WILD RICE 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), has issued an Award Notice for the procurement of Wild Rice, Traditionally-harvested (WRTH), for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs. This notice follows a solicitation for WRTH that was mechanically parched using wood, supplied in 25/1-pound packages, and from the 2025 Harvest year. Bids for the original solicitation were due on February 26, 2026, with acceptances announced by March 4, 2026.
Scope of Award
This award is for the procurement of Wild Rice, Traditionally-harvested (WRTH). Key specifications for the product included:
- Mechanically parched using wood.
- Packaged in 25/1-pound units.
- Sourced from the 2025 Harvest year.
- Delivery period: April 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026.
- Compliance with Food Safety Modernization Act was required.
Contract Details
- Acquisition Type: Unrestricted.
- Indian Incentive Program: Applicable, providing a 5 percent incentive payment to prime contractors for payments made to Indian organizations or Indian-owned economic enterprises.
- Submission Method (for original solicitation): Electronic via the Web-Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM).
- Award Date: March 4, 2026 (date of acceptance announcement).
Eligibility & Requirements (from original solicitation)
- Offerors were required to be active in WBSCM with necessary bidder roles.
- Prospective contractors might have needed to provide evidence of subcontractor responsibility, including Plant Sanitation and Food Defense surveys.
- Small business concerns proposing non-manufactured products needed to submit a supplier agreement.
- Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).
- A probationary period, limiting awards to 10 truckloads per product, could be implemented for new-to-USDA contractors.
Contact Information
For inquiries related to this opportunity, contact Jenny Babiuch at jenny.babiuch@usda.gov or 816-823-1145, or Valerie Dinkel at Valerie.Dinkel@usda.gov.