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Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/29/2013

Date Revised: 04/25/2017

APPROVED

FEDERAL PURCHASE 

PROGRAM SPECIFICATION 

(FPPS) FOR SHELL EGGS

 Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program 

Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division

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

Supersedes: FPPS for Shell Eggs June 2015 – changes from 

previous requirements in blue

Effective: April 2017

100 ITEM DESCRIPTION

110 U.S. Grade AA or A, Brown or White, Large or Medium Eggs (15 dozen case) 

(100936) — Shell eggs shall be of current production from domestic chickens; the 

eggs shall be packaged in one dozen cartons and packed in fiberboard cases with 

15 dozens per case. A purchase unit shall total 1,500 cases.

200 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

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

Division FPPS- Shell Eggs – April 2017:

211 AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements.

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

213 Regulations Governing the United States Standards for Condition of Food 

Containers (7 CFR § 42)

300 CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS

310 Domestic Products – Refer to the current AMS Master Solicitation of Commodity 

Procurements. 

320 Food Defense – Refer to the Current AMS Master Solicitation of Commodity 

Procurements.

330 Once awarded a contract, the contractor shall provide a copy of this FPPS to the 

USDA Grader.
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Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/29/2013

Date Revised: 04/25/2017

340 USDA Requirements – The commodity shall be produced and processed in an 

official plant operating under the USDA/AMS voluntary shell egg grading program, 

be accurately marked and/or labeled, and meet all USDA regulatory requirements 

currently in place.

341 Shell Eggs – All shell eggs are to be fresh, certified U.S. Grade AA or A Large or 

Medium of current production as defined in 7 CFR § 56.1. Eggs shall be processed 

in accordance with 7 CFR § 56. Eggs shall be processed no more than 10 calendar 

days from the date of shipment. Sampling of the product shall be as detailed in the 

Shell Egg Graders Handbook.

350 Packaging and Packing Materials

351 Requirements – All packaging and packing materials shall be clean and in new 

condition and shall not impart objectionable odors. All packing materials (shipping 

containers) shall be tamper evident. Tamper-evident is defined as packing 

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

missing, can reasonably be expected to provide visible evidence of tampering.

352 A purchase unit shall consist of only one size or color of eggs in one type of 

packaging and packing material, with only one format of labeling. Mixing egg sizes, 

colors, packaging and packing materials and labeling format are not permitted in a 

purchase unit.

360 Fiberboard Shipping Containers

361 Requirements – The fiberboard shipping container shall: (a) be of such size to pack 

the cartons of product without slack filling or bulging; (b) protect the interior cartons 

against loss and damage; (c) withstand the humidity and temperature during the 

conditions of use; and (d) have the combined facings weight, the bursting strength, 

and the compression strength (edge crush value) to withstand the stress of 

handling, shipping, stacking, and storage.

362 Final Closure – The final closure of the fiberboard shipping containers shall be 

secure and made with commercially acceptable adhesive filament-reinforced 

plastic-type tape, plastic-film package tape, gummed adhesive paper tape, or other 

similar types of materials that are applicable to refrigerated temperature storage 

conditions and that provide for safe handling of the shell eggs and a tamper-evident 

seal. Tape shall be 2 to 3 inches wide applied across the top of the case and a 

minimum of 2 inches down each end. All fiberboard shipping containers within a 

purchase unit shall be sealed with a similar type of commercially available tamperevident seal. Steel or wire straps shall not be used for the final closure. Staples 

shall not be used for the final closing of fiberboard shipping containers. However, 

staples may be used to manufacture and to assemble the fiberboard shipping 

containers, provided the staples are fastened into the container and tightly clenched 

to eliminate sharp edges prior to packing cartons of product into the shipping 

containers.
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Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/29/2013

Date Revised: 04/25/2017

400 LABELING

410 Commercial Labeling Shall be Used – The contractor shall use the same label 

format within a purchase unit. 

411 Commercially labeled packages and shipping containers shall be approved in 

accordance with USDA requirements (7 CFR § 56). Labeling shall be approved by 

AMS/LPS Program prior to acceptance for use under this FPPS. Commercial 

packages (cartons) for one dozen eggs shall bear official identification in the form of 

the USDA Grademark (shield). Cartons shall bear expiration or best by date in 

compliance with mandatory requirements of destination state.

412 Commercial Labels

412.1 Commercial labels shall be the contractor’s own commercial label (brand name). 

Distributors’ labels are not allowed.

