Crackers for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting bids for Crackers to be used in Domestic Food Assistance Programs under solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0323, issued as an invitation for bid with no set-aside for small businesses. The solicitation is a combined synopsis and request for offers, with no separate written solicitation to follow, and incorporates applicable provisions and clauses accessible via acquisition.gov. The NAICS code is 311821, and responses are due by July 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. EDT, with the contract to be performed under the USDA AMS 3J14 office in Washington, DC. Point of contact for inquiries includes Ashley Leviege and Philip Helmer, with direct email and phone lines provided for technical and procurement questions. The USDA has established an alternative dispute resolution process through its Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests to address concerns prior to external legal action. Interested parties are encouraged to first raise issues informally with the Contracting Officer, and if unresolved, may escalate to the Ombudsman for an informal review or file a formal protest. Formal protests require prior good-faith efforts to resolve the issue, must include all required information per FAR 33.104(a)(3), and will be resolved within 35 calendar days. Contract awards or performance may be suspended during a formal protest unless the government justifies continued performance for urgent or compelling reasons. Filing a protest with USDA precludes simultaneous pursuit of the same issue with the Government Accountability Office or any other external forum, and protests must be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
DCSet-Aside
Documents
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Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0323 is issued as an invitation for bid (IFB)] for Crackers. This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov.
NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program
The USDA is committed to issuing solicitations and awarding contracts in a fair and prompt manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to address protest issues within the agency, providing an alternative to costly and time-consuming litigation. Operating independently, OPAP offers relief comparable to that granted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to resolve concerns through USDA’s internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process before pursuing external forums such as the GAO. Concerns may be addressed informally or through a formal agency protest filed with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman.
Informal Forum with the Ombudsman
1.Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement isunfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable ContractingOfficer.
2.Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested partiesare encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informalprocess, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization ofthe informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest withthe agency or other forums.
3.Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide thefollowing information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office,Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable).
Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman
1.Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first usetheir best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open andfrank discussions.
2.Independent Review: If the protester’s concerns remain unresolved, an IndependentReview is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest witheither the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAPprogram. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest periodunless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be inthe best interest of the Government.
3.Resolution Timeline: The agency’s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days fromthe date of filing.
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4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest.
5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104.
6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer.
Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.