Source Sought for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs

Title: Request for Information and Sources Sought Notice for Availability and Specifications of Instant Yellow Corn Masa Flour Solicitation Number: AG-DPRO-Notice-13-0013 Notice Type: Sources Sought Synopsis: SUBJECT: Availability and Specifications of Instant Yellow Corn Masa Flour The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is interested in purchasing instant yellow corn masa flour in 50-pound packages for USDA/Domestic Nutrition Assistance Programs. This Request for Information (RFI) and Sources Sought Notice (Notice) will serve as market research to obtain information on the availability and specifications of commercial instant yellow corn masa flour. All information gathered in response to this RFI/Notice will be used solely for planning purposes. This is not a formal solicitation, but a request for interested parties to provide information. Solicitations for instant yellow corn masa flour have been issued in the past. All information provided with regard to the commercial practices for instant yellow corn masa flour should take in to account USDA's 100 percent domestic origin requirement. USDA is seeking specific information from interested suppliers regarding this product. Please provide the following information: 1) product brand name; 2) your interest in supplying this product; 3) capacity capabilities; 4) pack size(s), and commercial prevalence of each pack size; USDA is particularly interested in obtaining details on 50-pounds packages; 5) shipment configuration (packages per case; cases per pallet; pallets per truckload; cases per truckload; net product weight per case (in pounds); gross case weight (in pounds); net product weight per truckload (in pounds); gross truckload weight (in pounds)); 6) ingredients composition; 7) nutritional information; 8) cost/price; 9) shelf life, including recommendations for optimal storage conditions; 10) Product bulletin/brochure, commercial label and commercial warranty; 11) organic or non-organic product, If both organic and non-organic instant yellow corn masa flour can be provided, please indicate pertinent variances; 12) grading methodology, please indicate what grading and size standards are utilized by your organization; 13) any other relevant information, recommendations, comments, issues and/or concerns that would be beneficial to the Government; and 14) Name, Title, contact information, and organization name, as applicable. All vendors that are considering offering instant yellow corn masa flour to USDA must comply with all applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution of the product within the commercial marketplace. The delivered product shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, and regulations promulgated there under. Responses and questions shall be emailed to the attention of Mr. Robin Casper, Contract Specialist at robin.casper@kcc.usda.gov. These responses are requested to be received no later than September 28, 2013. Contracting Office Address: PO Box 419205 Mail Stop 8718 Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6205 Primary Point of Contact. Robin Casper, Contract Specialist robin.casper@kcc.usda.gov Phone: 816-926-1868 Fax: (816) 823-4195 Secondary Point of Contact: Roy R. Boyd, Contracting Officer roy.boyd@kcc.usda.gov Phone: (816) 926-2612 Fax: (816) 823-4195