RFI_ReduFat_Cheddar_(10-16-2015).pdf

Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Staff, Kansas City Contracting Branch Beacon Facility - Mail Stop 8718, P.O. Box 419205

Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6205 An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Sources Sought Notice - Natural American Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese

Solicitation Number: AG-CPSKC-Notice-16-005 Posted Date: October 16, 2015 Response Date: November 16 2015 Classification Code: 89-Subsistence NAICS Code: 311513 Cheese Manufacturing

Contracting Office Address:

US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Staff, Kansas City Branch, Beacon Facility, Mail Stop 8718, PO Box 419205, K.C., MO 64141-6205.

Description:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in FAR 15.201(e). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is researching the commercial availability of Natural American Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese in bulk form (eg. barrels) for Federal Domestic Food Distribution Programs. Specifications for the reduced fat cheddar cheese barrels would be solicited in accordance with USDA Commodity Requirements Document, DNAC4, dated 9/10/2014 (see link below).

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Natural%20American%20Cheese%20%28DN AC4%29%20effective%20Sep%2010%2C%202014.pdf

Comments submitted on this DNAC4 document are also welcome.

This RFI will serve as market research to obtain information for the availability and specifications for this product. All information gathered in response to this RFI Notice will be used solely for planning purposes. This is not a formal solicitation, but a request for interested parties to provide information. No solicitation published by this office for Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese in bulk form currently exists.

Process:

All information provided with regard to the commercial practices for the reduced fat cheddar cheese should take into account USDA's 100 percent domestic origin requirement. Interested parties should answer the following questions and provide the requested information:

1) Your company’s interest in supplying this product;

2) Complete description of the product and product brand name;

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Natural%20American%20Cheese%20%28DNAC4%29%20effective%20Sep%2010%2C%202014.pdf http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Natural%20American%20Cheese%20%28DNAC4%29%20effective%20Sep%2010%2C%202014.pdf

3) Product labeling information to include:

a. ingredients list

b. allergen statement

c. nutrition facts panel

d. Kosher and/or Halal certification, if applicable

4) Shipping requirements:

a. temperature requirements

b. any special storage requirements

5) Distribution Limitations:

a. volume constraints; estimated capacity/quantity available on a monthly basis.

b. geographic limitations if any; ability to provide product throughout the United States.

6) Options for bulk pack size other than barrel

7) Estimated cost or market price per unit;

8) Anticipated shelf life of the product;

9) Product bulletin/brochure, commercial label and commercial warranty;

10) Grading methodology, please indicate what grading and size standards are utilized by your organization;

11) Small Business Administration (SBA) size of your firm;

12) Any other relevant information, recommendations, comments, issues and/or concerns that would be beneficial to the Government;

13) Name, Title, contact information, and organization name, as applicable; and

All vendors that are considering offering Natural American cheddar cheese to USDA must comply with all applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution of the product within the commercial marketplace. The delivered product shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated there under.

Responses and questions shall be emailed to the attention of Shirley Clayton at shirley.clayton@ams.usda.gov and to the attention of Bill Lang at william.lang@ams.usda.gov

These responses are requested to be received no later than November 16, 2015.

mailto:shirley.clayton@ams.usda.gov mailto:william.lang@ams.usda.gov

Contracting Office Regular Mail Address:

USDA-AMS-CPS

Beacon Facility – Mailstop 8718 PO Box 419205 Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6205

Primary Point of Contact:

Shirley Clayton, Contract Specialist shirley.clayton@ams.usda.gov Phone: 816-926-6715 Fax: (816) 823-4195

Secondary Point of Contact:

Jeffrey Jackson, Contracting Officer Jeffrey.Jackson@ams.usda.gov Phone: (816) 926-2530 Fax: (816) 823-4195