12-3J14-24-B-0004.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0004 Bid invitation number: 2000009621 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: 10/12/2023 14:00:00 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 Hazelnuts, USDA Solicitation No.: 2000009621

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Hazelnuts pursuant to the AMS Master Solicitation for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs.

IMPORTANT DATES

Bids are due on the #Offer Due Date,# which is also referred to as the #Opening Date.# Late bids will not be considered.

Acceptances will be announced by November 03, 2023. Successful vendors will be notified via WBSCM. Unsuccessful vendors will not be notified directly. A GovDelivery notice with the award announcement information will be sent on or around the award date.

Deliveries are to be made between February 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024.

POINT OF CONTACT

The specialist for this purchase is Samantha Klagenberg at samantha.klagenberg@usda.gov. The contracting officer for this purchase is David Jackson at davidc.jackson@usda.gov. Please contact the specialist first with questions about the requirements. Do not discuss your bid prices with the specialist or contracting officer before award.

REQUIREMENTS AND ATTACHMENTS

In order to be considered for award under this solicitation, a bidder must:

1) Be in active status in SAM.gov

2) Be active in WBSCM with the required bidder roles

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3) Be a qualified bidder with the Agricultural Marketing Service

4) List at least one compliant shipping point AND plant with their bid in WBSCM

Documents to be included as attachments in WBSCM at time of bid submission:

1) Signed SF-30 for amendment(s), if applicable

2) Additional plants and/or shipping points using the attached Excel template, if applicable

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 Commodity Specifications (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

Attachments to the solicitation can also be found here: https://portal.wbscm.usda.gov/publicprocurement

SOLICITATION-SPECIFIC DETAILS

1. Hazelnuts may be nitrogen flushed or vacuum packed.

2. Alternate storage language for the bags may state: Refrigerate after opening.

3. Per FDA regulations, the following minimum mandatory labeling requirements for all foods, whether sold or donated, must appear on the label: Name of the food, Manufacturer#s name and location, Net weight of the product, Ingredients list, and Allergen declaration. These requirements are codified in 21 CFR 101.2, 101.3, 101.4 and 101.5. See the following link for a guidance manual:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/u cm064894.htm

Acceptable pack years include: 2022 or 2023

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All offerors should reference the Fruit Invitation for Bids (IFB) IDIQ 2000009621 document attached to the solicitation for more information.

CONSTRAINTS

If applicable, constraints must be entered in truckloads NOT cases, pounds, etc. Constraints may overlap by product and delivery window. If an offeror has no constraints for a given product, they are not required to enter constraints.

ATTRIBUTE QUESTIONS

Questions must be answered accurately, in full, and with the most up-to-date information.

ADDITIONAL NOTICES

For a new-to-USDA contractor and existing contractors who are bidding on new products, a probationary period may be implemented in which awards are limited to 10 truckloads per product.

Contractor must demonstrate successful delivery of at least five truckloads of 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. Any delivery problems directly attributable to the Government will not be held against the contractor.

This solicitation may show multiple stops on some line items; however, the number of stops will be limited to a maximum of three and a final destination. To determine the number of destinations, review the item "Tendering Text" for the lot, which will indicate the City and State for each stop. Bidders may submit different prices for each stop. However, a price is required on all line items within the lot.

For offshore destinations (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, etc.), offerors have the option to choose to enter their bids direct to the offshore destination or to the port.

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.

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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 attached Master Solicitation and Commodity Specification, or this solicitation should be directed to the Contract Specialist and/or 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), or (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

See attached documents:

1 . MSCP_April 05_ 2023

2 . TradeMitigationSpecificationforFilbertHazelnutKernels

3 . CommoditySpecificationforShelledTreeNutsApril2020

4 . Additional Plants and Shipping Points

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5 . PART B -CCC Hazelnuts

6 . FAQ GENERAL QUESTIONS for IDIQ

7 . WBSCM Instructions How to Submit an Offer

8 . Exhibit 2 - CCC Hazelnuts

9 . CCC Hazelnuts Invitation for Bids (IFB) IDIQ 2000009621

Attributes :

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).

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?

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Quantity

30 NUTS

40 111172 HAZELNUTS PKG-24/1 LB CS

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Item Material Description Quantity

154,000.000

Total Quantity for HAZELNUTS PKG-24/1 LB 154,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 154,000.000

CS