Board approves contract with Food Exchange Inc. to provide jail meals for FY26, not to exceed $170,000

The Board of Supervisors on May 27 approved award of bid 2025‑05 and an associated independent contractor agreement with Food Exchange Inc. to provide food items and meal services for inmates at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Detention Facility for fiscal year 2026 in an amount not to exceed $170,000.

Supervisor Begay asked for the item to be pulled for public explanation; Sheriff and jail management described the detention center’s food operations and oversight. Detention leaders said the facility employs a food-service manager who tracks nutritional value and manages purchasing to keep costs down; the jail uses work‑program trustees under supervision to assist with meal preparation. Staff said two daily meals are hot and that the facility serves community groups during some events to demonstrate what inmates are fed.

Lieutenant Garrett Pew and food‑service manager Mike Penix were identified as overseeing operations; staff said the cost per meal is in the county’s usual low‑single‑dollar range and that the department forecasts seasonally as food prices change. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract and directed staff to finalize procurement and vendor contract documents.

The item was approved on the consent agenda after discussion; the board asked to receive a sample menu and additional details from the sheriff’s office about nutritional standards and vendor oversight as a follow-up.

No change to jail policy was made at the meeting; the action was a standard procurement approval under the county’s purchasing rules.