12-3J14-24-B-0002.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0002 Bid invitation number: 2000009616 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

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Bid invitation Overview Bid Timezone: Central Time Start Date: 10/06/2023 11:15:00 Offer Due Date : 10/20/2023 15:00:00

Opening date: 10/20/2023 15:00:00

Invitation Type : Master

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

CCC CANNED VEGETABLES PRODUCTS, REPLENISHIPMENT BUY, SOLICITATION NO. 2000009616

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) requests offers to sell Canned Vegetables Products pursuant to the attached Invitation for Bids (IFB) solicitation document for use in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. Awards will be announced by Midnight, October 31, 2023. Deliveries are to be made between January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024.

There is a probationary period for new-to-AMS contractors and existing contractors bidding on new products in which awards are limited to 10 truckloads per product. Contractor must demonstrate successful delivery of at least five (5) truckloads of [new] product in order to be removed from probationary status on future solicitations. For the purposes of this rule, successful delivery is defined as product delivered on-time and in acceptable condition according to the terms and conditions of the contract.

Suppliers of food purchase programs administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for awards made beginning July 1, 2023 will no longer be required to use high security seals on trucks, railcars, vessels and other transports when transporting food products purchased to support those programs; traceable tamper evident flat metal, wire or plastic commercial security seals will be permissible.

The incorporated terms of any subsequent contract and obligations for both the awardee and Government can be found in:

1) The tendering text of this solicitation

2) The AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement # Domestic Programs, often referred to as the #MSCP# (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

3) The applicable U.S Standards and CID Documents (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

4) V-Canned Vegetable IDIQ Invitation for Bids (IFB) document (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

SOLICITATION-SPECIFIC DETAILS

All offerors should reference the Vegetable Invitation for Bids (IFB) IDIQ 2000009611 document attached to the solicitation for more information.

Bid invitation number: 2000009616

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 2 / 5

*****Vendors are required to submit Product Specification information . Use "Vendor Specification Template" located in the attachment list*****

Products grown and packed packed in 2023 on awards will be accepted for this solicitation. Canned products will be accepted for up to 18 months from date of inspection.

***MIXED VEGETABLES***

Container size: 12/29 oz size can (Material 111480)

- Drain Weight: 18.7 oz # Proportions: For Carrots (Diced) and Potatoes (Diced) # 40% (+/-) 10% for each vegetable # Maximum 80% combined total.

# For Lima beans, thin seeded, Peas, sweet, Beans, green (Short, cut, or mixed), Corn, yellow (Whole kernel), and Celery (Cut, ½ inch maximum in length) - Minimum 20% combined total for all five vegetable sub-types. Minimum 2% for each individual vegetable sub-type.

# Total percentages of potatoes, carrots, and the five other vegetable sub-types must equal 100%.

Type 1: 7-way mix

Sodium content:

12/29 oz: Maximum 140 mg per serving .

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

***GREEN BEANS***

Container size: 12/14.5 oz size can

Minimum drain weight of green beans: 7.8 oz # 53% of the declared label weight (net) of the can.

Sodium content # Maximum 380 mg per serving.

Grade: U.S Grade A

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

***LOW SODIUM COLLARD GREENS***

Container size: 12/14 oz size can.

Minimum drain weight of low sodium collard greens:9.1 oz # 54% of the declared label weight (net) of the can.

Bid invitation number: 2000009616

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 3 / 5

Sodium content # 140 mg or less per serving.

Grade: U.S Grade A

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Offerors are cautioned to bid only quantities they can reasonably expect to produce and deliver by the required NLT dates.

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 proposals. 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 must be active in WBSCM and have the required bidder roles in order to submit offers 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 2023; Inquiries for 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:

Bid invitation number: 2000009616

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 4 / 5

1 . Vendor Specification Template

2 . US Standards for Grades of Canned Leafy Greens

3 . CID Vegetables, Mixed, Canned

4 . US Standards for Canned Green Beans

5 . MSCP-D 4-5-2023

6 . Exhibit 2 Estimates CCC BOA

7 . Part B Schedule

8 . V Canned Vegetable IDIQ IFB

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:

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

- 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).

1A) Offeror certifies that the information submitted in GS1 GDSN will be kept up-to-date (to reflect changes in product attributes, such as changes to the ingredient or allergen statement) until the end of the contract period.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/GS1_GDSN_ListofRequiredProducts.xlsx.

Offeror certifies that complete and accurate product information will be submitted to GS1 GDSN no later 20 days after contract award, if the awarded contract includes item(s) from the List of Required Products for GS1 GDSN reporting.

1C) Offeror certifies that the information submitted in GS1 GDSN will be kept up-to-date (to reflect

Bid invitation number: 2000009616

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 5 / 5 changes in product attributes, such as changes to the ingredient or allergen statement) until the end of the contract period.

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

Permitted values: - YES (Comment: Yes)

- NO (Comment: No)

- N/A (Comment: N/A)

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Quantity

10 VEGETABLE, CANNED

20 111484 V- LOW SODIUM COLLARDS CAN-12/14

OZ 484,500.000

CS

Total Quantity for V- LOW SODIUM COLLARDS CAN-12/14 OZ 484,500.000

CS

40 111426 V-CUT GREEN BEANS 12/14.5 OZ

969,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for V-CUT GREEN BEANS 12/14.5 OZ 969,000.000

CS

50 111480 V-MIXED VEGETABLES CAN-12/29 OZ

240,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for V-MIXED VEGETABLES CAN-12/29 OZ 240,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 1,693,500.00

CS