Final Commodity Specification for Tree Nuts January 2026

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is soliciting tree nuts under a firm-fixed-price contract with a deadline of January 1, 2027, for delivery beginning in early 2026 and concluding by the same date. The specification, effective January 2026, covers shelled walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pecans, and cashews, each requiring strict adherence to U.S. grade standards, including kernel size, color, moisture content, and flavor profiles. All products must be of 100% U.S. origin, with traceability verified through the Domestic Origin Verification or Domestic Origin Trace-Back program; self-certification of origin is prohibited and violations may lead to criminal penalties under federal law. Packaging must consist of new, commercially acceptable containers with heat-sealed primary bags and corrugated fiberboard cases that comply with precise sealing, labeling, and recycling requirements, including mandatory use of specified symbols and statements from Exhibits 5 and 6. Each shipment must be marked with product name, pack size, packer information, purchase order number, and storage instructions, with non-commercial labels adhering strictly to Exhibits 1, 2, or 3. Barcoding follows USDA specifications, with Universal Product Codes required only on non-commercially labeled containers, as detailed in Exhibit 4. Strict analytical limits apply: aflatoxins must remain below 15 ppb, moisture levels vary by product type, free fatty acids and peroxide values must fall within defined ranges, and microbiological standards mandate absence of Salmonella and Listeria. Sodium content testing is mandatory for new vendors or those without prior contracts, with qualified suppliers required to conduct and submit results for every lot. Inspections occur at the final packaging site by USDA’s Specialty Crops Inspection Division, with 72-hour advance notice required for lot inspections and 7-day written notice for in-line or out-of-state inspections. Certified test results from approved laboratories, including USDA NSL or Safe Food Alliance, must accompany each lot, and products are subject to rejection if storage or shipping temperatures exceed 90°F. All deliveries are FOB destination across the United States, with payment and invoicing managed through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management system. The contract will be awarded using the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable methodology, where failure to meet any technical requirement renders a bid non-responsive regardless of price.