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 

Master/Shortfall Invitation 

Bid invitation Overview 

Information 

Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0159 

Bid invitation number: 2000009799 

Purchasing Group: AMS-Fruit and Veg 

Bid Timezone: Central Time 

Start Date: 01/04/2024 15:00:00 

Offer Due Date : 01/15/2024 13:00:00 

Opening date: 01/15/2024 13:00:00 

Invitation Type : Master 

Additional requested information: 

Tendering text - Header : 

Section 32 Fresh Pears, SOLICITATION NO: 2000009799 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites offers to sell fresh pears 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, January 25, 2024. Deliveries are to 

be made between February 19, 2024 and April 10, 2024. 

The Contract Specialist handling this purchase will be Nick Wiber at nick.wiber@usda.gov. The Contact 

Officer handling this purchase will be David Jackson. Please contact the specialist first. 

2023 crop year only 

Small Business Set Asides for NAICS code 311991 with a size standard of 500 employees or less are 

as follows: 

111424 - PEARS BARTLETT FRESH CTN#40 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside 

111423 - PEARS BOSC FRESH CTN#40 LB- 100% Small Business Set Aside 

Estimated shipping schedule and quantities can be found in the Part B and and Exhibit 2 documents. 

This purchase must meet all relevant requirements such as packing, packaging, labeling, inspection and 

shipping temperatures of the Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit July 2019. 

Every bidder must include a letter of support with their bid from all current and approved supplier(s). 

The templates for the letter of support are attached to the solicitation with the required elements. Each 

letter of support is only good for one solicitation. A new letter of support will be required for every 

solicitation, from every supplier. The supplier must include the quantity in cases they are committing to 

the bidder. USDA will not award a quantity that exceeds the sum of all supplier#s committed quantities 

to a particular bidder. 

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. 

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. 

Vendors or subcontractors who are supplying fresh fruit crops to the United States Department of 
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SOLICITATION Information 

Master/Shortfall Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0159 

Bid invitation number: 2000009799 

Agriculture (USDA) must ensure that each of their suppliers/subcontractors who grow, harvest, pack, 

hold, and handle product have approved and current food safety verification audits PRIOR to the bid 

opening date of this solicitation. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) 

scopes which are necessary to meet the minimum requirement to be deemed responsive are as follows: 

GAP - Farm Review AND Field Harvesting & Field Packing Activities 

GHP - House Packing Facility AND Storage & Transportation 

All these requirements shall be met PRIOR to the bid opening date. 

Brokers are exempt from the USDA GAP/GHP requirements themselves, HOWEVER 

suppliers/subcontractors performing under the contract shall have the applicable USDA GAP/GHP 

certification(s). 

Verification audits shall be performed by the USDA, AMS, SCP-SCID representatives only. 

In order to be found responsive the contractor and/or its subcontractors/suppliers must be in compliance 

with USDA GAP/GHP certification. Offerors must include in their bid the GAP and GHP Audit 

Verification attachment, which is found in the attachments section of this solicitation. Offerors who do 

not complete this form in its entirety, do not include the form as an attachment to their bid, or are 

missing the required USDA GAP/GHP scopes listed above shall be deemed nonresponsive. 

All audits are valid for one year after the date the audit was conducted. More information on USDA 

GAP/GHP audits can be found here: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp or by reaching 

out to scaudits@usda.gov. 

Awardees may ship and supply from any location found here: 

https://apps.ams.usda.gov/GAPGHP/reportG01.aspx 

If USDA/AMS finds that suppliers used by the contractor are not in compliance with AMS GAP/GHP 

certification requirements after the product is delivered, the following courses of action will apply: 

1. A cure notice shall be issued informing the contractor of their failure to comply with the required 

elements of this solicitation. The USDA will then deduct a 50% discount from the invoice for all 

noncompliant deliveries shipped or invoiced prior to the date listed on the cure notice. 

2. If the contractor ships noncompliant product after the date of the cure notice: 

a. USDA/AMS will deduct a 50% discount from the invoice for all noncompliant deliveries; 

b. The contract will be terminated for cause; and 

c. The contractor will be suspended from participating in all future USDA/AMS fresh fruit and vegetable 

solicitations for a period of one year from the date of contract termination. 

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. 
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SOLICITATION Information 

Master/Shortfall Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0159 

Bid invitation number: 2000009799 

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 Fresh 

Fruit; 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. 

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), or (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). 

See attached documents: 

1 . CommoditySpecificationforFreshFruitJuly2019

 2 . Templates for Supplier Agreement Letter

 3 . USDA GAP AND GHP

 4 . Master Solicitation November 7, 2023

 5 . Exhibit 2 - Estimated S32 Pear Demand

 6 . Part B 
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SOLICITATION Information 

Master/Shortfall Invitation Description: 

Bid invitation number: 

12-3J14-24-B-0159 

2000009799 

Attributes : 

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 

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 

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 attached the required Supplier Agreement Letter for every supplier they intend to subcontract 

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). 

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). 

Bid invitation Item details 

Item Material Description Quantity 

40 FRUIT, FRESH 

50 111423 PEARS BOSC FRESH CTN#40 LB CS 

31,360.000 

Total Quantity for PEARS BOSC FRESH CTN#40 LB 

31,360.000 

CS 
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SOLICITATION Information 

Master/Shortfall Invitation Description: 12-3J14-24-B-0159 

Bid invitation number: 2000009799 

Item Material Description Quantity 

60 111424 PEARS BARTLETT FRESH CTN#40 LB CS 

45,080.000 

Total Quantity for PEARS BARTLETT FRESH CTN#40 LB CS 

45,080.000 

Total Quantity for Invitation CS 

76,440.000