Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

SUPPLEMENT FOR CHICKEN

PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTED FOR

FEDERAL FOOD AND NUTRITION 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

APPROVED

 Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock and Poultry (LP) Program

Standards and Specification Division (SSD)

Room 2603 S-Bldg., Phone: (202) 567-1757

 

Effective: August 2022

100 Overview

110 This document provides additional program certification requirements for the following 

chicken products purchased by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the 

applicable Federal Purchase Program Specification (FPPS) and all Exhibits: 

• Consumer Pack Chicken 

• Chicken Parts 

• Oven Roasted Chicken 

• Chicken Strips 

• Chicken Fajita Strips 

• Chicken Fillet 

• Canned/Pouch Chicken 

111 Actual purchases shall be described in the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity 

Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) and Solicitations.

120 For contract compliance and certification of product, the contractor shall ensure that 

all raw material is graded or certified by the USDA AMS Grader. For all processing 

steps following raw material certification, the contractor may request the use of either 

Option A – AMS QAD Grading-based Monitoring and Certification service, or Option 

B – QAD Audit-based Verification service, for assessing contract compliance of the 

finished product. AMS shall seek to honor the request of the contractor but reserves 

the right to make a final determination. 

121 When an option is implemented, the contractor shall remain under that service until 

completion of the contract, at which time it may request a change in oversight option 

for any subsequent contract.

130 The cost of all grading, auditing and certification services performed by AMS agents 

shall be at the expense of the contractor. This includes, but is not limited to, audits, 

examinations, supervision, official documentation, and related services.
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140 Questions concerning charges and the availability of AMS agents can be directed to a 

USDA/AMS, LP Program’s Quality Assessment Division (QAD) field office or to 

USDA, AMS, LP, QAD Business Operations Branch, 10809 Executive Center Drive, 

Suite 318, Little Rock, AR 72211-6022; phone: 501-312-2962 or email: 

QAD.BusinessOps@usda.gov

 

200 AMS Contract Compliance Option A: Grading-Based Monitoring and 

Certification

210 QAD Grading-Based Monitoring and Certification 

211 Monitoring of production and processing and product certification shall be conducted 

through the direct continuous supervision of a AMS Grader in accordance with the 

requirements listed in the FPPS and AMS/LP/QAD Policies and Procedures for 

certifying USDA commodity foods. A technical proposal is not required to be 

submitted when the contractor is operating under Option A. All raw materials will be 

subjected to the certification process prior to being utilized in manufacture finished 

products.

220 Pre-Production Onsite Plant Survey

221 QAD shall contact the contractor to set-up a pre-production plant survey, including 

review of food defense and production capability, and discuss production and 

certification requirements.

230 Post-Award Monitoring and Certification

231 The AMS Grader shall be present at all times during production and processing of the 

commodity. 

232 The AMS Grader may select samples for laboratory analyses or inspect the 

commodity at any point in transit and after delivery to point of destination.

233 The contractor or AMS Grader shall perform checkloading examinations as described 

in the FPPS at the time of shipment and issue an acceptance document to 

accompany each shipment.

234 The AMS Grader shall oversee certification of compliance with the requirements of 

the FPPS including, but not limited to, raw material, formulation, marinating, cooking,

freezing, packaging and packing, metal detection, labeling and marking and net 

weight.

300 AMS Contract Compliance Option B: Audit-Based Verification 

310 Audit-Based Verification

311 Verification of production and processing shall be conducted through routine audits 

performed by QAD according to the contractor’s and/or subcontractor’s approved 
Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

technical proposal (see section – 360 Technical Proposal Requirements) and the 

applicable FPPS. All raw material shall be under applicable USDA oversight and/or 

certification as outlined in the FPPS.

311.1 Interested contractors may submit sample(s) and technical proposal (outlined in 

Sections 350 and 360) at any time during the pre-bid period. Contractors should allow

10 working days, from USDA’s receipt of the product sample(s) and technical proposal

for notification of evaluation results. A contractor is deemed eligible upon notification 

of approval of the sample(s) and technical proposal by SSD. Submission of sample(s) 

and technical proposal is not binding on USDA. 

311.2 Once a contractor is notified by SSD that the technical proposal meets the applicable 

criteria, QAD shall contact the contractor to set up a pre-bid onsite capability 

assessment audit. 

320 Pre-Bid Onsite Capability Assessment Audit

321 QAD shall conduct an onsite capability assessment that shall consist of reviewing:

321.1 Food Defense Requirements – QAD shall conduct a food defense audit that shall 

include, but is not limited to, a thorough evaluation of the contractor’s and/or 

subcontractor’s food defense plan. Documentation shall support the contractor’s 

and/or subcontractor’s food defense plan and meet requirements of Section 

4A52.246-2 of the MSCP-D for Commodity Procurements. 

321.2 Production of the commodity that complies with the applicable FPPS and approved 

technical proposal or production plan, 

321.3 records related to purchasing, receiving, production, quality control, inventory, 

shipping, and, 

321.4 interviews with management and production personnel.

322 Upon completion, QAD shall provide SSD either with a verbal or email notification of 

the audit findings. SSD shall notify the vendor of their status based on the audit 

findings as well as QAD and the Commodity Procurement Program (CPP). The 

official final audit report shall be sent to the contractor once released from QAD.

323 After bid opening, CPP shall contact QAD and SSD to determine that contractors 

have met all requirements to deem the bids responsive or non-responsive.

324 For bids that are determined to be non-responsive bids, CPP shall notify the 

contractor(s) directly.

330 Post-Award Assessment Audit

331 Contractors who receive contracts shall have their required documentation readily 

available for review upon request by SSD, QAD, or other AMS agents. Records may 

be maintained in hard copy or electronically. However, records maintained 
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Date Issued: 08/03/2022

electronically shall be made available immediately upon request.

332 QAD shall conduct an onsite audit of the contractor’s and/or subcontractor’s facility(s) 

and processes when production commences for the first contract awarded. Additional 

audits, and their frequency, shall be conducted as determined by QAD, 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 QAD, 

more frequent audits may be conducted when audit deficiencies are detected. 

340 Post-Award Actions

341 Any deviation from contractual requirements shall be immediately reported by the 

contractor to the Contracting Officer and SSD. The Contracting Officer or SSD shall 

notify the contractor regarding eligibility to continue to participate as a contractor. 

342 Contractor shall assure that the delivered product complies with the provisions of the 

FPPS, the applicable assessment by USDA, and the contractor’s technical proposal 

approved by SSD. 

343 In the instance that any non-conformance is cited by the AMS Auditor, or when a 

complaint is received by commodity recipient agencies, the contractor shall submit a 

cause and effect analysis and corrective actions to address the non-conformance or 

complaint. 

350 Product Sample (When Requested) 

351 Potential contractors shall submit samples that are produced in accordance with their

submitted technical proposal.

352 Contractor shall submit one 5-pound sample (or two samples if a sample unit is less 

than 5-pounds) along with a legible product label which illustrates the ingredient 

statement, Nutrition Facts, and safe handling instructions, and allergen declaration 

(if applicable). All samples shall arrive in the frozen state (0°F or lower) as outlined in 

the FPPS. 

360 Technical Proposal Requirements

361 The contractor shall submit a Technical Proposal that meets the following 

Requirements:

361.1 Include a detailed description of the chicken products offered and each of the 

production steps that are taken to meet or exceed the minimum product requirements 

set forth in the FPPS. (Plan/Do)

361.2 Describe all the quality assurance methods used to verify conformance to all 

requirements. This shall 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)
Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

361.3 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)

361.4 The technical proposal shall follow the format as shown in Exhibit A. Technical 

proposals should be brief and concise.

361.5 The technical proposal shall be preceded by the following, as required by the 

template:

361.5.1 Table of Contents listing the major areas as they appear in the technical proposal; and

361.5.2 List of attachments, forms provided with the technical proposal, if appropriate with the 

applicable document name and reference number.

362 SSD shall review each technical proposal to determine if the proposal is adequate 

and shall notify the contractor of the status of their technical proposal and their 

eligibility to bid.

363 Instructions for Submission of Technical Proposal

363.1 The following procedures establish the acceptable minimum requirements for 

the format and content of the technical proposal:

363.1.1 The Government has provided a technical proposal format which is to be used in 

preparing the technical proposal (see Exhibit A). The contractor shall submit the 

technical proposal as an email file attachment to AMS, (Terry.Lutz@usda.gov and

Anjeanette.Johnson@usda.gov). 

363.1.2 The technical proposal shall be saved in a non-portable document file format (not 

PDF; e.g., Microsoft Word). The technical proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. If 

the file size of the technical proposal is too large to send in a single email, it may be 

divided and sent in multiple emails (i.e., Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, etc.). The collection of 

attachments and appendices shall be submitted as a separate document as well. 

363.1.3 The technical proposal shall be submitted by an authorized agent of the company.

363.1.4 While it is not the desire of the Government to penalize an offeror for non-compliance 

with formatting instructions, technical evaluators may have difficulty evaluating the 

technical proposal to the fullest extent possible if the proposal is not presented in the 

proper format. Technical evaluators shall not be required to search other subsections 

or sections of the offeror’s technical proposal for information requested in the 

evaluation.

364 Technical Proposal Revisions

364.1 Changes to a contractor’s technical proposal may be submitted at any time or at the 

request of SSD. All technical proposal revisions shall meet the following criteria:
Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

364.2 Any changes to a technical proposal made by the contractor after its initial submittal 

shall be accomplished by submitting an entire technical proposal. A cover letter shall

be submitted with the changes identified and an explanation of the need for the 

change. The contractor shall include the revision date and the appropriate page 

number(s).

364.3 Changes to original technical proposal shall be highlighted and deletions in strikeout. 

400 Inspection and Checkloading at time of Shipping

410 Based on the certification option selected, the Contractor shall utilize either USDA 

Grader or Contractor Checkloading to certify. The Contractor shall notify USDA 

AMS QAD Supervisor prior to production. The requirements for selection are as 

follows:

411 USDA Grader Checkloading Requirements – Inspection for contract compliance 

shall be made by a USDA representative, in accordance with 7 CFR § 70, FSIS 

regulations, and this FPPS, at site of processing, both during and after processing 

and packaging. Inspection records shall be complete and made available to USDA, 

as requested, to assure contract compliance.

411.1 Procedures – The inspection and checkloading shall be performed by the AMS 

Grader. Procedures to be followed and a schedule of fees for these services may be 

obtained by contacting the nearest QA Division field office or the Director of QAD, 

LP Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, Room 2092-S, STOP 0258, 

Washington, DC 20250-0258, telephone (202) 690-3147. 

411.2 The quality, quantity, weight, packaging, packing, and checkloading of the 

commodity shall be evidenced by certificates issued by the AMS Grader. 

Contractor shall not ship the commodity unless informed by the AMS Grader that 

the designated commodity to be shipped meets the requirements of the AMS 

MSCP-D, Solicitation, and this FPPS. 

412 Contractor Checkloading Requirements – Inspection for final contract compliance 

shall be made by the Contractor, in accordance with 7 CFR § 70, FSIS regulations, 

and this FPPS. The quality, quantity, weight, packaging and packing of the 

commodity shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Conformance that verifies the 

designated commodity to be shipped meets all the requirements as stated in this 

FPPS, MSCP-D and Solicitation. 

412.1 Procedures – The contractor shall perform checkloading examinations at the time of 

shipment – as described in this FPPS starting at the section labeled Loading and 

Shipping Frozen Commodity and sections thereafter – and shall issue a 

corresponding Certificate of Conformance (See Exhibit B). The Contractor is 

required to provide an acceptance document to accompany each shipment. 

Additional details are found in the Bill of Lading Notations Section of the MSCP-D. 
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Date Issued: 08/03/2022

412.2 Contractors inspection records and checkloading documentation shall be complete 

and maintained, including the Certificate of Conformance, and made available to 

USDA, as requested, to assure Contractor Checkloading compliance. Contractor 

checkloading activity shall be reviewed by USDA under AMS LP QAD 623 

Contractor Checkloading Surveillance Program at the cost of the contractor. 
Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

EXHIBIT A 

Technical Proposal Format

Cover Page:

Company Name

Company Address

Contact Person, including title, phone number, including emergency contact information, email address (must be authorized to represent the company).

Technical Proposal for: [FPPS]

Table of Contents (all pages and attachments shall be numbered and identified – all 

attachments shall be identified and referenced in the Technical Proposal).

The technical proposal should document a quality control program that includes procedures, 

records, forms, pictures, etc., which demonstrates conformance with the following checklist of 

requirements for all Sections and Subsections therein: 

100 ITEM DESCRIPTION

200 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

300 CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS MATERIALS

400 HARVESTING

500 PROCESSING

600 PACKAGING AND PACKING

700 LABELING

800 FINAL EXAMINATION OF PACKAGING AND PACKED COMMODITY

900 PALLETIZED UNIT LOADS

1000 SHIPMENT AND DELIVERY

1100 DESTINATION EXAMINATION 

1200 PRODUCT ASSURANCE AND COMPLAINT RESOLUTION

Attachments or Appendixes - Please attach all referenced documents with the applicable 

document name and reference number.
Approved by RHL

Date Issued: 08/03/2022

EXHIBIT B

Contractor Checkloading and Certificate of Conformance Requirement

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 

LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE FOR

THE PROCUREMENT OF 

(Commodity Name)

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE

I certify the following:

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

commodity description) called for by Purchase Order Number via [Carrier] under 

Sales Order Number/Item number(s): . 

(2) The (insert the appropriate material name) is of the quality specified and conforms 

in all respects with the purchase order requirements, including the FPPS, Master 

Solicitation for Commodity Procurement – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D), and 

Solicitation.

(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 AMS MSCP-D.

Date: 

Signature: 

(Signed by an officer or representative authorized to sign offers)

Title: