Oklahoma’s $74 million deal to privatize food service in state prisons was canceled because the selected vendor failed to meet nutritional standards.
Aramark, the sole competing bidder, alleged that Trinity Services Group was able to offer a lower price because its proposed menu was low in protein and high in fat and sodium. State officials did not flag the deficiencies during the bidding process.
Protein accounted for about 11.5% of calories over a four-week master menu period, which fell short of the 15% requirement in the request for proposal. On most days, sodium exceeded a 3.5-gram cap and fat made up about 35% of calories, well above a 30% threshold mandated in the bid. Trinity’s estimated cost for each non-Kosher or Halal meal, including administrative costs, was $1.68.
