USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 Farm Service Agency 

 Kansas City Commodity Office 

 P.O. Box 419205, MS 8698 

 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

UHD5

ULTRA-HIGH TEMPERATURE MILK

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: May 7, 2014
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

UHD5

ULTRA-HIGH TEMPERATURE MILK

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 _______________________________________ 1

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS_________________ 1

Section 2.1 GENERAL ___________________________________________________ 1

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS_________________ 2

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS ______________________________ 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS ______________________________ 3

Section 2.5 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK______________________________________ 3

Section 2.6 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER___________________________ 3
UHD5 Page 1 of 3

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

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-20338, in effect on the date of the solicitation, 

which is available at

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV300

6749.

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, 

and reduced fat milk shall meet the following analytical requirements:

(a) Milkfat content – not less than 1.90 percent but not more than 2.10 

percent.

(b) Milk solids-not-fat – not less than 8.25 percent.

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

approved by the Dairy Grading Branch, Dairy Division, Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS).

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

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 lifeindicative date such as, “Best if 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

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

contract requirements.

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

Section 2.1 GENERAL

This part provides the container specifications and packaging materials

requirements used under this contract. 
UHD5 Page 2 of 3

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING 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) Unitization requirements in Section 2.4.

(2) At contractor’s option, a statement such as “Not for 

Retail Sale” may be printed on the principal display panel of the

food label.

(3) The manufacturer’s lot code/lot identification number 

shall be shown on the commercial bill of lading. (4) 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.

(5) For identification upon receipt at delivery warehouses,

all commercial-labeled product shipping documents shall 

specify “FOR USDA FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.”

C. A company name or brand name shall be shown on all 

shipping containers.

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS

A. All containers and packaging materials 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 
UHD5 Page 3 of 3

of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of Foreign Country.]” are 

strictly prohibited.

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of 

packaged products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped).

B. Pallets shall be:

(1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and

transportation of the packaged product, as a unit, without loss or 

damage.

(2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with 

no broken runners or slats. (3) Suitable for use in the shipment 

of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

(1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a 

minimum of 50 percent beyond its original length when stretched 

around the pallet load. (2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the 

palletized shipping containers. The shipping containers shall be

held firmly in place by the stretch wrap.

D. Pallet loads shall be:

(1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that 

shipping containers overhang the edges of pallets.

(2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the 

conveyance in a manner that prevents shifting during transit.

Section 2.5 MONTH/YEAR OF PACK

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 2.6 LOT CODE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER

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.

.