12-3J14-23-B-0491.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-23-B-0491 Bid invitation number: 2000009449 Purchasing Group: AMS-Fruit and Veg

United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Room 3522

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Room 3522-S, STOP 0239

Washington, DC 20036

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

Bid invitation Overview Bid Timezone: Central Time Start Date: 06/30/2023 13:30:00 Offer Due Date : 07/13/2023 13:00:00

Opening date: 07/13/2023 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

(Bulk Potatoes for Futher Processing), SOLICITATION NO: 2000009449

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Bulk Potatoes for further processing pursuant to the AMS Master Solicitation for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. Acceptances will be announced by midnight, July 27, 2023. Deliveries are to be made between June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024.

The Contract Specialist handling this purchase will be, Claudius Price,(Claudius.l.Price@usda.gov) The Contract Officer handling this purchase will be David Jackson (DavidC.Jackson@usda.gov). Please contact the specialist first, with questions regarding the requirements of this solicitation. Do not discuss your bid prices with the specialist or contracting officer before award.

Questions regarding this solicitation can be submitted by email to Claudius.l.Price@usda.gov.

This solicitation has an 100% small business set-aside on all locations except for the Easton, Maine destination.

Offerors who intend to use more than one processing plant and shipping point for contracts awarded under this solicitation, other than the processing plant and shipping point entered in their bids, may submit a list of their approved processing plants and shipping points on a separate sheet of paper to be uploaded in WBSCM, and to be submitted with their bids.

Vendors or subcontractors who are supplying fresh vegetables are required to undergo and pass the USDA AMS SCP Specialty Crop Inspection Division (SCID) Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) verification audits, and must score at least 80% on each of the following scopes for each product being offered:

GAP - Farm Review; Field Harvesting & Field Packing Activities GHP - House Packing Facility; and Storage & Transportation

All these requirements shall be met PRIOR to the bid opening date.

Brokers are exempt from the GAP/GHP requirements themselves, however its suppliers/subcontractors performing under the contract shall have the applicable USDA GAP/GHP certification(s).

Verification audits shall be performed by the USDA, AMS, SCP-SCID representatives only.

In order to verify that the contractor and/or its subcontractors/suppliers are in compliance with GAP/GHP certification, offerors are required to submit GAP/GHP certificates for all scopes of the contract being performed and for all commodities being offered. Certificates must be uploaded in WBSCM as part of

Bid invitation number: 2000009449

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 2 / 5 their bids. Bids received without copies of GAP/GHP certificates, or missing one of the scopes specified above for GAP/GHP will be deemed nonresponsive.

Offerors who do not intend to perform the contracts awarded under this solicitation must submit a list of their approved subcontractors/suppliers on separate sheet of paper to be uploaded into WBSCM with their GAP/GHP certificates, and to be submitted with their bids.

Offerors may contact USDA/AMS after contract award to submit a waiver request for additional suppliers to be added to the approved list on the contract and include copies of their GAP/GHP certificates to the waiver request. The Fresh Produce Audit Verification Program can be accessed at the following website:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/gapghp.htm

If USDA/AMS finds that suppliers used by the contractor are not in compliance with AMS GAP/GHP certification requirements after theproduct is delivered, the following courses of action will apply:

1. The first time non compliance occurs AMS will deduct a 50% discount from the invoice for all noncompliant deliveries

2. The second time non compliance occurs:

a. USDA/AMS will deduct a 50% discount from the invoice for all noncompliant deliveries;

b. The contract will be terminated for default; and

c. The contractor will be suspended from participating in all future USDA/AMS fresh fruit and vegetable solicitations for a period of one (1) year from the date of contract termination.

Purchases will be made on an f.o.b. destination basis to cities on this Solicitation. Destination quantities listed are estimates and subject to adjustment based on offerings, changes in recipient needs, market conditions, and program operations.

All prime vendors are reminded that they are prohibited from subcontracting with companies or individuals that have been suspended or debarred.

