State to end prison food deal with Aramark

LANSING — The state of Michigan is parting ways with prison food vendor Aramark by "mutual agreement" and moving to a new contractor, Trinity Services Group, the state announced today.

A transition will begin July 29 and is expected to be concluded on Sept. 9 -- what would have been three months shy of the two-year mark of Aramark's three-year, $145-million contract with the state of Michigan.

The Free Press, using the Freedom of Information Act and other sources, has documented a wide range of problems with the prison food service since Aramark took over the contract, replacing 370 state employees. Issues have ranged from meal shortages to maggots in the kitchen, to smuggling of drugs and other contraband by Aramark employees, to Aramark workers engaging in sex acts with prisoners.

Close to 200 Aramark workers have been terminated and banned from prison property for a range of transgressions.

In May, the Free Press reported that the state invited Trinity, which was the second-lowest bidder when Aramark won the contract, to assist in a cost "benchmarking" exercise, after Aramark asked for more money.

"Aramark came to us to discuss contract changes and we just weren't comfortable," said Caleb Buhs, a spokesman for the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. That's when the parties eventually agreed mutually to part ways, he said.

Trinity's three-year deal will be worth $158-million. Buhs said when cost of living increases that Aramark would likely have received are factored out, the deal will cost the state about $400,000 more per year.

Brom Stibithz, the deputy director of DTMB, said "the contract with Trinity will ensure uninterrupted food delivery service in Michigan correctional facilities," and "Michigan taxpayers will continue to save millions of dollars per year, with assurance that the state will receive quality service in return."

Trinity Services Group currently operates prison food service in 44 states, serving more than 300,000 inmates daily.

"Prison food service is integral to the safe and secure operations of Michigan's prison system," said MDOC Director Heidi Washington. "I look forward to working with our new partners at Trinity and am confident in their commitment to provide quality services."

Legislation first approved in 2012 required open bidding of food service operations to reduce correctional costs. Since then, the state says it has saved more than 10 percent of its operational costs for food service each year and expects savings will be achieved under the new agreement.

The contract with Trinity must first undergo review at a public meeting of the State Administrative Board.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@paulegan4.