Section 32 Fresh Peaches

This solicitation, issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0277, is an invitation for bid (IFB) focused on the procurement of fresh peaches under Section 32. The announcement serves as the only solicitation for this acquisition, which is specifically set aside for small business concerns. The solicitation includes provisions and clauses incorporated by reference, accessible electronically through acquisition.gov. Responses to the solicitation must be submitted by May 29, 2026. The procurement is managed by the USDA AMS office located in Washington, DC, with primary points of contact listed for vendor communication. The USDA emphasizes a commitment to fairness and timely contract awards through its Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP). This program provides an internal mechanism for resolving procurement-related disputes before escalating to outside forums like the Government Accountability Office. Interested parties are encouraged to first raise concerns informally with the Contracting Officer, and if unresolved, they may escalate to the USDA Ombudsman for further review, either informally or through a formal protest process. Formal protests must comply with regulatory requirements, including timely submission and inclusion of specified information, with the goal of resolution within 35 days. Protesters choosing the USDA’s internal protest forum agree not to simultaneously pursue the same matter with external bodies.