420 Traceable Product

421 The contractor shall establish a product identification and record system that clearly 

links product by place and time of production and processing to specific USDA 

contracts and destinations. When the company uses the same commercial label for 

the product certified as complying with this FPPS and commercial product, the 

identification system shall differentiate between USDA purchased and other 

commercial products. An alpha numeric code may be used for information that is in 

addition to USDA labeling requirements. Contractor shall maintain records to 

demonstrate the ability to trace the eggs to the production source (flocks). These 

records shall be made available to the Grader and the Contracting Officer or agent 

thereof upon request.

422 Changes made to a contractor’s identification and record system shall be submitted

to the USDA Grader for approval prior to instituting such changes. USDA may 

select the commodity and audit the required product identification and record 

system for compliance purposes.

500 FINAL EXAMINATION OF PACKAGED AND PACKED COMMODITY

510 Verification of Packaging and Packing Material

511 The contractor shall verify compliance with packaging, packing, and marking 

material requirements by furnishing the Grader the following certification on 

company stationery signed by a person authorized to do so by the contractor: 

“(I)(We) certify that the packaging, packing, and marking materials used for any 

commodity presented for acceptance under the terms of the Federal Purchase 

Program Specification (FPPS) for Shell Eggs dated April 2017 comply or shall

comply with the terms of the FPPS. 
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Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/29/2013

Date Revised: 04/25/2017

Name ________________________________

Title _________________________________”

512 One certification is adequate for all production under this FPPS.

520 Examination of Packed and Packaged Commodity

521 The shipping containers in a delivery unit shall be examined for condition and for 

labeling and markings defects in accordance with the United States Standards for 

Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR § 42).

530 Inspection and Checkloading

531 Requirements – Inspection for contract compliance shall be made by a USDA 

representative, in accordance with 7 CFR § 56, USDA regulatory requirements, and 

this FPPS, at the site of processing, both during and after processing and 

packaging. The USDA representative may inspect the product at any point in transit 

and after delivery to the point of destination. Inspection records shall be complete 

and made available to USDA/AMS as requested, to assure contract compliance.

532 Procedures – The inspection and checkloading shall be performed by a USDA/AMS 

Grader. Procedures to be followed and a schedule of fees for these services may 

be obtained by contacting the appropriate USDA/AMS Regional Office. The quality, 

quantity, size/weight, packaging, packing, and checkloading of the commodity 

(including acceptance of the transport container for conveyance) shall be evidenced 

by certificates issued by the USDA/AMS Grader. The contractor shall not ship the 

commodity unless informed by the USDA/AMS Grader that the designated lot meets 

contract specifications.

533 Contract Compliance Stamp – Each shipping container shall be identified with a 

USDA Contract Compliance stamp with the applicable certificate number. The 

Grader, or other authorized personnel under the supervision of the Grader, shall

stamp one end of each shipping container prior to shipment.

600 UNITIZATION

610 Each delivery unit of commodity shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped) 

and shall comply with the following:

611 Pallets – Pallets shall be good quality, 48 inches x 40 inches, non-reversible, flush 

stringer, and partial four-way entry. Each pallet of shipping containers shall be 

stretch-wrapped with plastic film in a manner that shall secure each container and 

layer of containers on the pallet. Palletized product shall be loaded in a way that 

shall prevent shifting and damage to the containers of product. Pallet loads shall be 

stacked in a manner that minimizes the overhang of the shipping containers over 

the edges of the pallets and exposes the principle shipping container display panels

to the extent possible to facilitate certification examinations. Eggs that are shipped 
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Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/29/2013

Date Revised: 04/25/2017

immediately after packaging and packing shall be stretch-wrapped to secure the 

cases in a manner that would allow cooling of the eggs during transport yet having 

secure containment for the egg cases on a pallet.

620 Pallet Exchange

621 Contractors may arrange for pallet exchange with consignees; however, USDA is 

not responsible for such arrangements.

700 SHIPMENT AND DELIVERY

710 Shipment and delivery shall be made in accordance with the AMS Master 

Solicitation, the Solicitation, and this FPPS. In addition, the contractor shall adhere 

to the following provisions:

711 Grading Certificate – A copy of the original USDA Shell Egg Grading Certificate

(PY-210S) shall accompany each shipment. The driver shall, upon delivery, give 

the certificate to the warehouseman, or consignee, as applicable.

720 Loading and Sealing of Vehicles

721 Refer to the current AMS Master Solicitation of Commodity Procurements.

730 Delivery Notification (Advance Ship Notification)

731 Refer to the current AMS Master Solicitation of Commodity Procurements.

740 Split Deliveries

741 Refer to the current AMS Master Solicitation of Commodity Procurements.

800 PRODUCT ASSURANCE AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION

810 Product Assurance – The Contractor shall guarantee that the product complies with 

all FPPS requirements and provisions set forth in the Master Solicitation for 

Commodity Procurements.

820 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.