Six installations test consolidated food service operations

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen
  • Air Force Services Agency Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force Services Agency officials are slated to begin testing a re-engineering of Air Force food services this fall with a pilot program at six Air Force installations across the U.S.

The pilot program, called the Food Transformation Initiative, will test a food delivery model aimed at improving quality, variety and availability of food at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Fairchild AFB, Wash., Little Rock AFB, Ark., MacDill AFB, Fla., Patrick AFB, Fla., and Travis AFB, Calif.

"Our approach will enable us to apply industry best practices and expertise to ensure we are delivering quality and consistency," said Col. Patrick Dunn, the director of the services operations directorate, headquarters Air Force Services Agency. "Our goal is to find efficiencies in how we deliver food. However, our focus will continue to be on the customer -- the Airmen and their families -- in ensuring their food and dining needs are met."

Officials are optimistic that FTI will do more than create efficiencies. FTI will adjust an installation's food service operations to meet the lifestyles, needs and preferences of customers, and restore a sense of community by expanding the eligibility of customers who can use these facilities.

FTI will also adjust the Air Force's contract management oversight of food service; a centralized Air Force management team will oversee one competitively selected contractor to provide expertise and best practices to the six installations, rather than multiple contractors performing similar work. 

A unique aspect of FTI is that the installation's leadership can determine which of their nonappropriated-fund food operations will be included in the centralized FTI contract.

"Food outlets directly involved with FTI may see improvements to their facilities and operations that will ultimately result in more customers purchasing more meals," Colonel Dunn said.

Impacts on NAF jobs at any particular location will depend upon the level of participation at each base. Appropriated-fund employees will not lose their jobs as a result of the pilot program.

Contract administration and management will be streamlined while maintaining the work currently performed by military and civilian employees in the dining facilities.

"The ultimate purpose of the program is to feed Airmen and their family members," said Colonel Dunn. "We want to update the system to provide better options and availability to our customers and to increase efficiency in the system."