Two Step Sealed Bid Solicitation: Turkey Taco Filling Step One: Request for Technical Proposals

Added: Aug 31, 2017 2:15 pm Modified: Aug 31, 2017 2:52 pm Track Changes U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Commodity Procurement Staff Two-Step Sealed Bid Solicitation: Turkey Taco Filling Step One: Request for Technical Proposals (RFTP) August 31, 2017 Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 14.5, this document is a Request for Technical Proposals (RFTP), step one of a two-step sealed bid solicitation for the acquisition of turkey taco filling. Required components of technical proposals are outlined in part 3 of this document. Offerors should submit proposals that are acceptable without additional explanation or information. The Government may make a final determination regarding a proposal's acceptability solely on the basis of the proposal as submitted. Note: The Government may proceed with the second step without requesting further information from any offeror; however, the Government may request additional information from offerors of

proposals that it considers reasonably susceptible of being made acceptable, and may discuss proposals with their offerors. Each offeror may submit multiple technical proposals though a maximum of 1 proposal per offeror may be chosen by the Government for step two of the two-step sealed bid process. Offerors are cautioned about submitting multiple technical proposals that have large differences in prices between them, since step two will be awarded on a low bid basis. The Government will forward a notice of unacceptability to an offeror when, upon completion of the proposal evaluation, there is a final determination of unacceptability. This will be done in accordance with the dates outlined in Part I below. Vendors with approved samples previously submitted under solicitation 2000004847, 12-3J14-17-S-0532 do not resubmit. Any new suppliers please update your technical proposals to Food Safety and Commodity Specification (FSCS) Division if necessary. In the second step of this two-step sealed bid solicitation process, only bids based upon technical proposals determined to be acceptable, either initially or as a result of discussions, will be considered for awards. Bids in the second step will only be accepted electronically through WBSCM. Awards in the second step will be based on low bid considering only price. Each bid in the second step must be based on the bidder's own technical proposals. This document is organized into the following parts: • Part I. General Information • Part II. Contract terms and conditions • Part III. Solicitation Provisions 1. Requirements of the technical proposal 2. Evaluation criteria for technical proposal 3. Additional FAR and AGAR provisions Part I. General Information 1.Invitation number and date Acquisition Method: Two-Step Sealed Bid Description: Turkey Taco, 12-3J14-17-S-0436 Number: 2000004963 Issue date: August 31, 2017 Proposals due: September 18, 2017, 13:00 Central time Notification of Acceptability: September 25, 2017, Midnight, Central time 2.Name, address, and telephone number of the Specialist / Contracting Officer Per the Inquiries provision included in this solicitation, all inquiries and correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Contracting Specialist. Glenn Reid, Contract Specialist Telephone: 202.260.8937 Email: Glenn.Reid@ams.usda.gov Greta Samuel, Contracting Officer Telephone: 202.720.6592 Email: Greta.Samuel@ams.usda.gov USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Commodity Procurement Staff 1400 Independence Ave SW, Stop 0224 South Building - 3546 S Washington, DC 20250 Hours of business are Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 3. Commodity Specifications / Requirements The requirements for the turkey taco filling being procured can be accessed in the FEDERAL PURCHASE PROGRAM SPECIFICATION (FPPS) FOR TURKEY TACO FILLING (Full link: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/DraftFederalPurchaseProgramSpeci ficationforTurkeyTacoFillingJune2017.pdf) Part II. Contract terms and conditions Contact terms contained in the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP) dated April 12, 2017, are incorporated by reference. The MSCP is available online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MSCP.pdf. Part III. Solicitation Provisions Solicitation provisions contained in the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements (MSCP) dated April 12, 2017, are incorporated by reference. (Note: Solicitation provisions take precedence over MSCP provisions) 1. Requirements of the technical proposal. IMPORTANT: Technical proposals shall not include prices or pricing information. Contents of technical proposals: A. A statement about the offeror's and its product's conformance with the FPPS requirements. B. A narrative (not to exceed 2 pages) on the offeror's experience with producing a turkey taco filling commercial product, and that product's past performance (acceptability in the marketplace). C. A sample prototype for the turkey taco filling that offeror will deliver under the USDA contract, if awarded. The sample shall be delivered/mailed directly to AMS at no expense to the Government. The sample shall contain two bags consistent with the packaging for each product proposed (i.e., two 3-pound bags or two 5-pound bags). All Turkey Taco Filling shall be produced in accordance with the FPPS for Turkey Taco Filling. A USDA Grader must be present when the sample prototype is produced. Sample prototype shall include: a PY-210P Grading Certificate, a nutrient analysis, a copy of the nutrition facts panel, ingredients statement, allergen declaration (if applicable), a copy of the CN label statement or manufacturers product formulation statement, and instructions for preparation of the sample for testing. Samples, certificate, and analyses must be marked in such a way as to clearly link the specific sample product to its supporting documentation (e.g., lot number/code). Child Nutrition serving information must be included with sample, in accordance with http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnlabeling/childnutrition-cn-labeling-program Sample prototype will be used for taste and packaging evaluation purposes. The samples must be labeled with the following statement: "SAMPLES SUBMITTED UNDER SOLICITATION 2000004847 FOR EVALUATION BY THE AMS, CP STAFF." Technical proposals and product samples must be delivered by express service to: Attn: Rick Peterson/Laura Walter USDA AMS SCID/CP 1400 INDEPENDENCE AVE SW ROOM 0720 SOUTH BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC. 20250 Note: No deviations from approved formulations will be permitted after award. 