12-3J14-24-B-0392.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0392 Bid invitation number: 2000010074 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: 04/25/2024 12:15:00 Offer Due Date : 05/09/2024 13:00:00

Opening date: 05/09/2024 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Master

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

Section 32: CANNED and FROZEN ASPARAGUS PRODUCTS, SOLICITATION NO. 2000010074

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell (Canned and Frozen Asparagus) 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 23, 2024. Deliveries are to be made between July 16, 2024 through October 31, 2024.

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.

The Canned and Frozen Asparagus must meet all relevant requirements of the Commodity Specification for Frozen Vegetables March 2022 & Commodity Specification for Canned Vegetables dated January 2023(Asparagus), with the following changes for sizes and length. These changes are for this Section 32 purchase only.

1. 2. Sizes (Diameter) of spears and tips # medium size or No. 2 classification ¼ inch or larger but less than 3/4 inch (plus or minus 7% by count).

2. Length of cut- #1 inch +/- ½ inch

Pack Year: USDA will accept product produced in calendar years 2023 and 2024 for deliveries made under resulting contracts.

**********Offerors must submit a unit price in WBSCM, for delivery to EACH STATE, inclusive of all costs associated through final delivery. A price is required for every state and all state prices must be determined fair and reasonable for a bid to be determined responsible.**************

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

Bid invitation number: 2000010074

SOLICITATION

Master/Shortfall Invitation

Page 2 / 5 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.

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 Specification Documents (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

4) Vegetable Invitation for Bids (IFB) IDIQ (attached to this solicitation in WBSCM)

The Quantity Tolerance section of the specification document, "Contractor will be allowed a tolerance on the final delivery of plus or minus 50 cases of each product, from each shipping point named in the purchase order", is not applicable to this solicitation. USDA will not pay for any cases exceeding the contracted quantity.

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 proposals. 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

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Master/Shortfall Invitation

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Master Solicitation dated February 2024; Commodity Specification for Canned Vegetables, January 2023, Commodity Specification for Frozen Vegetables, March 2022 Inquiries for 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:

1 . MSCP dated 2-13-2024

2 . Vegetable Invitation for Section 32 bids

3 . Part B Schedule_Section 32

4 . Exhibit 2

5 . Commodity Specification for Canned Vegetables

6 . Commodity Specification for Frozen Vegetables

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:

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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).

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 (Comment: Yes)

- NO (Comment: No)

- N/A (Comment: N/A)

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Quantity

10 VEGETABLE, CANNED

20 100305 ASPARAGUS CAN-24/300

64,500.000

CS

Total Quantity for ASPARAGUS CAN-24/300 64,500.000

CS

30 VEGETABLE, FROZEN

40 100346 ASPARAGUS FRZ CTN-12/2.5 LB

26,400.000

CS

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Item Material Description Quantity

Total Quantity for ASPARAGUS FRZ CTN-12/2.5 LB 26,400.000

CS

Total Quantity for Invitation 90,900.000

CS