Food and Distribution Services

The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking prospective bidders to receive certain United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodity foods: to provide interim dry and refrigeration storage for these foods; to subsequently deliver these foods as directed and to provide accountability for these foods as required. By late 1981, the USDA had approximately 560 million pounds of surplus cheese on hand. In 1981, the USDA was authorized to make available 30 million pounds of cheese for distribution to needy families. In early 1982, additional quantities of surplus dairy products were released to the States. The circumstances surrounding the food distribution between 1981 and 1982, established the need for supplemental food assistance. Since its inception, TEFAP had been providing USDA donated commodities to needy persons as a supplement to other assistance provided at the local level. The Georgia Department of Education assumed the responsibility of the TEFAP program in the state of Georgia in 1981. By 1989, the supply of surplus commodities had been signification reduced. However, annual appropriations to purchase commodities for TEFAP were developed. Effective October 1, 2002, the management of the TEFAP program in Georgia was re-designated to the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Family and Children Services. As the designated State Distributing Agency (SDA), DHS is responsible for disseminating USDA commodity foods through the Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program. The SDA through USDA¿s TEFAP receives various commodity foods for ultimate distribution to needy households and congregate feeding sites serving needy persons. Foods are received, stored distributed to approximately 29 emergency feeding organization statewide, including Community Action Agencies and Food Banks. Dry foods may require refrigerated and/or dry storage space and transportation services. DHS is seeking to have storage and transportation to serve the s