12-3J14-24-B-0386-0004.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0386-0004 Bid invitation number: 2000010068 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: 04/29/2024 09:45:00 Offer Due Date : 05/10/2024 13:00:00

Opening date: 05/10/2024 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Master

Additional requested information:

Amendment Text :

05/01/2024 A01-This amendment is issued to change the product from 100288, Fig Dried PKG-24/1 LB to 100289, Fig Pieces PKG-24/1 LB and update the Tendering Text. Updates have also been made to Exhibit 2, Dried Fruit Invitation to Bid 1449, and Part B Schedule. This amendment includes a change in the period of performance for Plums Pitted Dried PGK-24/1 LB from 7/16/2024-7/31/2024 to 7/16/2024 to 12/31/2024.(KAM) Tendering text - Header :

Section 32-Dried Fruit Products, SOLICITATION NO: 2000010068

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Dried Fruit 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, May 17, 2024. Deliveries are to be made between July 31, 2024 and December 31, 2024.

The specialist for this solicitation is Kim Mason, kimberly.mason2@usda.gov. The contracting officer for this solicitation is Samantha Klagenberg, samantha.klagenberg@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.

Offerors should take into account their processing capacity when bidding to ensure they are able to meet the delivery deadlines.

Set asides include:

111530,,DATE PIECES DRIED PKG-24/1 LB ,,100% Small Business Set-aside 100290,,PLUMS PITTED DRIED PKG-24/1 LB,, 100% Small Business Set-aside 100289 FIG PIECES PKG-24/1 LB 100% Small Business Set- aside

Crop Year:

2023 and 2024 will be acceptable for this solicitation for all products.

Fig Pieces-Must meet U.S. FDA tolerances for #Defect Action Levels# for fig paste.

Diced must be Grade B or better and may be from figs of mixed varieties, stem count can not exceed 5 per pound and must possess good flavor and odor as defined in the US Standards for Grades of Dried Figs.

Whole Pitted Plums Grade- U.S. Grade B or Better. Pits may not have an average of 2% or more as outlined in the FDA Defect Action Level. The plums must be plunger pitted. The plums, before pitting, must range in size from 40 to 85 per pound. The moisture content of pitted plums must not be more than 33 percent by weight when tested with the CDFA or Safe Food Alliance moisture meter. Second

Bid invitation number: 2000010068

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 2 / 5 fumigation after packaging is not required. The whole plums may be lightly coated with sunflower or other suitable vegetable oils not to exceed .02%, by weight.

Date Pieces Dried- Deglet Noor, or Zahidi. Must be U.S. Grade C (Dry) or better. The purchase order requirements for date products must be certified under continual on- line grading by a USDA Inspector.

Style: Diced or chopped/extruded dates. Must be 11 to 15 percent by weight, when tested with the CDFA or Safe Food Alliance moisture meter and not greater than 3/8 inch in width and not to exceed 3/4 inch in length. May be lightly coated with white rice flour; or corn flour, corn syrup solids, or dextrose. The product is to be screened to eliminate excess coating material and small pieces. Calyxes must be removed before dates are chopped/extruded or diced with a tolerance of no more than 14 pieces of calyx per 25 ounce sample unit in any single sample, and an average of not more than 8 pieces of calyx per 25 ounces for all samples drawn from a specified lot.

**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 (5) 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.**

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

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.

This Solicitation may show multiple stops on some line items; however, the number of stops will be limited to a maximum of three. To determine the number of destinations, review the "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.

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

Bid invitation number: 2000010068

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 3 / 5 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 February 2024; the Commodity Specification for Dried Fruit dated January 2021; 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) 344-8642 (Relay Voice users).

See attached documents:

1 . Create Domestic IDIQ Bid (1)

2 . Commodity Specification for Dried Fruit

3 . AMS Master Solicitation Domestic FEB_13_2024

4 . Dried Fruit Invitation for Bids (IFB) IDIQ 1449

5 . PART B - Schedule July 16, 2024-December 31, 2024

6 . 2000010068_01_Amendment Dried Fruit (1)

7 . Exhibit 2 Dried Fruit Estimated Orders 050124

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

Bid invitation number: 2000010068

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Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 4 / 5

- 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?

OFFEROR ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF AMENEMENT P-0001 DATED 8/22/2014

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Quantity

10 FRUIT, DRIED

20 100290 PLUMS PITTED DRIED PKG-24/1 LB

246,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for PLUMS PITTED DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 246,000.000

CS

40 111530 DATE PIECES DRIED PKG-24/1 LB

226,512.000

CS

Total Quantity for DATE PIECES DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 226,512.000

CS

50 100289 FIG PIECES PKG-24/1 LB

72,864.000

CS

Bid invitation number: 2000010068

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

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Item Material Description Quantity

Total Quantity for FIG PIECES PKG-24/1 LB 72,864.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 545,376.000

CS

Amendment Details

Amendment : 12-3J14-24-B-0386-0004 Date : 05/01/2024

Action Item Material Description Type

Field Old Value New Value UOM

See comments in the amendment header text for specific details.

Amendment : 12-3J14-24-B-0386-0003 Date : 05/01/2024

Action Item Material Description Type

Field Old Value New Value UOM

DELETE 30 100288 FIG DRIED PKG-24/1 LB Bid/Offer item

ADD 50 100289 FIG PIECES PKG-24/1 LB Bid/Offer item

Amendment : 12-3J14-24-B-0386-0002 Date : 04/29/2024

Action Item Material Description Type

Field Old Value New Value UOM

See comments in the amendment header text for specific details.

Amendment : 12-3J14-24-B-0386-0001 Date : 04/29/2024

Action Item Material Description Type

Field Old Value New Value UOM

See comments in the amendment header text for specific details.