Attachment 5 - BULK PACKED COMPONENT ITEM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Component item characteristics required to be met by a bulk food supplier to qualify for the E-1-A, Higher 

Level Contract Quality Requirements (HLCQR) exemptions, which would not qualify for either the “Accessory 

package components” or the “Condiments (even if packaged in laminated barrier pouches)” HLCQR 

exemptions are specified as: 

a. Component items packed for shipment to a packager, prior to the finished product packaging of the item(s), 

and -

b. Any specific item (distinguishable by its unique NSN) purchased for use in Operational Rations by under a 

specific NSN, other than real property, that is identical in its product composition with that item as is 

customarily used by the general public, or by non-governmental entities for purpose other than governmental 

purposes, shall have been –

 (i) Sold, leased, or licensed to the general public; in quantities exceeding those quantities sold and/or 

contracted to be sold to the combined operational rations programs, the quantities measured in terms of the 

number of units sold, leased, licensed, or contracted for identical purpose, to operational rations; or sold, 

leased, licensed to the general public or short term used government customers. The time period to be used to 

measure operational rations quantities versus general public, etc., shall be the period of one year prior to the 

solicitation’s issue date or the commencement of a new operational rations contract cycle, as applicable.

 (ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; (sold in substantial quantities is sold in 

quantities exceeding those quantities sold or contracted to be sold to the combined operational rations programs, 

the quantities measured in terms of the number of units sold, leased, licensed, or contracted for identical 

purpose, to operational rations; or sold, leased, licensed to the general public or short term used government 

customers. The time period to be used to measure operational rations quantities versus general public, etc., shall 

be the period of one year prior to the date solicitation or the commencement of a new operational rations 

contract cycle, as applicable. Component items sold to government or private agencies for inclusion in rations 

that are not consumed within 180 days of the component item’s manufacture , such as component items 

destined for FEMA stock , are not to be included toward establishing the comparative quanities sold or 

contracted to be sold to the combined operational rations programs, the general public, or short term use 

government customers, and “

 (iii) In the event that a component manufacturer extends to the general public a shelf-life which is in excess of 

the warranty period of the contract by which DLA would procure the component as a stand-alone finishedproduct or as a component of a finished-ration, origin inspection shall be continuous government origin 

inspection.”

c. Bulk packed items do not include component items which include critical defects are included in the items 

technical requirements documents or included elsewhere in this solicitation/ contract (ex. PCR, MIL-DTL, 

MIL-PRF, PKG&QAP, CID, etc.)

d. Approval by DLA for the offer of a specific bulk packed component item is required of any item that 

includes microbiological testing as a part of its technical requirements document.