FSC 8920 

 

 A-A-20055B 

 March 28, 2005

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-20055A 

September 20, 1988

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION 

 CAKES, FRESH OR FROZEN 

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized the 

 use of this Commercial Item Description (CID).

1. SCOPE. This CID covers cakes packed in commercially acceptable containers, suitable for 

use by the Federal Government, state, local governments, and other interested parties. 

2. PURCHASER NOTES.

2.1 Purchasers shall specify the following: 

- Type(s), shape(s), size(s), option(s), flavor (s), style(s), and cut(s) required (Sec. 3). 

- When the age requirement at the time of delivery is other than specified (Sec. 5.5). 

- Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification (Sec. 8.2) or USDA certification (Sec. 8.3). 

2.2 Purchasers may specify the following: 

- Manufacturer’s quality assurance (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.1) or (Sec. 8.1 with 8.1.2). 

- Packaging requirements other than commercial (Sec. 9). 

3. CLASSIFICATION. The cake shall conform to the following list which shall be specified 

in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

Types, shapes, sizes, options, flavors, styles, and cuts. 

 

Type I - Frozen 

Type II - Fresh 

Shape A - Round layer 

Shape B - Square layer 

 Size 1 - 20.32 cm (8 inch) 

 Size 2 - 22.86 cm (9 inch) 

 Size 3 - Other 

 Option a - Single layer 

 Option b - 2 layers 
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 Option c - 3 layers 

 Option d - Other 

Shape C - 1/4 sheet

Shape D - Half sheet 

Shape E - Full sheet 

Flavor 1 - Yellow 

Flavor 2 - Chocolate 

Flavor 3 - White 

Flavor 4 - Carrot 

Flavor 5 - Red Velvet 

Flavor 6 - Other 

Style (a) - With icing (frosting) (Purchaser may specify icing flavor) 

Style (b) - Without icing (frosting) 

Cut (1) - Un-cut 

Cut (2) - Pre-cut 

Shape E - Loaf Cake 

Flavor 1 - Pound 

Flavor 2 - Lemon poppyseed 

Flavor 3 - Blueberry 

Flavor 4 - Banana Walnut 

Flavor 5 - Other 

Shape F - Other 

4. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S NOTES. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s 

products shall meet the requirements of the: 

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 5). 

 - Manufacturer’s/distributor’s product assurance (Sec. 6). 

 - Regulatory requirements (Sec. 7). 

 - Quality assurance provisions: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 8). 

 - Packaging requirements other than commercial: as specified by the purchaser (Sec. 9). 

5. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS. 
A-A-20055B

5.1 Processing. The cakes shall be processed in accordance with good manufacturing practices 

(21 CFR Part 110). 

5.2 Ingredients. The cake ingredients shall include but not limited to: sugar, enriched wheat 

flour, eggs, flavoring ingredients, and leavening agents. 

5.2.1 Flour. The wheat flour shall be enriched in accordance with 21 CFR§137.165. 

5.2.2 Eggs. The eggs used in the cake shall be pasteurized liquid and/or frozen egg products. 

The egg products shall be processed in accordance with the Regulations Governing the 

Inspection of Eggs and Egg Products (9 CFR Part 590) in plants operating under the Egg 

Products Inspection Program, Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Ingredients and additives 

used in egg products shall be food grade and approved for use in egg products in accordance 

with the Food and Drug Administration and USDA, FSIS requirements. 

5.3 Finished product. 

5.3.1 Appearance and color. The cake crumb and surface shall have a uniform color 

characteristic of the flavor of the cake. The cake shall have a typical volume, characteristic 

grain, and be evenly baked without evidence of scorching or burning. The cakes and icing (if 

specified) shall be free from fissures or cracks other than those normally characteristic of the 

cake. The icing shall be uniform in thickness, covering the top, sides, or completely, as 

applicable to the type of cake specified, and shall show minimal adherence to the packaging 

material, so that the cake can be removed without damage. The cakes shall be packaged to 

assure protection from physical damage, filth, or other contamination. 

5.3.2 Odor and flavor. The cake shall have a pleasing sweet flavor and aroma that is 

characteristic of the specific flavor of cake. There shall be no foreign odors or flavors such as, 

but not limited to, burnt, scorched, stale, rancid, or moldy. 

5.3.3 Texture. The texture of the cake shall have a slightly moist, light and tender crumb. The 

cakes shall not be soggy from underbaking or excessively dried out or burned from overbaking. 

When the cake includes nuts, fruits, poppyseed, etc., there shall be an even distribution 

throughout the crumb. When the cakes are bisected vertically with a sharp knife, they shall show 

crumb, and filling (if used), in a nearly symmetrical pattern and uniform texture from side to 

side. 

5.4 Foreign material. All ingredients shall be clean, sound, wholesome, and free from 

evidence of rodent or insect infestation. 

5.5 Storage requirement. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 
A-A-20055B

order, the fresh cake shall be shipped as soon as possible after packaging and in no case shall 

exceed 72 hours from date of pack receipt. When frozen cake is specified, the fresh product 

shall be in a freezer within 6 hours after baking and frozen to a temperature of -17.7oC (0oF), +

2-1/2oC (+ 5oF) and shall be at a temperature not higher than -12.2EC (10EF) within 6 hours after 

being placed in the freezer. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order, the frozen cake shall be manufactured not more than 90 days prior to delivery and shall 

not have exceeded -12.2EC (10EF) at any time during storage and delivery. Age requirements 

for DoD procurements shall be specified in the solicitation, contract or purchase order. 

6. MANUFACTURER’S/DISTRIBUTOR’S PRODUCT ASSURANCE. The manufacturer/ 

distributor shall certify that the cake provided shall meet the salient characteristics of this CID, 

conform to their own specifications, standards, and quality assurance practices, and be the same 

prepared cake offered for sale in the commercial market. The purchaser reserves the right to 

require proof of conformance. 

7. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. The delivered cake shall comply with all applicable 

Federal, State, and local mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, 

packaging, labeling, storage, distribution, and sale of cake within the commercial marketplace. 

Delivered cake shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and 

Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

8. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS. Purchaser shall specify 8.2 or 8.3; purchaser

may specify 8.1 with 8.1.1 or 8.1 with 8.1.2.

 

8.1 Manufacturer’s quality assurance. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the product manufacturer shall be required to provide evidence, by certificate, 

that the manufacturing plant has undertaken one of the following quality assurance measures 

within 12 months prior to providing a bid, or no later than 10 business days from the date of 

awarding of the contract. Failure to provide this documentation within the proper time frame 

may result in the contract being terminated for cause. 

 

8.1.1 Plant systems audit A plant systems audit conducted by USDA, Federal Grain Inspection 

Service (FGIS), or USDA, AMS, or another audit performed by a third party auditing service is 

required within 12 months prior to the date of the awarding of the contract. (A FGIS or AMS 

PSA verifies the manufacturer's capability to produce products in a clean, sanitary environment 

in accordance with Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 110 - Current Good 

Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food, and verifies that 

the manufacturer has in place an internal quality assurance program. The FGIS or AMS PSA 

determines the manufacturer's ability to produce under this CID, if the products of interest are 

identified at the time of the PSA.) 

8.1.2 Plant survey. A plant survey conducted by USDA, FGIS, or USDA, AMS, or another 
A-A-20055B

survey performed by a third party auditing service is required within 12 months prior to the date 

of the awarding of the contract. (A FGIS or AMS plant survey audit verifies that, at the time of 

the survey, the manufacturer produces products in a clean, sanitary environment in accordance 

with Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 110 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice in 

Manufacturing, Packing, or Holding Human Food.) 

 

8.2 Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or 

purchase order, the manufacturer/distributor will certify that the finished cake distributed meets 

or exceeds the requirements of this CID. 

 

8.3 USDA certification. When required in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order that 

product quality and acceptability or both be determined, the USDA, FGIS or USDA, AMS 

(depending on how it is packaged) shall be the certifying program. The agency inspectors shall 

certify the quality and acceptability of the cake in accordance with agency procedures which 

include selecting random samples of the packaged cake, evaluating the samples for conformance 

with the salient characteristics of this CID and other contractual requirements, and documenting 

the findings on official score sheets and/or certificates. In addition, when required in the 

solicitation, contract, or purchase order, agency inspectors will examine the cake for 

conformance to the United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers in effect on the 

date of the solicitation. 

 

9. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be 

commercial unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

 

10. USDA INSPECTION NOTES. When Section 8.3 is specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order, USDA certification shall include evaluation of the quality and 

condition of samples of packaged cake, and compliance with requirements in the following 

areas: 

 

 - Salient characteristics (Sec. 5). 

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 9 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

order). 

11. REFERENCE NOTES. 

 

11.1 USDA certification contacts. 

 

11.1.1 Federal Grain Inspection Service. For USDA, FGIS certification, contact the Policies 

and Procedures Branch, Field Management Division, FGIS, Grain Inspection, Packers and 

Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), STOP 3630, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-3630, telephone (202) 720-0252, Fax (202) 720-1015, or via E-mail: 

henry.c.greenwood@usda.gov or john.c.giler@usda.gov. 
A-A-20055B

11.1.2 Agricultural Marketing Service. For USDA, AMS certification, contact the Branch 

Chief, PPB, FVP, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

DC 20250-0247, telephone (202) 720-4693, Fax (202) 690-1527, or via E-mail: 

Terry.Bane@usda.gov. 

11.3 Sources of documents. 

 

12.3.1 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows: 

 

Applicable provisions of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act are contained in 16 CFR Parts 500 

to 503. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1 to 199. 

These documents may be purchased from: Superintendent of Documents, New Orders, P.O. 

Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Credit card (MasterCard or Visa) purchases are 

made by calling the Superintendent of Documents on (202) 512-1800 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. 

 

Copies of this CID and beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, 

clarifications, etc., and any data which may improve this CID are available from and/or provided 

to: Head, Food Quality Assurance Staff, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 

Marketing Service, USDA, STOP 0243, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 

20250-0243, telephone (202) 720-9939, Fax (202) 690-0102, via E-mail: 

FQAStaff@usda.gov or on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvqual.htm. 

 

Military activities should submit requests for copies of this CID to: Standardization

Documents Order Desk, Defense Automation and Production Service, 700 Robbins 

Avenue, Building 4D, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094. 

MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES: 

 

Military Coordinating Activity DOJ - BOP 

 HHS - FDA, NIH 

Army - GL USDA - FV 

 VA - OSS

Custodians

PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Army - GL 

Navy - SA USDA - FV 

Air Force - 35 

Review Activities

 
A-A-20055B

Army - MD, QM 

Navy - MC 

DLA - SS 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis 

of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political 

beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons 

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten 

Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and 

TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.