Amendment for Section 32 Fresh Pears Solicitation 2000011217

SOL #: 12-3J14-26-B-0178Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA AMS 3J14

WASHINGTON, DC, 20250, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991)

PSC

Fruits And Vegetables (8915)

Set Aside

Partial Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5) (SBP)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/920d9aa1d6df482b8fb8a4d68649a6b5/view

Timeline

Posted

Mar 9, 2026

Last Updated

Mar 11, 2026

Submission Deadline

Mar 17, 2026, 6:00 PM

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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service, has issued Amendment A0001 to Solicitation 2000011217 for Section 32 Fresh Pears. This amendment addresses bidder questions and updates the Instructions to Offerors, specifically regarding pear size specifications. Offers are due by March 17, 2026.

Scope of Change

This amendment provides critical clarifications and updates:

Grade Standards: Confirms different grade requirements for Tray pack (U.S. No. 2) and Bag (U.S. No. 1) Fresh Pears, with State Grades acceptable if meeting minimum U.S. standards.
Size Specifications: Updates size requirements for specific materials:
- PEARS FRESH PKG-12/3 LB: Minimum 2 1/8 inches, maximum 3 inches in diameter.
- PEARS D'ANJOU FRESH CTN-40 LB & PEARS BOSC FRESH CTN-40 LB: Tray pack and Wrapped pack minimum size 165, maximum size 70.
Pear Types: Confirms that both Red D'Anjou and Green Anjou Pears are acceptable.
Pallet Commingling: Clarifies that suppliers must not commingle red and green pears on a single pallet.

Contract & Timeline

Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, Invitation for Bid (IFB) for commercial products.
Set-Aside: Set-aside for Small Business Concerns and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.
Response Due: March 17, 2026, 6:00 PM ET.
Published: March 11, 2026.

Additional Notes

This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, accessible at www.acquisition.gov. The USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) is available for resolving concerns, offering both informal and formal protest avenues. Protesters are encouraged to first engage with the Contracting Officer and may file formal protests with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman. Formal protests under OPAP should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer, adhering to FAR 33.104 timeliness and information requirements.