89 -- Request for Information from Suppliers of Kosher Pasteurized Process American Cheese

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. Any formal solicitations will be announced separately. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information provided in response to this RFI. The Kansas City Commodity Office (KCCO), Domestic Procurement Division (DPD), Stop 8718, P.O. Box 419205, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205, is seeking information from sources that are capable of providing various Kosher certification levels (e.g. Circle-K, Kosher-for-Passover, etc.) of pasteurized process American cheese in various pack sizes, such as 6/5-lb loaves, 6/5-lb slices, and 40-lb blocks. This notice will serve as the market research to obtain information for future procurements. All business sizes, to include small business and the sub-categories of small businesses, are being looked at during our market research phase. All information gathered in response to this Request for Information will be used solely for planning purposes. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. This is not a formal solicitation but a request for interested parties to provide information. No current solicitation exists and requests for a solicitation will be ignored. Specifications for process American cheese can be obtained by accessing the Master Solicitation For Commodity Procurements and PCD7 Commodity Requirements Document at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=coop&topic=pas. The applicable NAICS code for this commodity is 311513 with a small business standard of 500 employees. The Government anticipates issuing a yearly solicitation for multiple awards. When issued, future solicitations will specify the various commodity(s) to be procured, the specifications, the office to which offers are to be submitted, the closing time for receipt of offers, and all other applicable provisions. Please provide the following information: 1) Your interest in providing Kosher process cheese; 2) pack sizes and various levels of Kosher certification; 3) capacity capabilities; 4) standard truck load, number of cases, and net/gross weight per case; 5) overage price compared to non-Kosher process cheese; 6) transportation issues; 7) any other issues, concerns or information that would be of benefit to the Government. Written responses shall be mailed to the attention of Patty Wagner at USDA/FSA/KCCO/DPD, Stop 8718, P.O. Box 419205, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205. Patty Wagner may also be contacted via email at [email protected] or telephone 816-823-3200. These responses must be received no later than 30 days after publication of this notice.