Final Supplement 500 Tuna Products March 2026

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture has issued a Final Supplement 500 for Tuna Products effective March 2026. This special notice represents an update to the existing federal solicitation for the procurement of canned and pouch tuna products intended for distribution through federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The supplement incorporates several substantive and technical revisions to the original specification document, which was initially issued on October 19, 2015. Key additions include new kosher certification requirements for the "613 Va'ad" canned tuna products designated for the NYS Kosher Commodities Co-op. The notice also reflects updated terminology and procedural requirements for vendors, including the standardization of language regarding packaging and contractor responsibilities throughout the specification.

The primary objective of this solicitation is to ensure a consistent, high-quality supply of domestically-sourced, Dolphin-Safe certified tuna products compliant with all federal regulations and food safety standards. All tuna products must be produced from tuna landed by American flag vessels and completely processed within the United States or its designated territories, with mandatory certification by the USDC/NOAA Seafood Inspection Program and registered Kashrut certification agencies. Contractors must submit bids by December 31, 2026, and are required to comply with comprehensive quality assurance protocols, including histamine and methylmercury testing, while maintaining detailed domestic origin records for two years and bearing all inspection service costs. Eligible contractors must demonstrate the capability to meet FDA regulations, FALCPA allergen labeling requirements, and food defense plan development. Products must meet specific sodium content limits and packaging configurations, with canned tuna available in either 24 twelve-ounce cans or 6 sixty-five-point-five-ounce cans per case, and pouch tuna packaged as 6 forty-three-ounce pouches per case.