Offerors are required to submit a technical and price proposal. This process enables the Government to negotiate contracts based on the assessment of technical capability as well as price. Guidance on the submission and evaluation of proposals can be found in the individual solicitation. Subsistence generally acquires supplies in accordance with Federal, Military, U.S. Department of Agriculture specifications and standards or U.S. Department of Commerce standards. A firm must become thoroughly familiar with the requirements of these specifications and standards to assure that the product you offered meets the required quality, grade, type, style, size and other conditions set forth in the solicitation.
Specifications also describe how to package, pack, label, mark and unitize product.
The requirements are primarily of three categories, each designated with consideration to the length of time the product will be in storage, the number of times that it will be handled, and the distance and conditions under which it will be transported and stored. The inspection requirements for Subsistence supplies varies among the different commodities. Depending upon the item, offers may be accepted only from suppliers whose plant sources of supply meet the sanitary approval requirements set forth in the solicitation. The SF 129 and DD 2051 are processed simultaneously. Generally, it takes about 60 days to add a firm's name to the Solicitation Mailing List.