USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Agricultural Marketing Service

Commodity Procurement Staff

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8718 

 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

TOR2

FROZEN TORTILLAS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 04/15/2016
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

TOR1

FROZEN TORTILLAS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES _____________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ________________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE ______________________________________________ 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS ______________________ 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 1

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING_________________________________________ 2

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________ 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION ______________________________________________________ 3
TOR1 Page 1 of 3

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

(1) The commodities delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the

following Commercial Item Descriptions (CID):

a) Whole Wheat Tortillas, Frozen (CID) A-A-20143B (January 5, 2012), 

available at,

http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Tortillas%2C%20T

ortilla%20Chips%2C%20Taco%20Shells%2C%20and%20Tostada%20Shell

s.pdf

b) The commodity must also meet the following additional requirements: 

1. First and primary ingredient must be whole grain. The product 

must contain at least 50% whole grain content. 

2. Type I – Tortillas

3. Style B - Wheat 

4. Size – 8’’- inch diameter 

5. Shape a – Round 

6. Product State (d) – Frozen

7. Trans fat content- must indicate 0 g trans fat per serving on the 

nutrition facts panel

8. Sodium content – not more than 250 mg per serving

9. Serving size- Each tortilla must contain at least 42 grams/serving 

and credit as 1.5 ounce equivalents in the Child Nutrition program.

10. Moisture content – shall not exceed 50.0 percent

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

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

Product shall not be manufactured more than 60 days prior to shipping. 

Section 1.3 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) maintained by the contractor.

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

contract requirements.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials requirements 

used under this contract. 
TOR1 Page 2 of 3

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. 

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 – Phone: 816-926-2612 – Email Address: 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. 
TOR1 Page 3 of 3

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION

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. 

(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.