Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 14
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 16, 2025
TOPIC: Inmate Food and Commissary Services
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Aramark Correctional Services, LLC for Inmate Food and Commissary Services (Specification No. 25-038) (General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Aramark Correctional Services, LLC to provide inmate food and commissary services in an amount not to exceed $5,070,842 for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2025 and expiring September 30, 2028, with provisions for two (2), one (1) year renewal options, and authorize use of a “pass-through” account enabling payments to Aramark Correctional Services, LLC from the incarcerated person trust account for commissary purchases with no fiscal impact to City funds (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
California’s Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) requires agencies to provide food services for all incarcerated individuals held within their custody. The Santa Ana Police Department currently has an agreement with Aramark Correctional Services, LLC that would have expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2024-25. On June 17, 2025, City Council approved an amendment to extend the term for an additional three months through September 30, 2025 to allow continuity of services and sufficient time to select a vendor and negotiate a new agreement.
Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 25-038 was issued on March 17, 2025 on the City’s online bid management and publication system. A summary of vendor participation and results is as follows:
81 Vendors notified
14 Santa Ana vendors notified
17 Vendors downloaded the bid packet
Inmate Food and Commissary Services
September 16, 2025
5 3
2 9
3 Bids received
0 Bids received from Santa Ana vendors
Proposals were solicited, opened on April 22, 2025, and evaluated. Three proposals were submitted by the RFP deadline and all were determined to be responsive to the specifications and met the City’s requirements. An evaluation committee reviewed and rated the proposals according to the criteria listed in the RFP.
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to the highest ranked firm, Aramark Correctional Services, LLC (Aramark). Aramark has been a provider of inmate food services at the Santa Ana Jail since 1997 and has continued to perform these services in a professional and competent manner. As specified in the agreement, Aramark will prepare nutritious meals consistent with American Correctional Association standards, BSCC Title 15 regulations, and Orange County Health Department requirements.
Specialized diets (medical, religious, and gluten-free) will be provided at no additional cost, with oversight by the Jail’s Operation Manager and contracted medical provider.
Aramark will operate the inmate commissary program, offering a wide range of approved products including food, hygiene, stationery, and clothing items, while also administering specialized commissary programs that expand incarcerated persons’ access to supplemental food and personal items. Commissions generated from these sales are deposited into the Inmate Welfare Fund, which supports purchases that enhance safety and security, as well as fund programs and services for incarcerated persons, reducing reliance on the City’s General Fund. The programs offered to inmates include:
•Fresh Favorites - Provides incarcerated persons the opportunity to purchase freshly prepared food items beyond the standard menu, offering access to home- style meals prepared by Aramark;
•iCare Fresh - Allows family members to conveniently purchase meals online, which Aramark then prepares and delivers to the incarcerated person; •Go-Cart - A supplementary commissary tool that enables incarcerated persons to purchase select snack and convenience items later in the week, beyond the standard once-a-week commissary order.
Aramark will also continue to operate the Code-7 Café staff cafeteria located within the Police Administration building and utilize on-site storage facilities. Aramark will pay the City $30,000 in annual rental fees for the Code-7 Café space and $24,000 in annual fees for use of the storage facilities. The agreement contains provisions for annual price adjustments tied to Consumer Price Index, Food Away From Home Index, and a “Market Basket of Products” methodology, ensuring alignment with national food cost trends.
Inmate Food and Commissary Services
September 16, 2025
5 3
2 9
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding is available in the current FY 25-26 budget and funding for subsequent fiscal years will be included in the proposed budget for City Council consideration as follows:
Fiscal
Year
Accounting Unit –
Account No.
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit, Account
Description Amount
FY 25-26 01114475-62300 General
Fund
Jail Operations, Contract
Services-Professional $1,212,666
FY 26-27 01114475-62300 General
Fund
Jail Operations, Contract
Services-Professional $1,669,562
FY 27-28 01114475-62300 General
Fund
Jail Operations, Contract
Services-Professional $1,745,450
FY 28-29 01114475-62300 General
Fund
Jail Operations, Contract
Services-Professional $ 443,164
Total $5,070,842
The amounts above are estimates and subject to change. Payments to Aramark for commissary services will be paid by the inmates via the pass-through Trust and Agency account.
Aramark’s annual payment of $24,000 to the City for the use of on-site storage facilities will be deposited into the General Fund Revenue account no. 01114002-57460. Code- 7 Café annual rental income of $30,000 from Aramark will be deposited into the General Fund Revenue account no. 01114002-57461.
Any potential commission payable to the City from the implementation of Aramark’s Fresh Favorites, iCARE, iCARE Fresh, and Go-Cart programs will be deposited into the Inmate Welfare Fund Revenue account no. 02314002-57403.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement with Aramark Correctional Services, LLC
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager