United States Department of Agriculture

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Commodity Procurement Staff 

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8718 

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

CP12

CORN PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 01/20/2016
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

CP12

CORN PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES _____________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ________________________________________________________ 3

Section 1.3 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS__________________________________________ 3

Section 1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE ______________________________________________ 4

Section 1.5 QUALITY DISCOUNTS_______________________________________________ 4

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS ______________________ 5

Section 2.1 GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 5

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING_________________________________________ 5

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________ 6

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS _____________________________________ 6
CP12 Page 1 of 7

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Quality of Cornmeal

(1) Corn shall be tested for aflatoxin in accordance with procedures approved 

by Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyard Administration (GIPSA). If the 

aflatoxin test proves positive, a quantitative test shall be performed. If the 

result of the quantitative test exceeds 20 p.p.b., the corn shall not be used 

in the production of the commodity.

(2) The cornmeal shall be regular, bolted, or degermed, and may be produced 

from white or yellow corn. Bolted cornmeal shall comply with FDA 

standards of Identity for Enriched Corn Meal, 21 CFR§ 137.260. 

(3) The cornmeal, enriched (yellow or white) delivered shall meet the 

requirements as specified in the Commercial Item Descriptions (CID) AA-20066C (July 24, 2015) at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Cornmeal%20

%28Yellow%20or%20White%29.pdf except for the following chemical 

and physical requirements:1

Regular Whole 

Ground

Bolted Whole 

Ground

Degermed

Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max.

Moisture --- 13.5% --- 13.5% --- 13.5%

Fat 2 3.5% --- 2.3% --- --- 1.5%

Ash 2--- 1.80% --- 1.25% --- 0.70%

Material that will pass through a U.S. Standard Woven-Wire-Cloth-Sieve

No. 20 99 --- 99 --- 99 ---

No. 25 90 --- 90 --- 90 ---

No. 45 30 --- 30 --- 30 ---

No. 80 --- 20 --- 20 --- 20

B. Quality of Corn Grits

(1) Corn shall be tested for aflatoxin in accordance with procedures approved 

by Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyard Administration (GIPSA). If the 

aflatoxin test proves positive, a quantitative test shall be performed. If the 

result of the quantitative test exceeds 20 p.p.b., the corn shall not be used 

in the production of the commodity.

 

1 All percentages are on the basis of weight.

2 These limited values are on a moisture-free basis.
CP12 Page 2 of 7

(2) The corn grits delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the 

Commercial Item Descriptions (CID) A-A-20035E (October 23, 2015) at

http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/cid/bakery-items or direct to

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Hominy%20G

rits%2C%20Enriched.pdf. The corn grits shall comply with FDA 

standards of Identity for Enriched Corn Meal, 21 CFR§ 137.260.

C. Quality of Instant Corn Masa Flour

(1) Corn shall be tested for aflatoxin in accordance with procedures approved 

by Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyard Administration (GIPSA). If the 

aflatoxin test proves positive, a quantitative test shall be performed. If the 

result of the quantitative test exceeds 20 p.p.b., the corn shall not be used 

in the production of the commodity.

(2) The instant corn masa flour delivered shall be milled and delivered from 

points within the continental Unites States, except that such vitamins and 

minerals as designated by the Government in writing may be of domestic 

or foreign production. 

(3) The instant corn masa flour shall be produced from white or yellow corn, 

which is clean, sound, essentially free from other grains, weed seeds, and 

other foreign material, defined in the “Official United States Standards for 

Grain,” which are available at:

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/usstandards.aspx. The corn shall be 

processed into instant corn masa flour by cooking with lime (calcium 

hydroxide, P.C.C. grade) and water, grinding, and drying.

(4) The instant corn masa flour shall be essentially free from foreign material, 

and shall have a good characteristic taste and odor, free from rancid, 

musty, bitter, sour, and other undesirable or foreign tastes or odors. 

