[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 58005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28996]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 209 / Thursday, October 29, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 58005]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Change in Procurement Process for Peanut Butter

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) intends to purchase 
commercial quality peanut butter for use in its domestic feeding 
programs. Beginning November 16, 1998, CCC will no longer purchase 
peanut butter using USDA specifications. CCC will develop a qualified 
products list using samples received from contractors. Bids will only 
be accepted from contractors listed on the qualified products list.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Reaman, Chief, Miscellaneous 
Product Branch, Kansas City Commodity Office, 9200 Ward Parkway, Kansas 
City, Missouri, 64114, telephone (816) 823-2832, fax (816) 823-4195; or 
Dean Jensen, Chief, Contract Management Branch, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW, STOP 0551, Washington, DC 20250, telephone (202) 720-2115, 
fax (202) 690-1809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 16, 1998, CCC will begin 
purchasing standard retail commercial quality peanut butter with a 
history of consumer acceptance. Labels may be commercial brand name or 
generic labels; however, labels must comply with the Nutrition Labeling 
and Education Act requirements. Under this process, contractors will 
submit a representative sample of their product, in original packaging, 
to an independent third party laboratory for sensory and quality 
analysis. Peanut butter which is determined to be equivalent to or 
exceeds the quality which would be acceptable in the trade for a 
generic retail store brand, will be placed on an qualified products 
list. Bids will only be accepted from this list. Any style of container 
may be used provided the seller complies with best commercial practices 
for handling, shipping, and storage of the containers. Contractors must 
submit a Certificate of Compliance (COC) as described in the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 48 CFR part 46.315, and FAR clause 52.246-
15, for each lot of product produced under contract. Commercial 
laboratories may be used for all analysis provided they are capable of 
performing all required tests, and use methods approved by the 
Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC), and the American Oil Chemist 
Society (AOCS).
    Suppliers will be audited under the guidelines of the Total Quality 
Systems Audit Program (TQSA). TQSA will serve as a method of 
verification that a supplier has met and continues to meet contract 
requirements and to verify accuracy of the contractor's COC. TQSA will 
include a review of documentation and records, onsite quality system 
audits, and product reviews both at the point of production and at 
destination.
    Failure of suppliers to deliver a product of an equivalent quality 
from that which was evaluated by the sensory panel may constitute a 
cause for termination for default or provide cause for suspension or 
debarment from participation in Government procurement and other 
programs.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 20, 1998.
Keith Kelly,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 98-28996 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P