12-3J14-25-B-0118.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-25-B-0118 Bid invitation number: 2000010519 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: 01/02/2025 13:30:00 Offer Due Date : 01/16/2025 13:00:00

Opening date: 01/16/2025 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

Fresh Fruit, SOLICITATION NO: 2000010519

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell fresh apples and pears 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, January 30, 2025.

Deliveries are to be made between March 31, 2025 and June 25, 2025.

The Contract Specialist handling this purchase will be Nick Wiber at nick.wiber@usda.gov. The Contact Officer handling this purchase will be Samantha Klagenberg (Samantha.Klagenberg@usda.gov) Please contact the specialist first.

2024 crop year only

Small Business Set Asides for NAICS code 311991 with a size standard of 700 employees or less are as follows:

110560 - PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside 100522 - APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside 110543- APPLES GRANNY SMITH FRESH CTN-40 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside 110561- APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside, 5% Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVO)

This purchase must meet all relevant requirements such as packing, packaging, labeling, inspection and shipping temperatures of the Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit July 2019.

(110561)- APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB-

1. Grade - U.S. Fancy. (State grades will be acceptable provided the apples meet the requirements of the U.S. Fancy Grade).

2. Types of Pack and Size Requirement:

a. Tray pack - minimum size 150; maximum size- 100

b. Cell pack - minimum size 140; maximum size # 96

c. Consumer units packed within master containers - minimum size 2 1/8 inches in diameter, maximum size 3 inches in diameter. Consumer units shall be 12/3-pound poly film bags.

d. Apples, when Tray or Cell packed, in each offer unit ordered delivered by USDA shall contain product of not more than three (3) adjacent sizes nor be in more than three locations at the time of inspection. Each size shall be segregated in the shipment with a minimum of intermingling of the sizes.

If shipment is by truck, the location and count of each size in the truck (front, center, and tail) shall be noted on the shipping manifest by the contractor.

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3. Apples shall also meet the United States Condition Standards for Export.

4. Tenderness and Maturity # not more than an average of five percent in any lot and ten percent in individual containers may be further advanced in maturity than firm ripe.

5. Intermingling of the varieties in the truckload is permitted but not on the pallet.

6. Must be loaded into a refrigerated trailer capable of holding air temperature not to exceed 40° F.

7. Refrigerated shipment at 32° to 38° F air temperature.

8.Varieties: Empire, Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and Granny Smith.

Every bidder must include a letter of support with their bid from all current and approved supplier(s).

The templates for the letter of support are attached to the solicitation with the required elements. Each letter of support is only good for one solicitation. A new letter of support will be required for every solicitation, from every supplier. The supplier must include the quantity in cases they are committing to the bidder. USDA will not award a quantity that exceeds the sum of all supplier#s committed quantities to a particular bidder.

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.

Vendors or subcontractors who are supplying fresh fruit crops to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) must ensure that each of their suppliers/subcontractors who grow, harvest, pack, hold, and handle product have approved and current food safety verification audits PRIOR to the bid opening date of this solicitation. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) scopes which are necessary to meet the minimum requirement to be deemed responsive are as follows:

GAP - Farm Review AND 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 USDA GAP/GHP requirements themselves, HOWEVER 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.

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

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.

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.

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Inquiries about the Master Solicitation dated October 2024; The Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit; 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 . CommoditySpecificationforFreshFruitJuly2019

2 . USDA GAP and GHP Audit Verification Document

3 . Templates for Supplier Agreement Letter

4 . Master Solicitation October 24, 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.

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

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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 attached the required Supplier Agreement Letter for every supplier they intend to subcontract

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

10 FRUIT, FRESH

20 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB

30 MERCED CA

40 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 95348

980.000

CS

50 EAST POINT GA

60 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/09/2025-06/11/2025 30344

980.000

CS

70 BOSTON MA

80 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 02118

980.000

CS

90 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/16/2025-06/18/2025 02118

980.000

CS

100 BATESVILLE MS

110 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/07/2025-04/09/2025 38606

980.000

CS

120 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/12/2025-05/14/2025 38606

980.000

CS

130 JACKSON MS

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

140 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 03/31/2025-04/02/2025 39201

980.000

CS

150 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/21/2025-04/23/2025 39201

980.000

CS

160 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/05/2025-05/07/2025 39201

980.000

CS

170 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/19/2025-05/21/2025 39201

980.000

CS

180 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/09/2025-06/11/2025 39201

980.000

CS

190 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/23/2025-06/25/2025 39201

980.000

CS

200 AKRON OH

210 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/09/2025-06/11/2025 44307

980.000

CS

220 CLEVELAND OH

230 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/05/2025-05/07/2025 44110

980.000

CS

240 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 44110

980.000

CS

250 HOUSTON TX

260 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 77029

980.000

CS

270 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/12/2025-05/14/2025 77029

980.000

CS

280 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/09/2025-06/11/2025 77029

980.000

CS

290 SAN ANTONIO TX

300 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 03/31/2025-04/02/2025 78227

980.000

CS

310 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 78227

980.000

CS

320 110561 APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/23/2025-06/25/2025 78227

980.000

CS

Total Quantity for APPLES FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 20,580.000

CS

330 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB

340 EAST POINT GA

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

350 100522 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 30344

924.000

CS

360 100522 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 30344

924.000

CS

370 LAS VEGAS NV

380 100522 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 05/19/2025-05/21/2025 89030

924.000

CS

600 NEWARK NJ

610 100522 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 04/21/2025-04/23/2025 07114

924.000

CS

620 VINELAND NJ

630 100522 APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 04/21/2025-04/23/2025 08360

924.000

CS

Total Quantity for APPLES FUJI FRESH F CARTON-40 LB 4,620.000

CS

390 APPLES GRANNY SMITH FRESH CTN-40 LB

400 EAST POINT GA

410 110543 APPLES GRANNY SMITH FRESH CTN-40

LB

05/19/2025-05/21/2025 30344

924.000

CS

Total Quantity for APPLES GRANNY SMITH FRESH CTN-40 LB 924.000

CS

420 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB

430 OAK PARK MI

440 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 48237

980.000

CS

450 BATESVILLE MS

460 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/21/2025-04/23/2025 38606

980.000

CS

470 JACKSON MS

480 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 04/14/2025-04/16/2025 39201

980.000

CS

490 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/12/2025-05/14/2025 39201

980.000

CS

500 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/02/2025-06/04/2025 39201

980.000

CS

510 LOT: 1 GASSAWAY WV / HUNTINGTON WV /

520 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/05/2025-05/07/2025 26624

653.000

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Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

530 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/05/2025-05/07/2025 25701

327.000

CS

540 LOT: 187937130 WASHINGTON DC

550 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/19/2025-05/21/2025 20017

686.000

CS

560 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 05/19/2025-05/21/2025 20017

294.000

CS

570 LOT: 928023740 HAMPTON VA / LORTON VA /

580 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/23/2025-06/25/2025 23661

490.000

CS

590 110560 PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 06/23/2025-06/25/2025 22079

490.000

CS

Total Quantity for PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB 7,840.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 33,964.000