Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 06/10/12

Date Revised: 08/03/17

SUPPLEMENT 602 TO THE AMS 

MASTER SOLICITATION FOR 

PURCHASE OF FROZEN LAMB 

PRODUCTS FOR 

DISTRIBUTION TO FEDERAL 

FOOD AND NUTRITION 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

APPROVED

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: Supplement 602 June 2015 – Changes 

from previous requirements in blue

 Effective: August 2017

100 OVERVIEW

110 This document provides additional program requirements for the purchase of Frozen Lamb 

Products by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the applicable Federal 

Purchase Program Specification (FPPS) (Exhibit A).

200 INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS

210 The frozen lamb products will be purchased on a competitive bid basis from qualified

suppliers who have met the requirements described in the following Sections.

220 Actual purchases will be described in the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity 

Procurements and Solicitations.

230. Animal Welfare Requirements – All contractors and subcontractors must meet the animal 

handling and welfare requirements set forth in the Federal Purchase Program Specification 

(FPPS) For Animal Handling and Welfare, effective August 2017 (Exhibit B).

300 QUALITY ASSESSMENT DIVISION (QAD)

310 QAD Monitoring and Evaluation

310.1 Monitoring and Evaluation Protocol for Conformity Assessment of Federal Purchase 

Program Specifications (FPPS), effective June 2015 (Exhibit C).

311 Eligible suppliers who receive USDA contracts must have a QAD agent present during the 

production of the frozen lamb products. The QAD agent will monitor and verify the 

production based on the applicable FPPS. Records may be maintained on hard copy or 

electronic media; however, records maintained as electronic media will be made available 

in printed form immediately upon request by AMS or its agents.
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 06/10/12

Date Revised: 08/03/17

312 A QAD agent will perform a pre-award onsite capability assessment of the facility(s), food 

security plan, domestic origin, and animal welfare plan to determine the supplier’s ability to 

meet contractual requirements.

313 Food Defense Assessment

313.1 The QAD will conduct a food defense audit that will include, but is not limited to, a thorough 

evaluation of the potential contractors’ and subcontractors’ food defense plan. 

Documentation must support the contractor’s or subcontractor’s food defense plan. If the 

report demonstrates that the food defense plan is inadequate, the applicant will be notified 

by the FSCS Division that they are ineligible to bid. The applicant will have an opportunity 

to correct identified deficiencies, modify their food defense plan and resubmit a brief 

description for further consideration. Eligibility will depend on whether the modifications 

demonstrate compliance with their food defense plan.

313.2 Upon completion of the onsite capability assessment, the auditor will provide either a verbal 

or email notification of the audit findings to the FSCS Division to determine (based on the 

audit findings), supplier eligibility to bid. Supplier will be notified by the FSCS Division and 

the official final report will be sent once released from the QAD.

320 Questions concerning charges and the availability of AMS agents can contact USDA/AMS,

LPS Program’s QAD field office or the Director of the QAD, LPS Program, AMS, USDA, 

Room 3953-S, STOP 0258, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-

0258, telephone (202) 720-3271.

400 DOMESTIC ORIGIN CERTIFICATION CLAUSE

410 The contractor agrees to include this domestic origin certification clause in its entirety in all 

subcontracts for meat or meat products used in fulfilling any contracts awarded under this 

Supplement and Master Solicitation. The burden of proof of compliance is on the 

Contractor. All raw materials will be shipped in containers labeled as “Domestic Only 

Product” on the principle display panel and the bill of lading accompanying the shipment 

will contain the statement “Domestic Only Product.”

500 CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE (COC)

510 In addition to the referenced payment documents required in the Master Solicitation,

please include a copy of the Contractor’s Certificate of Conformance (Exhibit D).

600 CONTRACTOR CHECKLOADING

610 Contractor will perform checkloading examinations as described in the FPPS at the 

time of shipment and issue contractor’s certificate to accompany each shipment that 

includes all of the following information:

610.1 Purchase Order Number,

610.2 Sales Order and Sales Order Item Number,
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 06/10/12

Date Revised: 08/03/17

610.3 Name of product,

610.4 Shipping Date,

610.5 Production lot number(s) and date each lot was produced,

610.6 Count of shipping containers and total projected net weight in each production lot,

610.7 Identity of car or truck (car numbers and letters, seals, truck license, etc.) as 

applicable

610.8 Contractor certification that product conforms with the FPPS,

610.9 Count and projected net weight verified, and

610.10 Signature of company official responsible for checkloading.

700 EXHIBITS
APPROVED

FEDERAL PURCHASE 

PROGRAM SPECIFICATION 

FOR LAMB LEG ROASTS AND 

SHOULDER CHOPS, FROZEN 

(FPPS-LRC-2015)

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program 

Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division

Room 2628 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 692-0342

Supersedes: TDS for Lamb Leg Roasts and Shoulder Chops, Frozen 

May 2012 – changes from previous requirements in blue

Effective: June 2015 

Approved by CMS 

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15

100 SCOPE

110 This FPPS is for use by USDA for the procurement of lamb leg roasts and 

shoulder chops, frozen. Lamb roasts and chops will be produced in 

accordance with the Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) and the 

special instructions specified herein. 

200 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

210 IMPS General Requirements, Interim, Effective June 1996.

211 IMPS for Fresh Lamb and Mutton, Series 200, Effective November 2014. 

213 IMPS Quality Assurance Provisions (QAPS), Effective June 1997.

214 Quality Assessment Division (QAD) Instructions

300 ORDERING DATA TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE PURCHASER

310 Domestic Origin – All lamb will originate from U.S. produced livestock as 

defined in the Master Solicitation and purchase Supplement.

311 Humane Handling – All lambs shall be humanely handled in accordance with 

all applicable FSIS regulations and AMS requirements.

313 Refer to the Ordering Data section within the IMPS For Fresh Lamb and 

Mutton, Series 200 and the following item descriptions for:

313.1 IMPS 233A – Leg, Trotter Off. . 

313.2 IMPS 233B – Leg, Shank Off.

313.3 IMPS 234 – Leg, Boneless, Tied.

SUPPLEMENT 602 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT A
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 2

313.4 IMPS 234A – Leg, Shank Off, Boneless, Tied.

313.5 IMPS 234B – Leg, 2-Way, Boneless, Tied.

313.6 IMPS 234C – Leg, Bottom, Boneless, Tied.

313.7 IMPS 1207 – Shoulder Chops 

314 Product shall be certified by USDA, AMS, QAD.

314.1 IMPS QAPS AQL Major 6.5, Minor 25. 

314.2 Defect Classification Table 200 H for Item No. 233A, 233B, Table 200 I for Item

No. 234, 234A, 234B, 234C and Table 200 M for Item No. 1207.

315 Class – 1. Lamb.

316 Grade – USDA Choice or USDA Prime.

317 Frozen, Freezing Option 1. (See IMPS General Requirements).

318 Weight Range

318.1 Weight Range - IMPS 233A – Cut into portions weighing 3 - 8 pounds.

318.2 Weight Range – IMPS 233B – Cut into portions weighing 3 – 8 pounds.

318.3 Weight Range – IMPS 234 – Cut into portions weighing 3 - 8 pounds.

318.4 Weight Range – IMPS 234A – Cut into portions weighing 3 - 8 pounds.

318.5 Weight Range – IMPS 234B – Portions shall weigh 3 - 8 pounds.

318.6 Weight Range – IMPS 234C – Portions shall weigh 3 – 8 pounds.

319 Portion-Cut Thickness - IMPS 1207 – Shoulder Chops – 1.0 inch thick (+/-

3/16-inch tolerance).

320 Style

320.1 Shoulder Chops may be derived from Carcass Cutting Instructions 

Style A or B.

320.2 Legs shall be derived from Carcass Cutting Instruction for Style A or B.

321 Fat Limitations 1⁄4-inch maximum at any one point for Shoulder Chops and Leg 

Roasts . All fell shall be removed over the fat covered areas.
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 3

322 Purchaser Specified Options.

322.1 IMPS 1207 – Shoulder Chops – All chops from each square-cut shoulder shall 

be placed into one flexible container. The rib bones and sternum may remain 

on the shoulder chops. (See Figure 1.).

 

Figure 1.

322.2 IMPS 233A / 233B – Leg, Trotter Off / Shank Off – Legs derived from Style A 

shall be cut into three portions (shank portion, center leg, and sirloin) weighing 

3-8 pounds by making the following two cuts as illustrated in Figure 2. Legs 

derived from Style B shall be cut into two portions (shank portion and center 

portion) weighing 3-8 pounds by making the posterior cut as illustrated in 

Figure 2. For legs derived from Style A that are smaller in weight, split the leg

in half by cutting posterior to the aitch bone making two portions that are 3-8 

pounds as illustrated in Figure 3. For legs derived from Style B that are smaller 

in weight, the cut may remain intact resulting in a roast weighing 3-8 pounds. 

When present, the sirloin portion shall be ‘notched’ as illustrated in Figure 4.

Knob of the aitch bone

Stifle Joint

 

Figure 2.

• Anterior to the stifle joint; and

• Immediately posterior to ‘anterior knob’ of the aitch bone, so that the resulting cut 

appears as illustrated in Figure 4.

Rib bones and sternum
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 4

322.3 For legs that are smaller in weight, split the leg in half by cutting posterior to the 

aitch bone making 2 portions that are 3 – 8 pounds as illustrated in Figure 3.

 

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

• Sirloin portion - Saw cuts shall be made at approximately 3⁄4-inch (± 1⁄4-inch) intervals 

passing through the sacral vertebrae and pelvic bone without cutting completely through 

the lean (notched) so that the sirloin portion is left intact. This will enable the user to slice 

the items into portions before or after roasting.”

322.4 Lamb Leg Roasts, Boneless shall be derived from any combination of the 

following IMPS items:

322.4.1 IMPS 234 – Leg, Boneless, Tied – The boneless leg may be cut into two roasts

 weighing 3-8 pounds by a straight cut perpendicular to the length of the leg. 

For legs that are smaller in weight, the roast may remain intact resulting in a 

weight of 3-8 pounds. Each roast shall be netted or tied.

322.4.2 IMPS 234A – Leg, Shank Off, Boneless, Tied - The boneless leg may be cut 

into two roasts weighing 3-8 pounds by a straight cut perpendicular to the 

length of the leg. For legs that are smaller in weight, the roast may remain 

intact resulting in a weight of 3-8 pounds. Each roast shall be netted or tied.

322.4.3 IMPS 234B – Leg, 2-Way, Boneless – The boneless leg shall be separated 

through the natural seams into two portions, bottom (outside and knuckle) and 

inside. Each roast will weigh 3-8 pounds and be netted or tied.

322.4.4 IMPS 234C – Leg, Bottom, Boneless – Each roast will weigh 3-8 pounds and 

be netted or tied.

400 IMPS GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Sirloin portion (‘notched cut’)
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 5

410 Packing and Packaging

410.1 Roasts (leg portions) shall be individually vacuumed packaged.

410.2 Chops, from each shoulder, shall be placed into one flexible package container 

and vacuum packaged. 

410.3 Roasts (leg portions) from IMPS 233A/233B shall be individually vacuumed 

packaged. Boneless leg roasts shall be netted and individually vacuumed 

packaged.

410.4 Packaged roasts and chops shall be placed into shipping containers to a net 

weight of 35 – 45 pounds.

411 Labeling

412 Both immediate and shipping containers will be labeled to include all 

information required by FSIS regulations as well as the following information:

413 Immediate Container

413.1 A traceability code that is traceable back to establishment number, production 

lot, and date.

413.2 A “Best-If-Used-By” date that is 180 calendar days from the date of production.

413.3 Safe Handling Instructions.

413.4 Ingredient declaration (including single ingredient products).

413.5 An allergen statement in a format which complies with the Food Allergen 

Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) for any product which 

contains milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy or wheat; 

e.g., Allergen: This product contains ______.

413.6 Nutrition facts panel based on actual nutritional analysis of the product.

414 Shipping Container

414.1 USDA shield at least 2 inches high and appearing on the top of the container or 

on the principle display panel. 
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 6

414.2 Applicable purchase order number.

414.3 A traceability code that is traceable back to establishment number, production 

lot, and date.

414.4 Applicable product name: 

IMPS 1207 – Lamb, Shoulder Chops 

IMPS 233A / 233B – Lamb, Leg Roast

 IMPS 234 / 234A / 234B / 234C – Lamb, Leg Roast Boneless

414.5 Material number:

414.5.1 Lamb Leg Roast - material number 110290.

414.5.2 Lamb Leg Roast Boneless – material number 110291.

414.5.3 Lamb Shoulder Chops - material number 110300.

420 Palletized Unit Loads

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

with shrink wrap plastic.

