Name | Type | Posted | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
12-3J14-26-B-0230 | LINK | May 7, 2026 |
Bottled and Frozen Juice for use in Domestic Food Assistance Programs
Contact and place of performance
Nicholas Cavazos
Not specified
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 2000011284 is issued as an invitation for bid (IFB) for Bottled and Frozen Juice. This acquisition is set-aside for small business co...
View moreInformal Forum with the Ombudsman
1. Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer.
2. Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization of the informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest with the agency or other forums.
3. Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable).
Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman
1. Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions.
2. Independent Review: If the protester’s concerns remain unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government.
3. Resolution Timeline: The agency’s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing.
4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest.
5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104.
6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to [email protected] and the Contracting Officer.
Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.
The Agricultural Marketing Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, has issued this combined synopsis and solicitation under solicitation number 12-3J14-26-B-0320. This acquisition, further identified by solicitation number 2000011284, is an invitation for bid for the procurement of bottled and frozen juice for use in domestic food assistance programs. This requirement is classified under NAICS 311421 Fruit and Vegetable Canning and PSC 8915 Fruits and Vegetables.
This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. Bids are due by April 30, 2026, and Nicholas Cavazos serves as the primary point of contact for the agency. The solicitation incorporates regulatory provisions and clauses by reference and includes information regarding the United States Department of Agriculture Ombudsman Program for addressing agency protests. One attachment, 12-3J14-26-B-0230, was published on May 7, 2026, as part of this announcement.
The agency intends to award contracts for commercial products through a fair and prompt process, utilizing an internal alternative dispute resolution process to resolve concerns prior to external litigation. Protests filed through the agency’s formal program will generally result in the suspension of contract award or performance during the review period. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation for these requirements, and no separate written solicitation will be issued.
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