Chemical Nutrient Analysis Service for Combat Feeding Division (CFD)

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Natick Division, in support of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC), Soldier Sustainment Directorate (SSD) / Combat Feeding Division (CFD) located in Natick, MA 01760, has a requirement for chemical nutrient analysis services for the U.S. Army Combat Feeding Division. The Combat Feeding Division’s Nutrient Analysis Laboratory (NAL) currently has multiple samples to analyze for nutritional content.

The CFD, part of the U.S. Army DEVCOM-SC, is the Department of Defense’s centralized source for all research, development, engineering, and integration of joint service combat rations, food service equipment and field feeding systems. CFD’s primary mission is to ensure Warfighters have the tactical, nutritional and logistical advantage required to survive and win on the battlefield. Although CFD already has an in-house Nutrient Analysis Lab (NAL), there is currently a short-term need to outsource select nutrient analysis services for ingredients and ration components. The offeror shall provide laboratory nutrient analysis testing on provided food samples.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercially available services prepared in accordance with Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) FAR 12 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a written solicitation will not be issued. Request For Proposal (RFP) number is: W911QY-26-R-NUTRIENT-ANALYSIS. 

The Government intends to issue a single award Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ), Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract as a result of this solicitation. All timely offers will be considered, and proposal submission shall be in accordance with Submission Instructions contained herein. Evaluation factors are Technical Capability, Price, and Past Performance. 

Award will be made to the responsible vendor(s) that represents Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) to the Government. The Government intends to evaluate submittals and award the contract without discussions. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

This requirement is for full and open competition. This requirement is not a small business set-aside. The NAICS code is 541380 - Testing Laboratories and Services. The small business size standard is $19,000,000.00. The Army’s Office for Small Business Programs concurs with the full and open competition determination.

Incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular2026-01. (RFO) FAR Clauses 52.212-1 through 52.212-5, (see www.acquisition.gov) apply to this procurement.

Offeror’s must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://www.sam.gov) to be eligible for award. Instructions for registration are available at the website. Any additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices shall apply. 

Submission Instructions: 

All offerors shall submit a proposal consisting of two (2) sections. These two (2) sections shall be labeled; Section I – Technical Proposal; and Section II – Pricing Proposal. No Pricing Information shall be submitted in Section I.

Evaluation will be in accordance with RFO FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation--Commercial Products and Commercial Services. 

(a) The Government intends to award a single award Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to this solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

I. Technical capability of services offered to meet Government requirements: 

Requirements: The offeror shall be able to analyze samples for the analytes in Table 1 (See Attached Statement of Work for Table 1) with the preferred methods listed below or equivalent* with the listed limits of quantification (LOQ). The main analytes that will be requested are 1) selenium, 2) vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and 3) total dietary fiber. However, the offeror must also have the ability to analyze any of the other analytes listed in the SOW, CFD may need analysis of these analytes during the period of performance of this contract. This SOW is for an indeterminate quantity of samples. It is estimated that a minimum of 25 samples will be needed.  The minimum guarantee for this contract is $5,000.00. The ceiling amount of this IDIQ contract is $25,000.00. No more than 25 samples are projected to be sent at one time. 

Analyses and results shall be completed and delivered to the government no later than 14 calendar days after receipt of samples. Offeror’s shall prepare a data report for each set of samples that has been analyzed to include sample name/ID, method used, results, units of measure, limit of quantification and date of analysis. 

*If the offeror proposes to use a different method than the preferred methods listed, than that method must be specified in their proposal as well as the LOQ of that method. If the method is not an industry standard method (publicly available), then please attach a copy of the method in the proposal.

During market research, the price ranges in Table 2 (See Attached Statement of Work for Table 2) were determined to be reasonable per analyte (dependent on the method proposed). Offeror’s proposals must include the cost/test and the proposed method w/ LOQ. A cost/test can be outside of this range, but the proposals will be evaluated based on the demonstrated ability of the offeror to meet the requirements, proposed methods with LOQ and the cost/test. 

a. General Requirements

In-House Capacity: The offeror must have the in-house capacity (personnel, equipment, etc.) to perform the analyses requested. Offerors acting as pass throughs to larger labs will not be accepted. 

Accreditation: The offeror shall maintain active ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the duration of the contract. The accreditation scope must cover the specific nutritional tests requested.

Analytical Methodology: All testing must utilize validated, industry-standard methods (e.g., AOAC International, USP, AACC, or equivalent recognized methods). If an alternative method is used, the offeror must provide scientific validation prior to testing.

Sample Custody & Tracking: The offeror must maintain a documented chain of custody from sample receipt at the facility until final disposal.

Communication & Support: The offeror shall designate a primary point of contact (POC) or project manager to handle inquiries, clarify test results, and resolve sample receipt issues within 24 hours.

Storage Conditions: Upon receipt, the offeror shall store all samples under the conditions specified by the government (e.g., ambient, refrigerated at 4°C, or frozen at -20°C) to prevent nutrient degradation before analysis.

Sample Retention: The offeror must retain the remaining homogenized sample material for a minimum of 30 calendar days after the final report is delivered, allowing the government to request re-testing if anomalies are found.

Disposal: After the 30-day retention period, the offeror shall safely dispose of the food samples in accordance with local environmental regulations at no additional cost to the government.

b. Specific Requirements

See attached Statement of Work for Table 3 containing the Specific Requirements and additional details.

II. Price:

Reference Tables 1 & 2 in the attached SOW. Offerors shall fill-in the pricing information within the attached Pricing Spreadsheet titled “List of Samples - Nutrient Analysis” that contains the list of samples. There are two tabs on this sheet. The offeror shall complete both tabs. Tab one (1) is the unit price for one (1) sample. Tab two (2) is the estimated quantities at this time. The offeror shall include all costs to run samples on both spreadsheets, which shall include shipping. For calculation purposes, all samples will be shipped from 10 General Greene Ave. Natick, MA 01760. Offerors may include additional information to support their pricing.

III. Past Performance: 

The offeror is not required to provide any past performance information. The Government will evaluate the offeror based on their SAM.gov registration to determine both eligibility and responsibility. The Government may utilize other sources in determining if the offeror has received any negative past performance. Past performance will be evaluated as acceptable/unacceptable. To receive an acceptable rating, the offeror shall be eligible and responsible through SAM.gov with no negative performance information or active exclusions. An offeror with negative performance information may be given an opportunity to address that information.  

(b) Options (if applicable). The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TIMELY PROPOSAL EXACTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN THE OFFEROR’S PROPOSAL BEING REJECTED AS UNACCEPTABLE OR NONCOMPLIANT, AND THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR AWARD CONSIDERATION. 

Offers shall be emailed to the Contract Specialist Chris Welsh at richard.c.welsh2.civ@army.mil and to the Contracting Officer Alejandro (Alex) Ayala at alejandro.ayala.civ@army.mil. The anticipated period of performance (PoP) is 01 November 2026 to 31 October 2027. Offers must be received by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 29 OCTOBER 2026. Offers received after this date and time are late and will not be considered for award. For information on this acquisition, contact Chris Welsh at richard.c.welsh2.civ@army.mil and Alejandro (Alex) Ayala at alejandro.ayala.civ@army.mil via email only.