2. Evaluation criteria, to include all factors and any significant subfactors. Factor 1 Conformance with the FPPS requirements Evaluation of offeror's statement about its firm's and product's conformance with the FPPS requirements. Factor 2 Past performance and experience Evaluation of offeror's narrative on its firm's experience with producing a turkey taco filling commercial product, and that product's past performance (acceptability in the marketplace). Factor 3 Sample prototype Evaluation of the sample prototype in accordance with the subfactors below: Subfactor 1 Product Characteristics: Examined after packaging Must have the: texture, appearance, color, and flavor of properly prepared cooked turkey taco filling (i.e., similar to cooked ground beef in taco seasoned sauce). Subfactor 2 Texture Must have: moist, crumbled appearance and mouth feel, and be slightly firm, yet easy to chew. Subfactor 3 Appearance Must have: distinct crumbled particles that do not stick/clump together, remain in large masses (retain package shape), or require that the commodity be physically separated with a fork or other utensil. Subfactor 4 Color Must have: the color typical of similarly formulated and cooked meat products, not burnt, scorched, or under cooked. Subfactor 5 Flavor Must have: a mild turkey taco-seasoned flavor that is not hot or spicy, not salty, not greasy, and mild tomato flavor. 3. Additional FAR and AGAR provisions 452.204-70 Inquiries (Feb 1988) Inquiries and all correspondence concerning this solicitation should be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer. Offerors should contact only the Contracting Officer issuing this solicitation about any aspect of this requirement prior to contract award. 52.211-11 Liquidated Damages- Supplies, Services, or Research and Development (Sep 2000) NOTE: Liquidated damages are based upon delivery periods for f.o.b. destination. (a) If the contractor fails to deliver the supplies or perform the services within the time specified in this contract, the contractor shall, in place of actual damages, pay to the Government liquidated damages in accordance with the table below, not to exceed 45 days of delay. Commodity Rate Per Net Weight Turkey taco filling $.0025 Lb/day (b) If the Government terminates this contract in whole or in part under the "Termination for cause" paragraph of clause 52.212-4, the Contractor is liable for liquidated damages accruing until the Government reasonably obtains shipment/delivery or performance of similar supplies or services. These liquidated damages are in addition to excess costs of repurchase under the termination clause. (c) The Contractor will not be charged with liquidated damages when the delay in delivery or performance is beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the Contractor as defined in the "Termination for cause" paragraph of clause 52.212-4. 52.214-23 Late Submissions, Modifications, Revisions, and Withdrawals of Technical Proposals under Two-Step Sealed Bidding (Nov 1999) (a) Bidders are responsible for submitting technical proposals, and any modifications or revisions, so as to reach the Government office designated in the request for technical proposals by the time specified in the invitation for bids (IFB). If no time is specified in the IFB, the time for receipt is 4:30 p.m., local time, for the designated Government office on the date that bids or revisions are due. (b)(1) Any technical proposal under step one of two-step sealed bidding, modification, revision, or withdrawal of such proposal received at the Government office designated in the request for technical proposals after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered unless the Contracting Officer determines that accepting the late technical proposal would not unduly delay the acquisition; and- (i) If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the request for technical proposals, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of proposals; or (ii) There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at the Government installation designated for receipt of offers and was under the Government's control prior to the time set for receipt; or (iii) It is the only proposal received and it is negotiated under Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (2) However, a late modification of an otherwise successful proposal that makes its terms more favorable to the Government will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted. (c) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Government installation includes the time/date stamp of that installation on the technical proposal wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the installation, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel. (d) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that technical proposals cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of technical proposals by the exact time specified in the request for technical proposals, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the request for technical proposals, the time specified for receipt of technical proposals will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the request for technical proposals on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume. (e) Technical proposals may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of technical proposals. If the request for technical proposals authorizes facsimile technical proposals, they may be withdrawn via facsimile received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of proposals, subject to the conditions specified in the provision at 52.214-31, Facsimile Bids. A technical proposal may be withdrawn in person by a bidder or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of technical proposals, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the technical proposal. 452.219-70 Size Standard and NAICS Code Information (Jan 2005) The North American Industrial Classification System Code(s) and business size standard(s) describing the products and/or services to be acquired under this solicitation are listed below: Commodity NAICS Code Small Business Size Standard Turkey taco filling 311615 1,250 The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, but which proposes to furnish an item which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees. Agricultural Marketing Service, Commodity Procurement Staff 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 3522-S, STOP 0239 Washington, DC 20250-0239 Voice 202.720.4517 Fax 202.720.5871 An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer