12-3J14-24-B-0199.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0199 Bid invitation number: 2000009846 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: 01/30/2024 15:00:00 Offer Due Date : 02/13/2024 12:00:00

Opening date: 02/13/2024 12:00:00

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

Dried Fruit and Nut Mix, SOLICITATION NO: 2000009846

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Dried Fruit and Nut Mix 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, February 20, 2024.

Deliveries are to be made between April 1, 2024 and May 15, 2024.

The specialist for this solicitation is Nicholas Cavazos, nicholas.cavazos@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:

100297,,FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 100% Small Business Set-aside

Crop Year:

2023 will be acceptable for this solicitation, for FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB

**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

Bid invitation number: 2000009846

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 2 / 4 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.

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.

Inquiries about the Master Solicitation dated November 2023; 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) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

See attached documents:

Bid invitation number: 2000009846

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 3 / 4

1 . CommoditySpecificationforDriedFruitJanuary2021

2 . MSCP-D (11-07-2023)

3 . CommoditySpecificationforShelledTreeNutsApril2020

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

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

Permitted values: - Yes

Bid invitation number: 2000009846

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 4 / 4

- No

- N/A

Offeror represents that IAW 52.204-25, it does not use covered telecommunications equipment or services, or use any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services

Offeror represents that IAW FAR 52.204-25, it will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract or other contractual instrument resulting from this solicitation.

1A) Offeror has reviewed the List of Required Products for GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) Reporting located at:

Permitted values: - NO

- YES

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

1B) 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.

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

10 FRUIT, DRIED

20 FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB

30 EAST POINT GA

40 100297 FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 05/01/2024-05/15/2024 30344

1,456.000

CS

50 KANSAS CITY MO

60 100297 FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 04/01/2024-04/15/2024 64161

1,456.000

CS

Total Quantity for FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB 2,912.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 2,912.000

CS