(2) has demonstrated experience in fresh 
produce supply chain distribution; 
(3) holds qualifications including, PACA li-
cense, food safety certifications, and any other re-
quirements as determined by the Secretary; 
(4) operates a facility or facilities in or adjacent 
to the State where the produce will be distributed; 
(5) sources from small and medium sized grow-
ers and local and regional produce as geographically 
and seasonally feasible; and 
(6) offers the government a price determined to 
be the overall best value without limiting evaluation 
factors to lowest price or highest technical rating. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In entering into contracts under the 
Program, the Secretary shall give priority to the following: 
(1) Socially disadvantaged eligible entities, in-
cluding women-owned and veteran-owned. 
(2) Eligible entities that are, or source from, 
beginning farmers, or small or mid-sized farms that 
are structured as family farms, as defined in sub-
section (g). 
(3) Eligible entities that can deliver to areas in 
most need of fresh produce, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
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(4) Eligible entities that can demonstrate a 
commitment to serving local communities through 
strong relationships with qualifying nonprofits, pub-
lic agencies, and Tribal governments, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(d) CONTRACT TERMS AND PRODUCE MAKEUP.— 
The Secretary shall ensure the following when admin-
istering contracts: 
(1) The period of performance under the con-
tract shall be— 
(A) at least 90 days; and 
(B) not more than 120 days. 
(2) Eligible entity is located in the State or lo-
cality in which produce is provided, or has dem-
onstrated experience distributing to the service area. 
(3) Award multiple contracts within each of the 
United States Department of Agriculture’s Food 
and Nutrition Services regions to provide opportuni-
ties for a broad range of producers and entities. 
(4) The makeup of the produce includes: 
(A) Only fresh fruits and vegetables grown 
in the United States. 
(B) Locally grown fruits and vegetables 
where geographically and seasonally possible, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
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(C) No fewer than seven varieties of fresh 
fruits and vegetables. 
(D) Offer a variety of both fruits and vege-
tables consistent with the most recent Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans published under sec-
tion 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring 
and Related Research Act of 1990. 
(E) Include culturally competent commod-
ities, as determined by the Secretary in con-
sultation with the distributing agency. 
(5) Price paid by the government is inclusive of 
all transportation and distribution costs associated 
with delivering to the final destination of eligible 
nonprofit distributing partner. 
(e) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) QUALIFYING NONPROFITS.—The Secretary 
shall establish a process for which to identify quali-
fying nonprofit entities that may participate in the 
Program and conduct outreach to ensure that eligi-
ble nonprofits are made aware of the Program. 
(2) EQUITY AND GEOGRAPHIC REACH.—In car-
rying out the Program each fiscal year, the Sec-
retary shall enter into contracts with eligible entities 
in a manner that ensures the total value of contracts 
entered into in each State, territory, or Tribal enti-
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ty, is proportionate to the number of households and 
individuals living in poverty within the State, terri-
tory, or Tribal entity, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(A) VULNERABLE AREAS.—The Secretary 
shall establish a process— 
(i) to determine the areas most in 
need of produce provision under the Pro-
gram, including rural areas, the territories 
and possessions of the United States, and 
areas under the jurisdiction of a Tribal 
government; and 
(ii) to ensure such areas are served by 
the Program. 
(B) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary shall provide technical assistance to eligi-
ble entities participating in the Program with 
respect to— 
(i) the contact terms and expectations 
applicable to covered entities under the 
Program; 
(ii) best practices for the distribution 
of the produce and expectations of dis-
tribution; and 
(iii) food safety certification. 
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(C) FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.—the Sec-
retary shall provide information to assist small, 
beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged 
farmers in obtaining food safety certifications 
and covering the associated costs of necessary 
changes and upgrades to practices and equip-
ment to improve food safety. 
(f) REPORTING.— 
(1) Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to 
Congress a report on activities carried out under the 
Program, including counties and percentage of coun-
ties served, number of produce packages provided, 
quantity and variety of fresh produce distributed, 
number of farms sourced from, including size of 
farms, and percentage of produce procured locally 
and regionally and other data as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(2) Not later than 1 year after the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committee of Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives a report that evalu-
ates the Program’s effectiveness at meeting the 
goals as stated in subsection (a). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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