Offers must be submitted electronically via the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM). Offers submitted by any means other than WBSCM will be deemed nonresponsive. Offerors

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Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 3 / 5 must be active in WBSCM and have the required bidder roles in order to submitoffers under this Solicitation. Once connected, follow the online procedures. A "HELP" button provides detailed instructions or call (202) 720-4517 for assistance.

Offerors are cautioned to bid only quantities they can reasonably expect to produce and deliver.

Inquiries about the Master Solicitation dated April 5, 2023; the Commodity Specification for Bulk Products for Further Processing, dated June 2022; or this Solicitation should be directed to the Contracting Officer; USDA, AMS, Room 3522-South; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0239. Telephone: (202) 720-4517.FAX:(202) 720-2782.

The USDA prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users)

See attached documents:

1 . GAP and GHP Audit Verification Document

2 . Commodity_Specification_for_Bulk_Products_for_Further_Processing

3 . AMS Master Solicitation 4-5-2023

Attributes :

OFFEROR CERTIFIES THAT THE OFFER IS MADE SUBJECT TO THE MASTER SOLICITATION;

COMMODITY SUPPLEMENT AND/OR SPECIFICATION(S); THIS SOLICITATION; THE AGRICULTURE

ACQUISITION REGULATIONS (AGAR) AND THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS (FAR).

Timely performance: Offeror and any subcontractor have completed required performance of any USDA contract prior to this bid opening.

Permitted values: - Have been delivered

- Have not been delivered

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- Have not been delivered, but the Offeror has notified the Contracting Officer

- There are no existing contracts/purchase orders

OFFEROR REQUESTS HUBZONE SMALL BUSINESS PRICE EVALUATION PREFERENCE. APPLIES

ONLY TO FIRMS CERTIFIED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION#S HUBZONE PROGRAM

(FAR SUBPART 19.13).MUST BE THE MANUFACTURER/PRODUCER OF THE PRODUCT TO RECEIVE

A PRICE PREFERENCE

Furnish name, title, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of person submitting this bid (must be an officer of the company or a person authorized to execute contracts/purchase orders on behalf of the bidder).

IS THE OFFEROR AN ENTITY THAT HAS FILED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION IN ONE OF THE

FIFTY STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, OR THE VARIOUS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED

STATES? YOU MUST ANSWER THE NEXT 3 QUESTIONS IF THE ANSWER FOR THIS QUESTION IS

YES.

HAS THE OFFEROR BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY CRIMINAL VIOLATION UNDER FEDERAL OR

STATE LAW IN THE 24 MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF OFFER?

HAS THE OFFEROR HAD ANY OFFICER OR AGENT OF OFFEROR CONVICTED OF A FELONY

CRIMINAL VIOLATION FOR ACTIONS TAKEN ON BEHALF OF OFFEROR UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE

LAW IN THE 24 MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF OFFER?

DOES THE OFFEROR HAVE ANY UNPAID FEDERAL TAX LIABILITY ASSESSED, WHICH ALL

JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED/LAPSED, THAT IS NOT

BEING PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER PURSUANT TO AGREEMENT WITH THE AUTHORITY

RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING IT?

Offeror acknowledges receipt of the amendment(s) to the solicitation. Select N/A if no amendment was issued to the solicitation.

Permitted values: - Yes

- No

- N/A

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

10 VEGETABLE, FRESH

20 POTATO BULK FOR PROCESS FRZ

30 EASTON ME

40 100506 POTATO BULK FOR PROCESS FRZ 06/01/2024-06/30/2024 04740

10,899,910.0

LB

50 WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI

60 100506 POTATO BULK FOR PROCESS FRZ 06/01/2024-06/30/2024 54494

119,239.000

LB

Total Quantity for POTATO BULK FOR PROCESS FRZ LB

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

11,019,149.0

70 SWEET POTATO BULK FRESH PROC

80 WISCONSIN RAPIDS WI

90 100980 SWEET POTATO BULK FRESH PROC 06/01/2024-06/30/2024 54494

1,170,000.00

LB

Total Quantity for SWEET POTATO BULK FRESH PROC 1,170,000.00

LB

Total Quantity for Invitation 12,189,149.0

LB