(5) The product is designed for use in the preparation of tortillas and similar 

products to be consumed by both children and adults. The product shall 

conform to the following chemical and physical requirements. 

Instant Corn Masa Flour

Item Minimum Maximum

Moisture --- 13.0%

Fat3 3.0% ---

Ash 3--- 2.2%

pH 6.7 8.2

Material that will pass through a U.S. 

Standard No. 16 Woven-Wire-Cloth-Sieve 95 ---

Material that will pass through a U.S. 

Standard No. 30 oven-Wire-Cloth-Sieve 55 ---

 

3 Moisture-free basis.
CP12 Page 3 of 7

Material that will pass through a U.S. 

Standard No. 50 Woven-Wire-Cloth-Sieve 35 ---

Material that will pass through a U.S. 

Standard No. 100 Woven-Wire-Cloth-Sieve 15 ---

Suitable for mass production of 

commercially acceptable taco shells and 

nacho chips.

Certified by Manufacturer

Color (typical) Yellow/white ---

Flavor (typical) Lime-corn ---

Total bacterial count (per gram) ---- 50,000

(6) Enrichment Requirement

The product shall be blended thoroughly and homogeneously mixed with 

the following enrichment ingredients in the proportions specified.

Ingredient Minimum Maximum

Iron (harmless & assimilable form) 13.0 mg/lb. 26.0 mg/lb.

Niacin or Niacinamide 16.0 mg/lb. ---

Riboflavin 1.2 mg/lb. ---

Thiamine 2.0 mg/lb. ---

(7) The contractor shall pretest each lot of instant corn masa flour to certify its 

functionality for use in mass production of taco shells and nacho chips in 

high speed commercial equipment. Mixing time shall be about 10 minutes 

(slow speed). Water absorption shall be about 90 – 110 pounds water per 

100 pounds of instant corn masa flour. The dough shall be pliable and 

cohesive to facilitate high speed mechanical cutting, forming, and frying 

equipment. Masa products shall have a medium-coarse texture and 

pleasing lime-corn flavor. Masa products shall have sufficient structural 

integrity for high speed packaging without excessive fracture.

Corn Masa Flour shall be whole grain rich in accordance with the Federal Drug Administration 

(FDA) guidance. The FDA guidelines are available at:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product must have a shelf life of at least one year from date of manufacturer. 

Product shall not be manufactured more than 30 days prior to shipping. 

Section 1.3 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS

“Kosher Only” products will be identified in the solicitation. Kosher only 

products shall comply with applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the 

“613 Council of Kashruth.” Manufacturing plants shall be certified for 

compliance with the aforementioned requirement by contacting the Board of 

Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at 646-472-5365. A rabbinic 

supervisor will be sent to certify compliance of the manufacturing plant with the 

dietary (kosher) laws.
CP12 Page 4 of 7

Offeror shall certify that their manufacturing plant is capable of meeting 

applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the “613 Council of Kashruth” 

and certification by BJENY. 

Section 1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to ensure 

that the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be 

evidenced by a Certificate of Analysis (COA). If quality discounts are provided 

in the contract, and the product to be delivered by the contractor falls within 

the quality discount table, those factors shall be identified by an asterisk on the 

copies of the COA.

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet 

contract requirements.

C. Unless otherwise specified, test methods for the finished product, and any 

ingredients therein, shall be those of the AOAC INTERNATIONAL, the 

American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), or the American Oil 

Chemists’ Society (AOCS), as applicable and in effect on the date of issuance 

of the solicitation, or in accordance with methods that give equivalent results.

Section 1.5 QUALITY DISCOUNTS

If the product does not meet the quality specifications, but falls within the discounts 

listed, the product may be delivered to the Government, but the purchase price shall be 

reduced in accordance with the following schedules of discounts for each 100 pounds 

of commodity delivered:

Cornmeal Discounts

Excess Moisture - Regular, Bolted, or 

Degermed

Deficient Fat - Regular

13.6% - 13.7% $0.10 3.4% - 3.2% $0.10

13.8% - 13.9% $0.20 3.1% - 3.0% $0.20

14.0% $0.35 2.9% - 2.8% $0.35

Deficient Fat - Bolted Excess Fat – Degermed

2.2% - 2.1% $0.10 1.6% - 1.7% $0.10

2.0% - 1.9% $0.20 1.8% - 1.9% $0.20

1.8% $0.35 2.0% $0.35

Excess Ash - Regular Excess Ash - Bolted

1.81% - 1.85% $0.10 1.26% - 1.27% $0.10

1.86% - 1.90% $0.20 1.28% - 1.29% $0.20

1.91% - 1.95% $0.35 1.30% $0.35

Excess Ash - Degermed

0.71% - 0.72% $0.10

0.73% - 0.74% $0.20

0.75% $0.35
CP12 Page 5 of 7

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 20 

Sieve - Regular, Bolted, or Degermed

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 25 

Sieve - Regular, Bolted, or 

Degermed

98.0% $0.10 89.0% $0.10

97.0% $0.20 88.0% $0.20

96.0% $0.35 87.0% $0.35

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 45 

Sieve - Regular, Bolted, or Degermed

Excess Granulation thru a No. 80 

Sieve - Regular, Bolted, or 

Degermed

29.0% – 26.0% $0.10 21.0% – 24.0% $0.10

25.0% – 23.0% $0.20 25.0% - 27.0% $0.20

22.0% - 20.0% $0.35 28.0% - 30.0% $0.35

Instant Corn Masa Flour Discounts

Excess Moisture Excess Ash

13.1% $0.10 2.3% - 2.4% $0.10

13.2% $0.20 2.5% - 2.6% $0.20

13.3% $0.35 2.7% $0.35

Excess or Deficient pH Factor

Off 0.1% $0.05

Off 0.2% $0.10

Off 0.3% $0.20

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 16 

Sieve

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 30 

Sieve

94.0% $0.10 54.0% - 52.0% $0.10

93.0% $0.20 51.0% - 49.0% $0.20

92.0% $0.35 48.0% - 46.0% $0.35

Deficient Granulation thru a No. 50 

Sieve

Excess Granulation thru a No. 100 

Sieve

34.0% - 32.0% $0.10 14.0% - 11.0% $0.10

31.0% - 29.0% $0.20 10.0% - 7.0% $0.20

28.0% - 26.0% $0.35 6.0% - 3.0% $0.35

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements 

used under this contract. 

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING 

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at 

the time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered 

has a history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial 

channels and is sold on the commercial market with an established level of 

consumer acceptance. 
CP12 Page 6 of 7

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current 

commercial shipping practices and shall comply with: 

(1) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4. 

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” 

may be printed on the principal display panel of the food label. 

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be 

shown on the commercial bill of lading. 

(4) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe 

stacking height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation 

with the shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe 

stacking height. 

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all 

commercial-labeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR 

USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.” 

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS 

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements of 

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the packaged 

product. The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation from the 

container or packaging material manufacturer to verify that the containers and 

packaging materials used in this contract were in compliance with the 

Government’s regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as 

required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3. 

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to: 

Senior Contracting Officer

Ray Boyd

Telephone (816) 926 2612 or Email Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a foreign 

country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a foreign 

country, the package and container SHALL NOT display country of origin 

labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, “Made in [Name of Foreign 

Country.]” or “Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited. 

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements: 

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged 

products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped). 

B. Pallets shall be: 

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the 

packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage. 
CP12 Page 7 of 7

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken 

runners or slats. 

(3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products. 

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be: 

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 

50 percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet 

load. 

(2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized 

shipping containers. The shipping containers shall be held firmly in 

place by the stretch wrap. 

D. Pallet loads shall be: 

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping 

containers overhang the edges of pallets. 

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a 

manner that prevents shifting during transit. 

E. USDA does not participate in pallet exchange.