Solicitation for Fresh Fruit & Vegetable support for DLA Troop Support's DoD Troop and Non-DoD School customers located in the State of Arkansas

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for an indefinite quantity contract (IQC) for a full-line of USDA Grade Number 1 or better quality fresh fruits and vegetables (FF&V) and shell eggs. The contract will support Department of Defense (DoD) and USDA (School) customers within the Arkansas Zone. The government is procuring these items to supply various customers on an ongoing basis.

• Sourcing, purchasing, storing, and delivering FF&V and shell eggs.

• Maintaining acceptable fill rates, customer service levels, and product quality.

• Offerors must possess physical, logistical, and financial resources to act as a commercial distributor (not a 3PL).

• Must maintain electronic catalogs (STORES for Troop, FFAVORS for School).

• Must comply with specific packaging, labeling, and marking requirements.

• Must provide a Food Defense Plan prior to performance.

• Must maintain a 98.0% fill rate for each customer group.

• Must comply with specific quality standards, including shelf-life requirements and temperature controls.

• Contract Type: Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) with Economic Price Adjustment (EPA).

• Period of Performance: 5 years, divided into three tiers (one 24-month tier and two 18-month tiers).

• Estimated Dollar Value: $16,600,000.00 for the first tier (24 months), and $41,500,000.00 for the total 5-year contract.

• Guaranteed Minimum: $830,000.00

• Contract Maximum: $124,500,000.00

• Source Selection Process: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Submission Method: DIBBS electronic upload or email to specified addresses.

• Offer Due Date: April 27, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

• Proposal Submission Requirements: Include pricing for all items in the Schedule of Items (Attachment 1), substantiated Delivered Prices with invoices/quotes, PACA license, USDA Harmonized GAP Plus + Standard Audit, financial arrangements, and other required representations and certifications.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Acceptability (PACA License, USDA GAP Plus + Standard Audit) and Pricing (Evaluated Aggregate Price).

• This solicitation is a 100% Small Business set-aside acquisition.

• NAICS Code: 311991, Size Standard: 700.

• Offerors must possess a valid PACA license at the time of proposal submission.

• The solicitation document is new and requires careful review.

• Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database.

• Specific requirements for electronic ordering systems (STORES, FFAVORS), delivery, inspection, acceptance, invoicing, and price adjustments are detailed.

• Offerors must comply with Buy American Act and other relevant FAR/DFARS clauses.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 2 - Delivery Schedule.xlsx", provides detailed delivery schedules. It is intended for bidders to understand the required delivery timelines and locations for the opportunity.

The spreadsheet contains information organized by sheets, including 'AR Troops' and 'AR Schools'. For 'AR Troops', columns include ORDERING_POINT, SHIPTO, CUSTOMER_NAME, CUSTOMER_FACILITY, ADDRESS1, ADDRESS2, CUSTOMER_CITY, CUSTOMER_STATE, CUSTOMER_ZIP, COUNTRY, SERVICE, and DELIVERY_INSTRUCTIONS. For 'AR Schools', columns include DIST/SCHOOL, DISTRICT NAME, CUSTOMER NAME, ADDRESS1, ADDRESS2, CITY, STATE, and ZIP CODE.

Bidders should review this document to understand the specific delivery points, customer facilities, and associated addresses within Arkansas (AR) that are relevant to the contract. This information is crucial for planning logistics and ensuring compliance with delivery requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document provides the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Implementation Guidelines for the Subsistence Total Ordering and Receipt Electronic System (STORES). It details the transaction sets, testing processes, and production procedures required for vendors to interface with DLA Troop Support via EDI.

• EDI Transaction Sets: Outlines the use of 832 (Catalog), 850 (Purchase Order), and 810 (Invoice) transaction sets.
• Testing Process: Describes the steps for testing EDI transactions, including catalog submission (832), purchase order creation (850), and invoice generation (810).
• Production Procedures: Details transmission schedules and problem recovery procedures during live operations.
• Contact Information: Provides points of contact for EDI testing and support.
• Guidelines for Specific Transactions: Includes detailed segment and element definitions for the 832 Catalog transaction set, specifying mandatory, conditional, and optional fields.

Vendors who intend to conduct business through the STORES system will need to adhere to these EDI guidelines. This document is crucial for understanding the technical requirements for data exchange, including catalog maintenance, order processing, and invoicing. Familiarity with these guidelines is essential for successful integration and transaction processing with DLA Troop Support.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 1 - Schedule of Items," provides detailed lists of food items required for two separate groups (Group 1a and Group 1b) under Solicitation SPE300-25-R-0052, "Arkansas Troops" and "Arkansas Schools," respectively. It outlines estimated quantities for a 24-month period and includes fields for vendors to input pricing information.

• Itemized Lists: Contains specific food items with descriptions, government item numbers, unit of issue, and estimated quantities for each group.
• Pricing Fields: Includes columns for "Delivered Pricing Including Freight," "(DIP) Price," "Total Delivered Price (DEP)," and various tier distribution prices. Vendors are instructed to fill in the white fields, specifically cells (H8, M8 & N8), and bid on all items.
• Instructions: Vendors are cautioned not to alter shaded fields and to label invoices with the Government Item #. It also specifies that "Tier 2 Distribution" and "Tier 3 Distribution" columns should be left blank.
• Quantity Totals: Provides a "24 Month Estimated Quantity" and a "Total (5yr) Estimated Quantity" for each group.

This attachment is crucial for bidders as it details the specific products and estimated quantities the government intends to procure. Bidders must use this document to prepare their pricing proposals, ensuring they accurately fill out the required fields for each item and group to be considered for this opportunity.