Emergency Shelter Meal Preparation and Delivery Services

Released: October 6, 2026 12:00 AM EDT Questions due (Question Submission Deadline): October 20, 2026 2:00 PM EDT Responses due (Response Submission Deadline): October 28, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

The City of Chesapeake is seeking information from qualified vendors capable of providing emergency meal services to support city-operated shelters during prolonged emergency events. These services will supplement food brought by shelter occupants and will begin after the initial 72-hour period of shelter activation. This RFI is issued solely to gather information for planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or an obligation to procure services.

City-operated emergency shelters are activated during natural disasters, severe weather events, and other incidents that require temporary mass care support. Individuals entering these shelters are expected to bring their own food and essential supplies sufficient for the first 72 hours of shelter operations. If an incident extends beyond that period, the City may need to provide prepared meals to ensure safe, sustained sheltering operations.

Due to variables, we are unable to estimate with any certainty the number of people who may require shelter or associated meal services during an emergency event. The City currently operates nine facilities that may serve as emergency shelters, including all Community Centers and the Convention Center. Shelter demand can vary significantly depending on the severity and nature of the incident.

For example, evacuations from the Outer Banks or other coastal areas to the south could substantially increase the number of people seeking shelter within the City. We may also see residents from neighboring cities opting to use our facilities if our locations are more geographically accessible than their own jurisdictions’ shelters.

NIGP codes: 95230 Delivered Meals (Including Shelf Stable Meals and Congregate Meals); 95236 Emergency Food; 95237 Emergency Shelter