Sources Sought for Bulk Potatoes for use in Further Processing

U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Commodity Procurement Division Sources Sought for Bulk Potatoes for use in Further Processing This Sources Sought notice is issued for planning purpose only, and does not constitute a solicitation for proposals, offers, bids, and/or quotes. This is not an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation, or confirmation that the Government will contract for the items contained in the Sources Sought, nor is any commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract implied. Responses to this notice will assist the Government in identifying potential sources for a specific set-aside(s) for the solicitation, and in determining whether or not this approach to securing contracting support is practicable. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Sources Sought. Responses to this notice will not be returned. The United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Marketing Service- Commodity Procurement Program is conducting market research to determine the existence of interested small business sources for North American industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 311991- Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Sliced Apples, Baby Carrots, etc.). The small business size standard is 500 employees or less. The purpose of this Sources Sought notice is to obtain information on qualified and experienced contractors interested in providing capacity information for multiple award Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery procurement. Each contract awarded may contain a basic 12- month period during which the awardee will fulfill deliveries to a processor of potato products. During the solicitation process the offeror will be required to submit pricing (per cwt) or (lb) for the delivery of a forecasted quantity of potatoes which meet the commodity specification for bulk products for further processing. Found here, https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/product-specs#Vegetables. The awardee will be expected to deliver 100% of the quantity needed at each destination location for the life of the contract. Purchase orders will be created on a quarterly basis, awardees with have a 90 day delivery window in which to deliver product in coordination with the processing schedule at each facility. These purchase orders will be distributed to awardees at least 15 days prior to the first day of the delivery period. All interested parties are invited to respond, and prospective contractors must be registered in the system for Award Management (SAM) database at https://www.sam.gov/ before award of a government contract. All prospective bidders must also be an approved vendor for the Commodity Procurement Program, more information provided at https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved The following information is requested in this Sources Sought: 1. Company name, address, point of contact, phone number, and point of contact email address. 2. Duns Number and CAGE Code; 3. Company's Business size and interest in nature of participation. 4. Socioeconomic statuses (Small Business, Emerging Small Business, SBA Certified 8(a) Program Participant, SBA HUB Zone Firm, Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Woman Owned Business) as applicable. 5. The following information: a. Total max quantity (lb) or (cwt) over a 12-month contract (Sept-August 31) for deliveries to each of the following locations for each material code as provided. i. Potatoes for Further Processing 1. Blackfoot, ID 2. Easton, ME 3. Jamestown, ND 4. Connell, WA 5. Othello, WA 6. Pasco, WA 7. Wisconsin Rapids, WI ii. Potatoes for Further Processing into Dehydrated Products 1. Blackfoot, ID 2. Lewisville, ID 3. Moses Lake, WA 4. Idaho Falls, ID iii. Sweet Potatoes for Further Processing 1. Delhi, LA 2. Grand Forks, ND 3. Wisconsin rapids, WI Interested contractors may provide the above information via e-mail to the address listed below. Information submitted must be in sufficient detail as to allow for a through government review of firm's interest and capabilities. This information is due no later than December 11,2018. Primary Point of Contact: David J. Cottrell David C. Jackson David.cottrell@ams.usda.gov davidc.jackson@ams.usda.gov 202-260-9183