[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
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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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