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SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) Combat Feeding Division to identify potential sources to provide fresh-like products with extended shelf-lives for Military Field Feeding, and Navy Standard Core Menu. The goal is to eventually procure dry single ingredients or dried ready-to-eat convenience meals. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and gil.cohen.civ@army.mil by May 15th, 2026 at 5 PM EDT. Background: The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Combat Feeding Division is seeking advanced drying technologies for single ingredients (particularly dried produce) and commercially available dried convenience meals applicable for use in both expeditionary field feeding and shipboard feeding environments. Currently, the Joint Force procures the majority of its bulk dried and retort processed operational ration components through Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), with the exception of the Navy procuring through prime vendors. These items provide the necessary shelf-life, but there are critical constraints for shipboard storage space and sensory quality. Furthermore, these limitations might often result in lower product acceptability, which can lead to the discarding of unwanted ration components or “field stripping.” Identifying novel drying technologies, including commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) items that are highly palatable, nutrient dense alternatives to traditional freeze-dried, or retort processed items could improve overall ration acceptability, decrease underconsumption, and significantly reduce the storage footprint for the warfighter and the Naval Fleet. Description: DEVCOM-SC is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) on dried single ingredients or ready-to-eat convenience meals that could be integrated into military rations. Please note, for the purposes of this RFI, we are specifically excluding solutions related to freeze-drying or retort processing. Specific Specifications: Shelf-Life: A minimum shelf-life of 36 months without significant degradation of nutritional value or sensory quality. Must remain stable at ambient temperatures (80 °F), or meet accelerated storage of 6 months (100 °F). Rehydration Time: Target rehydration time of 10-12 minutes using hot water. Preparation Method: Must be easily prepared (shipboard galley bulk container without specialized processing equipment, heating pouches, standard field canteen). Army Regulation 40-25 Nutrition and Menu Standards for Human Performance Optimization Compliance: Nutrient retention, sensory acceptability, caloric density. Logistical Footprint Reduction: weight and volume reduction achieved compared to fully hydrated or retort processed equivalent. Commercial Maturity: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) should be at 6, 7, 8, or 9 to prove commercial availability or ready for operational testing. Packa…

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