Final Supplement 603 Frozen Bison Items - April 2026

Supplement 603 to the AMS Master Solicitation, effective April 2026, governs the competitive procurement of frozen ground bison and bison stew meat for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. Managed by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, the contract requires that all products be produced in the United States and handled in facilities operating under the FSIS Voluntary Exotic Animal Inspection Program. Key technical specifications include a maximum average fat content of 10 percent, an internal freezing temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower within 72 hours of fabrication, and a shelf life of 365 calendar days from production. Contractors must adhere to strict food safety and quality standards, including compliance with HACCP systems and the FSIS Final Rule for Pathogen Reduction. Eligibility is determined through a series of pass/fail gates, including a technical proposal review, a pre-award onsite capability assessment audit by the Quality Assessment Division, and a food defense audit. Recent updates to the supplement emphasize enhanced traceability and documentation, requiring truck seal numbers on bills of lading, recording product temperatures during checkloading, and validating metal detection using all three metal types. Packaging must comply with FSIS and National Motor Freight Regulations, featuring specific USDA symbols, nutrition panels, and tamper-evident closures. All shipments must be accompanied by a Contractor's Certificate of Conformance and detailed shipping documentation to ensure product integrity and origin verification.