Specifications Meat Stamp Grading Equipment.pdf

Statement of Specifications Purchase of Meat Grading Equipment

USDA, AMS, Livestock & Poultry Program

Background

The USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock and Poultry Program (LPP) seeks to purchase equipment that will be utilized to apply Official USDA Grade marks on meat carcasses. The equipment should comply with current FSIS standards for equipment that contacts meat for human consumption and have an ergonomic design to minimize repetitive motion injuries.

The LPP currently uses three versions of carcass grading equipment, the original equipment was designed over 60 years ago, a second revision was completed nearly 30 years ago, and in 2018, a third revision was designed. The third design consists of a newly designed hammer used in instrument grading plants along with a newly designed grading ring (often referred to as a “pop” stamp) and a hammer with quality and/or yield grades shields used in plants using traditional carcass grading.

In 2020, the LPP designed, tested, procured, and issued 90 new instrument grading hammers to employees. The new instrument grading hammers are made of lighter and harder metals, are ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue and repetitive motion injuries and are well-liked by LPP and industry personnel. The materials utilized in the new equipment will provide an improved, more legible grade stamp image, longer equipment life expectancy, and allow supervisors to complete more accurate grader reviews. Additionally, the new grading equipment contains a unique identifier on each set of stamps, that is traceable to a single agricultural commodity grader, since no two agricultural commodity graders will have the same unique identifier in the entire country. The new grading equipment will use the same stamp as the instrument grading equipment, thus reducing the official USDA grade stamp to one size/style to cover all red meat carcass grading.

The LPP’s goal is to issue each meat grading employee and supervisory a full set (an instrument grading hammer, a traditional grading ring, and traditional grading hammer) of the newly designed grading equipment and retire the original and second revision equipment.

The new grading equipment will further reduce repetitive motion injuries to employees, increase stamp imprint legibility, increase accountability, and increase uniformity throughout the country.

Contract Scope/Deliverables

USDA AAS/Grading Stamp and Applicator - L&P seeks to purchase a quantity of 30 and requires to have the order finished and delivered 18 weeks after the contract is awarded. (5- 6 weeks per set of 10.)

The USDA AAS/Grading Applicator and Stamps is an aluminum main holder (2 1/4” x 2 7/8” x 2 1/16”), with two (2) sides that are slotted to accept a titanium stamp Accepted as

Specified Stamp (2 1/4" x 2 5/16” x 1/2”) and a titanium Quality Pop Stamp (1 1/4" x 1 3/8” x 1/2"). The aluminum main holder (head) is attached to a titanium handle (with an approved grip) that is 11” long. The titanium handle has a threaded collar that is pressed on and screwed into the aluminum head and then pinned securely into place. The stamps on the USDA applicator will be held securely in place with a plate and screws with a total finished weight of under 16 ounces.

The USDA Grading Ring and Hammer – L&P seeks to purchase a quantity of 50 “Yield Grade” ring stamps and 50 “Yield Grade” hammer stamps and is required to have the order finished and delivered 12 weeks from the date of awarded contract. (5-6 weeks per set of 25.)

The USDA Quality and Yield grade Ring will be made of an aluminum ring, that is slotted to accept a titanium pop stamp and 5 (five) yield grades. The pop stamp will be the exact same size as the pop stamp on the camera hammer in 3# and the dimensions of the yield grade stamps will be approximately the same size as the pop stamp. The stamps will be glued (using a two-part high tensile strength epoxy resin) and pressed into the slots on the aluminum ring in a manner to resist both hot (over 300 degrees F) and freezing temperatures without breaking free. The stamps will be oriented so that if you lay the ring down on the side, the stamps will be oriented on their side. The titanium pop stamps will be identical to the titanium pop stamps (USDA Shield style) previously made and issued by the USDA (with the exception of the unique identifier). The round aluminum ring will have a landmark (tab) located on the inside of the ring and under the yield grade stamp with the number 5 inside the shield and opposite of the pop stamp. The yield grade stamps will consist of a USDA shield outline that contains letters in all capitols: USDA across the top, YG vertically on the left side and a unique, letter and number identifier that matches the unique identifier on the USDA Grading applicator with a pop stamp and Accepted as Specified (AAS). The final product will weigh less than or equal to the current USDA Quality and Yield grading ring.

The USDA Quality and Yield grading hammer has an aluminum head in the shape of a ring with spokes to a common center hub that a 9” long, 5/8” diameter handle is glued and pressed into. The pop stamp will be the exact same size as the pop stamp on the camera hammer in 3# and the dimensions of the yield grade stamps will be approximately the same size as the pop stamp. The aluminum head is slotted to accept a titanium pop stamp and 5 (five) yield grades. The handle and stamps will be glued (using a two-part high tensile strength epoxy resin) and pressed into the aluminum head in a manner to resist both hot (over 300 degrees F) and freezing temperatures without breaking free. The titanium pop stamps will be the same size as all other titanium pop stamps previously issued or made in the future.

The yield grade stamps will consist of a shield outline that contains letters in all capitols:

USDA across the top, YG vertically on the left side and a unique, letter and number identifier that matches the unique identifier on the USDA Grading applicator with a pop stamp and Accepted as Specified (AAS). A grip will be installed on the handle, either smooth plastic or a rubber material as selected by the USDA. The final product will weigh less than 17 ounces. A sample has been in use for over a year and is used daily.

Shipping:

Ship to:

USDA, AMS, Livestock & Poultry Program ATTN: Keith Reisma West Lake Corporate Park, Searcy Bldg.

10809 Executive Center Drive, Ste. 318 Little Rock, AR 72211

Terms and Conditions

This is a fixed price (not to exceed dollar amount) contract with shipping included.