On August 27, 2018, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced details of actions the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would take to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. As part of those actions, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announces the Food Purchase of up to $1,783,000 under the authority of Section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. Products to be procured include but are not limited to:
Material Code | Material Description | FY19 Quarter(s) of Purchase | Delivery Timeframe |
100242 | BLUEBERRY WILD FRZ CTN-8/3 LB | Quarter 1 | December 16, 2018 – January 31, 2019 |
110623 | BLUEBERRY HIGHBUSH FRZ CTN-12/2.5 LB | Quarter 1 | December 16, 2018 – January 31, 2019 |
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.
Offerors are urged to review all documents as they pertain to this program, including the latest—
- AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP), April 12, 2017;
- Applicable commodity specification(s) identified in the subsequent solicitation(s); and
- Qualification Requirements for Prospective Contractors Selling Commodities to USDA, March 1, 2017.
These documents are available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.
To be eligible to submit offers, potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements. The AMS point of contact for new vendors is Andrea Lang who can be reached by phone at (202) 720-4237 or by email to NewVendor@ams.usda.gov. Details of these requirements are available online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved. Once qualification requirements have been met, access to WBSCM will be provided. Bids, modifications, withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using this system. Submission of the above by any means other than WBSCM will be determined nonresponsive.
To receive e-mail notification of the issuance of AMS solicitations, contract awards, and other information, subscribe online by visiting: “Stay up to date on USDA Food Purchases” available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.
In an effort to assist all impacted producers, these acquisitions will not be set-aside for small business. The acquisition schedules are subject to change at the unilateral right of the Government.
Inquiries may be directed to the Contracting Officer, David Munford, via email at david.munford04@ams.usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender