Refined Edible Oil Products for Use in International Food Aid Programs

USDA, Farm Service Agency, Commodity Operations, Kansas City Commodity Office, International Procurement Division intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the procurement of noncommercial refined edible oil products for use in various international food assistance programs. The products include vegetable oil, corn oil, and sunflower seed oil. The RFP will be issued approximately fifteen days from the date of this presolicitation notice. The RFP will be available online through the Governmentwide point of entry for Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), www.fbo.gov. The RFP will seek responsible offers to supply and deliver large quantities of refined edible oil products to various locations in the continental United States. As delivery schedules and exact quantities are not yet known, award will be made on and indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity basis. Pursuant to Agricultural Acquisition Regulation 470.103(a), commodities and the products of agricultural commodities acquired under this contract must be a product of the United States. A product shall not be considered to be a product of the United States if it contains any ingredient that is not produced in the United States if that ingredient is (1) Produced in the United States; and (2) Commercially available in the United States at fair and reasonable prices. Packaging and container components under this acquisition will be the only portion subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements, as addressed by FAR clause 52.225-5. Agricultural commodities and their products are exempt from 52.225-5. For informational purposes, during fiscal year (FY) 2009* approximately 147,140 metric tons of refined edible oil products were purchased. The metric tons procured for each type of oil product is included in the attached document package. The amount and frequency of commodity procured is dependent upon the needs of the program administering agencies, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The solicitation will comply with the policies and procedures governing competitive negotiated acquisitions prescribed in Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Responsible offerors are required to submit proposals that adequately address all technical and price evaluation factors contained in RFP. Award will be made to contractors demonstrating the best value to the Government based on the evaluation factors stated in the solicitation. The Government intends to award multiple indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts. The contract period will consist of a base period of twelve months, and the potential for four, one-year option periods, if exercised at the Government's discretion. Refined edible oil products fortified to meet statutory requirements for international food aid programs are classified as noncommercial items. Detailed commodity and packaging requirements for vegetable oil, corn oil, and sunflower seed oil will be published with the solicitation. Based on current market research, the use of set-asides is not anticipated. Note: Twenty percent of the Government's requirement for edible oil products is subject to procurement from AbilityOne participating nonprofit agencies pursuant to FAR Part 8. Offerors should not respond to this presolicitation notice. This is not a request for submission of proposals. *The corn oil and sunflower seed oil metric tonnage covers fiscal years 2005 and 2006 respectively. These products have not been purchased since. Note that the primary point of contact for the presolicitation notice was updated 3/2/2010.