Vessel Loading and Unloading Observation (VLUO) Services
Closed Solicitation Posted
This opportunity was awarded. See the award notice from .
- Solicitation number
- 12-1NTS-25-R-0003
- Agency
-
Agricultural Marketing Service
Department of Agriculture
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 488390 Other Support Activities for Water Transportation
- PSC
- H399 Inspection- Miscellaneous
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking quotations for Vessel Loading and Unloading Observation (VLUO) Services to conduct third-party observations of food aid cargo loading and unloading operations. The contractor will be responsible for observing cargo being loaded onto ocean vessels to ensure clean, wholesome products free from infestation or contamination are delivered to food assistance programs, while also performing discharge surveys, draft surveys, through bill of lading surveys, and delivery surveys for containerized, bulk, and breakbulk commodities. Key requirements include using specific documentation forms (KC-41, KC-43, KC-44), providing written survey reports in English, maintaining quality control procedures, and utilizing the Web Based Supply Chain Management application for tracking and invoicing. The government intends to award a firm-fixed price contract to a single firm based on the submitted proposals. The solicitation due date has been extended to September 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM CST following Amendment A01 posted on September 5, 2025.
The original solicitation indicated a set-aside for Women-Owned Small Businesses, though the amended version references no set-aside designation, creating some ambiguity in the final procurement approach. No specific incumbents or current contractors are identified in the documentation. The contract structure is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity arrangement with a base performance period from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, followed by four potential one-year ordering periods extending through September 30, 2030, totaling a possible five-year contract duration. Performance locations include numerous CONUS ports listed on the KC-362 form and extensive OCONUS locations spanning over 40 countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many others across Africa, Asia, and South America. The contractor must provide comprehensive coverage for all specified domestic and international locations, with the Port of Djibouti serving as the primary hub for OCONUS operations.
Notice text
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
Amendment A01 Posted 9/5/2025. The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions received in response to the solicitation identified in Block 9A and to make changes to the SF-1449/solicitation/performance work statement and other attachments. The solicitation due date has been extended to September 15, 2023, at 4:30 p.m CST. Offerors must acknowledge this amendment and any other amendment when submitting their proposal and SF-1449. The solicitation and performance work statement has been updated in multiple sections, please make sure to read them in their entirety. Please see the questions and answers document that has been added to the attachment section..
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) requests quotations from responsible sources to conduct third-party observation for CONUS of all cargo being loaded onto ocean vessels to reduce or eliminate the risk that anything other than clean, wholesome products, free from insect or rodent infestation or contamination, packaged in sound clean containers, are loaded for delivery to food aid programs and perform as needed for OCONUS discharge surveys, draft surveys, through bill of lading (TBL) surveys, and discharge and delivery surveys of containerized, bulk, and breakbulk commodities for food assistance programs. It is the intention of the Government to award a firm-fixed price contract to one firm for this requirement.
Offerors are required to propose services for the CONUS locations which are listed on the KC-362 form located at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/KC0362.pdf; and for the OCONUS locations which include, but are not limited to Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, C. African Rep., Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic. of Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, West Bank Gaza, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Foreign-Prep, and Republic of South Africa.
Please also note the following:
• Please ensure that you read the RFP solicitation in its entirety. Failure to provide all required elements as indicated in the solicitation will result in the quote being excluded from consideration for award.
• Past performance ratings should be submitted directly to the Contract Officer from a third party.
• A signed SF1449 must be submitted with your proposal.
• Questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted to Travis Cathey (travis.cathey@usda.gov) by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 4:30pm CST. Questions will be answered and posted by Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:30pm CST
Update #1 ·
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) requests quotations from responsible sources to conduct third-party observation for CONUS of all cargo being loaded onto ocean vessels to reduce or eliminate the risk that anything other than clean, wholesome products, free from insect or rodent infestation or contamination, packaged in sound clean containers, are loaded for delivery to food aid programs and perform as needed for OCONUS discharge surveys, draft surveys, through bill of lading (TBL) surveys, and discharge and delivery surveys of containerized, bulk, and breakbulk commodities for food assistance programs. It is the intention of the Government to award a firm-fixed price contract to one firm for this requirement.
Offerors are required to propose services for the CONUS locations which are listed on the KC-362 form located at https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/KC0362.pdf; and for the OCONUS locations which include, but are not limited to Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, C. African Rep., Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic. of Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, West Bank Gaza, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Foreign-Prep, and Republic of South Africa.
Please also note the following:
• Please ensure that you read the RFP solicitation in its entirety. Failure to provide all required elements as indicated in the solicitation will result in the quote being excluded from consideration for award.
• Past performance ratings should be submitted directly to the Contract Officer from a third party.
• A signed SF1449 must be submitted with your proposal.
• Questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted to Travis Cathey (travis.cathey@usda.gov) by Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 4:30pm CST. Questions will be answered and posted by Friday, September 5, 2025, at 4:30pm CST
Files
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Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel Loading and Unloading Observation (VLUO) Services | Award Notice | |
| This notice | Solicitation | |
| Pre-solicitation Notice Concerning Vessel Loading and Unloading Observation (VLUO) Services | Pre-Solicitation |
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