Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Program

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2507-S, STOP 0239

Washington, DC 20250-0239

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

April 9, 2021

Pre-Solicitation Announcement for 

TEFAP Fresh Produce

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to purchase Fresh Produce (WBSCM 

Material Number 111427). Pandemic Assistance funding has been made available to supplement The 

Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) program for the remainder of the fiscal year ending 

September 30, 2021. Pursuant to that directive, to help those most in need receive healthy, fresh foods, 

USDA will be offering boxes of pre-packed, fresh produce through TEFAP in addition to the single varieties 

that are already available to order. The fresh produce package will include a variety of fresh fruits and 

vegetables that meet the following requirements. A 10-12 pound package that includes a minimum of at least 

four of the following: 3-5 lbs. of vegetables (no more than 3lbs. of root vegetables; i.e. potatoes, yams, 

carrots, onions, etc.), 3-5 lbs. of fruit; at least 2 locally grown fruit or vegetable items, as available, and if not 

available, add an additional fruit and vegetable item to meet a minimum package weight range of 10-12 lbs. 

Packages will be expected to have a shelf life of 7-10 days once delivered to the location listed on the 

contract.

Solicitations will be issued in the near future, and will be available electronically through the Web-Based 

Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system and beta.sam.gov. A hard copy of the solicitation will not be 

available. Public WBSCM information is available without an account on the WBSCM Public Procurement

Page. All future information regarding this acquisition, including solicitation amendments and award notices, 

will be published through WBSCM, the Agricultural Marketing Service's website at 

www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food, and beta.sam.gov. Interested parties shall be responsible for ensuring that 

they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. The contract type is anticipated to be firmfixed price. Deliveries are expected to be to various locations in the United States on an FOB destination 

basis.

Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(b), commodities and the products of agricultural 

commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States and shall be considered to 

be such a product if it is grown, processed, and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the 

United States. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to

the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as 

addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5. 

Offerors are urged to review all documents as they pertain to this program, including the latest—

• AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP-D), August 13, 2020 (pdf)

• Qualification Requirements for Selling TEFAP Fresh Produce to USDA Agricultural Marketing 

Service, April 7, 2021

These documents are available on the AMS Commodity Procurement website.

To be eligible to submit offers, potential contractors must meet the Qualification Requirements for Selling 

TEFAP Fresh Produce to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The AMS point of contact for new 

vendors can be reached by email at TEFAPFreshProduce@usda.gov. Please include the following in the

email’s subject line: TEFAP Fresh Produce [insert company name].
Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Program

1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2507-S, STOP 0239

Washington, DC 20250-0239

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Once qualification requirements have been met, access to WBSCM will be provided. Bids, modifications, 

withdrawals of bids, and price adjustments shall be submitted using this system. Submission of the above by 

any means other than WBSCM will be determined nonresponsive.

To receive e-mail notification of the issuance of AMS solicitations, contract awards, and other information, 

subscribe online by visiting: “Stay up to date on USDA Food Purchases” available on the AMS Commodity 

Procurement website.

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

Together We’re Making a Difference: American Agriculture for the American People