Supplement 512 for Fish and Fishery Products

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), a component of the Department of Agriculture, has released Supplement 512 for Fish and Fishery Products, effective January 2026. This Final Supplement updates the AMS Master Solicitation for the purchase of fish and fishery products destined for distribution through federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The supplement modifies requirements and standards for four primary product categories: Atlantic Fish Fillets, Pacific Seafood Items, Wild Shrimp, and Walleye Fillets. All seafoods covered by this solicitation must originate from wild-caught U.S. waters and be processed by USDC/NOAA Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) approved facilities. The supplement was posted on January 6, 2026, with a due date of December 31, 2026.

The primary purpose of Supplement 512 is to align product specifications and quality assurance protocols with updated USDC/NOAA Grade A requirements and operational standards. Key updates include reducing raw material requirements for shrimp from 18 to 12 months of storage, implementing mandatory checkloading certificates with product temperature documentation at loading, and requiring contractors to provide written proof of USDC/NOAA approval for Product Management Plans. Contractors must also maintain Letters of Conformance from raw material suppliers, record truck seal numbers on bills of lading, and implement metal detection procedures and food defense plans. To participate, contractors must have access to USDC/NOAA approved processing facilities, demonstrate domestic sourcing capability, and ensure compliance with FDA regulations and strict product traceability standards. Delivery requirements typically consist of 900-1500 shipping cases weighing approximately 36,000 pounds per delivery unit, with comprehensive technical proposal submissions demonstrating adherence to all packaging, labeling, refrigeration, and quality control specifications.