Fresh Fruit for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)-Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) is soliciting proposals for Fresh Apples and Pears for use in domestic food assistance programs, including the National School Lunch Program. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a firm-fixed-price contract. Deliveries are scheduled between March 30, 2026, and June 24, 2026.
Scope of Work
This procurement covers various types of apples (Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Fuji, Gala) and pears (Fresh Pkg-12/3 LB). All products must adhere to the Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit July 2019 (with specific exceptions for pears) and meet Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service standards at both shipping point and destination. All commodities must be products of the United States, grown, processed, and prepared exclusively within the U.S.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Firm-Fixed-Price
- Deliveries: March 30, 2026 – June 24, 2026
- Offer Due: February 4, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Published: January 21, 2026
- Set-Aside: This opportunity includes Small Business Set-Asides for specific apple and pear items, a 10% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) Set Aside for certain apple varieties, and a HUBZone Small Business Price Evaluation Preference for qualified firms.
Eligibility & Submission
Potential contractors must meet AMS vendor qualification requirements (FAR Subpart 9.2). Information on becoming a qualified bidder is available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food, or by contacting newvendor@usda.gov. Offers, modifications, and withdrawals must be submitted electronically via the USDA Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system (https://portal.wbscm.usda.gov/publicprocurement). Bidders must be active in WBSCM with required roles. Food safety verification audits (GAP and GHP) must be current and approved prior to bid opening. New-to-USDA contractors may be subject to probationary award limits.
Additional Notes
The full solicitation, including pack, sizes, quantities, and delivery schedules, will be available on WBSCM. Offerors should consult the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) and commodity specifications online.