1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 3932-S, STOP 0256

Washington, DC 20250-0201

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION June 2012

PURCHASE OF FROZEN BISON AND BUFFALO PRODUCTS

FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CHILD NUTRITION AND

OTHER FEDERAL FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

A. This document provides additional USDA requirements and specifications for the purchase of 

frozen bison and frozen buffalo products as described in the attached CHECKLIST AND 

REFERENCES TO APPLICABLE OFFER AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS (Exhibit A). In 

addition to product descriptions, this exhibit also provides information on the applicable 

Technical Data Supplements (TDS) for Frozen Ground Bison and Bison Stew Meat (TDS-BIS2012, Attachment I) and Frozen Ground Buffalo and Buffalo Stew Meat (TDS-BUF-2012, 

Attachment II).

I. INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS

A. The frozen bison and frozen buffalo products will be purchased on a competitive bid basis from 

suppliers who have met the requirements described in Section I.B. Interested suppliers may 

submit a production plan at any time during this purchase program. Suppliers should allow 10 

working days from receipt of the production plan by USDA for notification of the results of the 

evaluation of the production plan from the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative 

(COTR). A supplier is deemed “eligible” after notification by the COTR.

Submission of a production plan is not binding on USDA. Supplier eligibility for USDA 

purchase programs will be based on the technical approval of the supplier as well as the 

completion of additional contractor requirements described in the AMS Master Solicitation for 

Commodity Procurements, this Supplement, and/or a separately issued Solicitation.

B. Documentation and Assessment Requirements

To become an eligible supplier, the following must be submitted electronically to the 

Standardization Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for 

evaluation and approval prior to bidding:

1. Production Plan Requirement:

a. Include a detailed description of item and each of the production steps that are taken to 

meet or exceed the minimum product requirements set forth in the applicable TDS.

(Plan/Do)

b. Describe all the quality assurance methods used to verify conformance to all 

requirements. This will include the monitoring and measurements taken during the 

process to verify conformance with each requirement. All measurement results shall be 

recorded and made available to AMS. (Check)

c. Identify all corrective actions to be taken if deviations from contractual and specification 

requirements occur during production, and all preventative actions to be taken to preclude 

a reoccurrence. (Act)
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 2

d. The production plan shall follow the format as describe in Section III., Production Plan

Format. The production plan should be brief and concise.

e. The production plan shall be preceded by the following, as required by the template:

1) Table of Contents listing the major areas as they appear in the production plan

template; and

2) List of attachments, forms provided with the plan, if appropriate.

f. The production plan should be written in the following format:

1) Plan and Do - A description of the planning and production steps taken to meet each 

requirement.

2) Check - Describes all the quality assurance methods that will be used to verify 

conformances to each requirement. This will include the monitoring and 

measurement taken during the process (all measurements results shall be recorded 

and made available to AMS upon request).

3) Act - Identifies all corrective actions to be taken if deviations from contractual and 

specification requirements occur during production and all preventative actions taken 

to preclude reoccurrences.

The COTR will review each production plan to determine if the plan is adequate and will 

notify the supplier of the status of their production plan. See Section III for submission of 

production plans.

Once a supplier is notified by the COTR that the production plan meets the applicable 

criteria, the Grading and Verification Division (GVD) will contact the supplier to set up a 

pre-award onsite capability assessment.

2. GVD Monitoring and Evaluation Program

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

production of the frozen bison or frozen buffalo products. The GVD agent will monitor and 

verify the production based on the contractor’s approved production plan and the TDS. The 

contractor must provide a copy of the approved production plan and have the supporting 

documentation readily available for review by the COTR or GVD (AMS) agent. 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.

3. GVD Assessments

After the production plan is evaluated and approved, a GVD auditor will perform an onsite 

assessment of the facility(s), processes, food security plan, and quality control program used 

to produce the product(s) to determine the supplier’s ability to meet contractual requirements. 

The following assessments will apply:
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 3

1) Pre-Award Onsite Capability Assessment 

The pre-award onsite assessment (audit) will include, but is not limited to, a thorough 

evaluation of the potential contractor’s and subcontractor’s facility(s), processes, food 

security plan, quality control program, equipment, procedures, and the appropriate 

documents and forms used during the production of the bison products item. 

Documentation must support: 1) the production of the bison or buffalo products

which complies with the applicable TDS and the potential contractor’s approved 

production plan, and 2) the contractor’s or subcontractor’s food security plan. In 

addition, the audit will consist of the review of records related to purchasing, 

receiving, production, quality control, inventory and shipping records, and interviews 

with management and production personnel.

Upon completion of the pre-award onsite capability assessment, the GVD auditor will 

provide a report to the COTR for final review. After the supplier has satisfactorily 

completed the pre-award onsite capability assessment, the supplier will receive 

written notification from the COTR of their technical approval for the USDA 

purchase program.

Once a supplier is technically eligible to bid, the supplier must follow instructions 

stated in the AMS Master Solicitation to participate in USDA procurement activities.

If the report demonstrates that the production plan or food security plan is inadequate, 

the applicant will be notified by the COTR that they have not received technical 

approval for the USDA purchase program. The applicant will have an opportunity to 

correct identified deficiencies, modify their process, food security plan, and/or 

production plan, and resubmit for further consideration. Eligibility will depend on 

whether the modifications demonstrate that 1) the process is capable of delivering the 

products in compliance with the applicable TDS; 2) they are in compliance with their 

food security plan; 3) includes the applicable assessment by USDA; and 4) they 

comply with other applicable contractual requirements.

2) Post-Award Assessment

Eligible suppliers who receive USDA contracts must have their documented food 

security plan, production plan, and supporting documentation readily available for 

review by the COTR or GVD (AMS) agents. 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.

The GVD will conduct an onsite audit of the contractor’s and subcontractor’s 

facility(s) and processes when production commences for the first contract awarded. 

Additional audits will be conducted as determined by the Contracting Officer but not 

less than once per month for contractors or subcontractors with continuous or 

multiple contracts, or once per contract for intermittent contractors. At the discretion 

of the Contracting Officer, more frequent audits may be conducted when audit 

deficiencies are detected.
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 4

3) Post-Award Actions

Any deviation from contractual requirements will be immediately reported by the 

contractor to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer will notify the 

contractor regarding eligibility to continue to participate as a contractor.

Contractor will assure that the delivered product complies with the provisions of the 

applicable TDS, the applicable assessment by USDA, and the contractor’s production 

plan approved by the COTR.

C. Animal Welfare Requirements

The contactor and all subcontractors must meet the animal handling and welfare requirement set

forth the in the attached Attachment III - Technical Requirements Schedule – Bison Handling 

and Welfare 2010 (TRS-BHW-2010).

D. Responsibility/Eligibility

Facilities used in fulfilling USDA contracts must be operating under the provisions of the 

Voluntary Exotic Animal Inspection Program of the FSIS contained in Title 9 C.F.R. Subpart 

352. The firm must also be approved under an AMS pre-award supplier capability assessment 

audit prior to submitting an offer under this Supplement. Firms must also comply with the 

provisions of FSIS Final Rule for Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control 

(HACCP) Systems. 

Subcontractors or suppliers of frozen bison and frozen buffalo products are: (1) ineligible if they 

are currently delivering late on USDA contracts or USDA-approved subcontracts, and late 

delivery is not due to causes beyond their control; and (2) non-responsible if they are not 

operating under the provisions of the Voluntary Exotic Animal Inspection Program of the FSIS 

contained in Title 9 C.F.R. Subpart 352 or have been suspended or debarred under the provisions 

of 48 C.F.R. Subpart 9.4

E. Domestic Requirements

The contractor agrees to include the 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/or the AMS 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.”

Domestic verification requirements must be included in the contractor’s production plan.
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 5

II. SUBMISSION OF OFFERS

The following Item will be included in the attribute section of the offer submitted in the Web Based 

Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system (see Exhibit 2 of the AMS Master Solicitation):

9. Offeror certifies that all product conforms with the (applicable specification) and no 

changes to the production process or production plan have occurred without proper 

approval by the Contracting Officer.

 Does 

III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PRODUCTION PLAN

The following procedures establish the acceptable minimum requirements for the format and content 

of the production plan (proposal):

A. The Government has provided a production plan format which is to be used in preparing the 

production plan (see Exhibit B). The offeror shall submit the production plan in an electronic 

format through the company’s external portal site maintained by the AMS, Commodity 

Procurement Division (see Exhibit C for instructions on how to obtain an external portal site). 

When submitting the production plan through the company’s external portal site, e-mail 

notification to the COTR must be provided (darin.doerscher@ams.usda.gov or 

steve.whisenant@ams.usda.gov). The production plan shall be saved in a non-portable 

document file format (not PDF; e.g., Microsoft Word). The production plan must be submitted 

in its entirety. The collection of attachments and appendices may be submitted as a separate 

document. This format and the electronic form provided as Exhibit C will aid in the evaluation 

of the production plan.

B. The production plan must be submitted by an authorized agent of the company.

C. While it is not the desire of the Government to penalize an offeror for noncompliance with 

formatting instructions, technical evaluators may have difficulty evaluating the production plan

to the fullest extent possible if the proposal is not presented in the proper format. Technical 

evaluators will not be required to search other subsections or sections of the offeror’s production 

plan for information requested for evaluation.

D. Production Plan Revisions

Changes to an offeror’s production plan may be submitted based on the Government’s 

Amendments, Clarification Request, monitoring program, or at the request of the offeror. 

Maintenance of the integrity and clarity of each production plan is critical. All production plan

revisions must meet the following criteria:

1. Any changes to a production plan made by the offeror after its initial approval shall be 

accomplished by submitting the entire production plan. A cover letter must be submitted 

with the changes identified and an explanation of the need for the change. The offeror shall 

include the revision date and the appropriate page number(s). 
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 6

2. Changes from the original production plan shall be highlighted and deletions in strikeouts.

Note: When revisions to the approved production plan are submitted in their external 

portal site, the contractor must provide an e-mail notification to the COTR.

IV. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND AUDIT SERVICES

A. Specifications for frozen bison and frozen buffalo products are identified in Exhibit A. If 

documents are amended, appropriate amendments must be referenced. 

B. AMS certification agents, under the direction of the LS Program, will perform all applicable 

examinations and tests as required. AMS agents will conduct all certification services in 

accordance with the applicable GVD Instruction(s). The cost of all certification and audit 

services performed by the AMS certification agents must be borne by the contractor. This 

includes, but is not limited to, examinations, supervision, official documentation, and related 

services (including charges for microbiology and fat content analyses).

GVD auditors, under the direction of the LS Program, will perform audit services on the portions 

of the contractor’s approved production plan that are not under the control of the AMS 

certification agent. The frequency of the audits will occur, at a minimum, once per month or,

when applicable, once per contract.

C. For certification services, AMS will pay per diem and travel expenses including travel time 

involved in transporting the AMS certification agents from a duty point into the area of a

contractor's or subcontractor's plant. However, payment of these charges by USDA will only 

be made when the services rendered by an AMS certification agent are directly related to 

production for specific outstanding contracts. Per diem and travel expenses will be prorated to 

the contractor for any official services performed by the AMS certification agent not related to 

USDA-purchased commodities to which these provisions apply. When the services of the 

AMS certification agent are performed for a subcontractor, the contract number in which the 

product will be used must be declared to the AMS certification agent.

D. The cost of all AMS audits required by GVD, including per diem and travel expenses, must be 

borne by the contractor or subcontractor.

E. All local travel and travel time will be charged to the contractor or subcontractor in accordance 

with the applicable GVD instructions and regulations. The regular hourly rate and established 

fees for required laboratory analyses will be charged as applicable.

F. Laboratory fees incurred for testing of the boneless bison and boneless buffalo samples and 

ground bison and ground buffalo items for the microbial requirements, and fees associated with 

the AMS process assessment sample for fat as specified in the applicable specification, will be 

paid by AMS.

G. Questions concerning GVD auditors should be discussed with the GVD in Fredericksburg, 

Virginia at (540) 361-7640 Ext 100.
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 7

H. Questions concerning charges and the availability of AMS agents should be discussed with the 

Office of Field Operations, Denver, Colorado at (720) 497-2520.

I. Disposition of Lots Outside Specification Limits. 

Any lot—in any test, including FSIS test—which tests positive for E. coli O157:H7 or 

Salmonella, or exceeds the critical limit criteria of APPENDIX B of TDS-BIS-2012 (Attachment 

I) and TDS-BUF-2012 (Attachment II), cannot be used to produce any product purchased by 

USDA.

V. INVOICES AND PAYMENT

In addition to the required invoice documents referenced in the AMS Master Solicitation, the 

contractor must include a copy of the Contractor’s Certificate of Conformance (see Exhibit D).

Purchases of the materials under this Supplement require that a “three-way match” be completed in 

WBSCM in order to approve an invoice; i.e., Purchase Order (PO), Goods Receipt, and Invoice with 

supporting documents attached.

VI. AMS CLAUSES

A. Checkloading

An AMS certification agent will perform checkloading examinations as described in the applicable 

specification at the time of shipment and issue an official certificate to accompany each shipment 

that includes all of the following information:

1. Purchase Order Number and Purchase Order line item number.

2. Sales Order Number and Sales Order Item number.

3. Name of product.

4. Applicable material number.

5. Production lot number(s) and the date each lot was produced.

6. Count of shipping containers and total projected net weight in each production lot.

7. Total projected net weights per delivery unit.

8. Identity of conveyance (numbers and letters, seals, license, etc.) as applicable.

9. Destination(s).

10. Sample average fat content analysis of each production lot for lean ground buffalo only 

(calculated to 2 decimal places, e.g., 8.25).
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION 

VII. PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

FAR Provisions as show in Section X of the AMS Master Solicitation are modified as shown 

below: 

1. 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications (MAR 2012) 

(a) (1) The North American Industry Classification System code for this acquisition is 

311611. 

(2) The small business size standard is 500 employees. 

{I V- r. Anu~ )l Dave Tuckwiller, Director 

Commodity Procurement Division 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Attachments 

8 
Room 3932-S, STOP 0256

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250-0201

EXHIBIT A

Dated June 2012

CHECKLIST AND REFERENCES TO APPLICABLE OFFER AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS

SUPPLEMENT LS-601 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION

for

FROZEN BISON AND BUFFALO PRODUCTS

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION OFFER/CONTRACT PROVISIONS

WBSCM 

Material 

Description

Specifications 

Listed in 

Priority Order

WBSCM 

Material Code

Packaging and Packing Minimum Offer 

Unit 

Size/Shipping 

Unit

Tolerance 

Section

Delivery Period Federal/State 

Plants Section I.D.

Competition (See 

Invitation)

BISON 

GROUND 

LEAN FRZ 

PKG-40/1 LB

Technical Data 

Supplement 

(TDS) for 

Frozen Ground 

Bison and 

Bison Stew 

Meat, May

2012

110001 40, 1-lb. packages packed 

40 lbs. net weight (18.1 

kg) per shipping container

40,000 lbs 1000 

cases

None 1st half/2nd half 

delivery period

Federal Plants Only Full & Open

BISON STEW 

MEAT FRZ 

PKG-40/1 LB

100085 40, 1-lb. packages packed 

40 lbs. net weight (18.1 

kg) per shipping container

40,000 lbs 1000 

cases

None 1st half/2nd half 

delivery period

Federal Plants Only Full & Open

BUFFALO 

GROUND 

LEAN FRZ 

PKG-40/1 LB

Technical Data 

Supplement 

(TDS) for 

Frozen Ground 

Buffalo and 

Buffalo Stew 

Meat, May

2012

100090 40, 1-lb. packages packed

40 lbs. net weight (18.1 

kg) per shipping container

40,000 lbs 1000 

cases

None 1st half/2nd half 

delivery period

Federal Plants Only Full & Open

BUFFALO 

STEW MEAT 

FRZ PKG-40/1 

LB

100091 40, 1-lb. packages packed 

40 lbs. net weight (18.1 

kg) per shipping container

40,000 lbs 1000 

cases

None 1st half/2nd half 

delivery period

Federal Plants Only Full & Open
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT B

PAGE 1 OF 2

Cover Page: 

[Company Name]

[Company Address]

Contact Person, including title, phone number, including emergency contact information, e-mail 

address (must be authorized to represent the company).

Production plan for: [Supplement Number] and [Specification]

Table of Contents (all pages and attachments must be number and identified--any attachments 

must be identified and referenced in the Production plan)

The production plan should include all phases of production that meets or exceeds the requirements 

stated in the specification to produce complying product. 

I. Scope

Brief Description of what the company plans to do to meet the requirements stated in the applicable 

specification (including the applicable documents).

II. Applicable Documents

III. Ordering Data

A. ITEMS - Please provide the necessary processing steps with pictures to comply for the 

applicable item(s).

1. Ground Bison and Bison Stew Meat, per the applicable TDS (plan, do, check, act)

2. Materials (plan, do, check, act)

3. Processing (plan, do, check, act)

4. Metal Detection (plan, do, check, act)

B. Grade - not applicable

C. State of Refrigeration - (plan, do, check, act)

D. Fat Limitations - (plan, do, check, act)

E. Weight Range - not applicable 

F. Netting and Tying - not applicable 

G. Packaging and Packing - Please provide a brief description of the planning, production steps 

(do), check and corrective/preventive (act) measures that the company will do to assure 

compliance with the Preparation for Delivery section of the specification.

1. Packaging (plan, do, check, act)

2. Packing (plan, do, check, act)

3. Closure (plan, do, check, act)

4. Marketing of Containers (plan, do, check, act)

5. Palletized Unit Loads (plan, do, check, act)

All labeling shall be illustrated in the Offeror’s production plan. 

H. USDA Certification - Please provide a brief description of the planning, production steps (do), 

check and corrective/preventive (act) measures that the company will do to assure compliance 

with the Palletized Unit Load section of the specification:

1. Product will be Certified by USDA, AMS, MGC

2. Lot size and Purchase unit size

3. AMS agent will

4. Official Certificate will include
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT B

PAGE 2 OF 2

5. Microbial Requirements

I. Product Assurance

1. Warranty and Complaint Resolution - (plan, do, check, act)

a. Warranty

b. Complaint Resolution

2. Non-Conforming Product - (plan, do, check, act)

IV. Attachments or Appendixes

Please attach all referenced documents with the applicable document name and reference number.
Commodity 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Procurement Room 3522, STOP S-0239

Staff Washington, DC 20250-0239

In order for a company to submit documents electronically as prescribed in the applicable procurement 

documents, a company must have an external portal site set up in the Livestock and Seed Contractor 

Information (LSCI) site. Please complete the form below, print, and send the completed form by e-mail to 

sue.olson@ams.usda.gov. To assure that the accounts and names are set-up correctly the form must be filled 

out electronically. If additional space is needed, please submit an additional form. 

Company: 

Address: 

City: 

State: Zip code: 

Please provide the information below for each company personnel who need access to the company site.

First Name Middle 

Initial

Last Name E-mail address Title Phone Number

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT C UPDATED 10/2012
SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION EXHIBIT D

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

LIVESTOCK AND SEED PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE FOR

THE PROCUREMENT OF BISON PRODUCTS, FROZEN

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE

I certify the following:

(1) On [shipping date(s) ], [Contractor’s name] furnished the (insert the appropriate commodity 

description) called for by Purchase Order/Item Number: / via [Carrier] under Sales 

Order Number(s)/Sales Order Item number: / .

(2) The (insert the appropriate material name) is of the quality specified and conforms in all respects with 

the purchase order requirements, including [Contractor’s name] Technical Proposal or Production Plan as 

approved by the AMS Standardization Division, COTR. 

(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 Supplement 603, section I.F and the AMS Master Solicitation, Section I.E.

Date: 

Signature: 

(Signed by an officer or representative authorized to represent the company)

Title: 
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 03/01/04 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 

Changes – in blue

I. SCOPE 

This technical data supplement (TDS) is for use by the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Commodity Procurement Division

for the procurement of frozen ground bison and bison stew meat. For this program, AMS will 

utilize the Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) descriptions and requirements 

for ground beef and beef for stewing as specification requirements for the production of 

ground bison and bison stew meat, respectively. 

II. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS 

The following documents will be incorporated as part of this USDA, TDS-BIS-2012: 

 Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Directive 10,010.1 Revision 3. 

 IMPS General Requirements, effective June 1996. 

 IMPS For Fresh Beef Products, Series 100, effective March 2010. 

 IMPS Quality Assurance Provisions, effective June 1997. 

 Grading and Verification Division (GVD) Instruction Manual, Series 600 and 700. 

III. ORDERING DATA: TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE PURCHASER 

(Section in the IMPS 100 Series) For the purpose of this TDS, references to “Ground Beef” 

(IMPS Item No. 136) and “Beef for Stewing” (IMPS Item No. 135A) are changed to Ground 

Bison and Bison Stew Meat, respectively. 

A. ITEMS 

1. GROUND BISON AND BISON STEW MEAT 

The ground bison and bison stew meat shall be produced from bison harvested in, 

and the finished product shall be prepared and handled in, an establishment(s) 

operating under the Voluntary Exotic Animal Inspection Program of the USDA, Food 

Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and must comply with the Sanitation 

Performance Standards provisions of 9 CFR 416.1-416.6. 

a) Ground Bison – Ground bison shall be produced from fresh bison cuts and 

trimmings from any portion of the carcass, which yields product that meets the 

end item requirements for IMPS 136. Frozen, boneless bison (certified to the 

material requirements) may be used provided it is ground into the final product 

within 60 days from date of pack. 

 

TECHNICAL DATA SUPPLEMENT FOR 

FROZEN GROUND BISON AND BISON 

STEW MEAT (TDS-BIS-2012) 

Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) 

Livestock and Seed Program, Standardization Division 

Room 2607 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 260-8295

Effective: May 2012

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT I
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 03/01/04 

Date Revised: 05/03/12

2

b) Bison Stew Meat – Bison stew meat shall be prepared from fresh bison cuts and 

trimmings from any portion of the carcass, which yields product that meets the 

end-item requirements for IMPS Item 135A. 

2. MATERIAL 

a) The contractor’s production plan must describe a process that includes 

procedures, records, forms, etc. that demonstrate conformance with the following 

Checklist of Requirements and have received a satisfactory onsite capability 

assessment by the GVD. 

b) The contractor will ensure, through their production plan, that the product 

complies with the MATERIAL section of IMPS Item No. 136 for ground bison, 

IMPS Item No. 135A for bison stew meat, and the following additional criteria: 

1) Domestic Origin – All bison will originate from U.S. produced livestock as 

defined in this Supplement. 

2) Harvest Requirements – Contractor must have documentation and a program 

in place that verifies the source of raw materials used in each lot of 

production. All bison will be harvested in facilities that comply with the 

following additional requirements: 

(a) Humane Handling – All bison shall be humanely handled in accordance 

with all applicable FSIS regulations and AMS requirements. 

(b) Pathogen Intervention – The harvest process must include at least two 

pathogen intervention steps and must be scientifically validated to 

achieve a 3 log reduction of enteric pathogens. 

(c) Carcasses Testing – Routinely test carcasses for Shiga-toxigenic 

Escherichia coli O157 (including O157:H7 and O157:Non-Motile (NM); 

herein referred to as E. coli O157:H7) at CCP to verify effectiveness of 

interventions. 

(d) Spinal Cord Removal – All spinal cord tissue shall be removed during the 

harvesting process. 

(e) Traceability – Boneless bison shall be traceable to sources that comply 

with the above domestic origin and harvest requirements. 

3) Mechanical Separation – Bison meat that is mechanically separated from 

bone with automatic deboning systems, advanced meat (lean) recovery 

(AMR) systems, or powered knives will not be allowed. 

4) Fresh Chilled Bison – Prior to processing, boneless bison shall be examined 

for compliance with IMPS Item No. 136 MATERIAL requirements. Product 

failing this examination will be rejected. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT I
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 03/01/04 

Date Revised: 05/03/12

3

3. PROCESSING 

a) Ground Bison – Ground bison meat will be processed in accordance with IMPS 

and the following additional requirements: 

1) Ground Bison Processing – Ground bison will be processed in accordance 

with the Processing section of IMPS Item No. 136. Frozen, boneless bison 

(certified to the material requirements) may be used provided it is ground into 

the final product within 60 days from date of pack. 

2) Bone Collector / Extruder System – A bone collector/extruder system must be 

in operation on the final grind of product. 

b) Bison Stew Meat – Bison stew meat must comply with the following additional 

requirements: 

1) Bison Stew Meat Processing – Bison Stew Meat shall be processed to meet 

the end item requirements listed within IMPS Item No. 135A. 

2) Dicing – The meat shall be either hand-diced or mechanically diced (grinding 

is not permitted). 

3) Handling – To facilitate dicing, meat may be frozen and/or tempered one time 

only. 

4) Shank or Heel Meat – No shank or heel meat is permitted. 

4. METAL DETECTION 

All products shall be free of metal contaminants. Detection of stainless steel, ferrous, 

and non-ferrous (e.g., lead, copper, and aluminum) metals is required. The 

contractor's production plan must identify and describe the equipment, location, 

detection procedure, sensitivity levels, frequency of equipment validation, and 

corrective action procedures. 

B. GRADE – Not Applicable 

C. STATE OF REFRIGERATION 

All finished bison products will be frozen, in accordance with FREEZING OPTION 1. 

Refer to I. MEAT HANDLING, A. STATE OF REFRIGERATION, and B. PRODUCTION, 

TEMPERATURE AND TIME LIMITATIONS section of the IMPS General Requirements. 

D. FAT LIMITATIONS 

1. Ground Bison – The average fat content shall not exceed 10 percent, and the number 

of grams of fat per 112 gram serving will be declared in the nutritional facts panel on 

the package label. The fat content will be certified by AMS in accordance with IMPS 

QAPs. The 4 individual fat results shall be put into ascending order from the lowest 

to the highest value for evaluation (e.g., 8.30, 9.79, 10.63, and 11.20). The 4 

individual fat test results shall be used to calculate average, median and range. 

Results not meeting the following requirements shall cause rejection of the lot: 

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Date Revised: 05/03/12

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a) Average – The average of the 4 individual results cannot exceed 10 percent 

(e.g., average of the 4 test results = 9.98). 

b) Median – The median, which is the average of the middle two test results, cannot 

deviate from the average of the four individual samples by more than 2.0 percent 

(e.g., median is equal to the average of 9.79 and 10.63 = 10.21). 

c) Range – The difference between the highest and lowest test results cannot exceed 

5 percent (e.g., 11.20 – 8.30 = 2.90). 

2. Bison Stew Meat – Surface and seam fat will not exceed 1⁄4-inch in thickness at any 

point. 

E. WEIGHT RANGE – Not Applicable 

F. NETTING AND TYING – Not Applicable 

G. PACKAGING AND PACKING 

Refer to II. PACKAGING AND PACKING section of the IMPS General Requirements 

and the following additional requirements: 

1. Packaging – All immediate containers (casings or packages) shall function as a 

tamper evidence indicator to provide added assurance of product integrity through the 

method of sealing or closure. 

a) Package Net Weight – Ground bison and bison stew meat shall be packaged as 

specified within the Contracting Officer’s invitation: 

1) 110001 Ground Bison 1-pound 

2) 100085 Bison Stew Meat 1-pound 

b) Package Method – Ground bison and bison stew meat shall be packaged using 

one of the following methods: 

1) Mechanical Packaged – Mechanically packaged into tamper-proof 

commercial casings. 

2) Vacuum Packaged – Vacuum packaged in accordance with the IMPS General 

requirements. 

2. Packing 

a) Shipping Container Net Weight 

1) Ground Bison – Forty (40) 1-pound packages of ground bison shall be packed 

into non-perforated shipping containers to a net weight of 40 pounds, without 

slackfilling or overfilling. Spacers or fillers may not be used to satisfy this 

requirement. 

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2) Bison Stew Meat – Forty (40) 1-pound packages of bison stew meat shall be 

packed into non-perforated shipping containers to a net weight of 40 pounds, 

without slackfilling or overfilling. Spacers or fillers may not be used to satisfy 

this requirement. 

b) Style and Size of Container – Only one style and size of shipping containers may 

be used in any one-delivery unit. 

c) Commingling – Commingling of ground bison and bison stew meat in the same 

shipping container will not be allowed. 

3. Closure – Shipping containers will be closed by strapping, taping, or gluing. When 

strapping is used, the initial closure (usually the bottom of container) shall be secured 

by the gluing or taping method. 

4. Marking of Containers* – Immediate and shipping containers will be labeled to include 

all information required by FSIS regulations. In addition, each immediate and 

shipping container must have the following markings: 

a) Immediate Container – Each immediate container (package) will have the 

following information included on commercially labeled packages: 

1) Name of Product. 

2) Safe Handling Instructions. 

3) "Best-if-used-by" Date – A date that is 180 calendar days from the date of 

production. 

4) Traceability Code – A code that is traceable to production lot and date. 

5) Nutrition Fact Panel – Include fat declaration for number of grams of fat per 

112 gram (ready-to-cook) serving. 

6) FSIS Establishment Number and any other FSIS required markings. 

b) Shipping container – The following markings will be included on the shipping 

containers: 

1) Appendix A – Shipping containers will be marked in accordance with 

Appendix A. However, contractors may vary the placement of the required 

information shown in Appendix A. Additional markings (e.g., company bar 

codes, logos, etc.), that are consistent with all other commercial labels may be 

included. 

2) Traceability Code – A code that is traceable to production lot and date. 

3) Nutrition Fact Panel – Include fat declaration for number of grams of fat per 

112 gram (ready-to-cook) serving. 

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4) The appropriate product code listed in the table below for each of the items. 

Item Material Number

Ground Bison, Frozen – 1-pound 110001

Bison Stew Meat, Frozen – 1-pound 100085

5) Name of Product. 

6) USDA Shield (at least 2 inches high and appearing on the top of the 

container or on the principle display panel). 

7) Purchase Order Number. 

8) Ingredient declaration (including single ingredient products). 

9) 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 ______. 

*All primary and shipping container labeling illustrations must be provided within 

the production plan. 

5. Palletized Unit Loads – Required, see IMPS General Requirements. 

H. USDA CERTIFCATION 

1. Product Will Be Certified By USDA, AMS, GVD – AMS agents will perform 

examinations in accordance with IMPS General Requirements, IMPS QAPS, and 

GVD Instructions and as specified below: 

a) Product Examinations 

1) Ground Bison – Product examination for excellent condition and detailed item 

description requirements will be in accordance with QAPS. In TABLE 100 I, 

delete defect numbers 218 and 219 in their entirety and replace with the 

following defects: 

218 Presence of any portion of the popliteal, prescapular, or prefemoral 

lymph glands or any other exposed lymph glands measuring 1.0 inch or 

more in one dimension and 0.5 inch in a second dimension. 

219 Presence of non-carcass components or fat from the thoracic, lumbar, 

pelvic, cod, and /or udder areas of the carcass measuring 2.0 square 

inches or more and 0.5 inch or more in depth at any point. 

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Delete defect 294 in its entirety. Insert the following note at the bottom of the 

table: 

Note: The presence of any non-meat components not listed as defects above 

(e.g., spinal cord, organ tissue, foreign materials, etc.) shall cause rejection of 

the product by AMS. 

2) Bison Stew Meat – Refer to LOT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA section for diced 

items within QAPS. In TABLE 100 H, delete defect numbers 218 in its 

entirety. Replace defect number 218 with the following defect: 

218 Presence of any portion of the popliteal, prescapular, or prefemoral 

lymph glands or any other exposed lymph glands measuring 1.0 inch or 

more in one dimension and 0.5 inch in a second dimension. 

Delete defect 194 in its entirety. Insert the following note at the bottom of the 

table: 

Note: The presence of any non-meat components not listed as defects above 

(e.g., spinal cord, organ tissue, foreign materials, etc.) shall cause rejection of 

the product by AMS. 

b) Condition of Container – Condition of containers will be examined as follows: 

1) Production Container Examination – At time of production, randomly scan 

shipping containers to ensure defective containers are corrected and 

replaced. 

2) Shipping Container Examination – Final examination of condition of shipping 

containers will be limited to scanning (without destructive sampling) the 

delivery unit for defects which may have occurred during handling and 

storage (e.g., crushed, torn, dirty, stained, etc.). All defective containers must 

be replaced or corrected. 

c) Net Weight – Net weight will be in accordance with the QAPS only. 

d) Fat Content Analysis – Fat content analysis will be in accordance with the QAPS 

and FAT LIMITATIONS section of this specification. 

e) Traceability Code – Stamping (sealing) of shipping containers by the AMS agent 

is not required. The AMS agent will ensure that each primary and shipping 

container has a traceability code that is traceable to a production lot and date. 

f) Temperature Examinations – Temperature will be examined using Freezing 

Option 1. 

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2. Lot Size and Purchase Unit: 

a) Lot Size – For finished product, the lot size will not exceed the amount specified 

by the purchaser as a purchase unit. 

b) Purchase Unit Size – The purchase unit size for ground bison and bison stew 

meat is 40,000 pounds net weight (1,000 shipping containers) plus the amount 

for use in making box fills at the time of laboratory sample withdrawal. 

3. The AMS Agent Will: 

a) Certify and Issue Certificate – Certify and issue an official certificate indicating the 

status of each lot as required by GVD Instructions. 

b) Supervise Loading and Sealing – Supervise the loading and sealing of each 

truck. All products must be delivered to AMS designated destinations under seal 

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

meet the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F 1157-04 as 

required under the AMS Master Solicitation. 

4. Official Certificates Shall Include: 

a) Purchase Order Number and Purchase Order line item number. 

b) Sales Order Number and Sales Order Item number. 

c) Name of product. 

d) Applicable material number. 

e) Production lot number(s) and the date each lot was produced. 

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

lot. 

g) Total projected net weights per delivery unit. 

h) Identity of conveyance (numbers and letters, seals, license, etc.) as applicable. 

i) Destination(s). 

j) Sample average fat content analysis of each production lot for ground bison only 

(calculated to 2 decimal places, e.g., 8.25). 

I. MICROBIOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND BISON 

1. Boneless Bison for Grinding 

a) Lot – A lot shall consist of a single combo sized bin of approximately 2,000 

pounds of boneless bison produced within a day, between “cleanup to cleanup” 

and that is from a single harvester or from a single processor. 

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Date Revised: 05/03/12

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b) Microbial Testing – All lots of fresh chilled boneless bison must be tested for all 

microbes listed in Appendix B. All samples will be sent to the AMS designated 

laboratory (ADL). 

1) Sample Preparation and Handling - The ADL will be responsible for supplying 

sampling procedures for sample selection, preparation, and submission. The 

laboratory shall require suppliers to submit a sample submission form as an 

official record with each sample. The laboratory will also be responsible for 

supplying shipping supplies (including sampling bags and shipping materials) 

to each supplier. Suppliers’ production plan will include and describe sample 

collection and preparation procedures provided by the AMS accredited 

laboratory. 

2) Sample Selection 

(i) For Bison Manufacturing Trimmings – The composite sample will be 

selected as described within FSIS Directive 10,010.1 Revision 3 (N-60 

Sections 8, 9 and NOTE). 

(ii) The composite sample shall consist of exactly seventy (70) pieces of trim 

from seventy (70) different pieces of bison product and shall weigh 400-

425 grams. 

(iii) When boneless bison has been exposed to any anti-microbial treatment, 

no sample units shall be selected for at least 15 minutes after such 

treatment. 

3) Testing and Results 

(i) The microbiological testing for all microbes will be in accordance with the

applicable AMS-approved testing methodologies. 

(ii) Notification for presence of pathogens and exceeding critical limit criteria – 

When presence of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella is presumptive positive 

or confirmed positive or any critical limit is exceeded for indicator 

microbes, the ADL will immediately notify FSIS (pathogens only) and the 

Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR). 

