Description
DATE: April 8, 2013 USDA ANNOUNCES PURCHASE PROGRAM FOR FRESH TOMATOES: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced plans to purchase fresh tomatoes for domestic food nutrition assistance programs. Offers will be invited pursuant to the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements dated April 2013. Refer to the Commodity Specification for Fresh Vegetables dated August 2012, for additional requirements. A Solicitation will be issued in the near future for deliveries beginning May 22, 2013. Offers to sell these products must be received not later than the date specified on the Solicitation. Subsequent solicitations will be issued if necessary. All offers must be submitted electronically through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) website at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=WBSCM. Offers submitted by any means other than WBSCM will be considered nonresponsive. Offerors are urged to carefully read all applicable terms and conditions of the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements dated April 2013; the Qualification Requirements for Prospective Contractors Selling Commodities to USDA dated September 2012; the Commodity Specification for Fresh Vegetables dated August 2012; and the Solicitation(s). Inquiries may be made by telephoning (202) 720-4517 or addressing the Contracting Officer; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Contracting Branch, 1400 Independence Ave SW, STOP 0239, Washington, DC 20250-0239. An electronic version of this Purchase Announcement can be obtained through the AMS Commodity Procurement website at: www.ams.usda.gov/commoditypurchasing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. - - - - -