USDA CHICKEN AND CHICKEN PRODUCTS PURCHASE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
(PY-361):

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced plans to purchase ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chicken products for school lunch and other domestic food nutrition assistance programs. Offers will be invited from the trade for broiler/fryer chicken in one or more of the following forms:

Cut-up (221240) - Frozen cut-up chickens, 8 pieces, without necks and giblets. Cut-up chickens must be produced from ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chickens which weigh 2.50 to 3.75 pounds (1.13 to 1.70 kg) without necks and giblets. The commodity must be packed in a minimum of four plastic-film bags and packed 40 pounds (18.14 kg) net weight in each fiberboard shipping container, with 1,000 containers per purchase unit totaling 40,000 pounds (18,144 kg).

Bulk Pack, Small (221690) - Bulk packed for further processing, chilled ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chickens without necks and giblets. Frozen may be specified in the Invitation. The weight range for an individual chicken is 2.50 to 3.75 pounds (1.13 to 1.70 kg), without neck and giblets. The commodity must be packed in commercial containers as required within the May 2008 Commodity Specification for Bulk Pack Chicken and Chicken Parts. A purchase unit will total 36,000 pounds (16,329 kg).

Bulk Pack, Large (222590) - Bulk packed for further processing, chilled ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chickens without necks and giblets. Frozen may be specified in the Invitation. The individual chicken weight range must be over 3.75 pounds (over 1.70 kg) per carcass weighed without neck and giblets. The commodity must be packed in commercial containers as required within the Commodity Specification for Bulk Pack Chicken and Chicken Parts dated May 2008. A purchase unit will total 36,000 pounds (16,329 kg).

Chicken Legs, Bulk Parts (224190) - Chilled chicken legs, bulk packed for further processing. Legs must weigh between 5 and 17.50 ounces (141.75 and 496.11 g) each, or be produced from ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chickens that weigh 2.50 to 7 pounds (1.13 to 3.18 kg) per whole carcass, without neck and giblets. Frozen may be specified in the Invitation. The commodity must be packed in commercial containers as required within this Specification. A purchase unit will total 36,000 pounds (16,329 kg).

Thighs, Bulk Parts (224290) - Chilled chicken thighs (without back portion), bulk packed for further processing. Thighs must weigh between 2.50 and 10.50 ounces (70.87 and 297.66 g) each, or be produced from ready-to-cook broiler/fryer chickens which weigh 2.50 to 7 pounds (1.13 to 3.18 kg) per whole carcass, without neck and giblets. Frozen may be specified in the Invitation. The commodity must be packed in commercial containers as required within the Commodity Specification for Bulk Pack Chicken and Chicken Parts dated May 2008. A purchase unit will total 36,000 pounds (16,329 kg).

USDA is searching for small businesses, manufacturers, and non-manufacturers that regularly deal in chicken products to provide chicken in the forms indicated above.

Invitations will be issued inviting offers due the second and fourth Monday of each month, with Invitation No. 001 having offers due Tuesday, June 1, 2010.
All offers must be submitted electronically through the Domestic Electronic Bid Entry System (DEBES) website at https://pcsd.usda.gov:3077/mdbc1000.exe?. Offers submitted by any means other than DEBES will be considered nonresponsive.

There are some important changes to this year's program. Under the food defense requirements, all non-conformances listed in the audit report must be addressed in writing to the Contracting Officer and Auditor within 14 calendar days of the audit. If the auditor receives an unacceptable corrective action response, the company will have an additional 7 days to respond to the non-conformance. Plans must have been audited on or after March 1, 2010.

Although most other provisions of the program are similar to the program operated last year, offerors are urged to carefully read all applicable terms and conditions of the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement dated April 2009; Qualification Requirements for Prospective Contractors dated April 2009; Commodity Specification for Chicken Parts dated May 2010; Commodity Specification for Bulk Pack Chicken and Chicken Parts dated May 2008 and Amendment No. 1; and each Invitation.

The frozen cut-up chicken is for preparation and consumption in its present form by recipients. Bulk pack chicken and bulk pack chicken parts will be purchased for delivery to a processor and are for conversion to further-processed products in accordance with contracts with recipients.

Inquiries may be made by telephoning (202) 720-7693 or addressing the Contracting Officer; USDA/AMS/Poultry Programs, Commodity Procurement Branch STOP 0260; 1400 Independence Ave., SW; Washington, D.C. 20250. An electronic version of this Food Purchase Report can be obtained through the world-wide-web via the Commodity Procurement Home Page at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/PYProcurement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bid Protests Not Available