12-3J14-24-B-0423.pdf

Information Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0423 Bid invitation number: 2000010107 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: 05/08/2024 15:15:00 Offer Due Date : 05/15/2024 13:00:00

Opening date: 05/15/2024 13:00:00

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery

Additional requested information:

Tendering text - Header :

BULK APPLES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING, SOLICITATION NO: 2000010107

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell BULK APPLES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING pursuant to the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements # Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) for use in various federal nutrition assistance programs.

BID DUE DATE: May 15, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. central time.

AWARD DATE: Acceptances will be announced by midnight, May 24, 2024.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Deliveries are to be made between June 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024.

SOLICITATION PROCEDURES: Sealed Bidding

NAICS CODE: 311991 Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing, size standard of 700 employees of less for a small business

SET ASIDE: No set aside

BID SUBMISSION CHECKLIST:

1. Prices submitted in WBSCM

2. GAP/GHP Audit Verification Form(s) completed and attached to bid in WBSCM

3. Supplier letter(s) completed and attached to bid in WBSCM

4. Any amendments acknowledged, if appliable Note: bidders should not submit audit certificates, verification checklists, or any other documents that are not required

Purchases are made f.o.b. destination basis.

EXCEPTIONS/ADDITIONS TO THE SPECIFICATIONS #

1. Bulk apples supplied for this solicitation must be from the 2023 and 2024 crop year.

2. Clarification - Commodities shipped to all destinations may be inspected at destination or en route within 24 hours of arrival at destination by Federal or Federal State Inspectors. It is the contractor#s responsibility to arrange for the inspection.

This purchase must meet all relevant requirements such as packing, packaging, labeling, and inspection, requirements found in Commodity Specification for Bulk Products for Further Processing dated June 2022.

Bid invitation number: 2000010107

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Domestic Commodity Invitation

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For this purchase, the Bulk Apples for Further Processing delivered to the below locations must meet all relevant requirements of the Commodity Specification for Bulk Products for Further Processing June 2022, with the following revisions for that destination shown below:

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.

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

Bid invitation number: 2000010107

SOLICITATION

Domestic Commodity Invitation

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Awardees may ship and supply from any location found here:

https://apps.ams.usda.gov/GAPGHP/reportG01.aspx

Please note: Offerors should NOT submit audit certificates, audit verification checklists, or any documents that are not required

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.

Inquiries about the Master Solicitation dated February 13, 2024; The Commodity Specification for Bulk Apples; 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

Bid invitation number: 2000010107

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Domestic Commodity Invitation

Page 4 / 5 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)oice users)

See attached documents:

1 . Master Solicitation February 13, 2024

2 . Commodity Specification for Bulk Apples # June 2022

3 . Templates for Supplier Agreement Letter

4 . USDA GAP AND GHP

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

Bid invitation number: 2000010107

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Domestic Commodity Invitation

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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

- No

- N/A

Bid invitation Item details Item Material Description Required by ZipCode Quantity

10 FRUIT, FRESH

20 APPLES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING # BULK

30 SHELBY MI

40 110149 APPLES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING #

BULK

06/16/2024-06/30/2024 49455

10,602,671.0

LB

Total Quantity for APPLES FOR FURTHER PROCESSING # BULK 10,602,671.0

LB

Total Quantity for Invitation 10,602,671.0

LB