United States Department of Agriculture

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Commodity Procurement Staff 

P.O. Box 419205, MS 8718 

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

RP5

RICE PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Effective Date: February 4, 2016
USDA COMMODITY REQUIREMENTS

RP5

RICE PRODUCTS

FOR USE IN DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

Table of Contents

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

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

Section 1.2 WARRANTY ................................................................................................................2

Section 1.3 FUMIGATION .............................................................................................................2

Section 1.4 INSPECTION ...............................................................................................................2

Section 1.5 “KOSHER ONLY” PRODUCTS................................................................................4

Part 2 CONTAINER AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS............................................... 4

Section 2.1 GENERAL ....................................................................................................................4

Section 2.2 COMMERCIAL PACKAGING .................................................................................4

Section 2.3 CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS...........................................................................5

Section 2.4 UNITIZATION REQUIREMENTS...........................................................................5
RP5 Page 1 of 8

Part 1 COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Section 1.1 COMMODITIES

A. Quality of Rice Products

Rice products delivered shall meet the specifications of the class and grade 

offered as defined in the “United States Standards for Milled Rice,” in effect on 

the date the solicitation is issued. The standards are available at: 

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/inspectionservices_ricestandards.aspx. Rice 

products shall be a US No. 2 or better well milled rice, unless so specified. 

(1) Rice products, excluding Brown rice products, produced and delivered 

shall be enriched.

(2) Rice products of special grades “parboiled light” or “parboiled” which 

meets class and grade specifications of U.S. No. 1 will only be acceptable 

for those items specifying “parboiled.” “Parboiled light” or “parboiled” 

shall not be substitutable for other classes of rice.

(3) Enriched rice products (including “parboiled light” or “parboiled”) shall 

comply with the standards for enriched rice established by the FDA, in the 

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Chapter 1, Part 137, Subpart B, 

Section 137.350, which is available at:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cf

m, except that the optional enrichment ingredients will not be included.

(4) Rice coated with talc and/or glucose, is not acceptable and will be rejected 

if delivered. No specialty, including but not limited to aromatic rice, will 

be acceptable unless specified in the solicitation.

B. Brown Rice shall be U.S. No. 1 long grain, medium grain, or short grain brown 

rice for processing, as defined in the “United States Standards for Brown Rice for 

Processing,” which is available at

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/inspectionservices_ricestandards.aspx, in effect 

on the date the solicitation is issued.

C. Parboiled brown rice shall be U.S. No. 1 long grain brown rice or U.S. No. 1 

medium grain brown rice which has a cooking time which falls within the range 

of 10 to 28 minutes. 

D. All rice products for delivery to destinations in the State of Hawaii shall be U.S. 

No. 1 Medium Grain (California-grown) only.

E. Rice products for delivery to destinations in the State of Hawaii shall have a zero 

tolerance for Aeschynomene indica L., more commonly known as Kat sola, 

Indian joint vetch, Indian vetch seed or Indigo. The Grain Inspection, Packers & 

Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will reject products destined for Hawaii 

which contain any portion of Aeschynomem indica L.
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F. The Government will accept delivery of rice products grading better than the 

specified contract grade, but no adjustment in contract price will be made for rice 

products better than the contract grade.

Section 1.2 WARRANTY

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

date is defined as the calendar date on which the rice is milled.

A. The milled and parboiled rice products delivered shall have a shelf life of six 

months from the date of manufacture.

B. The brown rice products delivered shall have the following shelf life:

PRODUCT TEMPERATURE SHELF LIFE

Brown Rice 50 ̊ – 70 ̊ Fahrenheit 3 months

Brown Rice 30 ̊ – 40 ̊ Fahrenheit 6 months

Section 1.3 FUMIGATION

A. Not more than 10 days prior to packaging, the rice products shall be fumigated 

with the food safe formulations of Aluminum Phosphide, Carbon Dioxide, Methyl 

Bromide, or Sulfuryl Flouride in a quantity and manner which will effect a kill in 

all stages of weevil or other insect infestation. All fumigant must be applied 

according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) label.

B. The contractor shall submit with its invoice for payment, a statement certifying 

that the rice products were fumigated in accordance with this requirement. The 

Fumigation Certificate shall indicate the chemical, Aluminum Phosphide, Carbon 

Dioxide, Methyl Bromide, or Sulfuryl Flouride used in the fumigation process.

