The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Clay Center, NE intends to negotiate with IBP-Tyson, Lexington, NE on a sole-source basis for beef cuts as described below to be used in a research project. Those beef packing plants interested in being considered for this project shall send a qualifications statement by April 25, 2005 to one of the following: FAX 402/762-4148; E-mail
[email protected],gov or mail to USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center, Attention Carol Gill, Box 166, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166. The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) is seeking a federally-inspected beef processor to participate in a study of the effects of aging on the tenderness of beef top sirloin and clod. The company must regularly slaughter grain-fed beef and process carcasses into vacuum-packaged boxed beef. The company must regularly process enough U.S. Choice and U.S. Select carcasses to facilitate the completion of cut selection and fabrication in one day. The experimental protocol requires obtaining the gluteus medius and triceps brachii from the right side of 300 U.S. Choice and 300 U.S. Select carcasses at 24 to 48 postmortem. Therefore, the packing company must regularly produce cap-off center-cut, boneless top sirloins (NAMP 184B) and trimmed beef shoulder clods with the infraspinatus removed (modified NAMP 114C). The packing company must allow MARC personnel access to their facility and provide sufficient space for product tagging between fabrication and vacuum-packaging. The packing company must have facilities for segregation of the vacuum-packaged cuts into combo bins for immediate transport to the Meat Animal Research Center. To facilitate completion of the experiment, the plant must be located with 120 miles of Clay Center, Nebraska. Cut selection and procurement will be conducted on June 22nd, 2005.