United States Department of Agriculture 

1400 Independence Avenue, 

S.W. - Room 3522 

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Room 3522-S, STOP 0239 

Washington, DC 20036 

SOLICITATION 

Domestic Commodity Invitation 

Bid invitation Overview 

Information 

Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0202 

Bid invitation number: 2000009849 

Purchasing Group: AMS-Fruit and Veg 

Bid Timezone: Central Time 

Start Date: 01/30/2024 15:00:00 

Offer Due Date : 02/13/2024 13:00:00 

Opening date: 02/13/2024 13:00:00 

Invitation Type : Definite Delivery 

Additional requested information: 

Tendering text - Header : 

Almonds, SOLICITATION NO: 2000009849 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell Almonds pursuant to the AMS Master 

Solicitation for use in the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutrition 

Assistance Programs. Acceptances will be announced by midnight, February 20, 2024. Deliveries are 

to be made between April 15 2024 through June 01, 2024. 

The specialist for this solicitation is Samantha Klagenberg, samantha.klagenberg@usda.gov. The 

contracting officer for this solicitation is David Jackson, davidc.jackson@usda.gov. Please contact the 

specialist first, with questions regarding the requirements of this solicitation. Do not discuss your bid 

prices with the specialist or contracting officer before award. 

Offerors should take into account their processing capacity regulation constraints when bidding to 

ensure they are able to meet the delivery deadlines. 

Set asides include: 

ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL CTN-12/2 LB 100% Small Business Set-Aside 

Crop Year: 

2022 and 2023 will be acceptable for this solicitation, for ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL 

CTN-12/2 LB. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: 

The almonds for this purchase must meet all relevant requirements of Commodity Specification for 

Shelled Tree Nuts April 2020 and the Section 32 Specification for Whole Shelled Almonds August 

2022 with the following exceptions. Inspection and Certification for Grade must be performed on 

finished product during In-line inspection or via Lot inspection. For in-line inspection, The USDA 

representative will be on site during final packaging and perform inspection on the finished product to 

ensure the remainder of the commodity specification requirements are met (packaging, labeling, and net 

weight), and apply required PLI. For lot inspection, the PLI will be applied as the samples are drawn. 

All samples for Aflatoxin, Analytical, and Microbiological testing must be drawn by the SCI Federal or 

Federal-State Inspection Service or under the direct supervision of the SCI Federal or Federal-State 

Inspection Service. Samples will be drawn at the time of inspection for Grade on finished product 

during In-line inspection or Lot inspection as applicable. A Certificate of Conformance for analysis must 

be furnished to the Federal or Federal-State Inspector prior to issuance of inspection certificate. Results 

and/or average results of any re-testing performed for failed Aflatoxin, Analytical, and Microbiological 

analysis will not be accepted. 

**For a new-to-USDA contractor and existing contractors who are bidding on new products, a 

probationary period may be implemented in which awards are limited to 10 truckloads per product. 
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SOLICITATION Information 

Domestic Commodity Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0202 

Bid invitation number: 2000009849 

Contractor must demonstrate successful delivery of at least five (5) truckloads of product in order to 

be removed from probationary status on future solicitations. For the purposes of this rule, successful 

delivery is defined as product delivered on-time and in acceptable condition according to the terms and 

conditions of the contract. Any delivery problems directly attributable to the Government will not be 

held against the contractor.** 

Per FDA regulations, the following minimum mandatory labeling requirements for all foods, whether sold 

or donated, must appear on the label: Name of the food, Manufacturer#s name and location, Net 

weight of the product, Ingredients list, and Allergen declaration. These requirements are codified in 21 

CFR 101.2, 101.3, 101.4 and 101.5. See the following link for a guidance manual: 

http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/u 

cm064894.htm 

Offerors who intend to use more than one processing plant and shipping point for contracts awarded 

under this solicitation, other than the processing plant and shipping point entered in their bids, may 

submit a list of their approved processing plants and shipping points on a separate sheet of paper to 

be uploaded in WBSCM, and to be submitted with their bids. 

This Solicitation may show multiple stops on some line items; however, the number of stops will be 

limited to a maximum of three. To determine the number of destinations, review the "Tendering Text" 

for the lot, which will indicate the City and State for each stop. Bidders may submit different prices 

for each stop. However, a price is required on all line items within the lot. 

For offshore destinations (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, etc.), offerors have the option to choose to enter their 

bids direct to the offshore destination or to the port. 

Purchases will be made on an f.o.b. destination basis to cities on this Solicitation. Destination 

quantities listed are estimates and subject to adjustment based on offerings, changes in recipient needs, 

market conditions, and program operations. 

