Ready to Eat Cereal Products for Domestic Food Assistance

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks proposals for high-quality, nutritious Ready-to-Eat (RTE) cereal to support domestic feeding programs. The products must be suitable for large-scale distribution and consumption with minimal preparation. Low sugar content and whole grain options are preferred.

• Procurement of RTE cereal products meeting specific outlined specifications.

• Products must be suitable for large-scale distribution and consumption with minimal preparation.

• Preference for low sugar content and whole grain options.

• Contractor must furnish a Certificate of Conformance (COC) in accordance with FAR clause 52.246-15.

• Offerors must provide traceability to the manufacturer, including manufacturer's COC, if not the OEM.

• Packaging must meet FDA requirements for safe contact with food and comply with CONEG model legislation regarding heavy metals.

• Primary packaging and shipping containers must adhere to specific labeling requirements, including FDA/USDA definitions, ingredient lists, allergen statements, and traceability codes.

• Products must have a remaining shelf-life of at least 220 days upon receipt.

• Boxed cereal must be packed in a pouch within a fiberboard carton, typically 12-20 oz.

• All shipments of fortified cereals must be palletized and stretch wrapped.

• An approved food defense plan is required by the bid opening/solicitation close date.

• Anticipated award of multiple, firm-fixed-price contracts.

• Base period of one year, with a total contract duration not exceeding one year.

• Estimated quantity: 600 truckloads total (600 estimated, 1,200 maximum) over the period of performance.

• Minimum guaranteed amount of $1,800.00 per contract awarded.

• Period of Performance: August 2026 through July 2027.

• Delivery is F.O.B. Destination to all 49 contiguous states.

• Delivery required by July 31, 2027; early deliveries accepted.

• Offers must be submitted electronically via the Web Based Supply Chain Management Computer System (WBSCM).

• Offerors agree to hold prices firm for 90 calendar days from the offer receipt date.

• Questions are due no later than April 09, 2026, at 1:00 PM Central Time.

• Evaluation factors, in order of importance: Technical Information (Nutritional Information and Specification), Past Performance, and Price.

• Proposals will be evaluated using a tradeoff process where non-price factors are significantly more important than price.

• Preference may be given to contractors demonstrating higher production capacity.

• Past performance will be considered for the last three (3) years prior to bid opening.

• Offerors are required to meet a qualification requirement demonstrating the ability to adhere to the CRD specification found in Attachment 1.

• Qualification requirements may be obtained from https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved.

• All qualifications must be met by an offeror prior to award.

• Supporting qualification documentation is required.

• HUBZone small business price evaluation preference may apply if applicable.

• The solicitation includes numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions covering various aspects of the contract, including delivery, payment, warranties, compliance, and reporting.

• Attachments include: Contract Requirements Document (CRD), Technical Information (Capacity, case weight, net weight), Domestic Origin Certificate, and Past Performance Reference Form.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "EXHIBIT 3 - PAST PERFORMANCE REFERENCE INFORMATION," is a form that offerors must complete to submit recent and relevant information about their past contracts and subcontracts. The purpose is to demonstrate their ability to perform the proposed effort.

• Contract Number
• Contractor Name, Address, Zip Code, Telephone number, and Email Address
• Type of Contract
• Contract Dollar Value
• Date of Award
• Date Completed (or status if not completed)
• Type/Extent of Subcontracting
• Product/Service Description, Location & Relevancy of Work
• Percentage of Work Completed by your company
• Contact Person's Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address, and position
• Offeror's Bank Name and Address
• Point of Contact Telephone Number

Offerors are required to use this form to provide specific details about their past performance. This information is crucial for the government to evaluate the offeror's capability and experience in relation to the proposed effort. The form may be duplicated for each contract reference.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, Exhibit 2 - Domestic Origin Certification, is a form that must be completed by an authorized company official or their designee for each facility proposed under the associated RFP. It is required to certify that all products sold to the Department of Agriculture are of 100 percent domestic origin.

• Certification of domestic origin for poultry or poultry products.
• Requires disclosure if the company processes or handles products originating from sources other than the United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, or the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.
• If applicable, requires attachment of a segregation plan for non-domestic product.
• Requires disclosure if subcontractors/suppliers process or handle products originating from sources other than the United States, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, or the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.
• If applicable, requires attachment of each subcontractor's/supplier's segregation plan.
• Includes a certification statement and a warning regarding false statements, referencing 18 U.S.C. Part 1, Chapter 47, Section 1001 and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.
• Fields for Signature, Title, Date, Print Name, and Company.

Bidders must complete and submit this form as part of their proposal to demonstrate compliance with domestic origin requirements. Failure to properly complete or submit this form may impact the evaluation or award of the contract. It is crucial for bidders to understand the requirements for certifying domestic origin and to have segregation plans in place if non-domestic products are handled.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the USDA Commodity Requirements for Fortified (Ready-To-Eat) Cereal Products (FC11) for use in Domestic Programs. It details the specifications for the commodity itself, as well as the requirements for its packaging and unitization.

Part 1: Commodity Specifications

• Commodities: Specifies that the fortified ready-to-eat cereal must meet the specifications of the Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A20000, excluding expanded/extruded manufacturing processes for certain products. It details manufacturing processes (conventional batch vs. extruded) and ingredient requirements (whole grain kernels/grits or whole grain flour).
• Product Testing: Requires corn used in the product to be tested for Cry9C protein with negative results.
• Warranty: Product must have at least 220 days of shelf-life upon receipt.
• Quality Assurance: Contractors must perform testing and provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA).

Part 2: Container and Packaging Requirements

• General: Specifies container and packaging materials must meet FDA requirements for safe food contact.
• Commercial Packaging: Products must be commercial brand products with a history of successful distribution. Packaging requirements include specific instructions for boxed cereal (pouch in fiberboard carton) and bowl pack cereal (single-serve bowl with plastic film).
• Containers and Materials: All materials must be FDA compliant. If foreign-sourced packaging is used, country of origin labeling is prohibited.
• Unitization: Shipments may be slip-sheeted or palletized and must be stretch-wrapped. Specific requirements for slip-sheeted loads and a free time allowance for unloading are provided.

This document is crucial for any bidder intending to supply fortified ready-to-eat cereal products to the USDA for domestic programs. It defines the exact product specifications, quality standards, acceptable manufacturing processes, packaging requirements, and shipping/unitization methods. Bidders must ensure their offerings and proposed packaging comply with all details outlined in this document to be considered compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This Excel file contains several sheets providing information and templates for bidders responding to the solicitation. It includes a proposal checklist, product name and configuration details, and plant and contact information.

• Proposal Checklist: Outlines the required proposal parts (Technical Information, Pricing, Past Performance) and how to submit them, including specific exhibits and WBSCM entries.
• A1 Product Name & Configuration: Provides a template for vendors to specify their commercial cereal product details, including solicitation item number, description, brand, weight, dimensions, and pallet/truckload configurations. An example is provided.
• A3 Plant & Contact Info: A section for bidders to provide proposal submission contact details and plant information (name and address).

This document is crucial for bidders as it details the specific format and content required for their proposal submission, particularly for technical information and product specifications. It guides bidders on what exhibits to attach, how to enter pricing, and what contact and plant information to provide.