Request for Information (RFI) for Fresh Fruits & Vegetables support for DLA's DOW Troops and Non-DOW USDA Customers located in the state of Virginia (Virginia Land)view on SAM.gov

This is a Request for Information (“RFI”). DLA Troop Support's (“Agency”) Subsistence Produce Program is interested in comments and feedback regarding the Agency's full line produce support to Department of War (“DoW;” Troop) and United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA;”) Schools customers throughout the State of Virginia (VA Land). There is no solicitation available at this time. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this RFI, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. This RFI does not constitute a commitment from the Government and any information provided in response to this market survey will be used for informational purposes only and will not be released. Any proprietary information submitted will be protected if appropriately marked. Please note that by responding to the instant Agency request, a potential offeror is not promised any future business with the Government. The sole purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research to assist the Agency in creating an appropriate solicitation in the future. Background: The Agency intends to issue a solicitation and ultimately enter into indefinite quantity contract(s) (“IQC”) with a commercial firm(s) to supply a full-line of United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Grade Number 1 or better quality fresh fruits and vegetables (“FF&V”) and Shell Eggs (if required by the customers) to Department of War (“DoW”, or “Troop”) and USDA (“Schools”) customers in the VA zone. Specific quality requirements per item are included in the Schedule of Items (Attachment 1 – Schedule of Items – VA Land – R0046). When proposing in response to a solicitation, failure to propose the specified quality requirement per item as identified in Attachment 1 may render an offeror's proposal technically unacceptable. If the item's description in Attachment 1 does not provide a specific quality grade, the minimum quality grade that is required to meet the terms of this Solicitation is USDA Grade Number 1. In the solicitation that is contemplated, the aforementioned zone will be comprised of two (2) Groups in the area described above, including Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 will consist of DoW Troops in Virginia and Group 2 will consist of USDA Schools in Virginia. After soliciting, the Agency intends to make one award per Group. The offeror must support all of the customers in the Group for which they make an offer. Offerors may submit a proposal for any single group or both groups. Offerors are required to propose on all items in the Schedule of Items for each Group on which it offers. Failure to do so may result in a proposal being deemed technically unacceptable and therefore excluded from further consideration for award. Because the Contracting Officer is not obligated to initiate negotiations, when proposing to the solicitation each offeror shall submit its most competiti…