Approved by: Jeffrey Hendricks

Date Issued: 4/30/2021

Federal Purchase Program 

Specification (FPPS) for 

Refrigerated, Fully Cooked, 

Peeled Hard Cooked Eggs

APPROVED

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

Livestock and Poultry (LP) Program 

Standards and Specifications Division (SSD)

Room 2624 S-Bldg. Stop 0258, Phone: (202) 692-0342

Changes from previous requirements in blue

Effective: April 2023

100 ITEM DESCRIPTION

110 Hard Cooked Egg (111430) – Refrigerated, peeled hard cooked eggs 

produced from U.S. Grade A, or better, Medium shell eggs. Eggs shall be 

packed (24) six count eggs packaged in modified atmospheric pillow packs or 

pouches. A purchase unit shall consist of 1709 cases.

200 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

210 The following documents are incorporated as part of this USDA, AMS, SSD 

Division FPPS for Refrigerated, Fully Cooked Peeled Hard Cooked Eggs – 

April 2021:

210.1 AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs 

(MSCP-D).

210.2 Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs (7 CFR § 56).

210.3 Regulations Governing the Production, Storage, and Transportation of Shell 

Eggs (21 CFR § 118).

210.3 Regulations Governing the Current Good Manufacturing Practices in 

Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food (21 CFR § 117) and 

Regulations Governing Egg and Egg Products (21 CFR § 160).

300 CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS

310 Domestic Products – Refer to the current AMS MSCP-D. 

320 Food Defense – Refer to the current AMS MSCP-D.

330 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Requirements – The commodity shall be 

produced in a facility that complies with FDA regulations governing current 
 

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Good Manufacturing Practices (21 CFR § 117).

340 Pre-Bid Contract Compliance and Certification Requirements – Refer to the 

Supplement for Egg Products. The contractor shall request the use of either 

Option A – AMS QAD Grading-based Monitoring and Certification service, or 

Option B – QAD Audit-based Verification service, for assessing contract 

compliance of the finished product. 

400 PROCESSING

410 Processing Sequence Requirement – The peeled, hard cooked eggs shall be

processed, cooked, and packaged in a continuous process that complies with 

the time and temperature requirements of this FPPS. 

411 Date Processed – The commodity shall be processed and packaged no more 

than 14 days prior to delivery. At time of delivery the product shall have a 

minimum of 30 days in shelf life.

412 Lot Definition – A lot is the amount of packaged commodity produced during a 

day’s production. 

420 Shell Eggs

421 Shell eggs used shall be certified U.S. Consumer Grade A or better, Medium 

eggs according to 7 CFR § 56.1. 

422 For U.S. Consumer Grades A or better, the U.S. Grade shall be stated on the 

USDA Shell Egg Grading Certificate, which accompanies the shell eggs.

423 Shell eggs shall comply with FDA regulations for ambient temperature during 

storage and transport.

424 Shell eggs shall be maintained at a maximum 45 °F ambient temperature prior 

to tempering.

430 Processing Hard Cooked Eggs

431 Tempering at room temperature is allowed prior to cooking and shall not 

exceed 6 days (144 hours).

432 Water quality – The chemical concentration, water temperature, and pH shall 

be maintained in a manner that inhibits microbial growth.

440 Cooking, Peeling and Appearance 

 

441 Cooking – Eggs shall be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 °F or higher 
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to ensure pathogens are eliminated. Eggs shall be fully cooked until firm 

throughout and meet all quality requirements of this specification.

442 Peeling – Eggs shall be peeled in a manner that ensures the complete 

removal of the shell and shell membranes from adhering to the egg albumen 

and does not cause damage to the outer albumen layer.

443 Brine – Cooked eggs may be exposed to antimicrobial brine at a maximum 

45°F ambient temperature for up to 48 hours prior to packaging.

444 Appearance – Cooked eggs shall be white with no off coloring. The egg shall 

be free of internal defects such as large spots (blood, meat spots). The yolk 

shall be a consistent shade of yellow throughout with no grey or greenish 

coloring on the yolk surface. 

445 Flavor and Texture – Cooked eggs shall have a natural egg flavor profile and 

shall not exhibit off flavors or odors. The eggs shall not exhibit a rubbery 

(overcooked) or gelatinous (undercooked) mouthfeel.

446 Ingredients – Egg shall be the primary ingredient as evidenced in the 

ingredient statement. Other ingredients shall be used to produce a finished 

product with natural egg flavor profile suitable for institutional food systems 

and prohibit microbial growth during packaging and storage. 

450 Organoleptic requirements – Hard cooked eggs shall be free of grey, greenish 

or brown color, off flavoring, rancidity; free of fruity, sulfide-like, cardboardy, 

tallowy, oily, metallic, chlorine-like, or other foreign and off-odors; free of 

foreign materials (e.g., glass, paper, rubber, plastic, wood, metal); shall show 

no evidence of mishandling or deterioration.

