USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

MR23 

MILLED RICE

FOR USE IN

INTERNATIONAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS_____________________________________ 1

Section 1.2 FUMIGATION ______________________________________________________ 1

Section 1.3 INSPECTION _______________________________________________________ 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS _______________________ 2

Section 2.1 GENERAL _________________________________________________________ 2

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS _____________________________________ 2

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS _____________________ 3

Section 2.4 SEWING OF BAG SEAMS ____________________________________________ 4

Section 2.5 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES ________________________________ 4

Section 2.6 TEST FREQUENCY _________________________________________________ 5

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 SMR-4 and LMR-1 through LMR-8 ___________________________ 12
MR23 Page 1 of 23

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

A. The Government will accept offers for long or medium grain milled rice. The 

milled rice may include U.S. #5 or better maximum 20 percent broken kernels, #3 

or better maximum 15 percent broken kernels or #2 or better maximum 7 percent 

maximum broken kernels and will be specifically stated in the solicitation. 

B. The rice shall meet the specifications of the class and grade offered as defined in 

the “Official United States Standards for Rice,” in effect at the time the applicable 

solicitation for offers is issued. The standards are available at: 

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/standards/ricestandards.pdf. 

C. Offers for parboiled rice will be accepted when specifically stated in the 

solicitation. No specialty rice, including but not limited to aromatic rice, will be 

acceptable unless specified in the solicitation. 

D. The Government will accept delivery of rice grading better than the specified 

contract grade, but: 

(1) No adjustment in contract price will be made for rice grading better than 

the contract grade.

(2) No substitution of one class of rice for another class of rice will be 

allowed after a contract has been awarded.

Section 1.2 FUMIGATION

A. Not more than ten (10) days prior to packaging, the milled rice shall be fumigated 

in a quantity and manner which will effect a kill in all stages of weevil or other 

insect infestation.

B. The Contractor shall submit with his invoice for payment a statement certifying 

that the rice was fumigated in accordance with this requirement.

Section 1.3 INSPECTION

A. The contractor shall be responsible for arranging and obtaining Federal Grain 

Inspection Service (FGIS), or any other organization designated by FGIS, official 

domestic and export weight and grade certificates. Procedures to follow, 

additional information and points of contact for these services may be obtained at: 

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/insp_weigh/ricestandsvc.html. Contractors are 

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

requirements.
MR23 Page 2 of 23 

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 52.212-4(a). (Contract Terms and Conditions—

Commercial Items).

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

point of delivery if the provisions of Title 7 CFR 868.50 through 868.63, 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. 

D. 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. 

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials 

requirements to be used for contracts under this Requirements Document. 

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
MR23 Page 3 of 23 

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. 

D. In addition, all containers and packaging materials shall be constructed to comply 

with the sum concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent 

chromium addressed by the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG) model 

legislation. The sum of the concentration levels of lead, cadmium, mercury 

and/or hexavalent chromium present in any package or packaging component 

shall not exceed 100 parts per million. Concentration levels shall be determined 

using American Standard of Testing Materials test methods, as revised, or U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency test methods for evaluating solid waste, S-W 

846, as revised. 

Section 2.3 50-KILOGRAM WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE BAGS

Contractors may utilize woven polypropylene fabric and circular-woven style 

bags but are not limited to these constructions. If woven poly bags are used, the 

following is to apply: 

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.
MR23 Page 4 of 23 

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. 

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. 
MR23 Page 5 of 23 

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 

130 Packaging Building 

East Lansing, MI 48824-1223 

(517) 355-9580 

http://www.packaging.msu.edu/

research/testing_services/

Lansmont Corporation 

17 Mandeville Court 

Monterey, CA 93940 

(831) 655-6600 

www.lansmont.com

Rutgers University

Center for Packaging Science 

and Engineering 

Busch Campus 

137 Winchester Road, 

Piscataway, NJ 08854-8029 

(732) 445-3224 

http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/gene

rated/nbgrad_0810/pg24361.html

Ten-E Packaging Services, Inc.

1666 County Road 74 

Newport, MN 55055 

(651) 459-0671 

http://www.tene.com/index.php/package-testing/

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.
MR23 Page 6 of 23 

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 back 

of the applicable bag, see exhibits. 

D. The letters USA shall be Universal 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 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 markings 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/. 

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

exhibits.
MR23 Page 7 of 23 

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, LMR4, 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 

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

EXCHANGED,” USAID logo, contract number, net weight, dimensions, “SMR1,” 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. 
MR23 Page 8 of 23 

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.”. See exhibit LMR-1, front. 

Back: US Flag, the commodity name, North Korean language panel, and “LMR1” 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.” 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.” See exhibit LMR-3, front. 

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.” See exhibit LMR-4, front. 

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

See exhibit LMR-4, back.
MR23 Page 9 of 23 

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.” 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.” 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.” 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.” 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: 

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. 
MR23 Page 10 of 23 

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.
MR23 Page 11 of 23

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

SOY-FORTIIFIED BULGUR BLACKEYE BEANS

Buckwheat 

(BWP)

BUCKWHEAT GROATS DARK RED KIDNEY BEANS

BUCKWHEAT GRITS LIGHT RED KIDNEY BEANS

BUCKWHEAT FLOUR GARBANZO BEANS

Bagged Grain 

(KCBG)

WHEAT

HARD RED WINTER

GREAT NORTHERN BEANS

WHEAT

SOFT WHITE

PEA BEANS

WHEAT

HARD RED SPRING

PINK BEANS

WHEAT

NORTHERN SPRING

PINTO BEANS

SORGHUM SMALL RED BEANS

YELLOW CORN SMALL WHITE BEANS

YELLOW CORN

YELLOW SOYBEANS

Milled Rice (MR) MILLED RICE

LONG GRAIN

Peas and Lentils 

(PL)

LENTILS

MILLED RICE

MEDIUM GRAIN

SPLIT GREEN PEAS

MILLED RICE

PARBOILED

SPLIT YELLOW PEAS

SMOOTH GREEN DRY PEAS

Wheat Flour/ 

Bread Flour 

(WFBF)

FLOUR

ALL PURPOSE

SMOOTH YELLOW DRY 

PEAS

BREAD FLOUR

50 KG 

Polypropylene 

Bags 

(KCPBAGS)

WHEAT

CORN

SORGHUM

SOYBEANS

SOYBEAN MEAL