Request for Information (RFI) for Fresh Fruit & Vegetable support for DLA Troop Support's DoD and Non-DoD customers located in State of Louisiana
ID: SPE30024R0039Type: Sources Sought
Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSEDEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCYDLA TROOP SUPPORTPHILADELPHIA, PA, 19111-5096, USA

NAICS

Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991)

PSC

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (8915)
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Defense, through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, is soliciting proposals for a contract to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to both DoD and USDA school customers in Louisiana. This procurement aims to establish a full-line produce support system, with a total contract value estimated at $102 million over a five-year period, structured into one 24-month tier and two 18-month tiers. The goods are critical for sustaining military personnel and supporting school nutrition programs, ensuring the availability of high-quality produce. Interested small businesses must submit their proposals by October 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, and can contact Tiffanie Barthelemy at tiffanie.barthelemy@dla.mil or Amy Paradis at amy.paradis@dla.mil for further information.

    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The document outlines two market basket solicitations, "LOUISIANA TROOPS: MARKET BASKET" (SPE300-24-R-0039 Troops (Group 1) 24 Month Estimates) and "LOUISIANA SCHOOL: MARKET BASKET" (SPE300-24-R-0039 Schools (Group 2) 24 Month Estimates). Both solicitations are requests for proposals for fresh produce, including various types of apples, berries, vegetables, and fruits, with estimated quantities for 24-month and 5-year periods. The "Troops" solicitation lists 72 items with an estimated 24-month quantity of 67,724 cases, while the "School" solicitation lists 48 items with an estimated 24-month quantity of 64,996 cases. Vendors are instructed to fill in white fields for pricing and label invoices with the government item number, with shaded fields marked as "DO NOT TOUCH." The document also includes sections for "Delivered Pricing," "Tier 1 Distribution," and evaluation metrics, all showing zero values, indicating these are placeholders for bid submissions.
    The document outlines two market basket attachments for Solicitation SPE300-24-R-0039, one for "Louisiana Troops (Group 1)" and another for "Louisiana School (Group 2)." Both attachments list fresh produce items with their government stock numbers, average case weights, estimated quantities, and units of issue. The "Troops" market basket includes 72 items with a 24-month estimated quantity of 67,724 cases and a 5-year estimated quantity of 169,310 cases. The "School" market basket lists 49 items with a 24-month estimated quantity of 64,996 cases and a 5-year estimated quantity of 162,490 cases. Both require vendors to bid on all items and fill in specific white fields related to pricing, while shaded fields are not to be touched. Invoices must be labeled with the government item number.
    This government file is a detailed listing of various governmental and educational facilities across Louisiana, with a single entry for Indiana, categorized by ordering point, customer name, facility, building, address, city, state, and zip code. The first section details military and Coast Guard facilities, including various National Guard units, Coast Guard bases, and Army installations like Fort Johnson and Camp Beauregard. The second section provides an extensive list of public and private schools within different parishes and districts, such as Ascension, Assumption, Caldwell, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, St. John, Terrebonne, Union, West Feliciana, West Baton Rouge, Orleans, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, and Tangipahoa. Each school entry includes its district, name, address, city, state, zip code, and operational status (active or inactive). The document's purpose is to catalog these diverse government and educational entities, likely for administrative, logistical, or procurement planning within federal, state, and local government operations.
    Attachment 3 – SPE300-24-R-0039 is a Request for New Produce Items form used by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for federal government RFPs. It captures essential details for new produce items, including activity name, contract number, CONUS/OCONUS status, and whether it's for Troop Support or School Lunch/Tribe programs. Key information required covers complete item description, form (whole, chopped), refrigeration needs, USDA grade, vendor’s unit of measure, package size, and estimated monthly usage. The form also requests DLA Stock #, vendor part/item #, manufacture/brand name, cost breakdown, DLA unit of issue, case weight, count per case, and packaging type (bulk or individually wrapped). Comments emphasize providing a copy to the DLA Catalog Account Manager to expedite item stockage. This attachment is crucial for efficient procurement and cataloging of produce within government supply chains.
    The document outlines the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Implementation Guidelines for the Subsistence Total Ordering and Receipt Electronic System (STORES) under RFP SPE300-24-R-0039. It details the procedures and requirements for vendors to exchange electronic data with DLA Troop Support, specifically focusing on three key transaction sets: 832 (Catalog), 850 (Purchase Order), and 810 (Invoice). The guidelines cover general information, including DLA Troop Support EDI contacts and the testing process, emphasizing that all transactions must be successfully tested before moving to production. It also addresses production procedures, such as transmission schedules and problem recovery. Detailed specifications for each transaction set are provided, outlining mandatory, conditional, and optional elements for data exchange. The document aims to standardize electronic communication between vendors and STORES for efficient and accurate processing of subsistence orders and invoices.
    This DLA Troop Support document outlines the Quality Systems Management Visits (QSMVs) and Produce Quality Audits for contractors supplying fresh produce. QSMVs are unannounced visits to review contract compliance, triggered by unsatisfactory audit ratings, customer complaints, or government discretion. They can include visits to subcontractors and cover areas like storage, shelf-life, inventory, and recall procedures. Contractors must provide a produce catalog and inventory list during QSMVs and address any identified concerns to avoid contract termination. Produce Quality Audits, conducted by DLA Troop Support and USDA AMS, ensure product quality and contractual adherence. These audits occur at least once per contract period, typically involve a two-day process including sample selection and GAP/GHP audits, and cost approximately $1,000 per audit for product samples. Products are rated Green (acceptable), Yellow (minor nonconformance), Blue (major nonconformance requiring immediate stop issue), or Red (critical nonconformance requiring immediate stop issue and recall). Contractors are responsible for audit facility costs and equipment, and must maintain traceability documentation for all produce. Audit failures or failure to take corrective action can lead to follow-up audits or contract termination. The minimum acceptable performance for each commodity is 85% acceptability.
    This government file details an amendment to a solicitation, focusing on bid instructions and pricing adjustments for a Request for Proposal (RFP). Key updates include specific instructions for filling out the 'Proposal Spreadsheet,' emphasizing separate pricing for different customer groups (DoD and Non-DoD schools) and tiers. Offerors must submit distribution prices by tier, ensuring consistency across items within each tier. All prices must be rounded to two decimal places using standard methods. Failure to submit distribution prices for all tiers may lead to rejection. The document also reiterates that the solicitation closing date is not extended and all other terms and conditions remain unchanged. The amendment emphasizes meticulous adherence to pricing format and submission requirements.
    The DLA Troop Support is soliciting proposals for an indefinite quantity contract (IQC) to supply fresh fruits, vegetables, and shell eggs to DoD and USDA school customers in the Louisiana Zone. This 100% Small Business set-aside acquisition, under NAICS 311991, will result in a 5-year fixed-price IQC with economic price adjustments. Offerors must be current commercial distributors of FF&V, possess a valid PACA license, and submit a USDA Harmonized GAP Plus+ Standard audit. Proposals are due by October 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, submitted via DIBBS or email. The contract features a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection, with prices evaluated across one 24-month tier and two 18-month tiers. Contractors must maintain electronic catalogs (STORES/FFAVORS) and adhere to strict pricing and rebate/discount policies. The solicitation also details requirements for new customer additions, security programs like RapidGate and DBIDS, and a Domestic Non-Availability Determination for FF&V, with domestic sourcing mandatory for USDA School Lunch Programs.
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