All prime vendors are reminded that they are prohibited from subcontracting with companies or 

individuals that have been suspended or debarred. 

Offers must be submitted electronically via the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System 

(WBSCM). Offers submitted by any means other than WBSCM will be deemed nonresponsive. 

Offerors must be active in WBSCM and have the required bidder roles in order to submit offers under 

this solicitation. Once connected, follow the online procedures. A "HELP" button provides detailed 

instructions or call (202) 720-4517 for assistance. 

Offerors are cautioned to bid only quantities they can reasonably expect to produce and deliver. 

Inquiries about the Master Solicitation dated November 2023; the Commodity Specification for Shelled 

Tree Nuts dated August April 2020; SEC 32 Commodity Specification Whole Shelled Almonds August 

2022; or this Solicitation should be directed to the Contracting Officer; USDA, AMS, Room 

3522-South; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-0239. Telephone: (202) 

720-4517. FAX: (202)720-2782. 
 

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SOLICITATION Information 

Domestic Commodity Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0202 

Bid invitation number: 2000009849 

The USDA prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on 

the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and 

where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or 

part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic 

information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not 

all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To file a complaint of 

discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free 

Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). 

See attached documents: 

1 . Section32SpecificationforWholeShelledAlmondsAugust2022

 2 . MSCP NOV 2023

 3 . CommoditySpecificationforShelledTreeNutsApril2020 (1) 

Attributes : 

OFFEROR CERTIFIES THAT THE OFFER IS MADE SUBJECT TO THE MASTER SOLICITATION; 

COMMODITY SUPPLEMENT AND/OR SPECIFICATION(S); THIS SOLICITATION; THE AGRICULTURE 

ACQUISITION REGULATIONS (AGAR) AND THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS (FAR). 

Timely performance: Offeror and any subcontractor have completed required performance of any 

USDA contract prior to this bid opening. 

Permitted values: - Have been delivered 

- Have not been delivered 

- Have not been delivered, but the Offeror has notified the Contracting Officer 

- There are no existing contracts/purchase orders 

OFFEROR REQUESTS HUBZONE SMALL BUSINESS PRICE EVALUATION PREFERENCE. APPLIES 

ONLY TO FIRMS CERTIFIED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION#S HUBZONE PROGRAM 

(FAR SUBPART 19.13).MUST BE THE MANUFACTURER/PRODUCER OF THE PRODUCT TO RECEIVE 

A PRICE PREFERENCE 

Furnish name, title, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of person submitting this bid 

(must be an officer of the company or a person authorized to execute contracts/purchase orders on 

behalf of the bidder). 

IS THE OFFEROR AN ENTITY THAT HAS FILED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION IN ONE OF THE 

FIFTY STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, OR THE VARIOUS TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED 
 

 

 

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SOLICITATION Information 

Domestic Commodity Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0202 

Bid invitation number: 2000009849 

STATES? YOU MUST ANSWER THE NEXT 3 QUESTIONS IF THE ANSWER FOR THIS QUESTION IS 

YES. 

HAS THE OFFEROR BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY CRIMINAL VIOLATION UNDER FEDERAL OR 

STATE LAW IN THE 24 MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF OFFER? 

HAS THE OFFEROR HAD ANY OFFICER OR AGENT OF OFFEROR CONVICTED OF A FELONY 

CRIMINAL VIOLATION FOR ACTIONS TAKEN ON BEHALF OF OFFEROR UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE 

LAW IN THE 24 MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF OFFER? 

DOES THE OFFEROR HAVE ANY UNPAID FEDERAL TAX LIABILITY ASSESSED, WHICH ALL 

JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED/LAPSED, THAT IS NOT 

BEING PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER PURSUANT TO AGREEMENT WITH THE AUTHORITY 

RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING IT? 

Offeror acknowledges receipt of the amendment(s) to the solicitation. Select N/A if no amendment 

was issued to the solicitation. 

Permitted values: - Yes 

- No 

- N/A 

Bid invitation Item details 

Item Material Description

10 NUTS 

Required by ZipCode Quantity 

20 ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL CTN-12/2 LB 

30 BRONX NY 

40 100907 ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL 

CTN-12/2 LB

 04/16/2024-04/30/2024 10474 

1,540.000 

CS 

50 100907 ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL 05/16/2024-05/31/2024 10474 

CTN-12/2 LB

Total Quantity for ALMOND NATURAL WHOLE SHELL CTN-12/2 

LB 

1,540.000 

3,080.000 

CS 

CS 

Total Quantity for Invitation 

3,080.000 

CS