430 Delivery Unit

431 The delivery unit will be 40,000 pounds net weight (minus 60 pounds 

tolerance).

440 Condition of Containers.

441 Exam is limited to observing the sampled packaged product for defect criteria 

listed within the IMPS QA provisions, or monitoring production, to assure items 

are properly vacuum packaged. Delivery units will be scanned for damaged 

containers. Damaged containers will be reworked or replaced.

450 Sealing.

451 The AMS agent shall assure that all boxes are palletized. Individual boxes 

need not be sealed. The traceability code for each lot shall be recorded on the 

certificate.

452 All products must be delivered to AMS assigned destinations under seal with 

tamper proof, tamper resistant, serially numbered, high security seals that meet 

the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard (ASTM) F1157-04 

and/or the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 17712-2010 as 

required under the Master Solicitation. Seals shall be 1⁄8th-inch diameter cable, 

high-security bolt, or equivalent.
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 04/01/09

Date Revised: 06/22/15 7

460 Purchaser Specified Examination - Net Weight (in accordance with IMPS 

Quality Assurance Provisions).

470 Contractor Checkloading.

471 Contractor will perform checkloading examinations at the time of shipment and 

issue contractor’s certificate to accompany each shipment that includes all of 

the following information:

471.1 Purchase Order Number/Purchase Order Line Item Number.

471.2 Sales Order Number/Sales Order Line Item Number.

471.3 Destination of Shipment.

471.4 Name of product and applicable material number.

471.5 Shipping Date.

471.6 Production lot number(s) and date each lot was produced along with shipping 

container and immediate container code(s) and the code used that provides 

traceability to establishment number, production lot and date.

471.7 Count of shipping containers and total projected net weight in each production 

lot. Count and projected net weight verified. 

471.8 Identity of car or truck (car numbers and letters, seals, truck license, etc.) as 

applicable.

471.9 Contractor certification that product conforms to the applicable specification 

(FPPS-LRC-2015) and signature of company official responsible for 

checkloading.

500 PRODUCT ASSURANCE

510 Warranty and Complaint Resolution.

510.1 Warranty – The contractor will guarantee that the product complies with all 

contractual requirements required under the Supplement.

510.2 Complaint Resolution – The contractor must take steps to resolve complaints 

received on the product (i.e. point of contact, cause and effect analysis, 

corrective and preventative actions taken, and product replacement).
APPROVED

FEDERAL PURCHASE 

PROGRAM SPECIFICATION 

(FPPS) FOR ANIMAL 

HANDLING AND WELFARE

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program 

Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division

Room 2628 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 692-0342

Supersedes: FPPS-AHW-2015 January 2015 – Changes 

from previous requirements in blue

Effective: August 2017

Approved by_______CMS 

Date Issued: 08/11/08 

Date Revised: 08/02/17

100 GENERAL 

101 This document is for use by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), AMS, LPS 

Program to ensure that the animal handling and welfare requirements for Federal 

nutrition assistance programs reflect industry best practices. 

110 PROGRAM APPROACH 

111 All animal harvest facilities that supply raw materials from bovine, porcine and 

ovine species for the production of AMS destined finished products must develop 

and implement a written program that is consistent with a systematic approach to 

humane animal handling and welfare as outlined in 69 FR 54625. The program will 

ensure proper animal handling and welfare techniques are conducted from the time 

the transportation conveyance enters the facility’s premises through the stunning 

and exsanguination of the animal. 

120 PROGRAM SUBMISSION 

121 The program will be submitted as a supporting document to the organization’s 

approved technical proposal and must address the requirements outlined in 

Section 200 – PROGRAM COMPONENTS. 

200 PROGRAM COMPONENTS 

201 The contractor must ensure that any facility that harvests animals has a: 

210 MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT 

211 Steering Committee (internal) which is ultimately accountable for animal handling 

and welfare initiatives within the organization. 

212 Mission Statement on animal handling and welfare that is distributed to all 

employees and conspicuously displayed at the premises. 