500 MICROBIAL

The contractor shall have a documented plan to comply with FDA guidance 

and requirements for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in egg products 

and ready-to-eat foods (21 CFR § 117). Product testing positive for any 

pathogen shall not be allowed as rework or for delivery to USDA.

600 HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS

610 Handling and storage instructions for the end-user shall be provided on the 

primary package container or label. 

700 PACKAGING AND PACKING

710 The contractor shall assure that all packaging, packing, labeling, closure, 

marking and palletization shall comply with the National Motor Freight 
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Classification, or the Uniform Freight Classification, as applicable, and shall be 

labeled to include all information required by FDA regulations (21 CFR 101).

720 Packing – Product shall be packed in six count packages, with 24 packages 

per container. 

730 Packaging – All packaging and packing materials shall be clean and in new 

condition, shall not impart objectionable odors or flavors to their contents, shall

be approved by FDA for use in contact with food products, and shall be 

tamper-evident. Tamper-evident is defined as packaging and packing 

materials with one or more indicators or barriers to entry, which, if breached or 

missing, can reasonably be expected to provide visible evidence that 

tampering has occurred. 

731 Pillow Packs and Pouches – Modified atmospheric packaging and closures 

shall protect the commodity from contamination or quality deterioration during 

the conditions of use and be suitable for ready-to-eat foods. Pillow packs and 

pouches shall be made with polyethylene film with a wall thickness of not less 

than 2 millimeters (0.002 inch).

740 Shipping Containers – Shipping containers shall: 

740.1 Be good commercial fiberboard containers that are acceptable by common or 

other carrier for safe transport to point of destination; 

740.2 Be of such size to pack the commodity without slack filling or bulging; 

740.3 Withstand the stresses of handling, shipping, stacking, and storage as 

demonstrated by the Edge Crush Test, and 

740.4 Be closed by commercially accepted methods and materials. Steel or wire 

straps shall not be used for final closure. Staples shall not be used for final 

closure of shipping containers. 

740 Labeling

741 Commercial Labeling Requirements

742 Each individual package and shipping container shall be commercially labeled 

in accordance with FDA requirements. Individual packages shall comply with 

retail consumer labeling requirements and shall meet Section 4A52.211-4 of 

the MSCP-D.

743 Commercial Labels shall be the processor’s own commercial label, and shall 

contain the following information:
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743.1 Traceability – The processor shall establish a product identification and record 

system that clearly links product by is traced back to establishment number, 

production lot, and date. When the company uses the same commercial label 

for the product certified as compliant with this FPPS and commercial product, 

the identification system shall differentiate between USDA purchased and nonUSDA products. 

743.2 Nutrition Facts, Ingredients and Allergen statements on individual packages –

The Nutrient Facts shall be provided. The ingredient statement, even for single 

ingredient foods, shall be included as a statement separate from the name of 

the product; e.g. Ingredients: _____________. The allergen statement shall be 

in accordance with the Food Allergen Labeling and consumer Protection Act 

(FALCPA) and the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research 

Act (FASTER act) which define milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, 

wheat, peanuts, and soybeans, and sesame as well as any food ingredient 

that contains protein derived from one of these foods, with the exception 

of highly refined oils, as “major food allergens.”; e.g. Contains: _________.

800 FINAL EXAMINATION OF PACKAGED AND PACKED COMMODITY

810 Packaging Defects – Contractor shall ensure that packages in a delivery unit 

are examined for defects that affect protection, expose product, permit quality 

deterioration during storage, such as tears, holes, or improperly sealed or 

closed packages prior to shipment.

811 Packing Defects – Shipping containers in a delivery unit shall be examined for 

condition, labeling, and marking defects according to the United States 

Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR § 42).

820 A purchase unit or delivery unit shall consist of 1709 cases. 

821 Contractor shall maintain records to demonstrate that each delivery unit has 

been examined for compliance with the net weight requirements at time of 

loading.

830 Loading and Shipping Refrigerated Commodity

831 Visual Inspection – Cooked commodity showing any evidence of deterioration 

or damage shall be rejected for use under this FPPS.

832 Internal Product Temperature

832.1 The refrigerated cooked commodity shall be 34°F (1.1 °C) to 40 °F (4.4 °C) at 

the time of loading. Delivery units with internal product temperatures 

exceeding 40 °F (4.4 °C) shall be rejected for use under this FPPS.
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840 Inspection and Checkloading 

841 Based on inspection option selected, the contractor shall utilize either USDA 

Grader or Contractor Checkloading at time of shipping to certify. The 

Contractor shall notify USDA AMS QAD staff prior to production. The 

checkloading requirements are as follows:

842 USDA Grader Checkloading Requirements – Inspection for contract 

compliance shall be made by a USDA representative at site of processing, 

both during and after processing and packaging. Inspection records shall be 

complete and made available to USDA, as requested, to assure contract 

compliance.

