Cooked Meats: Pulled Chicken, Pulled Pork & Beef Crumbles for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs

The contract solicits bids for cooked meat products, specifically pulled chicken, pulled pork, and beef crumbles, intended for use in domestic food assistance programs. It is issued by the USDA under solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0232 and is designated as a total small business set-aside, aimed exclusively at small business concerns in accordance with FAR 19.5. The acquisition follows a combined synopsis/solicitation format where this announcement serves as the sole solicitation, eliminating the issuance of a separate written solicitation. Provisions and clauses applicable to this procurement can be accessed electronically via the acquisition.gov website, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations and transparency. The USDA emphasizes fairness and promptness in awarding contracts, providing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism through its Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP). Interested parties with concerns about the procurement process are encouraged to first seek resolution with the Contracting Officer and, if unresolved, escalate informally to the Ombudsman. Should disputes persist, a formal protest process is available, with the goal of resolving issues within 35 calendar days. Formal protests must comply with FAR requirements and are to be submitted electronically, and filing such a protest with USDA precludes simultaneous external protests to the Government Accountability Office or other forums. The contract's primary contacts are Kennetta Boone and Carrie Meyers at the USDA office in Washington, DC, with responses due by May 7, 2026.