Pre-Solicitation Notice (BBB) Purchase of Fruit and Nut Mix .pdf

Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Staff 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 3522-S, STOP 0239

Washington, DC 20250-0239 Voice 202.720.4517 Fax 202.720.5871

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

March 11, 2022

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for the (Build Back Better) Purchase of Dried Fruit and Nut Mix

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Dried Fruit and Nut Mix for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Purchases will be made under the authority of the Build Back Better Initiative.

Offers may be solicited in the following forms:

Material Code Material Description

100297

FRUIT AND NUT MIX DRIED PKG-24/1 LB

Solicitations will be issued in the near future and will be available electronically through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. A hard copy of the solicitation will not be available. Public WBSCM information is available without an account on the WBSCM Public Procurement Page. All future information regarding this acquisition, including solicitation amendments and award notices, will be published through WBSCM, and on the Agricultural Marketing Service's website at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. Interested parties shall be responsible for ensuring that they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The contract type is anticipated to be firm-fixed price.

Deliveries are expected to be to various locations in the United States on an FOB destination basis.

Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(b), commodities and the products of agricultural commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States and shall be considered such a product if it is grown, processed, and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the United States. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5.

Offerors are urged to review all documents as they pertain to this program, including the latest—

• Commodity Specification for Dried Fruit, January 2021 (pdf)

• Amendment 2, June 2021 (pdf)

• AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements, effective March 1, 2022

• February 15, 2022- Become a Qualified Vendor for USDA Food Commodities Purchases (pdf)

These documents are available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

To be eligible to submit offers, potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements.

The AMS point of contact for new vendors can be reached by phone at (202) 720-4237 or by email to NewVendor@usda.gov. Details of these requirements are available online at:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved. Once qualification requirements have been met, access to WBSCM will be provided. Bids, modifications, withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using this system. Submission of the above by any means other than WBSCM will be determined nonresponsive.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=WBSCM http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=WBSCM https://portal.wbscm.usda.gov/publicprocurement https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food http://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food mailto:NewVendor@usda.gov https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved

Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Staff 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 3522-S, STOP 0239

Washington, DC 20250-0239 Voice 202.720.4517 Fax 202.720.5871

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

To receive e-mail notification of the issuance of AMS solicitations, contract awards, and other information, subscribe online by visiting: “Stay up to date on USDA Food Purchases” available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Contract Specialist, Samantha Klagenberg at samantha.klagenberg@usda.gov

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).

Together We’re Making a Difference: American Agriculture for the American People https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAMS/subscriber/new?category_id=USDAAMS_C28 http://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food http://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food mailto:samantha.klagenberg@usda.gov