Dear Valued Suppliers: This is a Request for Information (“RFI”). DLA Troop Support’s (“Agency”) Subsistence Produce Program is interested in comments and feedback regarding the Agency’s full line produce support to Department of Defense (“DoD” Troop and “Non DoD” Schools and Reservations) Customers throughout the Continental United States (“CONUS”). There is no solicitation available at this time. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this RFI, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. This RFI does not constitute a commitment from the Government and any information provided in response to this market survey will be used for informational purposes only and will not be released. Any proprietary information submitted will be protected if appropriately marked. Please note that by responding to the instant Agency request, a potential offeror is not promised any future business with the Government. The sole purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research to assist the Agency in creating an appropriate solicitation in the future. Background: The Agency intends to issue a solicitation and ultimately enter into indefinite quantity contract(s) (“IQC”) with a commercial firm(s) to supply a full-line of United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Grade Number 1 or better quality fresh fruits and vegetables (“FF&V”) and Shell Eggs (if required by the customers) and to Department of Defense (“DoD” Troop and “Non DoD” Schools and Reservations) customers in the States of North Dakota and South Dakota. Specific quality requirements per item are included in the Schedule of Items (Attachment 1). Vendor will also supply Fresh Milk, Dairy (Ice Cream if applicable) products to military customers in North and South Dakota. Freshness requirements: Fluid dairy products and other dairy products shall have sufficient remaining shelf life commensurate with good commercial practice. Each container, carton, etc. shall have visible, legible, and understandable “sell-by-date” or equivalent. 1. Milk, Whipping Cream (fresh), Cream (fresh) and Half-and-Half (fresh), Ice Milk Mix, Fresh (soft serve), Milk Shake Mix, Fresh (direct draw), Buttermilk and Eggnog must be delivered with a minimum 10 days shelf life remaining. 2. Whipping Cream (ultra-pasteurized), Half-and-Half (ultra-pasteurized), and Cream (ultra-pasteurized) must be delivered with a minimum 14 days shelf life remaining. 3. Cottage Cheese, cultured and acidified, normal and extended shelf life must be delivered with a minimum 14 days shelf life remaining. 4. Sour Cream must be delivered with a minimum 21 days shelf life remaining. 5. Yogurt must be delivered with a minimum of 18 days shelf life remaining. 6. Ice Cream must be delivered with a minimum 120 days shelf life remaining. Commercial standards should be used to maintain temperatures appropriate for the individual items. When proposing in response to a solicitation, failure to propose the specified quality requirement per item as identified in Attachment 1 may render an offeror’s proposal technically unacceptable. If the item’s description in Attachment 1 does not provide a specific quality grade, the minimum quality grade that is required to meet the terms of this Solicitation is USDA Grade Number 1. In the solicitation that is contemplated, the aforementioned zone will be comprised of Group 1 and Group 2 in the area described above. Group 1 will consist of DoD/Troop customers and Group 2 will consist of Non-DoD/School and Reservation customers. After soliciting, the Agency intends to make one award for each group. Offerors are required to propose on all items in the Schedule of Items for the Group on which it offers. Failure to do so may result in a proposal being deemed technically unacceptable and therefore excluded from further consideration for award. Because the Contracting Officer is not obligated to initiate negotiations, when proposing to the solicitation each offeror shall submit its most competitive proposal for the Group. Said proposal shall be responsive to all of the Solicitation’s requirements and free from any deficiencies. Please see the attachments: Schedule of Items, Delivery Schedule and Market Research questions. If interested, we strongly encourage you to respond. We appreciate, and thank you in advance for any feedback. Your responses regarding this solicitation are requested back by the close of business on Friday, December 04, 2020. Please respond via e-mail to the following addresses:
[email protected] and
[email protected].