Vegetarian_Beans_RFTP _SpecialNotice_August2025.pdf

August 20, 2025

Two-Step Sealed Bid Solicitation:

Vegetarian Beans

Step One: Request for Technical Proposals (RFTP)

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 14.5, this document is a Request for Technical Proposals (RFTP), step one of a two-step sealed bid solicitation for the acquisition of Vegetarian Beans.

Required components of technical proposals are outlined in Part III of this document. Offerors should submit proposals that are acceptable without additional explanation or information. The Government may make a final determination regarding a proposal’s acceptability solely on the basis of the proposal as submitted. Note: The Government may proceed with the second step without requesting further information from any offeror; however, the Government may request additional information from offerors of proposals that it considers reasonably susceptible of being made acceptable.

Each offeror may submit multiple technical proposals, though a maximum of one proposal per offeror may be chosen by the Government for step two of the two-step sealed bid process. Offerors are cautioned against submitting multiple technical proposals that have large differences in prices between them, since step two will be awarded on a low bid basis.

The Government will forward a notice of unacceptability to an offeror when, upon completion of the proposal evaluation, there is a final determination of unacceptability. This will be done in accordance with the dates outlined in Part I below.

In the second step of this two-step sealed bid solicitation process, only bids based upon technical proposals determined to be acceptable will be allowed to place bids. Bids in the second step will only be accepted electronically through WBSCM. Awards in the second step will be based on lowest price. Each bid in the second step must be based on the bidder’s own technical proposals.

This document is organized into the following parts:

• Part I. General Information

• Part II. Contract Terms and Conditions

• Part III. Solicitation Provisions

1. Requirements of the technical proposal

2. Evaluation criteria for technical proposal

3. Additional FAR and AGAR provisions

Part I. General Information

1. Invitation number and date

Acquisition Method:

Description:

Number:

Two-Step Sealed Bid

Canned Vegetarian Beans

2000010963-12-3J14-Notice-25-047

Step-one Issue date: August 20, 2025

Technical Proposals due: September 5, 2025, 13:00 Central Time

Notification of Technical Acceptability: October 24, 2025, Midnight, Central Time

2. Name, address, and telephone number of the Specialist /Contracting Officer Per the Inquiries provision included in this solicitation, all inquiries and correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Contracting Specialist, Cedric Hopkins.

Cedric Hopkins, Agricultural Marketing Specialist Telephone: N/A Email: Cedric.Hopkins@usda.gov

David Cottrell, Contracting Officer Telephone: 202-754-4269 Email: David.Cottrell@usda.gov

USDA- AMS

Commodity Procurement Program 1400 Independence Ave SW, Stop 0239 South Building – 0239 Washington, DC 20250

Hours of business are Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

3. Commodity Specifications / Requirements

The requirements for Canned Vegetarian Beans being procured can be accessed via the full links:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CommoditySpecificationforCannedDriedBea nsAugust2021.pdf

Part II. Contract terms and conditions

Contact terms contained in the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) dated July 23, 2025, are incorporated by reference. The MSCP is available online at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MSCP.pdf.

Part III. Solicitation Provisions

Solicitation provisions contained in the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) dated July 23, 2025, are incorporated by reference.

1. Requirements of the technical proposal.

Note: Contractors with previously approved technical proposals are not mailto:Cedric.Hopkins@usda.gov mailto:David.Cottrell@usda.gov https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CommoditySpecificationforCannedDriedBeansAugust2021.pdf https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CommoditySpecificationforCannedDriedBeansAugust2021.pdf https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MSCP.pdf required to resubmit as long as there are no changes to the USDA specification or the contractor’s formulation. Any change to previously approved technical proposal and product sample (ingredient/formulation) shall be resubmitted for review and approval.

IMPORTANT: Technical proposals shall not include prices or pricing information. Contents of technical proposals:

A. A narrative (not to exceed two pages) on the offeror’s experience with producing a Canned Vegetarian Beans commercial product, and that product’s past performance (acceptability in the marketplace).

B. A sample prototype for Canned Vegetarian Beans that offeror will deliver under the USDA contract, if awarded. The sample shall be delivered/mailed directly to AMS at no expense to the Government. The sample shall contain two #300 cans with retail commercial packaging to include nutritional information on the back of the label.

Sample prototype shall include: A copy of the nutrition facts panel, ingredients statement, allergen declaration (if applicable) and instructions for preparation of the sample for testing. Samples must be marked in such a way as to clearly link the specific sample product to its supporting documentation (e.g., lot number/code).

The samples must be labeled with the following statement: “SAMPLES SUBMITTED UNDER

SOLICITATION 2000010963 FOR EVALUATION BY USDA STAFF.”

Sample prototype will be used for taste and packaging evaluation purposes. Offerors are encouraged to submit sample prototypes as early as possible. Upon evaluation, the Government may request that an offeror provide additional information or submit a revised sample prototype for evaluation. Please contact the Contracting Specialist, Cedric Hopkins, for the address.

Cedric Hopkins, Agricultural Marketing Specialist Telephone: (202)720-7106 Email: Cedric.Hopkins@usda.gov

Note: No deviations from approved formulations will be permitted after award.

2. Evaluation criteria, to include all factors and any significant subfactors.

Canned Vegetarian Beans - sample prototype evaluation in accordance with the subfactors below. Please review the Commodity Specification for Canned Dried Beans (August 2021) for a complete description of product requirements.

Sample Prototype

Product Characteristics:

Examined after opening or opening and heating

Must have the: texture, appearance, color, and flavor typical of vegetarian beans in tomato sauce.

Subfactor 1 Overall Color

Must have red, bright color, typical of similarly formulated vegetarian beans. Must be no lighter red than color slide A2, or darker than color slide A1 of the USDA Color Standards for Tomato Products.

mailto:Cedric.Hopkins@usda.gov

Subfactor 2 Appearance

Must have (Prior to heating): When the can is emptied the product shall form a mound with a small amount of leveling and a reasonable amount of sauce separation from the beans after 1 minute. Must have (After heating): The tomato sauce will be smooth and free of any clumps and will partially adhere to the beans.

Subfactor 3 Texture Must have after heating: good mouth feel, beans are slightly firm, yet easy to chew. Skins are tender.

Subfactor 4 Flavor Must have: mild tomato flavor, and other discernible flavorings. No scorched, or off flavors or odors.

3. Additional FAR and AGAR provisions

452.204-70 Inquiries (Feb 1988) Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the

Contracting Officer. Offerors should contact only the Contracting Officer issuing this solicitation about any aspect of this requirement prior to contract award.

52.214-23 Late Submissions, Modifications, Revisions, and Withdrawals of Technical Proposals under Two-Step Sealed Bidding (Nov 1999)

(a) Bidders are responsible for submitting technical proposals, and any modifications or revisions, so as to reach the Government office designated in the request for technical proposals by the time specified in the invitation for bids (IFB). If no time is specified in the IFB, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that bids or revisions are due.

(b)(1) Any technical proposal under step one of two-step sealed bidding, modification, revision, or withdrawal of such proposal received at the Government office designated in the request for technical proposals after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered unless the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late technical proposal would not unduly delay the acquisition; and—

(i) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the request for technical proposals, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of proposals; or

(ii) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government’s control prior to the time set for receipt; or

(iii) It is the only proposal received and it is negotiated under Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(2) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(c) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the technical proposal wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

(d) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that technical proposals cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of technical proposals by the exact time specified in the request for technical proposals, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the request for technical proposals, the time specified for receipt of technical proposals will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the request for technical proposals on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

(e)Technical proposals may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of technical proposals. If the request for technical proposals authorizes facsimile technical proposals, they may be withdrawn via facsimile received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of proposals, subject to the conditions specified in the provision at 52.214-31, Facsimile Bids. A technical proposal may be withdrawn in person by a bidder or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of technical proposals, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the technical proposal.

452.219-70 Size Standard and NAICS Code Information (Jan 2005)

The North American Industrial Classification System Code(s) and business size standard(s) describing the products and/or services to be acquired under this solicitation are listed below:

The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 1,000 employees.

David Cottrell, Contracting Officer, USDA

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

Washington, DC 20250 Voice 202.720.4517

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Commodity NAICS Code

Small Business Size Standard

Canned Dried Beans 311421 1,000