89 -- Notice to Produce Industry

NOTICE TO INDUSTRY SUBJECT: Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Produce/Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Support Status with Defense Supply Center Philadelphia The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) has been advised by a member of the Commissary Operating Board (COB) that the COB has recommended to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) that the Defense Commissary Agency be permitted to contract directly for produce support under their own cognizance. The final decision has been made by OSD. As a result, the DSCP is now operating under the guidance that the DSCP Subsistence Produce Division will no longer be supporting the commissary system with produce. The targeted effective date for fully transferring the produce support mission from DSCP to DeCA is October 1, 2006 or starting with Fiscal Year 2007. The specific milestones of the produce mission transfer have yet to be determined and are pending the results of planned inter-agency meetings between DeCA and DSCP personnel. Nonetheless, DSCP is forecasting future acquisition strategies with the expectation that DeCA will no longer be supported through the DSCP organization. This transfer of mission will not directly affect DSCP’s previous intentions to contract for produce prime vendors on a regional basis. The initiative to contract for produce prime vendors will continue with troop support, USDA school lunch program, Indian Reservation and other non-DeCA customers supported through the program. Please continue to refer to the DSCP Subsistence Produce Division web site at http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/produce/index.htm for current information regarding the produce prime vendor program.