12-3J14-25-B-0010.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-25-B-0010 Bid invitation number: 2000010380 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: 10/17/2024 12:00:00 Offer Due Date : 10/31/2024 13:00:00

Opening date: 10/31/2024 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

Fresh Vegetables, SOLICITATION NO: 2000010380

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Fresh Vegetables (Fresh Potatoes) 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, November 8, 2024. Deliveries are to be made between January 8, 2025 through June 25, 2025.

The specialist for this solicitation is Claudius Price(Claudius.l.Price@usda.gov).The contracting officer for this solicitation is Douglas Stickler (Douglas.Stickler@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.

There is a probationary period for new-to-AMS contractors and existing contractors bidding on new products in which awards may be 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.

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 AND Field Harvesting & Field Packing Activities GHP - House Packing Facility AND Storage & Transportation All these requirements must be met PRIOR to the bid opening date.

Brokers are exempt from the USDA GAP/GHP requirements themselves, HOWEVER suppliers/subcontractors performing under the contract must have the applicable USDA GAP/GHP certification(s). Verification audits shall be performed by the USDA, AMS, SCP-SCID representatives only.

********100% Small Business Set-Aside****************

POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB

SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB

Bid invitation number: 2000010380

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POTATOES ROUND WHITE FRESH BAG-10/5 LB

Pack Year: USDA will accept product produced in calendar year 2024 and 2025 for deliveries made under resulting contracts.

In order to be found responsive the contractor and/or its subcontractors/suppliers must be compliance with USDA GAP/GHP certification. Offerors must include in their bid the GAP and GHP Audit Verification Document, which is found in the attachments section of this solicitation. Offerors who do not complete this document in its entirety, do not include the document as an attachment to their bid, or are missing the required USDA GAP/GHP scopes listed above must be deemed nonresponsive.

Inspection must be performed by SCI Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service only. Inspections under the Partners in Quality (PIQ) and Customer Assisted Inspection Program (CAIP) programs are not accepted for Commodity Procurement purchases.

All audits are valid for one year after the date the audit was conducted. More information on USDA GAP/GHP audits can be found here: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp or by reaching out to scaudits@usda.gov

Awardees may ship and supply from any location found here:

https://apps.ams.usda.gov/GAPGHP/reportG01.aspx If USDA/AMS finds that suppliers used by the contractor are not in compliance with AMS GAP/GHP certification requirements after the product is delivered, the following courses of action will apply:

1. A cure notice shall be issued informing the contractor of their failure to comply with the required elements of this solicitation. The USDA will then deduct a 50% discount from the invoice for all noncompliant deliveries shipped or invoiced prior to the date listed on the cure notice.

2. If the contractor ships noncompliant product after the date of the cure notice:

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

b. The contract will be terminated for cause; and

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

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.

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.

Bid invitation number: 2000010380

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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 Master Solicitation dated February 2024; The Commodity Specification for Fresh Vegetables dated May 2019; 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), or (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

See attached documents:

1 . GAP and GHP Audit Verification Document

2 . Commodity Specification for Fresh Vegetables

3 . MSCP dated 2-13-2024

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.

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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 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

- No

- N/A

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

10 VEGETABLE, FRESH

20 POTATOES ROUND WHITE FRESH BAG-10/5 LB

30 CLEVELAND OH

40 101019 POTATOES ROUND WHITE FRESH

BAG-10/5 LB

01/13/2025-01/15/2025 44110

800.000

CS

50 101019 POTATOES ROUND WHITE FRESH

BAG-10/5 LB

03/03/2025-03/05/2025 44110

800.000

CS

Total Quantity for POTATOES ROUND WHITE FRESH BAG-10/5

LB 1,600.000

CS

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

60 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB

70 FAIRFIELD CA

80 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 02/10/2025-02/12/2025 94533

800.000

CS

90 IMPERIAL CA

100 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 92251

800.000

CS

110 INDIO CA

120 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 01/27/2025-01/29/2025 92201

800.000

CS

130 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 04/28/2025-04/30/2025 92201

800.000

CS

140 MERCED CA

150 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 06/23/2025-06/25/2025 95348

800.000

CS

160 EAST POINT GA

170 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 02/03/2025-02/05/2025 30344

800.000

CS

180 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 03/03/2025-03/05/2025 30344

800.000

CS

190 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 03/24/2025-03/26/2025 30344

800.000

CS

200 ALEXANDRIA LA

210 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 03/24/2025-03/26/2025 71301

800.000

CS

220 BATON ROUGE LA

230 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 70815

800.000

CS

240 MONROE LA

250 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 02/10/2025-02/12/2025 71203

800.000

CS

260 NEW ORLEANS LA

270 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 01/06/2025-01/08/2025 70123

800.000

CS

280 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 04/07/2025-04/09/2025 70123

800.000

CS

290 LOT: 199301302 LAFAYETTE LA / LAKE CH...

Tendering text - Item : LOT: 199301302 LAFAYETTE LA / LAKE CHARLES LA /

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

300 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 70505

534.000

CS

310 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 70615

266.000

CS

320 LOT: 996892959 LAFAYETTE LA / LAKE CH...

Tendering text - Item : LOT: 996892959 LAFAYETTE LA / LAKE CHARLES LA /

330 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 02/03/2025-02/05/2025 70505

534.000

CS

340 101017 POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 02/03/2025-02/05/2025 70615

266.000

CS

Total Quantity for POTATOES RUSSET FRESH BAG-10/5 LB 12,000.000

CS

350 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB

360 COMSTOCK PARK MI

370 111058 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 49321

1,000.000

CS

380 OAK PARK MI

390 111058 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/09/2025-06/11/2025 48237

1,000.000

CS

400 LORTON VA

410 111058 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 03/24/2025-03/26/2025 22079

1,000.000

CS

420 LOT: 915242384 WASHINGTON DC

430 111058 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 03/24/2025-03/26/2025 20017

600.000

CS

440 111058 SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 03/24/2025-03/26/2025 20017

400.000

CS

Total Quantity for SWEET POTATO FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 4,000.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 17,600.000

CS