Agricultural Marketing Service

Commodity Procurement Staff

P.O. Box 419205, MS

8718 Kansas City, MO

64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

WF15

WHEAT FLOUR PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: 03/01/2016
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

WF15

WHEAT FLOUR PRODUCTS

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 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS 1

Section 1.4 QUALITY ASSURANCE 2

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS 2

Section 2.1 GENERAL 2

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING 2

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS 2

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION 3
Page 1 of 4

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Quality of the Commodity

(1) All wheat shall be tested for vomitoxin in accordance with procedures

approved by Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS). Any wheat testing

higher than 2 parts per million (.p.m.) shall not be used in production of

the commodity. The final product shall not contain more than 1 p.m. of

vomitoxin.

(2) Ash and protein range for bread flour is .30 +/-.

(3) The commodity delivered shall meet the requirements as specified in the

Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20126F (December 29, 2008)

for flour products available 

at http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Flour.pdf

except for the following analytical and physical requirements:

Commodity Protein Level

Minimum 1

Ash Level

Maximum 1

Moisture

Maximum

Falling Number Units

Minimum Maximum

All Purpose

Flour

9.0% 0.50% 14.0% 225 300

Bread Flour 11.3% 0.50% 14.0% 225 300

Whole Wheat

Flour

12.0% 1.90% 14.0% 250 ---

White Whole

Wheat Blend

Flour

12.5%-

14.5%

1.2%-

2.2%

14%

(4) White Whole Wheat Blend Flour Specification

Wheat type: Hard white or red winter, cleaned

Blend Specification: NLT 60% White Whole Wheat Flour plus 40% All 

Purpose Flour

Analysis:

Protein 12.5% - 14.5% +/- .5 percent

Ash 1.2-2.2

Moisture 14% Maximum

Shelf life and storage conditions: 70 degrees F., 70 percent humidity, 

120 days duration under good conditions.

Flour additions: Niacin, iron, folic acid. (All approved by the Association of 

Cereal Chemists).
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Sifting specifications: 

Wire 18 0.2% Max

Wire 30 2.5% Max

Wire 40 4.0% to 15.0% Max

Wire 70 45% Max 

(5) Bulk Flour Shipments.

a. At the time of shipment, the contractor shall furnish to the

destination consignee a mill laboratory analysis that the flour

meets all the testing and quality requirements of the contract.

b. For bulk shipments by railroad car or truck, the weight of the

quantity shipped shall be evidenced by an official weight

certificate and included with the invoice. If official weights are not

available at the plant location, the contractor shall obtain the

official weight certificates at an intermediate point or at

destination.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

The product shall have a shelf life of at least one year from date of manufacturer.

Product shall not be manufactured more than 30 days prior to shipping.

Section 1.3 KOSHER ONLY PRODUCTS

“Kosher Only” products will be identified in the solicitation. Kosher only

products shall comply with applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the

“613 Council of Kashruth.” Manufacturing plants shall be certified for

compliance with the aforementioned requirement by contacting the Board of

Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at 646-472-5365. A rabbinic

supervisor will be sent to certify compliance of the manufacturing plant with the

dietary (kosher) laws.

1 These limiting values are on a 14.0 percent moisture basis.
Page 3 of 4

Offeror shall certify that their manufacturing plant is capable of meeting

applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the “613 Council of Kashruth”

and certification by BJENY.

Section 1.4 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). 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

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.

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING

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 commerciallabeled product shipping documents shall specify “FOR USDA FOOD

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS.”

Section 2.3 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
Page 4 of 4

required in the Master Solicitation, Part 3, Section A, Number 3.

B. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

Senior Contracting Officer

Ray Boyd

Phone: (816) 926-2612

Email: Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

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 2.4 UNITIZATION

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.