Commission authorizes RFP for inmate food service citing potential savings

The commission voted to authorize a request for proposals to procure an outside food-service provider for the county jail.

Sheriff and jail staff reported the facility currently serves roughly 390 to 400 meals per day for an inmate population around 130. Staff said contracting food service could reduce the county—s costs, with preliminary estimates mentioned in the meeting ranging from roughly $70,000 to $140,000 in potential savings depending on vendor proposals and daily calorie standards (the transcript referenced a daily caloric range between 2,500 and 2,800 calories per inmate).

Staff emphasized that a contracted food service would provide trained staff to manage special diets for inmates with medical or religious needs; the jail nurse would continue to document medical diet requirements. The commission moved and approved permission to solicit bids for the food-service contract.

Commissioners and staff noted that exact savings and contract terms will be determined through the RFP process and that cost numbers mentioned during the briefing were preliminary.