Supplement 303 Ham Products - September 2026

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Livestock and Poultry Program, is soliciting the competitive purchase of boneless, fully cooked, water-added ham products for distribution to Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. This special notice, identified by solicitation number 12-3J14-Notice-26-020, updates Supplement 303 with revised verbiage regarding the domestic origin of meat components, spinal cord removal requirements, and the allowance of two 2.5 lb saddle packs to satisfy the 5 lb pack requirement for sliced ham. The procurement covers various product types, including smoked pit ham, which must be derived from fresh chilled pork leg insides, knuckles, or outsides and processed no more than 60 days prior to shipment. Contractors must adhere to strict packaging and labeling standards, utilizing poly cook-n-ship casings for bulk hams and vacuum-sealed bags or thermoformed packaging for sliced and diced varieties. All products must comply with FSIS regulations, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, and the FASTER Act. Compliance is verified through either QAD Grading-Based Monitoring or QAD Audit-Based Verification. Those opting for audit-based verification must submit a technical proposal in a non-PDF format and provide product samples for evaluation. Award responsiveness is determined by technical eligibility, food defense requirements, and the ability to provide domestic origin certifications. The response deadline for this notice is January 1, 2027.