Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Purchase of Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy, and Meat Products Due to COVID-19 National Emergency-USDA Food Box Distribution Program, 23325-23326 [2020-08979]

Download as PDF 23325 Notices Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 81 Monday, April 27, 2020 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. No. AMS–CP–20–0040] Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Purchase of Fruit, Vegetable, Dairy, and Meat Products Due to COVID–19 National Emergency—USDA Food Box Distribution Program Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of $3 billion in funds for the purchase and distribution of fresh produce and dairy and meat products for Americans facing challenges due to the COVID–19 national emergency. AMS is utilizing an existing commodity procurement infrastructure to streamline and expand delivery of fresh produce and dairy and meat products to non-profit and governmental organizations that can distribute the commodities to Americans in need. Interested entities may apply for program participation through AMS’s solicitation process. DATES: Invitations to submit proposals are expected to be issued within two weeks of the date of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Purdy, Associate Deputy Administrator, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, telephone 202–720–3209 or email: USDAFoodBoxDistributionProgram@ usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1101(g) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides: ‘‘During fiscal year 2020, the Secretary of Agriculture may purchase commodities for emergency distribution in any area of the United States during a public health emergency designation.’’ Under this authority, the Secretary has lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Apr 24, 2020 Jkt 250001 determined to use AMS to procure commodities for such use until the current health emergency is terminated. Part 18 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides latitude in the acquisition process under a federally declared emergency. See 48 CFR part 18. The Secretary is using this authority to purchase fresh produce and dairy and meat products for delivery to non-profit and governmental organizations that can assist with distributing that food to Americans during the COVID–19 pandemic national emergency. Among other responsibilities, AMS facilitates the marketing of American agricultural products through the purchase and delivery of 100 percent American grown and processed foods to recipients participating in Federal food and nutrition programs. By taking advantage of an existing commodity procurement infrastructure, AMS can expand the universe of program recipients. Regionally located vendors awarded AMS contracts under this emergency effort will promptly purchase, assemble, and deliver an estimated $3 billion in fresh fruits and vegetables and a variety of dairy and meat products to food banks, food pantries, churches, schools, community groups, and other non-profit and governmental organizations for distribution to Americans who need food. As well, this effort provides alternative outlets for American farmers whose normal outlets, such as restaurants and schools, are currently restricted as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic. These purchases will be in addition to normal AMS procurements for USDA domestic food and nutrition programs, which will continue. Program Participation The program will involve two private sector entities, suppliers and recipient 501(c)(3) entities, who will distribute food to individuals. Governmental organizations may also receive and distribute food to individuals. Prospective vendors will be invited to submit their responses to an AMS Request for Proposals (RFP). Recipient entities which may submit requests for food products to suppliers are any entity that provides to the supplier proof of its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and who can, if requested by the Department of Agriculture, demonstrate that they have the operational and financial capability PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 to receive, store, and distribute requested food items. Governmental organizations that submit requests must have similar operational and financial capability. Details about the RFP process will be communicated through future notices to the industry and publicized at www.ams.usda.gov/ selling-food. It is anticipated that invitations to submit proposals will be issued within two weeks of the publication of this notice. AMS will award contracts with regionally located distributors in seven U.S. regions with the goal of targeted coverage within the United States. Distributors will supply a pre-approved portfolio of fresh fruit and vegetables and dairy and meat products in a box to non-profit and governmental organizations with the capacity to distribute the boxes to individuals in need. Additional details on the content of the food boxes will be outlined in the RFP, but are expected generally to include fruits, vegetables, and dairy and meat products. Guidelines for each commodity category will be provided on AMS’s website. Distributors will provide a description of what they are able to provide and pricing for their specific commodities. RFP responses must include a pricing proposal, a vendor past performance evaluation (see 48 CFR 15.305(a)(2)), and a technical proposal addressing factors and relevant subfactors. The relative importance of cost or price and all other evaluation factors will be communicated in the RFP. RFP responses will be evaluated on three equally important technical factors: 1. How the prospective contractor’s participation supports American agriculture and AMS’s mission of facilitating agricultural marketing; 2. How the prospective contractor’s distribution plan effectively maximizes the number of recipients served in a geographic location, including existing non-profit relationships and distribution channels; and 3. How the prospective contractor plans to ensure payments to subcontractors, and how they will document and provide evidence of deliveries. Contract awardees will be issued a purchase order (PO) for each region to be served. The PO will be for a set dollar amount. As product is delivered to designated locations, awardees will E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1 23326 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 81 / Monday, April 27, 2020 / Notices submit invoices (including bills of lading) to AMS for review and approval. The vendor and contracting officer may negotiate potential extension of the contract and issuance of additional POs after the dollar amount of the original PO is reached. Additional information about the COVID–19 national emergency food purchase effort and the application process is at: https:// www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. Authority: Section 1101(g) of The Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Bruce Summers, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2020–08979 Filed 4–24–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2019–0085] General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan and 45th Biennial Conference Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of meeting. Topics for discussion at the upcoming meeting include: 1. NPIP diagnostic tests seeking NPIP approval. 2. Salmonella update. 3. National Veterinary Services Laboratories avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus update. 4. Mycoplasma update. The meeting will be open to the public; however, public participation in discussions during the sessions will only be allowed if time permits. Written statements may be filed at the meeting or filed with the Committee before or after the meeting by sending them to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to Docket No. APHIS–2019–0085 when submitting your statements. This notice of meeting is given pursuant to section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of April 2020. Mark Davidson, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2020–08881 Filed 4–24–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P AGENCY: We are giving notice of a meeting of the General Conference Committee (GCC or the Committee) of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and the NPIP’s 45th Biennial Conference. DATES: The General Conference Committee meeting will be held on August 25, 2020, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The General Session of the Biennial Conference will be held on August 26, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and August 27, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting and conference will be held at the Omni Providence Hotel, One West Exchange Street, Providence, RI. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Elena Behnke, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094; (770) 922–3496. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Conference Committee (the Committee) of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), representing cooperating State agencies and poultry industry members, serves an essential function by acting as liaison between the poultry industry and the Department in matters pertaining to poultry health. SUMMARY: lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Apr 24, 2020 Jkt 250001 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2019–0086] General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan; Solicitation for Membership Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of solicitation for membership. AGENCY: We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for the election of a member at-large and regional members and their alternates for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. DATES: Consideration will be given to nominations received on or before June 1, 2020. ADDRESSES: Completed nomination forms should be sent to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Elena Behnke, Senior Coordinator, National Poultry Improvement Plan, VS, APHIS, USDA, 1506 Klondike Road, Suite 101, Conyers, GA 30094; phone (770) 922–3496; email: elena.behnke@ usda.gov. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Conference Committee (the Committee) of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on poultry health. The Committee serves as a forum for the study of problems relating to poultry health and, as necessary, makes specific recommendations to the Secretary concerning ways the U.S. Department of Agriculture may assist the industry in addressing these problems. The Committee assists the Department in planning, organizing, and conducting the Biennial Conference of the NPIP. The Committee recommends whether new proposals should be considered by the delegates to the Biennial Conference and serves as a direct liaison between the NPIP and the United States Animal Health Association. The Committee consists of an elected member-at-large who is an NPIP participant and an elected member (and alternate) from each of the six U.S. regions represented on the Committee. Terms will expire for three current regional members of the Committee in August 2020. We are soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals to replace the members and alternates from the South Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia), West North Central (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota), and South Central (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas). Member selection is determined by a majority vote of the NPIP delegates from the respective regions. There must be at least two nominees for each position. Persons interested in serving on the Committee or nominating another individual to serve must complete Form AD–755, which is available on the internet at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/ document/ad-755 or may be obtained by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. To ensure the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership should include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent underrepresented groups (minorities, women, and persons with disabilities). At least one nominee from each of the three regions must have demonstrated the ability to represent an underrepresented group. The voting will be by secret ballot of official delegates E:\FR\FM\27APN1.SGM 27APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 81 (Monday, April 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23325-23326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08979]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 81 / Monday, April 27, 2020 / 
Notices

[[Page 23325]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-CP-20-0040]


Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Purchase of Fruit, 
Vegetable, Dairy, and Meat Products Due to COVID-19 National 
Emergency--USDA Food Box Distribution Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the 
availability of $3 billion in funds for the purchase and distribution 
of fresh produce and dairy and meat products for Americans facing 
challenges due to the COVID-19 national emergency. AMS is utilizing an 
existing commodity procurement infrastructure to streamline and expand 
delivery of fresh produce and dairy and meat products to non-profit and 
governmental organizations that can distribute the commodities to 
Americans in need. Interested entities may apply for program 
participation through AMS's solicitation process.

DATES: Invitations to submit proposals are expected to be issued within 
two weeks of the date of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Purdy, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, 
telephone 202-720-3209 or email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1101(g) of the Families First 
Coronavirus Response Act provides: ``During fiscal year 2020, the 
Secretary of Agriculture may purchase commodities for emergency 
distribution in any area of the United States during a public health 
emergency designation.'' Under this authority, the Secretary has 
determined to use AMS to procure commodities for such use until the 
current health emergency is terminated. Part 18 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides latitude in the acquisition 
process under a federally declared emergency. See 48 CFR part 18. The 
Secretary is using this authority to purchase fresh produce and dairy 
and meat products for delivery to non-profit and governmental 
organizations that can assist with distributing that food to Americans 
during the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency.
    Among other responsibilities, AMS facilitates the marketing of 
American agricultural products through the purchase and delivery of 100 
percent American grown and processed foods to recipients participating 
in Federal food and nutrition programs. By taking advantage of an 
existing commodity procurement infrastructure, AMS can expand the 
universe of program recipients. Regionally located vendors awarded AMS 
contracts under this emergency effort will promptly purchase, assemble, 
and deliver an estimated $3 billion in fresh fruits and vegetables and 
a variety of dairy and meat products to food banks, food pantries, 
churches, schools, community groups, and other non-profit and 
governmental organizations for distribution to Americans who need food. 
As well, this effort provides alternative outlets for American farmers 
whose normal outlets, such as restaurants and schools, are currently 
restricted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These purchases will 
be in addition to normal AMS procurements for USDA domestic food and 
nutrition programs, which will continue.

Program Participation

    The program will involve two private sector entities, suppliers and 
recipient 501(c)(3) entities, who will distribute food to individuals. 
Governmental organizations may also receive and distribute food to 
individuals. Prospective vendors will be invited to submit their 
responses to an AMS Request for Proposals (RFP). Recipient entities 
which may submit requests for food products to suppliers are any entity 
that provides to the supplier proof of its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status 
and who can, if requested by the Department of Agriculture, demonstrate 
that they have the operational and financial capability to receive, 
store, and distribute requested food items. Governmental organizations 
that submit requests must have similar operational and financial 
capability. Details about the RFP process will be communicated through 
future notices to the industry and publicized at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food. It is anticipated that invitations to submit proposals 
will be issued within two weeks of the publication of this notice. AMS 
will award contracts with regionally located distributors in seven U.S. 
regions with the goal of targeted coverage within the United States. 
Distributors will supply a pre-approved portfolio of fresh fruit and 
vegetables and dairy and meat products in a box to non-profit and 
governmental organizations with the capacity to distribute the boxes to 
individuals in need. Additional details on the content of the food 
boxes will be outlined in the RFP, but are expected generally to 
include fruits, vegetables, and dairy and meat products. Guidelines for 
each commodity category will be provided on AMS's website. Distributors 
will provide a description of what they are able to provide and pricing 
for their specific commodities.
    RFP responses must include a pricing proposal, a vendor past 
performance evaluation (see 48 CFR 15.305(a)(2)), and a technical 
proposal addressing factors and relevant subfactors. The relative 
importance of cost or price and all other evaluation factors will be 
communicated in the RFP.
    RFP responses will be evaluated on three equally important 
technical factors:
    1. How the prospective contractor's participation supports American 
agriculture and AMS's mission of facilitating agricultural marketing;
    2. How the prospective contractor's distribution plan effectively 
maximizes the number of recipients served in a geographic location, 
including existing non-profit relationships and distribution channels; 
and
    3. How the prospective contractor plans to ensure payments to 
subcontractors, and how they will document and provide evidence of 
deliveries.
    Contract awardees will be issued a purchase order (PO) for each 
region to be served. The PO will be for a set dollar amount. As product 
is delivered to designated locations, awardees will

[[Page 23326]]

submit invoices (including bills of lading) to AMS for review and 
approval. The vendor and contracting officer may negotiate potential 
extension of the contract and issuance of additional POs after the 
dollar amount of the original PO is reached.
    Additional information about the COVID-19 national emergency food 
purchase effort and the application process is at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food.

    Authority: Section 1101(g) of The Families First Coronavirus 
Response Act.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-08979 Filed 4-24-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

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