Fresh Produce

The contract is a Total Small Business Set-Aside solicitation under FAR 19.5 for the supply of fresh produce to the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont, Texas, with a period of performance from May 18, 2026, to June 30, 2026. Deliveries are to be made on a weekly basis to the designated location at 5980 Knauth Road, Beaumont, TX 77705, where inspection and acceptance are performed by the Government in accordance with USDA standards including U.S. No. 1, U.S. Fancy, and U.S. Commercial grades for all items such as carrots, celery, peppers, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, melons, and other produce. Packaging requirements are strictly defined by weight per unit—such as 50 lbs. per bag for carrots and 25 lbs. per case for peppers—with modified atmosphere packaging mandated for salad mixes to extend shelf life. Items must comply with Commercial Item Descriptions CID A-A-20191D for carrots and CID A-A-20193C for onions, though no barcoding, lot numbering, or country of origin labeling specifics are outlined. The solicitation uses a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method, prioritizing price over past performance, with technical acceptability determined by adherence to USDA specifications and packaging requirements. All vendors must submit pricing on the National Menu Specifications Quote Sheet using Standard Form 1449, with no unit or total pricing provided in the solicitation as it requires offeror input. The contract incorporates multiple Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses with deviations effective November and December 2025, including provisions related to whistleblower rights, prohibitions on confidential internal agreements, System for Award Management maintenance, subcontractor eligibility, and protections against contracting with inverted domestic corporations. Special requirements unique to the Department of Justice include DOJ-02 privacy obligations for handling personally identifiable information and mandatory certification of a trafficking in persons compliance plan under 52.222-56. The solicitation also mandates compliance with 52.222-50 on combating trafficking in persons and 52.223-22 regarding greenhouse gas emissions reporting, though affirmative responses to these certifications are not available as no offeror submissions were provided. Proposals must be submitted electronically via email to designated contract specialists or by physical delivery using approved carriers, with faxed or photocopy submissions prohibited