Emergency 3PL Services Contract - Determination for Exceptional Circumstances
ID: 12-3J14-Notice-25-014Type: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICEUSDA AMS 3J14WASHINGTON, DC, 20250, USA

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

PSC

HOUSEKEEPING- WAREHOUSING/STORAGE (S215)
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Agricultural Marketing Service, is seeking to extend an existing contract for Emergency Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Services with Americold, Inc. This extension, necessitated by exceptional circumstances, aims to support critical food distribution programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) for an additional 14 months. The extension is vital to ensure the stability of food distribution chains and to facilitate a smooth transition to future contracts, thereby safeguarding food accessibility for vulnerable populations across the nation. Interested parties can reach out to Carol Clark at carol.a.clark@usda.gov or call 816.823.4636 for further details.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is modifying an existing contract with Americold, Inc. for third-party logistics (3PL) services to support food distribution programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Initially, the contract was an emergency measure for a 6-month period, following unforeseen logistical challenges under a prior contract. To maintain uninterrupted service, the USDA plans to extend Americold's contract for an additional 14 months, allowing for sufficient time to develop a recompete acquisition process. This extension reflects the need to stabilize food distribution chains while ensuring smooth transitions to future contracts and addressing significant logistical requirements. The justification for this exceptional circumstance aligns with federal regulations aimed at safeguarding long-term operational efficiency for these vital programs. Malcom Shorter, Assistant Secretary for Administration, approved the modification, emphasizing the importance of continuity in service delivery for program recipients. This determination demonstrates the federal commitment to effectively manage agricultural resources and ensure food accessibility to vulnerable populations across the nation.
    Lifecycle
    Similar Opportunities
    Cold Chain Distribution
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking potential vendors for a Sources Sought Notice regarding cold chain distribution services for veterinary vaccines. The primary objective is to establish a Firm Fixed Price commercial service contract for the receipt, storage, and distribution of animal vaccines to state-designated sites across the United States, particularly in response to animal disease outbreaks. This initiative is critical for managing the National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), which ensures the prompt deployment of vaccines during emergencies, including diseases such as foot and mouth disease and classical swine fever. Interested vendors must submit their capability statements and pricing estimates to Linda W. Washington at linda.w.washington@usda.gov by January 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM (EST), and are encouraged to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submission.
    Updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - Domestic Programs (MSCP-D)
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), has issued a Special Notice regarding the Updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - Domestic Programs (MSCP-D), effective October 24, 2024. This solicitation outlines the provisions and contract requirements for vendors interested in supplying commodities for various USDA food programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The updated document emphasizes compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), vendor qualification criteria, and sustainability measures, ensuring that all commodities are sourced from U.S. suppliers. Interested vendors can find more information and submit bids electronically via the Web Based Supply Chain Management system (WBSCM). For inquiries, contact David C. Jackson at davidc.jackson@usda.gov or Elizabeth Hoover at elizabeth.hoover@usda.gov.
    Updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - International Programs (MSCP-I)
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The Department of Agriculture, specifically the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), has issued an updated Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - International Programs (MSCP-I), effective from October 23, 2024. This solicitation is designed to facilitate various commodity contracts related to U.S. Government international food assistance programs, including Food for Peace, Food for Progress, and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs, while ensuring compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) standards. The MSCP-I document outlines essential guidelines, vendor qualification requirements, and updates on small business program definitions, emphasizing that commodities must be U.S.-produced. Interested vendors can reach out to Dan Webber at dan.webber@usda.gov or David Cottrell at david.cottrell@usda.gov for further inquiries.
    Frozen Pork And Ham Products for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is seeking bids for the procurement of frozen pork and ham products intended for domestic food assistance programs. The solicitation, identified by bid invitation number 12-3J14-25-B-0108, requires delivery of approximately 1,224,320 pounds of various pork products to multiple locations across the United States, with deliveries scheduled between January 1 and April 30, 2025. This procurement is crucial for ensuring the integrity of the federal food distribution supply chain, and all offers must be submitted electronically via the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM) by December 23, 2024, at 1:00 PM CT. Interested vendors can contact Carrie Meyers at carrie.meyers@usda.gov or Valerie Dinkel at Valerie.Dinkel@usda.gov for further information.
    Canned Boned White Meat Chicken for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    Solicitation: AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF is seeking Canned Boned White Meat Chicken for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs. This procurement is part of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)-Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) and is intended to provide food assistance to various locations in the United States. The solicitation may include small business set-asides, service-disabled veteran-owned set-asides, and preferences for qualified HUBZone small businesses. The solicitation will be available electronically through USDA Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) and Contract Opportunities website. The contract type will be firm-fixed-price. The products must be a product of the United States and must meet the commodity and packaging requirements specified in the solicitation. Potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements. Bids and price adjustments must be submitted through WBSCM. The solicitation should be read in conjunction with the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) and commodity specifications documents available on the AMS website.
