USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

BWP6 

BUCKWHEAT 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Effective Date: 02/27/2008 
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

BWP6 

BUCKWHEAT 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Table of Contents 

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1 

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES ____________________________________________________ 1 

Section 1.2 INSPECTION-ALL COMMODITIES___________________________________ 2 

Section 1.3 QUALITY DISCOUNTS ______________________________________________ 3 

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS_______________________ 3 

Section 2.1 GENERAL _________________________________________________________ 3 

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS_____________________________________ 3 

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS_____________________ 4 

Section 2.4 SEWING OF BAG SEAMS____________________________________________ 4 

Section 2.5 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES ________________________________ 5 

Section 2.6 TEST FREQUENCY _________________________________________________ 6 

Part 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS__________________________________________ 6 

Section 3.1 MARKINGS ________________________________________________________ 6 

Section 3.2 MARKING DESCRIPTIONS __________________________________________ 7 

Section 3.3 EMPTY BAG DIMENSIONS __________________________________________ 9 

Section 3.4 CONTAINERS WITH INCORRECT MARKINGS ______________________ 10 

Exhibit A _______________________________________________________________________ 11 

Exhibits SMR-1 through SMR4 and LMR1 through LMR8 _____________________________ 12 
Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES 

A. The buckwheat shall be cleaned using standard grain cleaning equipment to remove 

dockage, foreign matter, and stones in accordance with good manufacturing practices. 

(1) Buckwheat Groats shall be prepared from the buckwheat fruit by separating 

buckwheat kernels from shells. The buckwheat groats shall have a pleasantly 

sweet taste, not sour or bitter, and no off odors. The finished product shall 

conform to the following analyses: 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Moisture --- 16.0% 

Admixture --- 0.8% 

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Purity 99.2% --- 

Whole Groat (% remaining on top of a U.S. standard 

7/64 round hole sieve) 

95.0% ---- 

Unhulled kernels --- 0.3% 

Foreign Material --- 0.3% 

Mineral matter (% of sand, stones, and pieces of soil) --- 0.05% 

Infestation (# of living insects) --- 0 

Infestation (# of dead insects per kilogram) --- 15 

(2) Buckwheat Grits shall be prepared from the buckwheat groats first by 

separating buckwheat kernels from shells, then by grinding to the desired 

texture. The buckwheat grits shall have a pleasantly sweet taste, not sour or 

bitter, and no off odors. The finished product shall conform to the following 

analyses: 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Protein 10.0% --- 

Moisture --- 16.0% 

MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Aflotoxin --- < 5 ppb 

Coliform --- < 500/ gm 

E. coli Negative 

Salmonella Negative 

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(3) Buckwheat Flour shall be produced from the buckwheat fruit, in which, a 

certain percent of hull is retained. The flour shall be white to gray color with 

black speckles of a medium fine grind texture free flowing and free of caked 

lumps. The flour shall have a sweet flour aroma free of rancid or other off 

odors, a hearty and slightly acidic buckwheat taste. The finished product shall 

conform to the following analyses: 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Protein 8.0% --- 

Moisture --- 14.0% 

Ash --- 2.5% 

MICROBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES 

Item Minimum Maximum 

Aflotoxin --- < 5 ppb 

Coliform --- < 500/ gm 

E. coli Negative 

Salmonella Negative 

Section 1.2 INSPECTION-ALL COMMODITIES 

A. The contractor shall be responsible for arranging and obtaining FGIS, or any other 

organization designated by FGIS, official domestic and export weight and grade 

certificates. Procedures to follow and a schedule of fees for this service may be 

obtained at http://151.121.3.117/aboutus/servicemap/usmap.htm. Contractors are 

required to notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet contract 

requirements. 

B. The average net weight of the sampled shipping units as determined by FGIS shall not 

be less than 98 percent of the marked net weight. Failure of the lot to meet the average 

net weight requirement shall cause rejection of the involved lot pursuant to FAR clause 

52.246-2. 

C. The contractor shall forward the original domestic official weight and grade certificate 

to FGIS at the destination port. FGIS will verify the identity preserved condition of the 

lots of grain and issue an export inspection certificate stating that the grain is free from 

infestation. Export certificates shall be mailed to: 

Kansas City Commodity Office 

Export Operations Division 

Bulk Commodities/Freight Forwarding Branch, Stop 8738 

P.O. Box 419205 

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205 

D. If the product fails to meet contract specifications on one or more factors on the first 

inspection, the contractor may arrange with FGIS for subsequent inspections of the 

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commodity. The inspections may be conducted at origin or a subsequent point of 

delivery if the provisions of Title 7 CFR 868.40 through 868.63 issued under the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, with respect to retest, appeal, and 

new inspections can be met. When subsequent inspections of the product are made, the 

results of the last inspection will be used as the basis for payment under the contract. 

E. FGIS will perform a condition of container examination in accordance with the United 

States Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42) and the Agricultural 

Marketing Service Handbook for Inspection of the Condition of Food Containers. 

Section 1.3 QUALITY DISCOUNTS 

If the product to be delivered by the contractor does not meet the quality specifications, but 

falls within the discounts listed, the product may be delivered to the Government, but the 

purchase price will be reduced in accordance with the schedule of discounts in the table below 

for each 100 pounds of commodity delivered. 

Discounts 

Excess Moisture Deficient Protein 

14.1% or 14.2% $0.10 7.9% or 7.8% $0.10 

14.3% or 14.4% $0.20 7.7% or 7.6% $0.20 

14.5% or 14.6% $0.35 7.5% or 7.4% $0.35 

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 

Section 2.1 GENERAL 

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials 

requirements used under this contract. 

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS 

A. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the 

requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safe 

contact with the packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and 

maintain documentation from the container or packaging material 

manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging materials 

used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s 

regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as 

required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3. 

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to: 

USDA/FSA/DACO 

Room 5755 – South Bldg, STOP 0551 

1400 Independence Avenue SW 

Washington, DC 20250-0551 

ATTN: Packaging 

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C. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from 

a foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured 

in a foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display 

country of origin labeling. Phrases similar to but not inclusive of, 

“Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of 

Foreign Country.]” are strictly prohibited. 

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS 

Woven polypropylene fabric and circular-woven style bags. 

A. The color of the fabric shall be white, unless otherwise specified. At the 

contractor's discretion, it may use fabric containing marker yarns as a means of 

identifying the manufacturer of the fabric. 

B. The polymer in the fabric shall be 100 percent virgin polypropylene with no recycled 

material. Rework product will be limited to excess material produced during the initial 

extrusion process and will be limited to the amount produced during normal continuous 

operation. A system to identify and document this process must be in place for review 

by the Government's audit personnel. 

C. The fabric in an unstressed state shall permit a minimum air flow of 3 cubic feet per 

minute per square foot and a maximum of 30 cubic feet per minute per square foot, 

when tested in accordance with ASTM Test Method D737, as amended. 

D. The fabric shall be finished by coating or other suitable method to prevent slippage. 

Individual test results shall be 28 degrees or greater, when tested in accordance with 

TAPPI Test Method T-503-OM-84. The fabric shall accept and retain printing ink that 

will not rub or flake off to a degree where legibility is impaired. 

E. The fabric shall be capable of resisting ultraviolet deterioration for a minimum of 200 

hours of exposure in a weatherometer, when tested in accordance with Test Method 

5804-Federal Standard 191, as amended. The fabric shall retain 70 percent of its 

original minimum tensile strength in each direction, after 200 hours exposure, when 

tested in accordance with Test Method ASTM D 5034 (Grab Test), as amended. 

F. Bags may be flat tube or gusseted. 

G. Bags may be extrusion coated. Extrusion coated bags shall have the proper number, 

size and location of micro perforations to achieve the air permeability rate required for 

product stability and fumigation, as well as filling efficiency. 

Section 2.4 SEWING OF BAG SEAMS 

A. All bag seams shall be sewn in a manner which prevents the product from leaking 

through the seams during handling, storage, and distribution. 

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B. The color of the sewing thread shall be natural or white. The tensile strength of the 

sewn seams shall not be less than the tensile strength of the fabric in the body of the 

bag. 

C. The top and bottom of the bag shall be heat cut or otherwise finished to prevent fraying 

or unraveling of the fabric during distribution. The bottom seam shall be constructed in 

accordance with Federal Standard 751a, SSn-1 Single Turnover, as amended. A 

minimum of 4 stitches per inch is required. 

Section 2.5 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES 

A. All bags shall be capable of withstanding the following performance test for impact 

resistance. 

(1) Ten filled and sealed bags shall each survive a single drop test on the butt and 

side on a shock machine that produces for each test a velocity change of 195 

inches per second using a shock duration of .002 seconds without loss of 

product. 

(2) Testing shall be conducted under standard temperature (73.4 o F plus or minus 

1.8 o F) and relative humidity (50% plus or minus 2%) conditions. 

(3) Filled bags shall be placed in the conditioned atmosphere for sufficient time 

before the tests are conducted for the bag materials to come to equilibrium. 

(4) Bags submitted under this performance specification shall conform to all other 

applicable material, construction, and performance specifications. 

B. Test Laboratories 

The contractor may use any independent or private laboratory that is capable of 

conducting the performance test for impact resistance described in Section 2.5. 

However, the Government is aware of only the following domestically located 

independent or private laboratories that have such capability: 

Michigan State University 

School of Packaging 

East Lansing, MI 48824-1223 

(517) 355-9580 

http://packaging.msu.edu/ 

Lansmont Corporation 

1287 Reamwood 

Sunnyvale, CA 94089 

(408) 734-9724 

Lansmont Corporation 

6539 Westland Way, Suite 24 

Lansing, MI 48917 

(888) 526-7666 

www.lansmont.com 

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Rutgers University Ten-E Packaging Services, Inc. 

Packaging Science and 1666 County Road 74 

Engineering Dept. Newport, MN 55055 

P.O. Box 909 (651) 459-0671 

Piscataway, NJ 08854 www.ten-e.com 

(201) 932-3679 

Section 2.6 TEST FREQUENCY 

A. All testing specified shall be performed and documented. 

B. The air permeability and ultraviolet resistance tests shall, as a minimum, be performed 

annually and when a change in the formulation/design of the fabric is being made. 

C. The performance test for impact resistance shall be performed when a change in the 

formulation/design of the fabric is being made. 

D. The slide angle test shall, as a minimum, be performed in-house for every 10,000 lineal 

meters of fabric production. Testing performed in-house is not required to be performed 

under the specified temperature and humidity requirements. In addition, the slide angle 

test shall, as a minimum, be performed annually by an outside testing facility and when 

a change in the formulation/design of the fabric is being made. This testing shall be 

performed in accordance with all contract requirements, including the specified 

temperature and humidity. 

E. All supporting test and quality control documentation shall be retained and made 

available for review by the Government for a minimum of three years after final 

payment under the contract. 

Part 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS 

Section 3.1 MARKINGS 

A. The bag shall be marked in the color specified in the markings exhibits. Any markings 

not shown on the exhibits shall be printed in blue. When printed on the bag, the colors 

blue and red shall match the Pantone Matching System (PMS) chart numbers 280 and 

200, respectively, to the extent practicable. 

B. All dimensions are approximate. Unless otherwise specified, all characters shall be in 

normal block print. 

C. The US Flag shall be 7 inches high and 12 3/4 inches in total width, on the front and 

back of the applicable bag, see exhibits. 

D. The letters USA shall be Univers black (75) oblique, or Helvetica extra bold with 70% 

scaling and -70 tracking or equivalent to match the style as shown in the exhibits. The 

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letters USA shall be 6 1/2 inches high and 12 1/2 inches in total width. The three 

stripes adjacent USA shall be 1 1/4 inches high and printed as close to the edges of the 

bag as possible, not to exceed 1 1/2 inches from any edge. 

E. The USAID vertical identity, including the logo, brandname, and tagline, shall be 

printed in the same style as shown in the marking exhibits, sized approximately 7 1/2 

inches high and 9 3/8 inches in total width. The USAID logo shall be 4 1/4 inches in 

diameter. The USAID brandname shall be 2 inches in height. The tagline “FROM 

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE” shall be 1/2 inch in height. The USAID vertical 

identity is available to download at 

http://www.usaid.gov/branding/downloadsweb.html. 

F. The USDA logo shall be 5 1/2 inches high and 7 3/4 inches in total width, see 

exhibits. 

G. The commodity name shall be 1 1/2 inch print. Immediately below the commodity 

name on the front and back panels insert additional commodity description in 5/8 inch 

print, if applicable. See Exhibit A for appropriate commodity name/additional 

commodity description that shall be printed on each bag. 

H. The net weight, contract number and the statement “NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED” shall be 3/4 inch print. The bag dimensions and Standard Marking 

Requirement (SMR) or Language Marking Requirement (LMR) number shall be 1/2 

inch print. The contract number, net weight, and SMR or LMR number shall be at the 

bottom of the bag, centered. See exhibits. 

I. The symbol indicating “USE NO HOOKS” shall be 2 3/4 inches in height. See 

exhibits. 

J. The letters or symbols used in the language markings for LMR-1, LMR-3, LMR-4, 

LMR-5, LMR-7, and LMR-8 should be sized approximately 1 5/8 inches, see exhibits. 

The language marking for LMR-2 and LMR-6 should be sized to fit as shown in the 

exhibits. 

K. Lot numbers, production codes or any other means of identification required to meet 

traceability requirements shall be as small as possible, yet legible. 

Section 3.2 MARKING DESCRIPTIONS 

The Government shall furnish required markings within two business days after the date of the 

contract. The procurement of containers should be deferred for at least two business days after 

the date of the contract. 

The following standard marking requirements may be requested under the contract: 

Standard Marking Requirement #1 (SMR-1) 

USAID – Distribution 

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Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, “SMR-1,” 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-1, front. 

Back: Identical to front. See exhibit SMR-1, back. 

Standard Marking Requirement #2 (SMR-2) 

FAS - Distribution 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED," USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, “SMR-2”, and 

use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-2, front. 

Back: Identical. See exhibit SMR-2, back. 

Standard Marking Requirement #3 (SMR-3) 

USAID – Monetization 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, USAID logo, contract number, net weight, 

dimensions, “SMR-3,” and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-3, front. 

Back: Identical to front. See exhibit SMR-3, back. 

Standard Marking Requirement #4 (SMR-4) 

FAS or USAID - Monetization 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, contract number, net weight, 

dimensions, “SMR-4,” and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit SMR-4, front. 

Back: Identical. See exhibit SMR-4, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #1 (LMR-1) 

USAID – Distribution for North Korea 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-1” 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-1, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, North Korean language panel, and “LMR-1” 

only. See exhibit LMR-1, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #2 (LMR-2) 

USAID – Distribution for Afghanistan, with Pashtu and Dari 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-2" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-2, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, Pashtu and Dari language panel, and “LMR-2” 

only. See exhibit LMR-2, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #3 (LMR-3) 

USAID – Distribution for South Africa Region 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-3" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-3, front. 

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Back: US Flag, the commodity name, English language panel, and “LMR-3” only. See 

exhibit LMR-3, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #4 (LMR-4) 

USAID – Distribution for Iraq with Arabic 

Front: US Flag, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-4" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-4, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, Arabic language panel, and “LMR-4” only. See 

exhibit LMR-4, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #5 (LMR-5) 

FAS – Distribution for North Korea 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-5" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-5, front. 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, North Korean language panel, and 

“LMR-5” only. See exhibit LMR-5, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #6 (LMR-6) 

FAS – Distribution for Afghanistan, with Pashtu and Dari 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-6" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-6, front. 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, Pashtu and Dari language panel, and 

“LMR-6” only. See exhibit LMR-6, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #7 (LMR-7) 

FAS – Distribution for South Africa Region 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-7" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-7, front. 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, English language panel, and “LMR-7” 

only. See exhibit LMR-7, back. 

Language Marking Requirement #8 (LMR-8) 

FAS – Distribution for Iraq with Arabic 

Front: USA with stripes, the commodity name, the words "NOT TO BE SOLD OR 

EXCHANGED,” USDA logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, and “LMR-8" 

and use no hooks symbol. See exhibit LMR-8, front 

Back: USA with stripes, the commodity name, Arabic language panel, and “LMR-8” 

only. See exhibit LMR-8, back. 

Section 3.3 EMPTY BAG DIMENSIONS 

A. All bags shall be marked with the empty dimensions as follows: 

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Gusseted Bags Face Width X Gusseted Width X Finished Length 

Flat Tube Bags Face Width X Finished Length 

B. The dimensions shall be printed at the bottom of the bag, centered, see exhibits. 

C. The finished size of the circular woven polypropylene bags will be determined by the 

contractor, unless otherwise specified by the contracting officer. 

Section 3.4 CONTAINERS WITH INCORRECT MARKINGS 

A. Any labels, bags, cans, can lids, cases, or any other type of packaging (hereinafter 

referred to as "containers") displaying incorrect markings may be used under a 

Government contract provided that the incorrect markings are obliterated and correct 

markings are applied in a permanent manner with approval of the contracting officer. 

B. The appearance of containers in commercial or other channels either filled or unfilled 

bearing markings identifying the containers as part of a Government contract may 

cause the Government expense in determining whether commodities have been diverted 

from authorized use and in answering inquiries. The contractor shall take all necessary 

action to prevent the appearance in commercial or other channels of containers and 

container materials bearing any markings required under a Government contract, 

including those held by the contractor or others; e.g., overruns, misprints, etc. The 

contractor shall ensure that any container from a Government contract that appears in 

commercial or other channels shall have all markings required under this contract 

permanently obliterated. 

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Exhibit A 

List of Commodity Names Printed on 50 Kilogram Woven Polypropylene Bags 

Commodity 

Requirements 

Commodity Name Commodity 

Requirements 

Commodity Name 

Bulgur / SoyFortified Bulgur 

(BWSF) 

BULGUR Dry Edible 

Beans (DEB) 

 BLACK BEANS 

BLACKEYE BEANS 

DARK RED KIDNEY BEANS 

LIGHT RED KIDNEY BEANS 

GARBANZO BEANS 

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS 

PEA BEANS 

PINK BEANS 

PINTO BEANS 

SMALL RED BEANS 

SMALL WHITE BEANS 

SOY-FORTIIFIED BULGUR 

Buckwheat 

(BWP) 

BUCKWHEAT GROATS 

BUCKWHEAT GRITS 

BUCKWHEAT FLOUR 

Bagged Grain 

(KCBG) 

WHEAT 

HARD RED WINTER 

WHEAT 

SOFT WHITE 

WHEAT 

HARD RED SPRING 

WHEAT 

NORTHERN SPRING 

SORGHUM 

YELLOW CORN 

YELLOW CORN 

YELLOW SOYBEANS 

Milled Rice (MR) MILLED RICE 

LONG GRAIN 

Peas and Lentils 

(PL) 

LENTILS 

SPLIT GREEN PEAS 

SPLIT YELLOW PEAS 

SMOOTH GREEN DRY PEAS 

SMOOTH YELLOW DRY PEAS 

MILLED RICE 

MEDIUM GRAIN 

MILLED RICE 

SHORT GRAIN 

MILLED RICE 

PARBOILED 

Wheat Flour/ 

Bread Flour 

(WFBF) 

FLOUR 

ALL PURPOSE 

BREAD FLOUR 

50 KG 

Polypropylene 

Bags (KCPBAGS) 

WHEAT 

CORN 

SORGHUM 

SOYBEANS 

SOYBEAN MEAL 

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Exhibits SMR-1 through SMR4 and LMR1 through LMR8 

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