Insulated Shipping Containers

The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is seeking quotations for insulated shipping containers and related supplies through Request for Quotation (RFQ) 123A9426Q0001. The procurement targets Sonoco Thermosafe brand containers designed to maintain frozen or refrigerated samples between 0-15°C for a minimum of 72 hours, available in three sizes (Small, Medium, and Large) with weight limits of 5, 10, and 15 pounds respectively. Key requirements include leak-resistant and reusable components, self-sealing design, durability for at least four round trips, tamper-proof sealed bottoms, stacking capability, compliance with EPA RCRA recommendations and DOT/IATA shipping requirements, and the ability to accommodate security seals and shipping labels. The government will evaluate offers based on the lowest-priced, technically acceptable option, with technical acceptability determined by exact brand name, make, and model compliance with new commercial items from the Original Equipment Manufacturer or OEM-approved sources, coupled with acceptable or neutral past performance. Questions must be submitted by January 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, with answers posted by January 22, 2026, and quotations are due by January 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time to eric.schnitzler@usda.gov.

This solicitation is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside with a small business size standard of 1,250 employees under NAICS code 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). The incumbent contractor is Sonoco Thermosafe, the sole-source provider whose brand has been justified as the only option meeting FSIS's specialized requirements. The government intends to make one firm fixed-price award with delivery required 30 days after receipt of order on an F.O.B. Destination basis, with all shipping and handling charges included in pricing. Procurement quantities vary significantly across three laboratory locations, with the Midwestern Laboratory in St. Louis, Missouri requiring the largest volume, including 1,152 hard gel packs, 180 small containers, 144 large containers, and 448 extra small containers, while the Eastern and Western Laboratories have minimal requirements. Delivery is scheduled for April 1, 2026, to three locations: the Eastern Laboratory in Athens, Georgia; the Midwestern Laboratory in St. Louis, Missouri; and the Western Laboratory in Albany, California, with shipping costs of $950, $7,654, and $800 respectively.