SUPPLEMENT 210 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT B
Approved by_______CMS 

Date Issued: 08/11/08 

Date Revised: 08/02/17 2 

220 TRAINING PROGRAM 

221 Training program on Animal Handling and Welfare that:

221.1 is provided to all employees interacting with animals; 

221.2 covers the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) Recommended Animal Handling 

Guidelines & Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare, dated June 

2017;

221.3 is facilitated by an employee that has earned and maintained a certification of 

animal handling and welfare training, such as that offered through the Professional 

Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) or an equivalent. 

221.4 is conducted no less frequently than once a year for each designated employee; 

and, 

221.5 requires signed documentation from each employee and confirmation by signature 

of the designated, certified trainer upon successful completion of training. 

230 QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN 

231 Written quality management plan (internal) which addresses all provisions of 

Chapter 3: Transportation Audit Guidelines, 7 Core Criteria and Chapter 4: Auditing 

Animal Handling and Stunning, 7 Core Criteria, of the NAMI Recommended Animal 

Handling Guidelines & Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare, 

dated June 2017, found at the following web site address: 

231.1 http://www.animalhandling.org/sites/default/files/forms/animal-handling-guidelinesJune152017.pdf

 

232 This internal quality management plan must also provide for routine assessment 

and monitoring of humane handling through the use of a numerical scoring system 

conducted by a trained employee. 

233 All animal harvest facilities that supply raw materials from bovine, porcine and 

ovine species for the production of AMS destined finished products must have a 

fully functioning back-up stunning device onsite wherever animal stunning is 

performed.

240 REGULATORY OVERSIGHT 

241 For all species, animals/carcasses that are inspected and passed by the Food 

Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) are eligible for AMS purchase programs. 

300 PROGRAM EVALUATION AND ELIGIBILITY 

301 The program will be audited (external) by AMS or a firm accredited by AMS. The 

accreditation of the firm will be conducted by the Quality Assessment Division 

(QAD) through the USDA ISO Guide 17065 Program. 
Approved by_______CMS 

Date Issued: 08/11/08 

Date Revised: 08/02/17 3 

302 Audit findings will be communicated to the establishment’s Food Safety and 

Inspection Service (FSIS) Inspector in Charge (IIC) or designee. 

310 AUDIT FORMAT 

311 Audits will be conducted utilizing the following format: 

312 TRANSPORTATION SEGMENT (CHAPTER 3: NAMI Recommended Animal 

Handling Guidelines & Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare,

dated June 2017) 

312.1 Audited organizations must pass Core Criteria 1 and 6 with a minimum scoring of 

excellent, Core Criteria 2 through 5 with a minimum scoring of acceptable and Core 

Criteria 7 must be adhered to with full compliance (zero tolerance) each time an 

audit is performed. 

313 ANIMAL HANDLING AND STUNNING SEGMENT (CHAPTER 4: NAMI 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines & Audit Guide: A Systematic Approach 

to Animal Welfare, dated June 2017) 

313.1 Audited organizations must adhere to Core Criteria 1, 2, 6 and 7 with full 

compliance (zero tolerance) and to Core Criteria 3, 4 and 5 with a minimum scoring 

of Acceptable each time an audit is performed.1/ 

313.2 The auditor shall inform FSIS and organization officials in writing of all audit 

findings, including any observations of missed stuns and/or animals regaining 

sensibility following stunning, upon completion of the audit during the exit interview. 

320 INITIAL AUDIT 

321 Initial audit must be performed prior to award of contracts. 

330 AUDIT FAILURE 

331 If an audit is failed for any of the Core Criteria, the organization is not eligible to 

provide product until such a time that corrective and preventative actions are 

approved by the Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division, 

implemented and proven effective. 

340 AUDIT FREQUENCY AND STATUS 

341 STANDARD - Until four (4) consecutive successfully passed audits are attained, an 

audit must be conducted within 3 months of the previous audit. 

1/Religious harvest (Kosher and Halal) shall be exempt from the AMS auditing of Core Criteria 1: Effective Stunning. 
Approved by_______CMS 

Date Issued: 08/11/08 

Date Revised: 08/02/17 4 

342 MONTHLY - If at any time an audit identifies any of the Core Criteria not meeting 

the pass requirements while in the STANDARD phase, auditing will be required to 

be conducted on a monthly basis once corrective and preventative actions have 

been approved by the FSCS Division, implemented and proven effective. This 

schedule will be for a period of time until four (4) successive audits are found to 

meet the passing requirements noted in SECTION 310 – AUDIT FORMAT; at 

which time audits shall be conducted on the STANDARD basis. 

