Fresh Fruits & Vegetables for DoD and Non-DoD Customers in Arkansas.

The DLA Troop Support intends to solicit for a full-line of produce support for DoD and Non-DoD (USDA School) customers located in the State of Arkansas.  This is a 100% Small Business Set Aside acquisition.  The total length of the contract will be 4.5 years.  It contains three (18 month) Tier periods.

Its estimated maximum dollar amount is $49,500,000.00.  The delivery points require indefinite quantities of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables throughout the term of the contract.  A more detailed listing of the delivery sites can be found in the solicitation.  All responsible sources may submit proposals that will be considered by DLA Troop Support.

The Government will award a contract(s) resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror(s) whose offer(s) conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures will be used as the source selection method in this procurement. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

1.  Technical Acceptability - A technically acceptable offer is an offer that takes no exceptions to the terms and conditions in the solicitation and complies fully with all submission requirements, including submissions relating to the two sub-factors listed below.  A proposal that is deemed technically unacceptable may be removed by the Contracting Officer from further consideration for the award.  By submitting a proposal with no exceptions, an offeror is confirming it possesses the necessary facilities, equipment, technical skills and capacity to successfully provide all items required by this solicitation. The following sub-factors will be evaluated and must be found acceptable for a proposal to be eligible for award:

A. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) License - The offeror shall possess and submit proof of a valid current PACA license.  The submitted PACA license must be effective for at least thirty (30) days after the solicitation closing date.

B.  USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) Audit - The offeror shall submit a GAP/GHP audit report for each place of performance identified in the offeror's proposal.  The audit report(s) must demonstrate that a passing score(s) was/were received and the report(s) must be dated no more than six (6) months prior to the solicitation closing date.

2.   Pricing - Pricing is required for all items found in the Schedule of Items (for each Group, if applicable) and for all tiers. Failure to offer pricing for all items and for all tiers may result in a proposal being removed from consideration for award as technically unacceptable. The Government will perform an aggregate price analysis on all items found in the Schedule of Items (for each Group, if applicable). To determine an offeror's evaluated aggregate price, the Contracting Officer will add an offeror's Weighted Aggregate Distribution Price (1) together with its Aggregate Delivered Price (2).  The addition of these two pricing components equals the Evaluated Aggregate Price (3). 

See www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp/audit for details concerning program and certification.

Copies of the solicitation will be found on the DLA-EBS Internet Bid Board System at https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil.   If not already registered, prospective offerors will be required to do so prior to viewing and downloading a copy of the solicitation.  RFPs are in portable document format (PDF).  In order to download and view these documents, prospective offerors will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.  This software is available free at http://adobe.com.  Anticipated solicitation issue date: Week of February 27, 2017.  This solicitation will be issued under FAR 15.101-2 Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LTPA).

The resultant award will be for an indefinite delivery contract, with a guaranteed minimum of 10% of the first Tier period.


Agency: Defense Logistics Agency
Office: DLA Acquisition Locations
Location: DLA Troop Support - Subsistence