842.1 Procedures – The inspection and checkloading shall be performed by the AMS

Grader in accordance with FDA regulations and this FPPS. Procedures to be 

followed and a schedule of fees for these services may be obtained by 

contacting the nearest QAD field office or the Director of QAD, LP Program, 

AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, Room 3953-S, STOP 0258, 

Washington, DC 20250-0258, telephone (202) 690-3147. 

842.2 The quality, quantity, weight, packaging, packing, and checkloading of the 

commodity shall be evidenced by certificates issued by the AMS Grader. The 

contractor shall not ship the commodity unless informed by the AMS Grader 

that the designated commodity to be shipped meets the requirements of the 

AMS MSCP-D, Solicitation, and this FPPS.

843 Contractor Checkloading Requirements – Inspection for final contract 

compliance shall be made by the Contractor, in accordance with FDA 

regulations and this FPPS. The quality, quantity, weight, packaging and 

packing of the commodity shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Conformance 

that verifies the designated commodity to be shipped meets all the 

requirements as stated in this FPPS, MSCP-D and Solicitation. 

843.1 Procedures – The contractor shall perform checkloading examinations at the 

time of shipment – as described in this FPPS starting at the section labeled 

Loading and Shipping Refrigerated Commodity and sections thereafter – and 

shall issue a corresponding Certificate of Conformance (Exhibit 1). The 

Contractor is required to provide an acceptance document to accompany each 

shipment. Additional details are found in the AMS MSCP-D, Section 

4A52.247-3 for Bill of Lading Notations. 

843.2 Contractors inspection records and checkloading documentation shall be 

complete and maintained, including the Certificate of Conformance, and made 

available to USDA, as requested, to assure Contractor Checkloading 
 

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compliance. Contractor checkloading activity is subject to review by USDA at 

the cost of the contactor. 

900 PALLETIZED UNIT LOADS

910 All products shall be stacked on new or well-maintained pallets and palletized 

with shrink wrap plastic. Pallet loads shall be stacked in a manner that 

minimizes the overhang of the shipping containers over the edges of the 

pallets and that exposes each shipping container’s principal display panel to 

facilitate certification examinations.

920 Size and Style of Container – Only one size and style of shipping container 

shall be used in any one delivery unit.

1000 SHIPMENT AND DELIVERY

1010 Shipment and Delivery, including Loading and Sealing, Delivery Notifications 

and Split Deliveries – Refer to the current AMS MSCP-D.

1020 Transport unit containers shall be of sound construction and clean. They shall 

have a refrigeration unit capable of maintaining temperature of the product 

through to delivery.

1100 DESTINATION EXAMINATION

1110 Commodity Requirements – Before acceptance by recipient, the refrigerated

commodity may be examined on a spot-check basis by USDA AMS 

representative for temperature, condition, identity, count, or any other contract 

provision. If a recipient complaint is received, re-inspection may be performed 

by USDA AMS at the expense of contractor.

1120 Temperature – Refrigerated commodity shall have an average internal 

temperature not to exceed 40 °F (4.4 °C) when shipped, during transit, and 

when received at the destination plant. When any sample exceeds 40 °F (4.4 

°C) the purchase unit shall be rejected for use under this FPPS.

1200 PRODUCT ASSURANCE AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION

1210 Product Assurance – The Contractor shall guarantee that the product complies 

with all FPPS requirements and provisions set forth in the AMS MSCP-D. 

1211 Waiver Requests – Contractor shall submit all waiver requests directly to the 

Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) Contracting Officer for review and 

determination. A Full list of CPP contacts can be found at: 

 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/AMSCommodityProcureme

ntStaffContactList.pdf 
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1220 Complaint Resolution – Customer complaint resolution procedures shall be the 

responsibility of the Contractor. These procedures shall include: a point of 

contact, investigation steps, intent to cooperate with AMS, and product 

replacement or monetary compensation. The procedures shall be used to 

resolve product complaints from recipient agencies or AMS.
 

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Date Issued: 4/30/2021

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Exhibit 1. Contractor Checkloading and Certificate of Conformance Requirement

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL

MARKETING SERVICE LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE FOR

THE PROCUREMENT OF HARD COOKED EGG PRODUCT

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE

I certify the following:

(1) On [delivery date(s)], [Contractor’s name] furnished the (insert the appropriate 

commodity description) called for by Purchase Order Number _____via 

[Carrier] under Sales Order Number/Item number(s) _______:

(2) The (insert the appropriate material name) is of the quality specified and conforms in 

all respects with the purchase order requirements, including the FPPS, Master 

Solicitation for Commodity Procurement – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D), and 

Solicitation.

(3) Product identification, (i.e. production lot number(s)) is in the quantity shown on 

the attached acceptance document.

(4) Contractor assures all meat used in fulfilling this contract was produced in the United 

States as defined in the AMS MSCP-D.

Date: 

Signature: ____________________________________________________ 

(Signed by an officer or representative authorized to sign offers)

Title: