USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

CSB13 

CORN-SOY BLEND 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Effective Date: 07/15/08
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS 

CSB13 

CORN-SOY BLEND 

FOR USE IN EXPORT PROGRAMS 

Table of Contents

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS ______________________________________ 1

Section 1.1 CORN-SOY BLEND COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS __________________ 1

Section 1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE _____________________________________________ 9

Section 1.3 SAMPLING AND TESTING PROTOCOL______________________________ 10

Section 1.4 QUALITY DISCOUNTS _____________________________________________ 11

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS______________________ 11

Section 2.1 GENERAL ________________________________________________________ 11

Section 2.2 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS____________________________________ 11

Section 2.3 25-KILOGRAM MULTIWALL PAPER BAGS__________________________ 12

Section 2.4 25-KILOGRAM HIGH PERFORMANCE PACKAGING CONSTRUCTIONS 13

Section 2.5 OUTER CLOSURE AND SEALS _____________________________________ 14

Section 2.6 PERFORMANCE TEST PROCEDURES_______________________________ 14

Section 2.7 SEAL PEEL TEST__________________________________________________ 15

PART 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS_______________________________________ 16

Section 3.1 MARKINGS _______________________________________________________ 16

Section 3.2 MARKING DESCRIPTIONS _________________________________________ 17

Section 3.3 EMPTY BAG DIMENSIONS _________________________________________ 19

Section 3.4 CONTAINERS WITH INCORRECT MARKINGS_______________________ 19

Marking Exhibits ________________________________________________________________ 21
Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 

Section 1.1 CORN-SOY BLEND COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS 

A. Quality of Corn-Soy Blend 

(1) Corn shall be tested for aflatoxin in accordance with procedures 

approved by Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). If the aflatoxin 

test proves positive, a quantitative test shall be performed. If the result 

of the quantitative test exceeds 20 p.p.b., the corn shall not be used in 

the production of the commodity. 

(2) The product shall be essentially free from foreign material and shall 

have a good characteristic taste and odor, free from rancid, bitter, 

musty, sour, and other undesirable or foreign tastes and odors. The 

product shall be of small particle size suitable for use as a dietary 

supplement for infants and children for serving as a porridge, gruel, or 

an extender to other foods and shall meet the following requirements: 

CORN-SOY BLEND 

Requirements1 Item 

Minimum Maximum

Moisture --- 10.0%

Protein (Nx6.25) 16.7% --- 

Fat 2 6.0% ---

Crude Fiber --- 2.0% 

Material Through a U.S. Standard 

No. 6 Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve 

99.0% ---

Material Through a U.S. Standard 

No. 30 Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve 

--- 92.0%

Material Through a U.S. Standard 

No. 60 Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve 

--- 57.0%

Consistency (Bostwick value) 

uncooked 

--- 20.0 cm

Consistency (Bostwick value) 

cooked, 11.75% gruel 3

9.0 cm 21.0 cm

Total bacteria count per gram --- 50,000 

Salmonella, E. Coli and Coagulase Positive Staphylococci shall be 

negative. 

Dispersibility – shall be essentially free from lumping or balling 

when mixed with water. 

 

1 Unless otherwise specified analyses are expressed on a moisture-free basis. For methods of analyses see Section 

1.1.B. 

2

 See Section 1.1.D. 

3Reported to the nearest half of Bostwick unit. 

CSB13 Page 1 
B. Methods of Analyses 

Special tests are included in the specifications given herein. 

(1) Consistency (Bostwick value) for uncooked product for corn-soy blend. 

a. Apparatus 

(i) 1 - 250 ml. glass beaker 

(ii) 1 - wooden-handled spatula with 3-inch stainless steel 

blade 

(iii) 1 - consistometer, Cenco-Bostwick Central Scientific 

Stock No. 24925 

b. Method 

Place 100 ml. water at 25o

C in the 250 ml. glass beaker. 

Gradually add 37.0 grams of corn-soy blend being tested while 

stirring vigorously with the spatula. Then stir gently for 3 

minutes using the spatula to smooth any lumps that may form. 

Allow the slurry to stand an additional 2 minutes to complete 

hydration. Then stir gently for about 15 seconds with the 

spatula. Pour into the reservoir of the Bostwick consistometer 

until it is filled higher than its top level. Strike off the excess 

with a straight edge. Allow the slurry to rest for 30 seconds, 

trip the release lever of the consistometer and read the Bostwick 

value after exactly 1-minute. 

(2) Consistency (Bostwick value) for cooked product 11.75 percent gruel 

for corn-soy blend. 

a. Apparatus 

(i) 1 - 400 ml. Pyrex beaker 

(ii) 1 - stainless steel kitchen fork 

(iii) 1 - 30o

C water bath 

(iv) 1 - consistometer, Cenco-Bostwick, Central Scientific 

Stock No. 24925 

b. Method 

Place 175 grams of boiling water in the 400 ml. beaker, cover 

with watch glass, and bring to boiling on an electrically heated 

hot plate with surface temperature 600o

 - 650oF. Gradually add 

23.5 grams of the commodity to be tested, while stirring 

vigorously with the fork. Bring to boiling and boil for 2 

minutes while stirring vigorously with fork. Remove from the 

hot plate and stir 1/2-minute. 

Place the cooked slurry in the 30o

C water bath and hold there 

for 10 minutes. Place on the scale and add water lost by 

evaporation so that total slurry weight is now 200 grams. Stir 

25 times with the fork. Place cooked slurry in the 30o

C water 

bath and hold there for 1-hour. Remove from the bath and pour 

CSB13 Page 2 
into the reservoir of the Bostwick consistometer until it is filled 

higher than its top level. Strike off the excess with a straight 

edge. Allow the cooked slurry to rest for 30 seconds. Trip the 

release lever of the consistometer and read the Bostwick value 

after exactly 1-minute. 

(3) Consistency for ingredient specification cornmeal, processed 

(gelatinized). 

a. Apparatus 

(i) 1 - 800 ml. Pyrex beaker 

(ii) 1 - wooden-handled spatula with a 5-inch stainless steel 

blade 

(iii) 1 - cylindrical open-bottom container, i.e., a 3-inch long 

section of seamless steel tubing 3.0-inch o.d. and 2.87 

inch i.d. 

(iv) 1 - glass plate 10 by 10 inches 

(v) 1 - paper measuring scale, 10 by 10 inches containing a 

drawn 3-inch diameter center circle and concentric 

circles drawn of increasing diameter every one inch. 

Space between circles is divided to indicate each 1/4-

inch diameter. 

b. Method 

Place 400 ml. of water at 25o

C in an 800 ml. glass beaker. 

Gradually add 125 g. of the gelatinized (processed) cornmeal 

while stirring vigorously with a wooden-handled spatula with a 

5-inch stainless steel blade. Then stir4 gently for 3 minutes 

using a spatula to smooth any lumps that may form. Allow the 

slurry to stand an additional 2 minutes for hydration. Then stir

gently for about 10 seconds with the spatula. Place a glass plate 

over a paper measuring scale and center the cylindrical 

container over the scale. Transfer the slurry to the retaining cup 

which is resting in the vertical position on the flat glass plate. 

Transfer the slurry until the cup is filled higher than its top 

level. Strike off the excess with a straight edge. Allow the 

slurry to rest for 30 seconds. Then remove the cup from the 

glass plate with a vertical pull, avoiding lateral motion. Allow 

the cup to drain onto the patty for 10 seconds. After waiting 1-

minute for the size of the patty to reach equilibrium, read its 

diameter to the nearest 1/8-inch, as shown on the scaled sheet of 

paper underneath the glass. 

C. Proportions 

 

4

 Mixing may be done using a Hobart Model N-50, slow speed; or equipment giving equivalent results. 

CSB13 Page 3 
The ingredients of the product shall be in the following proportions: 

Ingredients Pounds per 2,000-lb. Batch 

Cornmeal, processed gelatinized 5 1,391

Soy flour, defatted (toasted) 6 437

Minerals 60

Vitamin Antioxidant Premix 2

Soybean oil, refined, deodorized, stabilized7 110

D. Ingredient Specifications 

(1) Cornmeal, Processed (Gelatinized) 

a Material and Processing

The cornmeal processed (gelatinized) shall be prepared from

shelled yellow corn that has been dehulled and degermed. The 

corn used shall be clean, sound, and essentially free from other 

grains, weed seeds, and other foreign material. It shall be free 

of rancid, bitter, musty, sour, and other undesirable or foreign 

tastes and odors. The processed cornmeal shall be produced 

from yellow corn, as defined in the "Official United States 

Standards for Grain," found at 

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/GIPSA/webapp?area=home&subject=grpi&topic=sq-ous, 

in effect at the time the applicable solicitation for offers is 

issued, using the conventional corn dry-milling process. 

The cornmeal shall be processed by adding moisture and 

partially cooking in continuous cookers or on heated flaking 

rolls, drying and cutting, or by any other process that yields a 

product meeting the requirements for the finished processed 

cornmeal, and for the corn-soy blend product. A corn germ

fraction may be added for fat enrichment prior to cooking. 

b Analysis 

The cornmeal, processed (gelatinized) shall conform with the 

following detailed requirements: 

 

5

 A corn germ fraction in amount not over 10 percent of the weight of the mixed product may be added to the cornmeal 

before processing and the amount of added oil contained therein omitted from the soy oil added to the soy flour fraction 

or to the final mix, provided the blend contains a minimum of 21.8 percent of fat-free soy flour. The weight of processed 

cornmeal plus soy oil specified shall include the weight of any corn germ fraction added thereto. 

6

 The stabilized oil may be added to this soy flour fraction or full-fat soy flour may be used in place of all or part of the 

defatted soy flour plus soy oil, as specified, provided the blend contains a minimum of 21.8 percent fat-free soy flour.

7

 The stabilized oil may be added to the mix in order to obtain the required minimum fat level of 6.0 percent in the blend. 

Any combination of footnotes may be used to obtain desired result. 

CSB13 Page 4 
CORNMEAL

Requirements 8

ITEM 

Min. Max.

Moisture --- 11.0%

Ash 9 --- 1.25%

Material Through a U.S. Standard No. 6 WovenWire-Cloth Sieve 99.0% ---

Material Through a U.S. Standard No. 30 

Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve --- 85.0%

Material Through a U.S. Standard No. 60 

Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve --- 35.0%

Consistency (inches) 4.5 8.5 

Total bacteria count, per gram --- 50,000 

(2) Soy Flour, Defatted (Toasted) 

a Material and Processing 

Soy flour, defatted (toasted) shall be the screened, finely ground 

product obtained from selected soybeans by cleaning, cracking, 

dehulling, tempering, flaking, defatting with hexane, 

desolventizing, deodorizing, toasting (full cook with color 

change to light yellow or golden buff), and cooling.

b Analysis 

The soy flour, defatted (toasted) shall conform to the following 

detailed requirements: 

SOY FLOUR 

Requirements10

ITEM 

Min. Max.

Moisture --- 10.0%

Protein (Nx6.25) 11 50.0% ---

Fat 11 12 0.6% ---

Fiber 11 --- 3.5%

Ash --- 6.5%

Material Through a U.S. Standard 100 

Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve 

95.0% ---

Nitrogen Solubility, increase in pH 10.0 30.0 

Urease activity, increase in pH 0.05 0.15 

Total bacteria count, per gram --- 50,000 

 

8 For methods of analyses see Section 1.1.B. 

9

 Moisture-free basis. 

10 For methods of analysis see Section 1.1.B. 

11 Moisture-free basis. 

12 See Section 1.1.D. 

CSB13 Page 5 
Color Light yellow to golden buff 

Odor Neutral to nutty 

Taste Pleasant, neutral to slightly nutty 

Texture A homogeneous flour 

(3) Soy Flour, Full Fat 

a Material and Processing

Soy flour, full fat shall be the screened, finely-ground product 

obtained from selected soybeans by cleaning, cracking, 

(optional) dehulling, tempering, cooking (full cook with color 

change to light yellow or golden buff), and cooling.

b Analysis 

The soy flour, full fat shall conform to the following detailed 

requirements: 

SOY FLOUR, FULL FAT 

Requirements13

ITEM 

Min. Max.

Moisture --- 10.0%

Protein (Nx6.25) 14 44.0%

Fat 14 15 22.0% ---

Fiber --- 3.0%

Ash --- 6.0%

Material Through a U.S. Standard 100 

Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve 

95.0% ---

Nitrogen Solubility Index 10.0 45.0 

Urease activity, increase in pH 0.05 0.5 

Total bacteria count, per gram --- 50,000 

Color Light yellow to golden buff 

Odor Neutral to nutty 

Taste Pleasant, neutral to slightly nutty 

Texture A homogeneous flour 

(4) Soybean Oil 

 

13 For methods of analyses see Section 1.1.B. 

14 Moisture-free basis. 

15 See Section 1.1.D. 

CSB13 Page 6 
a Soy oil, refined, deodorized, and stabilized, shall contain 0.005 

percent citric acid added on the cooling side of deodorization. 

The soy oil shall comply with the requirements of the latest 

revisions and amendments for Commercial Item Description 

A-A-20091D (May 7, 2002), 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fqa/aa20091d.htm; type IV not 

winterized salad oil.16

b Before addition to the product, the oil may be stabilized by the 

addition of butylated hydroxy anisole and butylated hydroxy 

toluene, each at a level of 2.5 mg. per 100 grams of formulated 

product. Caution: Antioxidant may be added to either the soy 

oil or to the vitamin antioxidant premix, but it shall not be 

added to both. [See paragraph I.E.(6)] 

 

16 Analytical Data for type IV Salad Oil in Commercial Item Description A-A-20091D as follows: 

• Stability, active oxygen method (AOM), PV not greater than 100 meg/kg (hours) maximum: 15 hours 

CSB13 Page 7 
(5) Minerals 

Formulation Ingredients Per 2,000 lbs. of Product

1A 2% Tri-Calcium Phosphate 40.0 lbs 

or B 1.8% Calcium Carbonate + 

1.6% Monobasic Sodium Phosphate 

36.0 lbs 

32.0 lbs 

or C 1.8% Calcium Carbonate + 

1.6% Monobasic Potassium Phosphate 

36.0 lbs 

32.0 lbs 

or D 1.3% Tri-Calcium Phosphate + 

0.6% Dibasic Calcium Phosphate 

26.0 lbs 

12.0 lbs 

or E 

0.9% Tri-Calcium Phosphate + 

0.6% Calcium Carbonate + 

0.8% Monobasic Sodium Phosphate 

18.0 lbs 

12.0 lbs 

16.0 lbs 

or F 

0.9% Tri-Calcium Phosphate + 

0.6% Calcium Carbonate + 

0.8% Monobasic Potassium Phosphate 

18.0 lbs 

12.0 lbs 

16.0 lbs 

or G 1.7% Di-Calcium Phosphate Anhydrous + 

0.5% Calcium Carbonate 

34.0 lbs 

10.0 lbs 

or H 2.2% Di-Calcium Phosphate + 

0.5% Calcium Carbonate 

44.0 lbs 

10.0 lbs 

2 Zinc Sulfate, Monohydrate 

(ZnSO4 7H2O) 

17 0.25 lbs (113.45 g) 

3 Ferrous Fumarate, FCC grade, purified 0.92 lbs (418 g) 

4 Magnesium Oxide (MgO) 2.75 lbs 

5 Iodized Salt (0.007% 12) 18 16.25 lbs 

(6) Vitamin Antioxidant Premix

Ingredients Per 2,000 lbs. of Product 

Thiamin monoitrate 2.5 grams 

Riboflavin 3.5 grams

Pyridoxine hydrochloride 1.5 grams 

Niacin 45.0 grams

Ca D-pantothenate 25.0 grams 

Folic acid 1.8 grams 

Vitamin B1219 12.0 milligrams

 

17 The amount of zinc sulfate monohydrate shown is equivalent to 0.4 pound zinc sulfate heptahydrate 

18 The increase in iodized salt content represents a 25 percent increase in iodine content from previous specifications 

as recommended. 

19 Represents a reduction of 67 percent from previous specification. 

CSB13 Page 8 
Vitamin A Palmitate (stabilized)20 21.0 million IU 

Vitamin D (stabilized) 1.8 million IU 

Alpha tocopherol acetate 68,000.00 IU 

Butylated hydroxy anisole21 20.0 grams 

Butylated hydroxy toluene 20.0 grams

Ascorbic acid (stabilized), ethylcellulose (coated), 

Soy flour, defatted (toasted) or starch to 

reach total weight; 

(additional soy flour may be added as a 

carrier, if desired) 

364.0 grams 

Total 2.0 lbs. 

(7) The mineral premix and vitamin premix shall not be combined and 

shall be added to the formulation separately. 

Requirements Item 

Minimum Maximum

Vitamin A 8400 IU/lb 16,000 IU/lb 

Iron 14.7 mg/100g 30.0 mg/100g 

Contractors are required to maintain records verifying compliance with 

the Vitamin A and iron requirements. 

Section 1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE 

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

that the product meets the commodity specifications. The results shall be 

evidenced by a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Copies of the original COA 

must be submitted as part of the invoice package. The COA shall provide the 

results of all tests specified. If quality discounts are provided in the contract, 

and the product to be delivered by the contractor falls within the quality 

discount table, those factors shall be identified by an asterisk on the copies of 

the COA. 

B. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet 

 

20 Vitamin A Palmitate (stabilized) shall be added in encapsulated form containing 250,000 IU Vitamin A 

Palmitate/g. Particle size shall comply with the requirement that at least 98 percent shall pass through a U.S. 

Standard No. 50 sieve, at least 90 percent through a U.S. Standard No. 60 sieve, and at least 45 percent through a 

U.S. Standard No. 100 sieve. The product shall be not less than 95 percent of the all-trans isomer as determined by 

the USP assay procedure. The Vitamin A Palmitate shall have storage stability such that not more than 20 percent of 

its original activity shall be lost when stored for 21 days at 45SEC in a sealed container at a level of 10,000 to 

12,000 IU per pound in cornmeal having a moisture content in the range of 13.5 to 14.5 percent. 

21 If antioxidant is added in soy oil, omit from this premix [See paragraph I.D.(4)] 

CSB13 Page 9 
contract requirements. 

C. Unless otherwise specified, test methods for the finished product, and any 

ingredients therein, shall be those of the AOAC INTERNATIONAL, the 

American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), or the American Oil 

Chemists’ Society (AOCS), as applicable and in effect on the date of issuance 

of the solicitation, or in accordance with methods that give equivalent results. 

Section 1.3 SAMPLING AND TESTING PROTOCOL 

a. As a minimum, suppliers shall use the following sampling procedures which are 

based on FGIS’ Processed Commodities Handbook, Chapter 2. 

B. Lot size quantity and sample rate shall be as follows: 

LOT SIZE 

(IN POUNDS) 

LOT SIZE 

(IN KILOGRAMS) 

NUMBER OF BAGS 

SAMPLED PER LOT 

45,000 OR LESS 20,250 OR LESS 12 

45,001-180,000 20,251 - 81,000 20 

The maximum lot size shall be 180,000 pounds or 81,000 Kg. 

C. Bags shall be selected for sampling using a random number generator or a random

number table. Samples shall be drawn from the selected filled and unclosed bag 

utilizing a stainless steel single-tube open-ended trier. The trier shall be inserted 

at one corner of the open end of the filled bag and moved diagonally through the 

center to the opposite corner of the bottom of the bag. 

D. Samples drawn from each sampled bag shall be composited to represent the lot. 

The composite sample shall weigh approximately five pounds. This composite 

sample will be divided into two equal subsamples; one will be for analysis and the 

other retained as a reserve by the supplier. 

E. All sample analysis may be performed by the supplier’s own in-house laboratory. 

 The analytical results of each sample may be reported on the Certificate of 

Analysis (COA), refer to Exhibit C. This form is available at 

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/daco/export.htm#Forms. 

F. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the commodity is uniform and 

substantially conforms to the specifications on a bag by bag basis. 

G. In the event the Government exercises its right, pursuant to FAR clause 52.246.2, 

Inspection of Supplies—Fixed Price, to perform its own testing, the following 

testing methods shall apply and will govern determinations as to whether or not 

the product meets the required specifications. 

CSB13 Page 10 
TESTING METHOD 

PROTEIN AOAC 992.23

MOISTURE AOAC 925.10

FAT AOAC 922.06

CRUDE FIBER AOAC 962.09E 

IRON AOAC 999.11

VITAMIN A AACC 86-06 

Note: Any AOAC testing methods shall be as prescribed in the latest edition of 

the AOAC’s “Official Methods of Analysis” in effect at the time of 

testing. 

Section 1.4 QUALITY DISCOUNTS 

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

of Section 1.1, but falls within the discounts listed, the product may be delivered to the 

Government, but the purchase price shall be reduced in accordance with the following 

schedules of discounts for each 100 pounds of commodity delivered: 

Excess Moisture Deficient Protein

10.1% or 10.2% $0.10 16.6% thru 16.4% $0.10 

10.3% or 10.4% $0.20 16.3% thru 16.1% $0.20 

10.5% $0.35 16.0% thru 15.9% $0.35 

Deficient Fat Excess Crude Fiber

5.9% or 5.8% $0.10 2.1% thru 2.2% $0.10 

5.7% or 5.6% $0.20 2.3% thru 2.4% $0.20 

5.5% $0.35 2.5% $0.35

Deficient Granulation Through No. 6 

Woven-Wire-Cloth Sieve

Excess Granulation Through No. 30 

Woven-Wire-Cloth

98% or 97% $0.10 93% or 94% $0.10 

96% or 95% $0.20 95% or 96% $0.20 

Excess Granulation Through No. 60 WovenWire-Cloth SieveExcess Consistency (Uncooked) 

Bostwick Units

58% or 59% $0.10 20.5 cm or 21.0 cm $0.10 

60% or 61% $0.20 21.5 cm or 22.0 cm $0.20 

22.5 cm or 23.0 cm $0.35 

Deficient Consistency (Cooked) 11.75% 

Gruel) Bostwick Units

Excess Consistency (Cooked) 11.75% 

Gruel Bostwick Units

8.5 cm or 8.0 cm $0.10 21.5 cm or 22.0 cm $0.10 

7.5 cm or 7.0 cm $0.20 22.5 cm or 23.0 cm $0.20 

6.5 cm or 6.0 cm $0.35 23.5 cm or 24.0 cm $0.35 

Excess Iron mg/100g

30.1 to 31.5 $0.10 

31.6 to 33.1 $0.20 

33.2 to 35.0 $0.35 

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 

Section 2.1 GENERAL

CSB13 Page 11 
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 

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 25-KILOGRAM MULTIWALL PAPER BAGS 

A. Twenty-five kilograms of product shall be packed in Pinch Bottom Open 

Mouth (PBOM) style multiwall paper bags. The use of recycled materials is 

not required if performance or food safety is jeopardized. 

B. The bag shall have two inner walls of 50-pound nominal basis weight natural 

kraft paper and an outer third wall of 60-pound nominal basis weight wet 

strength paper in accordance with Uniform Freight Classification, Rule 40, 

Section 10, Tables A and B, as amended. 

C. The bag shall have a inner plastic liner constructed of linear low density 

polyethylene (LLDPE) film. The film liner shall: 

(1) Be a minimum thickness of 2.5 mil. with a density of 0.914 to 0.929 

g/cc and a minimum heat-seal coefficient of 0.60. The film shall have a 

minimum impact resistance of 265g when tested in accordance with 

ASTM D-1709 Method A, as amended, Falling Dart. 

(2) The film liner shall have 8 to 12 micro perforations in each gusset area 

CSB13 Page 12 
to allow for the evacuation of air from the product after filling and 

sealing. 

(3) Have a sufficient amount of anti-block. It shall be free from any 

blocking at 50o

C and not subject to reblock at 70oC. 

(4) The film liner shall be loose for the full length of the bag except around 

the bottom and top closure areas. At the top and bottom closure areas, 

the liner shall adhere to the inner-most paper ply (time lamination). 

The laminating adhesive shall be machine direction applied in narrow 

strips no longer than 4 inches from each end. The use of gravure 

lamination to bond the liner to the inner-most paper ply for the entire 

length of the bag is prohibited. 

(5) Be adhered to prevent product from getting between the inner film and 

the next outer paper ply. 

(6) Not exceed a maximum average water vapor permeability of 0.65 

grams per 100 square inches in 24 hours at 90 percent relative humidity 

and a temperature of 100o

F plus or minus 5 degrees. 

(7) Be manufactured to meet Food and Drug Administration requirements 

for food products (21 CFR 177.1520, as amended). 

(8) Be heat-sealed at the bottom by the bag manufacturer. The top of the 

liner shall be heat-sealed by the packer once the bag has been filled 

with product. 

D. Longitudinal seams of the outer wall of the bag shall be glued so that there is 

no more than 3/16-inch of unglued edge on the outer surface of the bag. The 

adhesives used in the longitudinal seams and pasted end closures shall be water 

resistant. Water resistant adhesive of outer ply longitudinal seams or pasted 

end closures shall be tested for resistance to water in accordance with TAPPI 

T456 (Wet Tensile Test), except as follows: 

Cut test specimens 1-inch wide so that the longitudinal seam or pasted end 

closure runs perpendicular to and is centered relative to the long dimension of 

the specimen. The test specimen shall encompass all adhesive bonded areas 

included in fabricating the seam or end closure. In the case of multi-ply end 

closures, clamp all plies in the jaws of the tester. Immerse the specimens in 

not less than 1-inch of the distilled water for 24 hours. Run a wet tensile test. 

A test specimen fails the test if failure occurs with the separation of the seam

or closure and less than 25% of the separated adhesive area shows fiber tear. 

Failure of more than 10% of the specimens shall be reported as failure of the 

adhesive. 

Section 2.4 25-KILOGRAM HIGH PERFORMANCE PACKAGING 

CONSTRUCTIONS 

A. Contractors shall utilize one of the following constructions when the 

solicitation requires the use of high performance packaging: 

(1) Multiwall paper bag constructed of: One (1) ply inner film liner 

guaranteed 2.5 mil. minimum thickness linear low density 

CSB13 Page 13 
polyethylene, four (4) plies of 50-pound natural multiwall kraft (NMK) 

paper, and one (1) outer ply of 60-pound wet strength natural multiwall 

kraft (WSNMK) paper; or 

(2) Multiwall paper bag constructed of: 3.1 mil. (70 grams per square 

meter) film consisting of two or more layers of co-extruded polyolefin 

film with alternating angles of orientation, laminated together and 

biaxially oriented, two (2) plies of 50-pound NMK paper, and one (1) 

outer ply of 60-pound WSNMK paper. The bag shall be heat-sealed at 

the bottom, by the bag manufacturer. The top of the liner shall be heatsealed by the packer once the bag has been filled with products. 

(3) Both bag constructions shall: 

(a) be uniquely marked with a one (1) inch blue stripe located 

approximately three (3) inches above the letters “USA” and 

extending around the width of each bag; 

(b) meet the specifications and testing requirements outlined in 

these commodity requirements. 

Section 2.5 OUTER CLOSURE AND SEALS 

A. The bottom and top of the 25-kilogram bag shall be closed to provide a tight 

seal using hot-melt or thermoplastic adhesive applied in a single band along the 

top edge of the long side of the bag and extending downward at least 3/4 

inches. The fold line on the manufacturer closure end shall be 1-3/4 inches 

plus or minus 1/4-inch. The fold line on the field closure end shall be 1-5/8 

inches plus or minus 1/4-inch. Refer to section 3.1.L. for bag closure guide 

location bars. 

B. The outer wall of the bag shall be stepped at the bottom and top fold over flap, 

beyond all inner walls, in order to provide a positive seal over the ends of the 

inner walls so that there is no more than 3/16 inches unbonded edge beyond the 

adhesive line. The inner polyethylene film may be heat-sealed. 

Section 2.6 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 (73.4o

F plus or 

minus 1.8o

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 reach 

equilibrium. 

CSB13 Page 14 
(4) Bags submitted under this performance specification shall conform to 

all other applicable material, construction, and performance 

specifications. 

B. Test Laboratories 

Independent or private laboratories known to be capable of conducting the 

shock machine test described above are as follows: 

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

Rutgers University 

Packaging Science and 

Engineering Dept. 

P.O. Box 909 

Piscataway, NJ 08854 

(201) 932-3679 

Ten-E Packaging Services, Inc. 

1666 County Road 74 

Newport, MN 55055 

(651) 459-0671 

www.ten-e.com

Section 2.7 SEAL PEEL TEST 

A. The contractor shall perform periodic seal peel tests on the filling end of

multiwall paper bags to determine whether the paper plies are adequately 

adhered. The seal peel test shall be performed at every start up and a minimum

of every hour during commodity packing operations. The seal peel test shall 

demonstrate tear of paper fiber (fiber tear) for all paper plies. The contractor 

shall maintain records of seal peel test results for review by the Government. 

B. The seal peel test shall be performed as follows: 

(1) Run an empty bag through the sealing unit. 

(2) Cut bag approximately 3 to 8 inches below the seal. 

(3) Cut both gussets along the center crease to the top of the bag end. 

(4) Spread bag to expose poly liner. 

(5) Check inside plastic liner along the closure and gussets to determine 

that the liner is heat-sealed. Pinholes, no larger than 1/8 inch in 

diameter, are allowable in the closure. 

(6) Grip inside fold at center of the bag end. 

(7) Pull apart sides of the bag end at the center, separating seals. (If the 

CSB13 Page 15 
seal is good, fibers shall completely cover adhesive. If the seal is poor, 

glossy adhesive will show). 

C. The contractor's seal peel test records shall include the following information 

for each test: date, time, employee's name, product, contract number, railcar 

number, and result of the test. The result of the test shall be reported as either 

"good seal" or "poor seal”, “insufficient fiber tear”, as applicable. The 

contractor shall take corrective action if the seal peel test indicates a poor seal 

and shall retest until a good seal is achieved. 

PART 3 MARKING REQUIREMENTS 

Section 3.1 MARKINGS 

A. The bags 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 5 inches high and 9 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 letters USA shall be 4 3/4 inches high and 9 3/4 inches in total 

width. The three stripes adjacent USA shall be 1 inch high and must extend to the 

edge of the panel. 

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 4 1/2 inches high and 6 1/2 inches in total width. See 

exhibits. 

G. The commodity name shall be 1 1/4 inch print. Immediately below the 

commodity name on the front and back panels, insert additional commodity 

description in 5/8 inch print, if applicable. 

H. The contract number and the statement "NOT TO BE SOLD OR EXCHANGED" 

CSB13 Page 16 
shall be 3/4 inch print. The net weight, bag dimensions, and the Standard 

Marking Requirements (SMR) or Language Marking Requirements (LMR) 

number shall be centered at the bottom of the bag in 1/2 inch print. See exhibits. 

The contractor shall obtain a waiver, in writing, from the Government to print the 

contract number using on-line printing on filled bags. 

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

LMR-4, LMR-5, LMR-7, and LMR-8 should be sized approximately 1 5/8 inches. 

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

the exhibits. 

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

meet the traceability requirement shall be printed as small as possible, yet legible. 

K. Gussets. The geometric symbols shall appear in both gussets, adjacent to USAID, 

as shown in the applicable exhibits. The USAID identity shall be a total of 2 3/4 

inches in height and 8 1/2 inches in total width and printed in both gussets. The 

letters “USAID” shall be 1 3/4 inches high and the tagline “FROM THE 

AMERICAN PEOPLE” shall be 3/8 inch high. 

L. Gussets. The geometric symbols shall appear in both gussets, adjacent to USA, as 

shown in the applicable exhibits. The letters USA shall be 3 inches high and 

printed in both gussets. 

M. Bag Closure Guide Location Bars (BCGL) shall be printed on the front panel of 

all multi-wall paper bags, as shown in the exhibits. The BCGL bars shall be 

plainly visible, approximately one inch in length, printed in blue in two parallel 

rows evenly spaced over the entire width of the bag. The BCGL bars are to be 

used as visual quality control verification. Visually identifying two bars or no 

bars on the bag would indicate a bag closure failure. Visually identifying one bar 

would indicate a proper bag closure. (Exhibits A & B) 

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”. See exhibit SMR-1, front. 

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

CSB13 Page 17 
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”. 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”. 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”. 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 

CSB13 Page 18 
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. 

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 bag dimensions shall be centered at the bottom of the bag, as small as 

CSB13 Page 19 
possible, yet legible. 

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. 

CSB13 Page 20 
Marking Exhibits

CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLE

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLE

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLE

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
CORN SOY BLEND CORN SOY BLEN

CSB12 
Exhibit A 

Bag Closure Guide Location

Front of Bag

Pre-applied Hot Melt

CSB12 
Exhibit B 

CSB12