    Supplement 210 to the AMS Master Solicitation for the Purchase of Miscellaneous Beef Items for Distribution
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued an updated Supplement 210 as part of its Master Solicitation for the procurement of frozen miscellaneous beef items for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The focus is on purchasing beef roasts and diced beef from qualified suppliers. This opportunity is primarily aimed at ensuring an adequate supply of beef products that adhere to specific quality, safety, and compliance standards. The AMS seeks to engage suppliers who can meet these criteria while also adhering to humane animal handling practices and food defense requirements. Scope of Work The key tasks for the successful awardee will involve: Supplying frozen beef roasts and diced beef that meet the specified standards, including meat component, grade, and pathogen intervention requirements. Adhering to detailed harvesting, packaging, and labeling instructions, ensuring product integrity and safety. Delivering the beef items under specific temperature requirements and with appropriate sealing and labeling to ensure security and compliance. Providing a warranty, complaint resolution procedures, and a mechanism to prevent the delivery of non-conforming products. Bearing the cost of any audits or certification processes required for contract compliance. Eligibility Criteria Potential applicants should possess the capabilities to meet the extensive requirements outlined in the Federal Purchase Program Specification (FPPS). This includes the ability to harvest, process, and supply beef products that align with the specific standards detailed in the solicitation. Experience in working with the USDA and knowledge of its regulations and standards would be a distinct advantage. Funding and Contract Details The contract type and estimated funding associated with this opportunity were not provided. However, the solicitation indicates that the USDA intends to procure a significant quantity of frozen beef items over an extended period. Applicants should factor in the potential costs of compliance with the extensive requirements outlined in the FPPS. Submission Process The submission process involves a two-stepped approach: Applicants should first submit a technical proposal via email, following a specified format. This proposal should outline their capabilities and how they meet the specific requirements. Changes to the technical proposal can be made at any time before the unspecified deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their proposal remains up-to-date. Evaluation Criteria The evaluation of applications will give priority to suppliers who can demonstrate an understanding of and ability to meet the detailed requirements outlined in the solicitation. The USDA will assess applicants' capacity to adhere to the FPPS specifications, their experience in the industry, and their proposed production plans. Additionally, the USDA will conduct a food defense audit of each applicant's Food Defense Plan before opening bids. Contact Information For further clarification or questions, interested parties can contact Mark Lemon at mark.lemon@usda.gov. Suppliers should carefully consider the comprehensive requirements before submitting their applications. The solicitation, with its detailed specifications, serves as a comprehensive guide for applicants.
    CCC Dehydrated Potatoes for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is soliciting bids for the procurement of dehydrated potatoes to support domestic food assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program. The solicitation aims to secure products that are exclusively grown, processed, and prepared in the United States, with deliveries scheduled between April 15 and July 31, 2025. This procurement is crucial for ensuring the availability of nutritious food options for various federal food and nutrition assistance initiatives. Interested suppliers must submit their offers electronically via the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM) by January 8, 2025, and can contact Douglas E. Stickler or Valerie Dinkel for further information regarding the solicitation.
    Chicken Products(Canned And Pouch) for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs.
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    Solicitation: AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF is seeking Chicken Products (Canned And Pouch) for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs. The products will be delivered to various locations in the United States on an FOB origin basis. The solicitation may include small business set-asides, service-disabled veteran-owned set-asides, quantities reserved for 8(a) and AbilityOne firms, and price evaluation preferences for qualified HUBZone small businesses. The anticipated date of receipt for offers is listed above under "General Information." The contract type will be firm-fixed-price. The products must be a product of the United States and meet the commodity and packaging requirements specified in the solicitation. Potential contractors must meet the AMS vendor qualification requirements. Bids, modifications, withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using the WBSCM system. The solicitation should be read in conjunction with the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements - Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) and commodity specifications documents available on the AMS website.
    Updated FPPS Chicken Parts, Frozen
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    Special Notice: AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF is seeking to procure updated FPPS Chicken Parts, Frozen through the AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE. This service is typically used for purchasing frozen chicken parts for federal programs. The updates to the specification include replacing kosher chicken cut-up with kosher leg quarters, adjusting the chicken cut-up WOG range, allowing a thigh or drumstick added to Leg Quarters to complete weight, increasing the date processed from 60 to 90 days, allowing an alternative to verify carcass weight, expanding UPC codes to identify primary and secondary containers, adding sesame allergen, contractor checkloading, and the vendor option allowing either grading or auditing certification.
    Pre-Solicitation Announcement for Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Purchases of U.S. Grown Commodities.
    Active
    Agriculture, Department Of
    Presolicitation Announcement: Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to purchase various U.S. grown commodities for international food aid programs. The commodities include wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, vegetable oil, cornmeal, navy beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. The purchases will be made under the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act. The contract type is anticipated to be firm-fixed-price. Deliveries are expected to be made to various locations in the United States. Interested parties must ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States. Offerors are urged to review all relevant documents and meet the vendor qualification requirements. Bids and modifications must be submitted through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. For more information, contact Dan Webber and David Cottrell via email.