Supplement 304 Frozen Pork Loin Roast & Chops - May 2026

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is soliciting competitive bids for the purchase of frozen, boneless pork loin roasts and center-cut pork loin chops for distribution to Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. Effective May 2026, this procurement requires that all meat products be produced within the United States and adhere to strict food safety and animal welfare standards. Key technical specifications include freezing products to an internal temperature no higher than 0 degrees Fahrenheit within 72 hours of fabrication, vacuum packing individual roasts between 3.5 and 6.5 pounds, and shipping them in cases of six with a net weight of 30 plus or minus 4 pounds. Delivery units are standardized at 1,280 cases with a maximum net weight of 40,000 pounds. To be eligible for award, contractors must pass a responsiveness gate by receiving approval for their product samples and technical proposals from the Standards and Specifications Division. Technical proposals must be submitted in a non-PDF format, such as Microsoft Word, and follow a specific format including a table of contents and list of attachments. The contract emphasizes rigorous quality assurance, requiring direct continuous supervision by USDA graders, mandatory food defense audits, and the use of tamper-proof, serially numbered seals for all shipments. Packaging must include a traceability code, nutrition facts, and a best-if-used-by date set to 365 calendar days from production. Compliance is monitored through onsite audits and the submission of a Contractor's Certificate of Conformance with all payment documentation.