343 If four successfully conducted audits are sequentially completed within a one year 

period while in STANDARD auditing phase, the facility may move to a SEMIANNUAL audit basis. 

344 SEMI-ANNUAL - Semi-annual audits may continue until such time that a failed 

audit is reported or a period of greater than six months has elapsed without any 

audits being performed; at which time the audits must resume as described for 

STANDARD audits. 

345 FOR-CAUSE – Any official enforcement actions issued by FSIS for missed stuns or 

for an animal regaining sensibility following stunning shall result in an immediate 

for-cause animal handling and welfare audit by AMS. Subsequent audit frequency 

will be determined by results of the AMS audit, as described above. 

400 FSCS DIVISION 

401 The FSCS Division can declare an organization’s Animal Handing and Welfare 

Program out of compliance at any time. 

402 The organization shall immediately notify the FSCS Division when any animal 

handling and welfare official enforcement action is issued by FSIS. 
APPROVED

MONITORING AND 

EVALUATION PROTOCOL 

FOR CONFORMITY 

ASSESSMENT OF FEDERAL 

PURCHASE PROGRAM 

SPECIFICATIONS (FPPS)

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)

Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program 

Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division

Room 2628 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 692-0342

Supersedes: Monitoring and Evaluation Protocol for Conformity 

Assessment of Item Description and Checklist of Requirements (IDCR) 

Specifications, September 2011 – changes from previous requirements 

in blue

Effective: June 2015 

Approved by CMS 

Date Issued: 02/01/08 

Date Revised: 06/22/15

100 SCOPE

110 When authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Commodity 

Procurement Staff (CPS), Contracting Branch, the following protocol shall be 

applied by an AMS, Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program, Quality 

Assessment Division (QAD) agent to assess the application of a contractor’s 

pre-approved production plan and adherence to FPPS requirements.

120 The Contractor’s production plan will be approved by the AMS, LPS Program, 

Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division prior to any 

production of finished products destined for delivery to the Department of 

Agriculture (USDA). The production must adequately address the 

requirements listed within the FPPS. The QAD agent must be present during 

production of finished products and monitor and verify the processing steps, 

quality assurance activities, and corrective actions to assure that all 

requirements outlined in the approved production plan are in compliance. The 

QAD agent will conduct monitoring and production verification activities in 

accordance with applicable QAD instructions. Any deviations to contractual 

requirements will be reported immediately to the FSCS Division. 

200 EVALUATION CHECKLIST

210 Documentation

211 Domestic Origin and Harvest Requirements

211.1 All documentation regarding origin and harvest requirements will be made 

available to the QAD agent upon request.

SUPPLEMENT 602 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT C
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 02/01/08

Date Revised: 06/22/15 2

212 Quality Assurance and Test Results

212.1 All recorded measurements and test results supporting quality assurance of 

product to be delivered to USDA will be made available to the QAD agent upon 

request.

213 Findings

213.1 All findings with regards to documentation will be recorded by the QAD agent 

on the attached ASSESSMENT FORM. 

220 Physical Characteristics - Material Requirements for Handling and 

Objectionable Materials/Cut/Fat Trim Requirements

221 Four sample units shall be randomly selected from each lot. Lot size shall be 

designated by the contractor. Each sample unit shall be a minimum of 10 

patties, 10 pounds of adjacent lean, a single roast or 5 adjacent steaks/chops 

or similar individual serving style units.

222 Each sample unit will be evaluated. All findings will be recorded by the QAD

agent on the attached ASSESSMENT FORM.

230 Processing

231 The QAD agent will observe and monitor the process assuring all quality 

assurance activities are implemented in accordance with the production plan 

and FPPS.

232 Any deviations will be recorded by the QAD agent on the attached 

ASSESSMENT FORM.

240 Finish Product Limitations

241 The QAD agent shall assure that all testing stated within the production plan is 

being implemented.

242 All test results for each lot and any deviations to FPPS requirements will be 

recorded by the QAD agent on the attached ASSESSMENT FORM.

