RFP for Pasta and Enriched Egg Noodles for Use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs

USDA, Farm Service Agency, Commodity Operations, Kansas City Commodity Office, Domestic Procurement Division intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the procurement of Pasta and Enriched Egg Noodles for use in various domestic food assistance programs. The RFP will be issued approximately fifteen days from the date of this presolicitation notice. The RFP will be available through the Governmentwide point of entry for Federal procurement opportunities (FedBizOpps) website: www.fbo.gov and the Commodity Operations website: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=coop&topic=pas.



The RFP will seek responsible offers to supply and deliver, generally on an f.o.b. destination basis, large quantities of Pasta and Enriched Egg Noodles to various locations in the United States and its territories. As delivery schedules and exact quantities are not yet known, award will be made on and indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity basis. Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(b), commodities and the products of agricultural commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States, and shall be considered to be such a product if it is grown, processed, and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the United States. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5. Agricultural commodities and their products are exempt from 52.225-5.



For informational purposes, during fiscal year 2009 approximately 41 million pounds of Pasta and Enriched Egg Noodles were purchased. The amount and frequency of commodity procured is dependent upon the needs of the program administering agency, USDAs Food and Nutrition Service.



The solicitation will comply with the policies and procedures governing competitive negotiated acquisitions prescribed in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Responsible offerors are required to submit proposals that adequately address all technical and price evaluation factors contained in RFP. Award will be made to contractors demonstrating the best value to the Government on the basis of the lowest priced proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-price factors. The Government intends to award multiple indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts. The contract period will consist of a base period of twelve months, and the potential for four, one-year option periods, if exercised at the Governments discretion.



Pasta and Enriched Egg Noodles are classified as commercial items. The Government intends to utilize the policies and procedures of FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in conjunction with FAR Part 15. As required by the commodity requirements documents for pasta and egg noodles (included as document packages attached to this notice), commodities delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the following Commercial Item Descriptions (CID):



Pasta Products, Enriched and Whole Wheat, (CID) A-A-20062E (January 6, 2009), available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3006577,

except only semolina flour shall be used.



Noodles, Egg, Enriched, (CID) A-A-20063C (June 3, 1997) for Noodles, Egg, Enriched, available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=stelprdc5075076,

except that enriched egg noodles shall be 1/2 inch wide.



Additional general guidelines for whole grain pasta products which will constitute a portion of the supplies needed, are available on the FDAs website regarding whole grain health claims, Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff available at:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/98fr/06d-0066-gdl0001.pdf.



Offerors should not respond to this presolicitation notice. This is not a request for submission of proposals. The RFP, when issued, will specify the deadline for receipt for offers.