Agricultural Marketing Service

Commodity Procurement Program

P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 8718

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

ULTRA-HIGH TEMPERATURE MILK (ASEPTIC)

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: February 2021

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

ULTRA-HIGH TEMPERATURE MILK (ASEPTIC)

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................1

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES .......................................................................................................1

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ............................................................................................................1

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE .........................................................................................2

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS.................................................2

Section 2.1 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING AND LABELING .................................................2

Section 2.2 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK .......................................................................................3

Section 2.3 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER ...................................................................3

Section 2.4 MATERIALS.............................................................................................................3
1

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

I. Product Requirements

A. Quality of Product

The ultra-high temperature milk shall be Group III, aseptically 

processed and packaged; type(s) shall be as stated in the 

Invitation for Bid (IFB), and meet the specifications of the 

Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20338A, in effect on 

the date of the solicitation, which is available at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CIDMilkFlu

id.pdf

B. Production Requirements

(1) The product delivered to the Government shall have been 

processed in the United States from fluid milk which was 

produced in the United States, meeting the following analytical

requirements:

(a) Reduced fat milk – milkfat content – not less than 1.90 

percent but not more than 2.10 percent.

(b) Reduced fat milk – milk solids-not-fat – not less than 8.25

percent.

(c) Low fat milk – milkfat content – not less than 0.95 percent 

but not more than 1.05 percent.

(2) The plants in which the product is to be processed shall be in 

compliance with the requirements of the latest revision of the 

United States Public Health Service / Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance 

(PMO) and listed in the current Interstate Milk Shippers 

Domestic Firm List.

(3) Additionally, the plants in which the product is to be processed 

and filled shall be registered as a Food Canning Establishment 

(FCE) and have a valid FCE number. All produced product shall 

comply with regulations put forth in 21 CFR 108, 110, 113, 117, 

and other federal and state regulations applicable to the aseptic 

manufacturing of low-acid canned foods.

 

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

I. Shelf-life Requirements

The product shall have a shelf-life of at least 9 months from the date of delivery to the 

Government. When the product is marked with a shelf-life indicative date such as, “Best if 
2

used by”, the date on the product shall match this shelf-life requirement, i.e., be at least 9 

months from date of delivery to the Government. Product shall not be manufactured more 

than 60 days prior to delivery.

Section 1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

I. Certification

A. The contractor shall perform the product testing and quality analysis to 

ensure that the product meets the contract requirements. The quality, 

date(s) of manufacture, and weight shall be evidenced by a Certificate of 

Analysis(COA).

B. The contractor shall comply with all applicable testing requirements of the 

latest revision of the United States Public Health Service / Food and Drug 

Administration Grade "A" PMO. 

C. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail 

to meet contract requirements.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING AND LABELING

I. Packaging and Labeling Requirements

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall 

certify at the time of submission of an offer that the commercial 

product being delivered has a history of successful distribution and use 

in domestic commercial channels and is sold on the commercial market 

with an established level of consumer acceptance. 

B. Container and packaging requirements are those used in the current 

commercial shipping practices and shall comply with: 

(1) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for Retail Sale” may be 

printed on the principal display panel of the food label. 

(2) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number shall be shown 

on the commercial bill of lading. 

(3) Shipping containers shall be marked to show the maximum safe 

stacking height. It is the responsibility of the contractor in cooperation 

with the shipping container manufacturers to determine the safe 

stacking height. 

(4) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses, all commerciallabeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD 

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.” 

C. Container, packaging, and unitization requirements shall comply with 
3

Section 4A52.211-3, 4A52.211-4, and 4A52.211-6 in the Master Solicitation 

for Commodity Procurement-Domestic Programs which is available at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MSCP.pdf.

Section 2.2 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK

I. Marking Requirements

A. The month/year of pack shall be shown on all shipping containers.

B. A date fill code may be applied in addition to, but not in lieu of, the 

month/year of pack.

Section 2.3 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER

I. Lot Coding

A lot code or official inspection certificate number shall be legibly marked 

on all primary shipping materials. Contractors may use any type of lot 

coding system provided a unique code is used to identify each lot under a 

contract. When requested, contractors shall provide to the Government an 

explanation of the lot coding system utilized.

Section 2.4 MATERIALS

I. Material Codes

Material 

Code

Product Description Cases Per 

Truck

Net Weight Per 

Truck

100050 MILK 1% MILKFAT UHT 

1500 BOX-12/32 FL OZ

1,500 cases 38,700 lbs.

100875 MILK 1% MILKFAT UHT 

2640 BOX-27/8 FL OZ

2,640 cases 38,143 lbs.

110690 MILK 1% MILKFAT UHT 

2816 BOX-24/8 FL OZ

2,816 cases 36,428 lbs.

100048 MILK 2% MILKFAT UHT 

2640 BOX-27/8 FL OZ

2,640 cases 38,143 lbs.

100053 MILK 2% MILKFAT UHT 

2400 BOX-27/8 FL OZ

2,400 cases 32,400 lbs.