
- Register your business in SAM.gov (free) and list every NAICS code above that you can really perform. How to register.
- Watch the notices in your states every day, including sources sought and presolicitations, which tell you what is coming.
- Start with small set-aside jobs close to home: they have fewer bidders and build the past performance you need later.
- Read the whole solicitation, ask questions before the deadline and acknowledge every amendment.
- Ask for the historical meal counts in the question period: they are the basis of a sound price.
Questions
How many federal food service contracts are open right now?
On October 20, 2026 there were 13 open food service notices on SAM.gov, 2 of them closing within a week.
Which agencies buy the most food service?
Counting solicitations from the last 12 months: Department of the Army (187); Department of the Navy (14); US Coast Guard (10).
Can a small business win federal food service contracts?
Yes. 85% of the food service solicitations in the last 12 months were set aside for small businesses or for certified firms such as 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB or WOSB.
How much are federal food service contracts worth?
The median published award in the last 12 months was $180K, across 27 award notices. Values vary widely and some contracts are awarded without a public notice.
What NAICS codes are used for food service?
The main ones are 722310 (Food Service Contractors), 722320 (Caterers), 722330 (Mobile Food Services).
Related guides
- Sources sought, presolicitation, solicitation: SAM.gov notice types explained
- Small business set-asides, explained
- SAM.gov registration: what you need and how long it takes
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and dollar thresholds change, so check the solicitation and the official sources linked above.