County Jail food contract back up for bid

Aramark, A'viands hope fourth time the charm in long dispute

WHEATON -- Maybe DuPage County Board members got it right the first time they opened competition for a contract to serve food to some 850 County Jail inmates.

They approved a fourth round of bidding Tuesday that is almost identical to the original bid more than a year ago. While board members hope this bid will end a long feud between companies Aramark and A'viands over the contract, some say it will lead to even more contention.

This time, bidding companies may submit up to three menus to the county, which will then be either approved or rejected by a certified nutritionist. The bidders may then submit prices on any of the approved menus and the lowest bidder will be chosen.

The Judicial and Public Safety Committee has conducted and thrown out three bids during the past year. As members tried adding more specific nutrition requirements and then specific menu requirements, Aramark and A'viands either failed to meet standards or raised objections to each other.

But committee member Jim Healy of Naperville said allowing bidders to select from a pool of approved menus may just lead to more conflict.

"Then you have two parties arguing about fish cakes versus fish patties, orange juice versus orange drink," Healy said.

But the county could save money by allowing bidders to select from a pool of approved menus, said DuPage CFO Fred Backfield.

"(This) allows a vendor to choose another menu they could make cheaper," Backfield said.

As the bidding process drags on, A'viands continues to feed inmates under an extended temporary contract that was first awarded last July. Before that contract, Aramark had serviced the jail for 21 years.