Frozen Beef Coarse Ground Products for Domestic Food Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting bids for Frozen Beef Coarse Ground Products to support Domestic Food Assistance Programs under solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0376, issued as an Invitation for Bid with a response deadline of August 14, 2026. This acquisition is structured as a partial set-aside for small business concerns and is conducted as a combined synopsis and solicitation under FAR Part 5.101(d), meaning no separate written solicitation will be issued. The NAICS code for the procurement is 311612, and the contract will be administered by the USDA AMS 3J14 office located in Washington, D.C. All provisions and clauses are incorporated by reference and are accessible electronically through www.acquisition.gov. The USDA has established a two-tier protest resolution process to ensure fair and transparent procurement. Concerns must first be raised with the Contracting Officer through Tier 1, which aims for resolution within 10 business days but does not pause solicitation timelines or delay performance. If unresolved, a formal written agency protest may be filed under Tier 2 with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority, with the protester required to specify their chosen review forum. Protests must include all information required by FAR 33.104-4(a)(3) and be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Agency protests will suspend award or contract performance unless the government justifies continued activity, and resolution is targeted within 35 business days. Filing an agency protest precludes simultaneous protest to the Government Accountability Office or other external forums. Primary points of contact for inquiries are Kevin Day and Carrie Meyers, both from the USDA.