USDA New World Screwworm Diet Components - Request for Information (RFI)

The United States Department of Agriculture is conducting a Request for Information to gather market research for the potential establishment of multiple award, nationwide, Firm-Fixed-Price Blanket Purchase Agreements to procure essential diet ingredients for the New World Screwworm sterile insect production facility in Edinburg, Texas. The RFI, identified as NWS01, seeks input from industry on the availability and capability of suppliers to provide ten specific components including carrageenan, cellulosic fiber, cornhusk flour, dried egg, formaldehyde, hardwood sawdust, bovine hemoglobin, bovine plasma, powdered milk substitute, and white granulated sugar, all of which are critical for larval diet production. Responses must be submitted electronically by June 12, 2026, and while no formal proposals are being solicited at this time, the information gathered will inform the development of a future solicitation. The USDA emphasizes that all costs associated with responding to this RFI are the sole responsibility of the respondent, and submission does not guarantee inclusion in any subsequent procurement. Delivery of these materials will be required to Edinburg, Texas, with exact delivery dates to be determined via written request from the government during calendar year 2026. Each item has specific packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements: bovine hemoglobin and plasma must be packaged in 25 kg polybags on 40” x 48” pallets with no more than 50 bags per pallet and wrapped in plastic; powdered milk substitute must be in 24 kg Kraft paper bags with high-density liners; dried egg requires 50-pound polybags; formaldehyde must be in 28 kg tanks with pictogram labeling and spillage prevention; and sugar must be shrink wrapped. Every lot must be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis prior to shipment, and all technical documentation, including Safety Data Sheets and inspection reports, must be provided to the government with unlimited rights. Contractors must designate a primary point of contact for performance coordination and ensure compliance with facility safety protocols during handling, though no travel or security requirements are anticipated. The NAICS code associated with this requirement is 311514, and no set-aside is currently planned.