(iii) The ADL will record results on spreadsheets for each Microbial Testing 

performed on each approximately 2,000 pound lot. 

(iv) Any lot that tests positive for E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella or exceeds 

the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B 

cannot be used to produce ground bison or any other product purchased 

by USDA. 

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(v) Any lot subjected to microbial analysis by FSIS or other regulatory 

authority that results in a positive finding for E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella

or exceeds the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in 

Appendix B cannot be used to produce ground bison or any other product 

purchased by USDA. 

2. Ground Bison Microbial Requirements 

a) Lot – For the purpose of microbiological testing, a lot is defined as the amount of 

finished ground bison product produced within a day, between “cleanup to 

cleanup” which must be further divided into sub-lots not to exceed 10,000 

pounds. 

b) Microbiological Testing – All lots of ground bison will be tested for all microbes 

listed in Appendix B after final grinding and before freezing. All samples will be 

sent to the ADL. 

1) Sample Preparation and Handling – The ADL will be responsible for supplying 

sampling procedures for sample selection, preparation, and submission. The 

laboratory shall require suppliers to submit a sample submission form as an 

official record with each sample. The laboratory will also be responsible for 

supplying shipping supplies (including sampling bags and shipping materials), 

to each supplier. Suppliers’ production plan will include and describe sample 

collection and preparation procedures provided by the AMS accredited 

laboratory. 

2) Sample Selection – Production processes of ground bison will be subject to the 

following sampling strategy: 

(i) Sub-lot Microbial Testing – For every sub-lot, an original and reserve 

sample of approximately 400 grams will be prepared from four (4) individual 

sample units (approximately 100 grams each) of finished ground bison, 

randomly selected throughout each 10,000 pounds of production. The 

sample units shall be blended to produce a composite sample that 

represents each sub-lot. This sample shall be submitted to the ADL for 

analysis. The reserve sample will be held for testing in case COTR deems 

it necessary. The contractor will describe, in their production plan, the 

approach taken for documenting the amount of ground bison produced for 

each sub-lot, as well as the method to be used to maintain the identity and 

traceability of each sub-lot. No more than 10,000 pounds shall be 

produced during each sub-lot, except for the last sub-lot produced in the lot 

may exceed the 10,000 pound limitation by five (5) percent. 

3) Testing and Results – The sample from each sub-lot will be analyzed by the 

ADL for all microbes listed in Appendix B. 

(i) The microbiological testing for all microbes will be in accordance with AMSapproved testing methodologies. 

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(ii) Any sub-lot that tests positive for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, or any 

critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B that is 

exceeded will result in that sub-lot and adjoining sub-lots (one preceding 

and one following within “clean up to clean up”) being ineligible for this 

program or any other USDA purchase program. Additionally, any sub-lot 

subjected to microbial analysis by FSIS or other regulatory authority that 

results in a positive finding for E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella or exceeds 

the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B will 

result in that sub-lot and adjoining sub-lots being ineligible for this program 

or any other USDA purchase program. Other sub-lots produced within 

that lot unit will be deemed ineligible for this program unless the contractor 

can demonstrate a scientific or other data-supported basis for defining the 

sub-lot(s) relative to test results and why ground bison produced from 

same source material that resulted in the ineligible determination should 

not be considered affected by the test results. 

(iii) Notification for presence of pathogens or when critical limit is exceeded – 

When presence of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella is presumptive positive 

or confirmed positive; any critical limit is exceeded for indicator microbes: 

 The ADL will immediately notify FSIS (pathogens only) and the COTR. 

 Confirmed Pathogen – The contractor shall conduct a cause and effect 

analysis to determine the appropriate corrective action necessary to 

eliminate the probable cause.

 The ground bison associated with the positive pathogen test results or 

critical limit is exceeded results will be ineligible for any USDA purchase 

program.

(iv) The ADL will record results on spreadsheets for each test performed on 

each sub-lot. 

J. PRODUCT ASSURANCE 

1. WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION 

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

specification requirements, production plan declarations, and provisions set forth 

in the program announcement. 

b) Complaint Resolution – Customer complaint resolution procedures will be 

included in the production plan. These procedures will include: a point of 

contact, investigation steps, intent to cooperate with AMS, and product 

replacement or monetary compensation. The procedures will be used to resolve 

product complaints from recipient agencies or AMS. 

 

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2. NON-CONFORMING PRODUCT 

The contractor must include a plan to ensure that non-conforming product is not 

delivered under USDA contracts. The plan must address 1) control and segregation 

of non-conforming product, 2) removal of any USDA markings, and 3) disposition of 

non-conforming product, including vendor notification in writing to the COTR of final 

disposition (e.g., diverted to cooked product or destroyed). 

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APPENDIX A 

SHIPPING CONTAINER MARKINGS: COMMERCIALLY LABELED SHIPPING CONTAINERS SHALL INCLUDE THE 

INFORMATION SHOWN BELOW. MANUFACTURER’S NAME AND ADDRESS SHALL APPEAR. THE NUTRITION 

FACTS PANEL, USDA SYMBOL, AND DONATED STATEMENT SHALL BE BLACK, FLAT, WATERFAST, AND 

NONSMEARING. THE USDA SYMBOL SHALL BE AT LEAST 2.0 INCHES HIGH. ALL OTHER PRINTING OR 

STENCILING SHALL BE OF A SIZE AND CONTRASTING COLOR TO STAND OUT PROMINENTLY AND COMPLY WITH 

THE USDA-FSIS REGULATIONS OR STATE REGULATIONS. 

 

 

 Boxes must include Safe Handling instructions in 

accordance with FSIS Mandatory Safe Handling 

Statements on Labeling of Raw Meat and Poultry.

 

 

 

NOTES: DATE PACKED SHALL BE THE MONTH, DAY, AND YEAR OF PACKING. 

 

 SERIAL PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER WILL BE FURNISHED BY USDA. 

 LOT NO. AND BOX NO. MAY BE PLACED ON THE SAME LINE OR AS SHOWN ABOVE. 

 BOX NUMBERS SHALL BE SEQUENTIAL. 

PER 9 CFR 317.4 & 317.5, PRIOR APPROVED LABELS NEED NOT BE RESUBMITTED. CONTRACTORS THAT DO NOT HAVE APPROVED LABELS ON 

FILE MUST SUBMIT LABELS IN SKETCH FORM ONLY TO THE APPROPRIATE USDA, FSIS, OR STATE AGENCY. 

Product Name

Material Number___

Purchase Order No. 

KEEP FROZEN

DATE 

PACKED 

LOT#___ 

BOX___ 

Manufacturer's Name and

Address (here or on principle 

display panel) 

PERISHABLE 

FROZEN - STORE 

AT 0°F (-17.8°C) 

OR

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APPENDIX B 

 AMS MICROBIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BONELESS & GROUND BISON 

Microbial Test Critical Limits 

Standard Plate Count 100,000 cfu / gram 

Total Coliforms 1,000 cfu / gram 

E. coli 500 cfu / gram 

Salmonella Positive (+) result / 25 grams 

E. coli O157:H7 Positive (+) result / 325 grams 

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Date Issued: 05/01/03 

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Changes – in blue

I. SCOPE 

This technical data supplement (TDS) is for use by the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Commodity Procurement 

Division for the procurement of frozen ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat. For this 

program, AMS will utilize the Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) descriptions 

and requirements for ground beef and beef for stewing as specification requirements for the 

production of ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat, respectively. 

II. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS 

The following documents will be incorporated as part of this USDA, TDS-BUF-2012: 

 Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Directive 10,010.1 Revision 3. 

 IMPS General Requirements, effective June 1996. 

 IMPS For Fresh Beef Products, Series 100, effective March 2010. 

 IMPS Quality Assurance Provisions, effective June 1997. 

 Grading and Verification Division (GVD) Instruction Manual, Series 600 and 700. 

III. ORDERING DATA: TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE PURCHASER 

(Section in the IMPS 100 Series) For the purposes of this TDS, references to “Ground Beef” 

(IMPS Item No. 136) and “Beef for Stewing” (IMPS Item No. 135A) are changed to Ground 

Buffalo and Buffalo Stew Meat, respectively. 

A. ITEMS 

1. GROUND BUFFALO AND BUFFALO STEW MEAT 

The ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat shall be produced from buffalo harvested 

in, and the finished product shall be prepared and handled in, an establishment(s) 

operating under the Voluntary Exotic Animal Inspection Program of the USDA, Food 

Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and must comply with the Sanitation 

Performance Standards provisions of 9 CFR 416.1-416.6. Buffalo must originate 

from U.S. produced American buffalo which have been range-fed (animals that have 

not been finished in confinement or supplemented/finished with grain). 

a) Ground Buffalo - Ground Buffalo shall be produced from fresh buffalo cuts and 

trimmings from any portion of the carcass, which yields product that meets the 

end item requirements for IMPS Item 136. Frozen, boneless buffalo (certified to 

the material requirements) may be used provided it is ground into the final 

product within 60 days from date of pack.

 

TECHNICAL DATA SUPPLEMENT FOR 

FROZEN GROUND BUFFALO AND 

BUFFALO STEW MEAT (TDS-BUF-2012) 

 Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) 

Livestock and Seed Program, Standardization Division 

Room 2607 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 260-8295 

Effective: May 2012

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b) Buffalo Stew Meat – Buffalo stew meat shall be prepared from fresh buffalo cuts 

and trimmings from any portion of the carcass, which yields product that meets 

the end- item requirements for IMPS 135A.

2. MATERIAL 

a) The contractor’s production plan must describe a process that includes 

procedures, records, forms, etc. that demonstrate conformance with the 

following Checklist of Requirements and have received a satisfactory onsite 

capability assessment by GVD. 

b) The contractor will ensure, through their production plan, that the product 

complies with the Material section of IMPS Item No. 136 for ground buffalo and 

IMPS Item No. 135A for buffalo stew meat, and the following additional criteria: 

1) Domestic Origin – All buffalo will originate from U.S. produced livestock as 

defined in this Supplement. 

2) Harvest Requirements – Contractor must have documentation and a 

program in place that verifies the source of raw materials used in each lot of 

production. All buffalo will be harvested in facilities that comply with the 

following additional requirements: 

(a) Humane Handling – All buffalo shall be humanely handled in accordance 

with all applicable FSIS regulations and AMS requirements. 

(b) Pathogen Intervention – The harvest process must include at least two 

pathogen intervention steps and must be scientifically validated to 

collectively achieve a 3 log reduction of enteric pathogens. 

(c) Carcasses Testing – Routinely test carcasses for Shiga-toxigenic 

Escherichia coli O157 (including O157:H7 and O157:Non-Motile (NM); 

herein referred to as E. coli O157:H7) at CCP to verify effectiveness of 

interventions. 

(d) Spinal Cord Removal – All spinal cord tissue shall be removed during 

the harvesting process. 

(e) Traceability – Boneless buffalo shall be traceable to sources that comply 

with the above domestic origin and harvest requirements. 

3) Mechanical Separation – Buffalo meat that is mechanically separated from 

bone with automatic deboning systems, advanced meat (lean) recovery 

(AMR) systems or powered knives, will not be allowed. 

4) Fresh Chilled Buffalo – Prior to processing, boneless buffalo shall be 

examined for compliance with IMPS Item No. 136 MATERIAL requirements. 

Product failing this examination will be rejected. 

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3. PROCESSING 

a) Ground Buffalo – Ground buffalo will be processed in accordance with IMPS 

and the following additional requirements: 

1) Ground Buffalo Processing – Ground buffalo will be processed in 

accordance with the Processing section of IMPS Item No. 136. Frozen, 

boneless buffalo (certified to the material requirements) may be used 

provided it is ground into the final product within 60 days from date of pack. 

2) Bone Collector / Extruder System – A bone collector/extruder system must 

be in operation on the final grind of product. 

b) Buffalo Stew Meat – Buffalo stew meat must comply with the following 

additional requirements: 

1) Buffalo Stew Meat Processing – Buffalo Stew Meat shall be processed to 

meet the end item requirements listed within IMPS Item No. 135A. 

2) Dicing – The meat shall be either hand-diced or mechanically diced (grinding 

is not permitted). 

3) Handling – To facilitate dicing, meat may be frozen and/or tempered one 

time only. 

4) Shank or Heel Meat – No shank or heel meat is permitted. 

4. METAL DETECTION 

All products shall be free of metal contaminants. Detection of stainless steel, 

ferrous, and non-ferrous (e.g., lead, copper, and aluminum) metals is required. The 

contractor's production plan must identify and describe the equipment, location, 

detection procedure, sensitivity levels, frequency of equipment validation, and 

corrective action procedures. 

B. GRADE – Not applicable. 

C. STATE OF REFRIGERATION 

All finished buffalo products will be frozen, in accordance with FREEZING OPTION 1. 

Refer to I. MEAT HANDLING, A. STATE OF REFRIGERATION, and B. 

PRODUCTION, TEMPERATURE AND TIME LIMITATIONS section of the IMPS 

General Requirements. 

D. FAT LIMITATIONS 

1. Ground Buffalo - The average fat content shall be less than 10 percent and the 

number of grams of fat per 112 gram serving will be declared in the nutritional facts 

panel on the package label. The fat content will be certified by AMS in accordance 

with IMPS QAPs. The 4 individual fat results shall be put into ascending order from 

the lowest to the highest value for evaluation (e.g., 8.30, 9.19, 9.63, and 9.80). The 

4 individual fat test results shall be used to calculate average, median and range. 

Results not meeting the following requirements shall cause rejection of the lot: 

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a) Average – The average of the 4 individual results cannot exceed 10 percent 

(e.g., average of the 4 test results =9.23). 

b) Median – The median, which is the average of the middle two test results, 

cannot deviate from the average of the four individual samples by more than 2.0 

percent (e.g., median is equal to the average of 9.19 and 9.63 = 9.41). 

c) Range – The difference between the highest and lowest test results cannot 

exceed 5 percent (e.g., 9.80 – 8.30 = 1.50). 

2. Buffalo Stew Meat – Surface and seam fat will not exceed 1⁄4-inch in thickness at any 

point.

E. WEIGHT RANGE – Not applicable. 

F. NETTING AND TYING – Not applicable. 

G. PACKAGING AND PACKING 

Refer to II. PACKAGING AND PACKING section of the IMPS General Requirements 

and the following additional requirements: 

1. Packaging – All immediate containers (casings or packages) shall function as a 

tamper evidence indicator to provide added assurance of product integrity through 

the method of sealing or closure. 

a) Package Net Weight – Ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat shall be packaged 

as specified within the Contracting Officer’s invitation:

1) 100090 Ground Buffalo 1-pound

2) 100091 Buffalo Stew Meat 1-pound

b) Package Method – Ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat shall be packaged 

using one of the following methods: 

1) Mechanical Packaged – Mechanically packaged into tamper-proof 

commercial casings. 

2) Vacuum Packaged – Vacuum packaged in accordance with the IMPS 

General requirements. 

2. Packing 

a) Shipping Container Net Weight 

1) Ground Buffalo – Forty (40) 1-pound packages of lean ground buffalo shall 

be packed into non-perforated shipping containers to a net weight of 

40pounds, without slackfilling or overfilling. Spacers or fillers may not be 

used to satisfy this requirement. 

2) Buffalo Stew Meat – Forty (40) 1-pound packages of buffalo stew meat shall 

be packed into non-perforated shipping containers to a net weight of 40 

pounds, without slackfilling or overfilling. Spacers or fillers may not be used 

to satisfy this requirement. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
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Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 5

b) Style and Size of Container – Only one style and size of shipping containers may 

be used in any one-delivery unit. 

c) Commingling – Commingling of lean ground buffalo and buffalo stew meat in the 

same shipping container will not be allowed. 

3. Closure - Shipping containers will be closed by strapping, taping, or gluing. When 

strapping is used, the initial closure (usually the bottom of container) shall be 

secured by the gluing or taping method. 

4. Marking of Containers*– Immediate and shipping containers will be labeled to 

include all information required by FSIS regulations. In addition, each immediate 

and shipping container must have the following markings: 

a) Immediate Container – Each immediate container (package) will have the 

following information included on commercially labeled packages: 

1) Name of Product. 

2) Safe Handling Instructions. 

3) "Best-if-used-by" Date – A date that is 180 calendar days from the date of 

production. 

4) Traceability Code – A code that is traceable to production lot and date. 

5) Nutrition Fact Panel – Include fat declaration for number of grams of fat per 

112 gram (ready-to-cook) serving. 

6) FSIS Establishment Number and any other FSIS required markings. 

b) Shipping container – The following markings will be included on the shipping 

containers: 

1) Appendix A – Shipping containers will be marked in accordance with 

Appendix A. However, contractors may vary the placement of the required 

information shown in Appendix A. Additional markings (e.g., company bar 

codes, logos, etc.) that are consistent with all other commercial labels may 

be included. 

2) Traceability Code – A code that is traceable to production lot and date. 

3) Nutrition Fact Panel – Include fat declaration for number of grams of fat per 

112 gram (ready-to-cook) serving. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
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Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 6

4) The appropriate material number listed in the table below for each of the 

items. 

Item Material Number

Ground Buffalo, Frozen – 1-pound 100090

Buffalo Stew Meat, Frozen – 1-pound 100091

5) Name of Product. 

6) USDA Shield (at least 2 inches high and appearing on the top of the 

container or on the principle display panel). 

7) Purchase Order Number. 

8) Ingredient declaration (including single ingredient products). 

9) 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 ______. 

*All primary and shipping container labeling illustrations must be provided within 

the production plan. 

5. Palletized Unit Loads – Required, see IMPS General Requirements. 

H. USDA CERTIFCATION 

1. Product Will Be Certified By USDA, AMS, GVD – AMS agents will perform 

examinations in accordance with IMPS General Requirements, IMPS QAPS, and 

GVD Instructions and as specified below: 

a) Product Examinations 

1) Ground Buffalo – Product examination for excellent condition and detailed 

item description requirements will be in accordance with QAPS. In TABLE 

100 I, delete defect numbers 218 and 219 in their entirety and replace with 

the following defects: 

218 Presence of any portion of the popliteal, prescapular, or prefemoral 

lymph glands or any other exposed lymph glands measuring 1.0 inch or 

more in one dimension and 0.5 inch in a second dimension. 

219 Presence of non-carcass components or fat from the thoracic, lumbar, 

pelvic, cod, and /or udder areas of the carcass measuring 2.0 square 

inches or more and 0.5 inch or more in depth at any point. 

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 7

Delete defect 294 in its entirety. Insert the following note at the bottom of 

the table: 

Note: The presence of any non-meat components not listed as defects 

above (e.g., spinal cord, organ tissue, foreign materials, etc.) shall cause 

rejection of the product by AMS. 

2) Buffalo Stew Meat – Refer to LOT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA section for 

diced items within QAPS. In TABLE 100 H, delete defect number 218 in its 

entirety. Replace defect number 218 with the following defect: 

218 Presence of any portion of the popliteal, prescapular, or prefemoral 

lymph glands or any other exposed lymph glands measuring 1.0 inch or 

more in one dimension and 0.5 inch in a second dimension. 

Delete defect 194 in its entirety. Insert the following note at the bottom of 

the table: 

Note: The presence of any non-meat components not listed as defects 

above (e.g., spinal cord, organ tissue, foreign materials, etc.) shall cause 

rejection of the product by AMS.

b) Condition of Container – Condition of containers will be examined as follow: 

1) Production Container Examination – At time of production, randomly scan 

shipping containers to ensure defective containers are corrected and 

replaced. 

2) Shipping Container Examination – Final examination of condition of shipping 

containers will be limited to scanning (without destructive sampling) the 

delivery unit for defects which may have occurred during handling and 

storage (e.g., crushed, torn, dirty, stained, etc.). All defective containers 

must be replaced or corrected. 

c) Net Weight – Net weight will be in accordance with the QAPS only. 

d) Fat Content Analysis – Fat content analysis will be in accordance with the 

QAPS and FAT LIMITATIONS section of this specification. 

e) Traceability Code – Stamping (sealing) of shipping containers by the AMS 

agent is not required. The AMS agent will ensure that each primary and 

shipping container has a traceability code that is traceable to a production lot 

and date. 

f) Temperature Examinations – Temperature will be examined using Freezing 

Option 1. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 8

2. Lot Size and Purchase Unit: 

a) Lot Size – For finished product, the lot size will not exceed the amount specified 

by the purchaser as a purchase unit. 

b) Purchase Unit Size – The purchase unit size for lean ground buffalo and buffalo 

stew meat is 40,000 pounds net weight (1,000 shipping containers) plus the 

amount for use in making box fills at the time of laboratory sample withdrawal. 

3. The AMS Agent Will: 

a) Certify and Issue Certificate – Certify and issue an official certificate indicating 

the status of each lot as required by GVD Instructions. 

b) Supervise Loading and Sealing – Supervise the loading and sealing of each 

truck. All products must be delivered to AMS designated destinations under 

seal using tamper proof, tamper resistant, serially numbered, high security 

seals that meet the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard F 

1157-04 as required under this Supplement. 

4. Official Certificates Shall Include: 

a) Purchase Order Number and Purchase Order line item number. 

b) Sales Order Number and Sales Order Item number. 

c) Name of product. 

d) Applicable material number. 

e) Production lot number(s) and the date each lot was produced. 

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

lot. 

g) Total projected net weights per delivery unit. 

h) Identity of conveyance (numbers and letters, seals, license, etc.) as applicable. 

i) Destination(s). 

j) Sample average fat content analysis of each production lot for lean ground 

buffalo only (calculated to 2 decimal places, e.g., 8.25). 

I. MICROBIOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND BUFFALO 

1. Boneless Buffalo for Grinding 

a) Lot – A lot shall consist of a single combo sized bin of approximately 2,000 

pounds of boneless buffalo produced within a day, between “cleanup to cleanup” 

and that is from a single harvester or from a single processor. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 9

b) Microbial Testing – All lots of fresh chilled boneless buffalo must be tested for all 

microbes listed in Appendix B. All samples will be sent to the AMS designated 

laboratory (ADL). 

1) Sample Preparation and Handling – The ADL will be responsible for 

supplying sampling procedures for sample selection, preparation, and 

submission. The laboratory shall require suppliers to submit a sample 

submission form as an official record with each sample. The laboratory will 

also be responsible for supplying shipping supplies (including sampling bags 

and shipping materials), to each supplier. Suppliers’ production plan will 

include and describe sample collection and preparation procedures provided 

by the AMS accredited laboratory. 

2) Sample Selection 

(i) For Buffalo Manufacturing Trimmings – The composite sample will be 

selected as described within FSIS Directive 10,010.1 Revision 3 (N-60 

Sections 8, 9 and NOTE). 

(ii) The composite sample shall consist of exactly seventy (70) pieces of trim 

from seventy (70) different pieces of buffalo product and shall weigh 400-

425 grams. 

(iii) When boneless buffalo has been exposed to any anti-microbial 

treatment, no sample units shall be selected for at least 15 minutes after 

such treatment. 

3) Testing and Results 

(i) The microbiological testing for all microbes will be in accordance with the 

applicable AMS-approved testing methodologies. 

(ii) Notification for presence of pathogens and exceeding critical limit criteria 

– When presence of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella is presumptive 

positive or confirmed positive or any critical limit is exceeded for indicator 

microbes, the ADL will immediately notify FSIS (pathogens only) and the 

Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR). 

(iii) The ADL will record results on spreadsheets for each Microbial Testing 

performed on each approximately 2,000 pound lot. 

(iv) Any lot that tests positive for E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella or exceeds 

the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B 

cannot be used to produce ground buffalo or any other product 

purchased by USDA. 

(v) Any lot subjected to microbial analysis by FSIS or other regulatory 

authority that results in a positive finding for E. coli O157:H7 or 

Salmonella or exceeds the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set 

forth in Appendix B cannot be used to produce ground buffalo or any 

other product purchased by USDA. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 10

2. Ground Buffalo Microbial Requirements 

a) Lot – For the purpose of microbiological testing, a lot is defined as the 

amount of finished ground buffalo product produced within a day, between 

“cleanup to cleanup” which must be further divided into sub-lots not to 

exceed 10,000 pounds. 

b) Microbiological Testing – All lots of ground buffalo will be tested for all 

microbes listed in Appendix B after final grinding and before freezing. All 

samples will be sent to the ADL. 

1) Sample Preparation and Handling – The ADL will be responsible for 

supplying sampling procedures for sample selection, preparation, and 

submission. The laboratory shall require suppliers to submit a sample 

submission form as an official record with each sample. The laboratory 

will also be responsible for supplying shipping supplies (including 

sampling bags and shipping materials), to each supplier. Suppliers’ 

production plan will include and describe sample collection and 

preparation procedures provided by the AMS accredited laboratory. 

2) Sample Selection – Production processes of ground buffalo will be subject 

to the following sampling strategy: 

(i) Sub-lot Microbial Testing – For every sub-lot, an original and reserve 

sample of approximately 400 grams will be prepared from individual 

sample units (approximately 100 grams each) of finished ground 

buffalo, randomly selected throughout each 10,000 pounds of 

production. The four (4) individual sample units shall be blended to 

produce a composite sample that represents each sub-lot. This 

sample shall be submitted to the ADL for analysis. The reserve 

sample will be held for testing in case the COTR deems it necessary. 

The contractor will describe, in their production plan, the approach 

taken for documenting the amount of ground buffalo produced for each 

sub-lot, as well as the method to be used to maintain the identity and 

traceability of each sub-lot. No more than 10,000 pounds shall be 

produced during each sub-lot, except for the last sub-lot produced in 

the lot, may exceed the 10,000 pound limitation by five (5) percent. 

3) Testing and Results - The sample from each sub-lot will be analyzed by the 

ADL for all microbes listed in Appendix B. 

(i) The microbiological testing for all microbes will be in accordance with the 

applicable AMS-approved testing methodologies. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
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Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 11

(ii) Any sub-lot that tests positive for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, or any 

critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B that is 

exceeded will result in that sub-lot and adjoining sub-lots (one preceding 

and one following within “clean up to clean up”) being ineligible for this 

program or any other USDA purchase program. Additionally, any sub-lot 

subjected to microbial analysis by FSIS or other regulatory authority that 

results in a positive finding for E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella or exceeds 

the critical limit criteria for indicator microbes set forth in Appendix B will 

result in that sub-lot and adjoining sub-lots being ineligible for this 

program or any other USDA purchase program. Other sub-lots produced 

within that lot unit will be deemed ineligible for this program unless the 

contractor can demonstrate a scientific or other data-supported basis for 

defining the sub-lot(s) relative to test results and why ground buffalo 

produced from same source material that resulted in the ineligible 

determination should not be considered affected by the test results. 

(iii) Notification for presence of pathogens or when critical limit is exceeded – 

When presence of E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella is presumptive positive 

or confirmed positive; any critical limit is exceeded for indicator microbes: 

 The ADL will immediately notify FSIS (pathogens only) and the 

COTR. 

 Confirmed Pathogen – The contractor shall conduct a cause and 

effect analysis to determine the appropriate corrective action 

necessary to eliminate the probable cause. 

 The ground buffalo associated with the positive pathogen test results 

or critical limit exceeded results will be ineligible for any USDA 

purchase program. 

(iv) The ADL will record results on spreadsheets for each test performed on 

each Sub-lot. 

J. PRODUCT ASSURANCE 

1. WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION 

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

specification requirements, production plan declarations, and provisions set 

forth in the program announcement. 

b) Complaint Resolution – Customer complaint resolution procedures will be 

included in the production plan. These procedures will include: a point of 

contact, investigation steps, intent to cooperate with AMS, and product 

replacement or monetary compensation. The procedures will be used to 

resolve product complaints from recipient agencies or AMS. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
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Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 12

2. NON-CONFORMING PRODUCT 

The contractor must include a plan to ensure that non-conforming product is not 

delivered under USDA contracts. The plan must address 1) control and 

segregation of non-conforming product, 2) removal of any USDA markings, and 3) 

disposition of non-conforming product, including vendor notification in writing to the 

COTR of final disposition (e.g., diverted to commercial production, cooked product, 

or destroyed). 

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 13

APPENDIX A 

SHIPPING CONTAINER MARKINGS: COMMERCIALLY LABELED SHIPPING CONTAINERS SHALL INCLUDE THE 

INFORMATION SHOWN BELOW. MANUFACTURER’S NAME AND ADDRESS SHALL APPEAR. THE NUTRITION 

FACTS PANEL, USDA SYMBOL, AND DONATED STATEMENT SHALL BE BLACK, FLAT, WATERFAST, AND 

NONSMEARING. THE USDA SYMBOL SHALL BE AT LEAST 2.0 INCHES HIGH. ALL OTHER PRINTING OR 

STENCILING SHALL BE OF A SIZE AND CONTRASTING COLOR TO STAND OUT PROMINENTLY AND COMPLY 

WITH THE USDA-FSIS REGULATIONS OR STATE REGULATIONS. 

 

 

 Boxes must include Safe Handling instructions in 

accordance with FSIS Mandatory Safe Handling 

Statements on Labeling of Raw Meat and Poultry.

 

 

 

NOTES: DATE PACKED SHALL BE THE MONTH, DAY, AND YEAR OF PACKING. 

 

 SERIAL PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER WILL BE FURNISHED BY USDA. 

 LOT NO. AND BOX NO. MAY BE PLACED ON THE SAME LINE OR AS SHOWN ABOVE. 

 BOX NUMBERS SHALL BE SEQUENTIAL. 

PER 9 CFR 317.4 & 317.5, PRIOR APPROVED LABELS NEED NOT BE RESUBMITTED. CONTRACTORS THAT DO NOT HAVE APPROVED LABELS ON FILE 

MUST SUBMIT LABELS IN SKETCH FORM ONLY TO THE APPROPRIATE USDA, FSIS OR STATE AGENCY. 

Product Name 

Material Number_____ 

Purchase Order No. 

KEEP FROZEN

DATE 

PACKED 

LOT#___ 

BOX___ 

Manufacturer's Name and Address 

(here or on principle display panel) 

PERISHABLE 

FROZEN - STORE AT 

0°F (-17.8°C) OR 

BELOW

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 05/01/03 

Date Revised: 05/03/12 14

APPENDIX B 

 AMS MICROBIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR 

BONELESS & GROUND BUFFALO 

Microbial Test Critical Limits 

Standard Plate Count 100,000 cfu / gram 

Total Coliforms 1,000 cfu / gram 

E. coli 500 cfu / gram 

Salmonella Positive (+) result / 25 grams 

E. coli O157:H7 Positive (+) result / 325 grams 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT II
Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 10/28/10 

Date Revised: N/A

Bison Handling and Welfare 

1.0 General 

1.1 Program Approach 

The contractor and all subcontractors must develop and implement a written program 

that is consistent with a systematic approach to humane handling and welfare as outlined 

in 69 FR 54625. The program will discuss the applicable provisions of 9 CFR 352 to 

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

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

exsanguination processes. 

1.2 Contracting Officer 

The contracting officer can declare a contractor’s and/or subcontractor’s Bison Handing 

and Welfare Program out of compliance at any time. 

1.3 Program Submission 

The program will be submitted as a supporting document to the firm’s approved technical 

proposal and must address the requirements outlined in Section 2.0 – Program 

Components. 

2.0 Program Components 

The contractor must ensure that any facility that harvests bison for the program has a: 

 

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 

SCHEDULE – BISON HANDLING AND 

WELFARE 2010 (TRS-BHW-2010) 

Contracting Officer Technical 

Representative (COTR) Standards, 

Analysis, and Technology Branch 

Room 2607 S-Bldg, Phone: (202) 720-

4486 

Effective: October 2010

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 10/28/10 

Date Revised: N/A 2

2.1 Mission Statement 

Mission Statement on Bison Handling and Welfare that is distributed to all employees 

and conspicuously displayed at the premises. 

2.2 Training Program1, 2, 3

Training program on Bison Handling and Welfare that: 

 is provided to all employees interacting with bison; 

 covers Chapter 3: Transportation Audit Guidelines, Core Criteria 1 and 3 of the AMI 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition;

 covers Chapter 4: Auditing Animal Handling and Stunning 7 Core Criteria of the AMI 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition;

 is conducted no less frequently than once a year for each designated employee; and, 

 requires signed documentation from each employee and confirmation by signature of 

the designated trainer upon successful completion of training. 

2.3 Quality Management Plan1, 2, 3

Written quality management plan (internal) which addresses the provisions of Chapter 3: 

Transportation Audit Guidelines, Core Criteria 1 and 3, and Chapter 4: Auditing Animal 

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

Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition, found at the following web site: 

http://www.animalhandling.org/ht/d/sp/i/26752/pid/26752

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.

1

Guidlines and audit criteria specified for cattle in Chapter 4: Auditing Animal Handling and Stunning 7 Core Criteria 

of the AMI Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition should be emulated, to the 

extent possible, for bison. 

2

Core Criteria 4: Vocalization in Chapter 4: Auditing Animal Handling and Stunning 7 Core Criteria of the AMI 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition shall be amended to so that vocalization 

only is evaluated at the lead up chute prior to the restrainer with five percent or less vocalization being an 

acceptable score. Grunting should not be counted. 

3

Core Criteria 5: Electric Prod Use in Chapter 4: Auditing Animal Handling and Stunning 7 Core Criteria of the AMI 

Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition shall be amended to provide for a “zero 

tolerance” threshold for bison.

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 10/28/10 

Date Revised: N/A 3

2.4 Non-Ambulatory Bison 

Written protocol in-place and enforced that precludes the receipt of or having nonambulatory, disabled bison on the harvest facility premise. In the event that bison 

become non-ambulatory or disabled at any time while present at the harvest facility, the 

bison will be humanely euthanized and the carcass removed from the premise in a timely 

manner through contracted services or other means.

3.0 Program Evaluation and Eligibility 

The program will be audited (external) by a firm accredited by AMS. The accreditation of 

the firm will be conducted by the Audit, Review and Compliance Branch through the 

LS ISO Guide 65 Program. Alternatively, at the option of the contractor or 

subcontractor, the audits can be performed by AMS auditors. Audit findings thought to 

be in conflict with Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations will be 

communicated to the establishment’s Inspector in Charge (IIC) or designee. 

3.1 Audit Format 

The AMS accredited auditing firm must conduct audits utilizing the following format: 

3.1.1 Transportation Segment (Chapter 3: AMI Recommended Animal Handling 

Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition) 

Audited firms must pass Core Criteria 1 with a minimum scoring of excellent and Core 

Criteria 3 with a minimum scoring of acceptable each time an audit is performed. 

3.1.2 Animal Handling and Stunning Segment (Chapter 4: AMI Recommended Animal 

Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide 2010 Edition) 

Audited firms must pass Core Criteria 1 through 4 with a minimum scoring of acceptable 

while Core Criteria 5 and 7 must be adhered to with full compliance (zero tolerance) each 

time an audit is performed. 

3.2 Initial Audit 

Initial audit must be performed prior to award of contracts. 

3.3 Audit Failure 

If an audit is failed for any of the Core Criteria, the firm is not eligible to provide product 

until such a time that corrective and preventative actions are approved by the 

Contracting Officer, implemented and proven effective. 

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Approved by_________ MEO 

Date Issued: 10/28/10 

Date Revised: N/A 4

3.4 Audit Frequency and Status 

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

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

 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 Contracting Officer, implemented and proven effective. This 

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

the pass requirements noted within Chapter 3 (Core Criteria 1 and 3) and Chapter 4 

(Core Criteria 1 through 7) of the AMI Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines 

and Audit Guide 2010 Edition; at which time audits shall be conducted on the 

STANDARD basis. 

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

period while in STANDARD auditing phase, the facility may move to a SEMI-ANNUAL 

audit basis. 

 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. 

SUPPLEMENT 603 TO AMS MASTER SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT III 

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