[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 81 (Monday, April 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23325-23326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08979]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 81 / Monday, April 27, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 23325]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-CP-20-0040]
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Purchase of Fruit,
Vegetable, Dairy, and Meat Products Due to COVID-19 National
Emergency--USDA Food Box Distribution Program
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the
availability of $3 billion in funds for the purchase and distribution
of fresh produce and dairy and meat products for Americans facing
challenges due to the COVID-19 national emergency. AMS is utilizing an
existing commodity procurement infrastructure to streamline and expand
delivery of fresh produce and dairy and meat products to non-profit and
governmental organizations that can distribute the commodities to
Americans in need. Interested entities may apply for program
participation through AMS's solicitation process.
DATES: Invitations to submit proposals are expected to be issued within
two weeks of the date of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Purdy, Associate Deputy
Administrator, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250,
telephone 202-720-3209 or email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1101(g) of the Families First
Coronavirus Response Act provides: ``During fiscal year 2020, the
Secretary of Agriculture may purchase commodities for emergency
distribution in any area of the United States during a public health
emergency designation.'' Under this authority, the Secretary has
determined to use AMS to procure commodities for such use until the
current health emergency is terminated. Part 18 of the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides latitude in the acquisition
process under a federally declared emergency. See 48 CFR part 18. The
Secretary is using this authority to purchase fresh produce and dairy
and meat products for delivery to non-profit and governmental
organizations that can assist with distributing that food to Americans
during the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency.
Among other responsibilities, AMS facilitates the marketing of
American agricultural products through the purchase and delivery of 100
percent American grown and processed foods to recipients participating
in Federal food and nutrition programs. By taking advantage of an
existing commodity procurement infrastructure, AMS can expand the
universe of program recipients. Regionally located vendors awarded AMS
contracts under this emergency effort will promptly purchase, assemble,
and deliver an estimated $3 billion in fresh fruits and vegetables and
a variety of dairy and meat products to food banks, food pantries,
churches, schools, community groups, and other non-profit and
governmental organizations for distribution to Americans who need food.
As well, this effort provides alternative outlets for American farmers
whose normal outlets, such as restaurants and schools, are currently
restricted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These purchases will
be in addition to normal AMS procurements for USDA domestic food and
nutrition programs, which will continue.
Program Participation
The program will involve two private sector entities, suppliers and
recipient 501(c)(3) entities, who will distribute food to individuals.
Governmental organizations may also receive and distribute food to
individuals. Prospective vendors will be invited to submit their
responses to an AMS Request for Proposals (RFP). Recipient entities
which may submit requests for food products to suppliers are any entity
that provides to the supplier proof of its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status
and who can, if requested by the Department of Agriculture, demonstrate
that they have the operational and financial capability to receive,
store, and distribute requested food items. Governmental organizations
that submit requests must have similar operational and financial
capability. Details about the RFP process will be communicated through
future notices to the industry and publicized at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. It is anticipated that invitations to submit proposals
will be issued within two weeks of the publication of this notice. AMS
will award contracts with regionally located distributors in seven U.S.
regions with the goal of targeted coverage within the United States.
Distributors will supply a pre-approved portfolio of fresh fruit and
vegetables and dairy and meat products in a box to non-profit and
governmental organizations with the capacity to distribute the boxes to
individuals in need. Additional details on the content of the food
boxes will be outlined in the RFP, but are expected generally to
include fruits, vegetables, and dairy and meat products. Guidelines for
each commodity category will be provided on AMS's website. Distributors
will provide a description of what they are able to provide and pricing
for their specific commodities.
RFP responses must include a pricing proposal, a vendor past
performance evaluation (see 48 CFR 15.305(a)(2)), and a technical
proposal addressing factors and relevant subfactors. The relative
importance of cost or price and all other evaluation factors will be
communicated in the RFP.
RFP responses will be evaluated on three equally important
technical factors:
1. How the prospective contractor's participation supports American
agriculture and AMS's mission of facilitating agricultural marketing;
2. How the prospective contractor's distribution plan effectively
maximizes the number of recipients served in a geographic location,
including existing non-profit relationships and distribution channels;
and
3. How the prospective contractor plans to ensure payments to
subcontractors, and how they will document and provide evidence of
deliveries.
Contract awardees will be issued a purchase order (PO) for each
region to be served. The PO will be for a set dollar amount. As product
is delivered to designated locations, awardees will
[[Page 23326]]
submit invoices (including bills of lading) to AMS for review and
approval. The vendor and contracting officer may negotiate potential
extension of the contract and issuance of additional POs after the
dollar amount of the original PO is reached.
Additional information about the COVID-19 national emergency food
purchase effort and the application process is at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food.
Authority: Section 1101(g) of The Families First Coronavirus
Response Act.
Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-08979 Filed 4-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P