243 Physical Characteristics – Finished Product Requirements

243.1 Four sample units shall be randomly selected from each lot. Lot size shall be 

designated by the contractor. Each sample unit shall be a minimum of 10 

patties, 10 pounds of adjacent lean, a single roast or 5 adjacent steaks/chops 

or similar individual serving style units.

243.2 Each sample unit will be evaluated. All findings will be recorded by the QAD

agent on the attached ASSESSMENT FORM. 
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 02/01/08

Date Revised: 06/22/15 3

250 Preparation for Delivery

251 The production lot shall be scanned for compliance with the FPPS Packing, 

Packaging, Closure, and Labeling requirements.

252 Any deviations to requirements shall be described in detail on the attached 

ASSESSMENT FORM. 

300 QUALITY ASSURANCE MONITORING

310 The QAD agent shall use the attached ASSESSMENT FORM to record their 

observations of the following deviations of quality. All findings shall be made 

available to the contractor and the FSCS Division. Additionally, any production 

lots that are in less than excellent condition as determined by the QAD agent 

must be immediately diverted from all USDA purchase programs.

311 Presence of unauthorized cuts or materials,

312 Presence of any non-meat components such as bones, cartilages, spinal cord, 

organ tissue, and foreign material,

313 Raw materials and finished product not trimmed, fabricated, or packaged as 

specified or described within the approved quality plan,

314 Test results or measurements that do not meet FPPS requirements or that are 

outside tolerances within approved production plan,

315 Does not match the prototype (when applicable) submitted for approval by 

USDA, or

316 Inability of the contractor to have documentation supporting traceability of 

materials to a facility that confirms compliance with domestic origin and harvest 

requirements. 

320 If deviations to the FPPS requirements are reported, the contractor shall 

immediately invoke corrective actions by either reworking the entire production 

lot, or any portion of the production lot (as identified by the QAD agent) to 

comply or offer production lots to the QAD agent that are correctly processed 

to meet the FPPS requirements. The QAD agent will reject production lots due 

to failure of the contractor for not taking appropriate corrective actions.

330 The QAD agent shall compile the ASSESSMENT FORMS and submit them to 

the FSCS Division on a weekly basis. However, should any deviation occur, 

the ASSESSMENT FORM shall be sent to the FSCS Division. Based on 

evaluation of the ASSESSMENT FORMS, the FSCS Division reserves the right 

to declare any portion of production as unacceptable for delivery to USDA. 
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 02/01/08

Date Revised: 06/22/15 4

ASSESSMENT FORM

Specification: FPPS ________________

Sample Size – 4 Sample Units

Lot Number/Size: 

QAD Agent:

Evaluation Date:

Notes/Digital Photo1/

Documentation Describe the type of 

documentation 

Supports or does not 

support production plan

or FPPS provisions

Physical 

Characteristics Sample Cut/Muscle 

Identification2/

Sample Unit 1

Sample Unit 2

Sample Unit 3

Sample Unit 4

Finished Product 

Limitations

List Test Results for 

each lot or show 

supporting 

documentation for 

Nutri-facts panel
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 02/01/08

Date Revised: 06/22/15 5

Physical 

Characteristics –

Finished Product

Sample 

Cut/Muscle/item 

Identification2/

Sample Unit 1

Sample Unit 2

Sample Unit 3

Sample Unit 4

Preparation for Delivery Packaging, Packing, Closure, 

Labeling (Lot Scan)

Actions Taken by QAD Agent 

(Accept/Reject)

Contractor Representative 

Signature

Reserved for use by FSCS Division

1/

Describe all deviations to specified requirements. Please include description of any negative and/or 

positive attributes associated with the sample unit or lot. Attach digital photo if available. 

2/

Please describe sample unit examined by cut name or muscle(s). 
Approved by CMS

Date Issued: 06/10/12

Date Revised: 08/03/17

SUPPLEMENT 602 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT D

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 

LIVESTOCK, POULTRY AND SEED PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE FOR

THE PROCUREMENT OF LAMB PRODUCTS,

FROZEN

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.

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

attached acceptance document.

(4) Contractor assures all meat or meat products used in fulfilling this contract was produced 

in the United States as defined in the AMS Master Solicitation Section I.E.

Date:

Signature:

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

Title: