ARMY DINING EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE (DINEX)
Contact and place of performance
Michael D. Schneider
Not specified
1. Introduction and Project Context The Army’s Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC), Installation Readiness Center (IRC), in coordination with the Army Sustainment Command (ASC), is launching the Dining Excellence Initiative (DINEX), a focused effort to overhaul and modernize food service operations specifically within its Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) garrisons. The goal of the DINEX i...
View more3. Area of Interest (AoI)
The Army seeks innovative solutions and new capabilities for a single Area of Interest (AoI): Enhanced Food Service Operations for T2COM Garrisons (Scope provided as Attachment 1 to this posting).
Solutions may involve the introduction of new technologies or procedures not currently used by the Army, modifications to existing practices, or entirely new operational models that deliver significant financial or operational benefits in a high-throughput, structured training environment.
4. Anticipated Award and Prototype
The IRC anticipates awarding a fixed-price agreement for a single prototype project, based on the three-phase evaluation process described in the CSO. The Agreements Officer will negotiate terms and conditions, including milestone payments, directly with the selected participant.
Prototype Test Locations: Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Rucker, Alabama.
4. Submission Instructions
Solution Briefs must be submitted via email to the points of contact listed below with the subject line: "DINEX CSO Solution Brief - [Company Name]".
5. Point of Contact
For all inquiries regarding this announcement and the CSO, please contact:
Name: Michael Schneider
Title: Contracting Specialist
Email: [email protected]
Name: Jeffery Harris
Title: Contracting Officer
Email: [email protected]
The Department of the Army, specifically the Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Installation Readiness Center in coordination with the Army Sustainment Command, is soliciting proposals for the Dining Excellence Initiative (DINEX). This initiative seeks to modernize food service operations within Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) garrisons to ensure optimal nutrition and sustainment for Soldiers. Under solicitation W5168W26RA017, the Army is pursuing innovative capabilities for the area of interest titled Enhanced Food Service Operations for T2COM Garrisons. Proposed solutions may involve new technologies, modified procedures, or entirely new operational models designed to provide financial or operational benefits in high-throughput training environments.
This requirement is classified under NAICS 722310 Food Service Contractors and PSC M1FD OPERATION OF DINING FACILITIES. The acquisition is conducted as a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 4022, which facilitates the award of an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for prototype projects. This streamlined process is not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The Army anticipates awarding a single fixed-price agreement for a prototype project with test locations at Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Responses are due by February 20, 2026, and must be submitted as solution briefs via email to Contracting Specialist Michael D. Schneider and Contracting Officer Jeffery Harris. The solicitation was published and last updated on January 22, 2026, and includes three attachments: an interested vendor list, a draft CSO industry questions-response document, and the final commercial solution opening document. The evaluation of submissions will follow a three-phase process to identify solutions from both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors.
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