The Fumigation Certificate shall cite the actual date the rice was fumigated. The 

fumigator’s license number shall be cited on the Fumigation Certification 

statement.

Section 1.4 INSPECTION

A. Inspection of the product shall be performed by the Grain Inspection, Packers & 

Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Procedures to follow and a schedule of fees 

for this service may be obtained at 

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/fgis/gradingprocedures.aspx, select Service Provider

Information. 

The applicant is responsible for providing all applicable contract documents and 

specifications to GIPSA. The quality, weight, and packaging of the product shall 

be evidenced by commodity inspection certificates issued by GIPSA. The GIPSA

certificate must cite the Contract/WBSCM Purchase Order (PO), PO Item 

Number, Sales Order (SO) Number and SO Item Number or Purchase Requisition 

(PR) and PR Item Number. Contractors are required to notify the Government 

immediately of lots that fail to meet contract requirements. 
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B. Enrichment

The GIPSA certificate will also cite whether or not the rice is enriched. Testing of 

the product for enrichment, if applicable to the commodity, shall be performed by 

the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). GIPSA 

shall verify the presence of enrichment for each inspected lot. Enrichment results 

will be shown in the factor section of the certificate. 

Applicant statements in regard to enrichment will not be accepted by GIPSA.

C. Citations

The GIPSA certificate must cite the Contract/WBSCM Purchase Order (PO), PO 

Item Number, Sales Order (SO) Number and SO Item Number or Purchase 

Requisition (PR) and PR Item Number. Contractors are required to notify the 

Government immediately of lots that fail to meet contract requirements.

D. Shipping

Contractors shall not ship the product unless informed by GIPSA that the 

containers and markings meet the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) of the “U.S. 

Standards for Condition of Food Containers,” which are available at: 

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/7cfr42_04.html. Notice by 

GIPSA that a designated lot scheduled for shipment does not meet the AQL will 

constitute rejection to the contractor of such lot. Except with respect to shipments 

that do not meet the AQL standards, the contractor may ship the product prior to 

receipt of the commodity testing and analysis results (when required) in which 

event the contractor assumes all risks and liabilities that arise with respect to the 

failure of the shipped product to meet contract specifications.

E. If the product fails to meet contract specifications on one or more factors on the 

first inspection, the contractor may arrange with GIPSA subsequent inspections of 

the commodity. The inspections may be conducted at origin or a subsequent point 

of delivery if the provisions of Title 7 CFR 68.44 through 68.63 issued under the 

Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, with respect to retest, appeal, 

and new inspections can be met. When subsequent inspections of the product are 

made, the results of the last inspection will be used as the basis for payment under 

the contract. 

F. Checkloading

All rice shall undergo checkloading. Checkloading shall be performed by the 

Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) or their 

authorized designee(s). GIPSA checkloading shall include the process of 

performing a stowage examination on a carrier, computing the number of filled

rice containers loaded aboard the carrier, observing the condition of the rice

containers loaded aboard the carrier, witnessing the sealing the carrier, if

practicable, and certifying the results.
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GIPSA checkloading, including witnessing sealing the carrier, does not release 

the contractor from, or take the place of the seal requirements, cited in the Master 

Solicitation for Commodity Procurements, Seals on Transportation Conveyances.

G. Hawaii California-grown

Rice for delivery into the State of Hawaii shall be “California-grown.” The Grain 

Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will provide one of the 

following statements, if known not to be false or misleading, in the Remarks 

Section of the Rice or Commodity Inspection Certificate:

“Applicant states that the variety of this rice is (variety).”

“Applicant states that this rice was grown in the State of (state).”

The Contractor will ensure this information is provided on the Application for 

Inspection provided to GIPSA’s inspector prior to inspection.

Section 1.5 “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.

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. 

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:
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(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.”

C. All labels shall cite any enrichment ingredients.

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 

required in the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement,

Regulatory Requirements for Commodities and Packaging.

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

Senior Contracting Officer

Ray Boyd

Telephone (816) 926 2612 or 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 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.
RP5 Page 6 of 8

(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.

E. USDA does not participate in pallet exchange.