Request for Information: Privatization of Defense Commissary Agency Operations

*** Response deadline for this RFI has been extended until November 5th, 2025 at 11:59 EST. The response extension will allow respondents more time to complete their submission questionnaire and review RFI relevant information about DeCA operations to assist responders, that will be made available in the DeCA FOIA Reading Room no later than Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 14. See attachments for a link to the DeCA FOIA Reading Room.***

On behalf of the Department of War (DoW), The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to obtain industry feedback on the potential privatization of its 178 commissary locations across the contiguous United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The purpose of this RFI is to determine whether commercial grocery operators and investment firms are both interested in and capable of assuming commissary operations while preserving the critical military benefit of a 23.7% average savings for authorized patrons. DeCA is also seeking industry solutions addressing the existing unfunded facilities maintenance backlog for in-scope commissaries through a one-time industry infrastructure investment of $2.4 billion (approximately $500M per year for up to 5 years) and an annual maintenance cost of approximately $250 million.

Attached is the detailed RFI that outlines the specific information needed in order to submit a response and a listing of the 178 commissaries. Submission deadlines are also stated in the RFI document.

Notice to All Responders

This RFI is for information and market research purposes only, and is not a request or solicitation for proposals, offers, quotes, or any similar submittals. The request does not constitute a government promise or intention to conduct any future contract planning or actions. The request creates no obligations to respond in any particular format or form, and the government has no obligation to reply or take action in response to any information submitted.

Responders should clearly and distinctively mark any submitted information they consider to be proprietary, confidential, or sensitive. The government will make all reasonable efforts to protect such information from disclosure, within limitations imposed by law or regulation. The Government reserves the right to use the responses in its decision-making processes and future acquisition planning.