Category Bids

Amendment 2 - 11/6/2026 - This amendment is to: 1) Extend the opening date from November 13, 2027 at 15:00 pm to November 19, 2027 at 13:00 pm Central Time. 2) Add 17 trucks (27,540 cases) to Material Code -100308, Material Description - CARROTS CAN-24/300 - 100308. 3) Add 29 trucks (46,980 cases) to Material Code - 100314, Material Description - PEAS CAN-24/300. Use the link provided in this contract opportunity to view the latest version. Amendment 1 - 11/3/2026 - This amendment is to: The acceptable vegetable proportions for VEG MIX CAN-24/300 are: I. Maximum of 80% combined total � 40% (+/-) 10% for Carrots (Diced) and Potatoes (Diced). II. Minimum of 20% combined total for all five vegetable sub-types (Lima beans, thin seeded; Peas, sweet; Beans, green � Short, cut, or mixed; Corn, yellow -Whole kernel; Celery � Cut, � inch maximum in length). Minimum 2% for each individual vegetable sub-type. No maximum % for combined vegetable sub-type. III. Total percentages of potatoes, carrots, and the five other vegetable sub-types must equal 100%. Use the link provided in this contract opportunity to view the latest version. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 2000011637 is issued as a invitation for bid (IFB) for the purchase of canned seasonal vegetable products for domestic food assistance.. This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to fair, transparent, and efficient acquisitions. Interested parties with concerns about this solicitation are encouraged to seek resolution through the following USDA procedures. Tier 1: Contracting Officer Concern Resolution Submission: Interested parties with concerns about either the solicitation or subsequent award should first submit their concern directly to the Contracting Officer, providing sufficient detail to allow the Contracting Officer to understand and assess the issue. Process: The Contracting Officer will review the concern, seek clarification as needed, and engage with the interested party to attempt prompt resolution. Review Timeline: The Contracting Officer will make every effort to provide a response or resolution within 10 business days of receiving the concern. Effect on Award or Performance: Tier 1 engagement is not considered an official notification of filing an agency protest and does not pause solicitation deadlines, delay award decisions, or suspend contract performance. Next Steps: If the matter cannot be resolved at Tier 1, the interested party may file a written agency protest under Tier 2. USDA encourages all parties to seek resolution with the Contracting Officer before filing an agency protest. Tier 2: Agency Protest If concerns cannot be resolved at Tier 1, an interested party may file a written agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority. The decision by the USDA Independent Review Authority is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The USDA Independent Review Authority will not consider an appeal of the Contracting Officer�s decision on an agency protest. The protest must state whether the protester elects review by the Contracting Officer, by the USDA Independent Review Authority. If no election is stated, the Contracting Officer will decide the protest. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104-4 (a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. Submission: Agency protests should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. Effect on Award or Performance: Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Review Timeline: USDA strives to resolve agency-level protests within 35 business days of receipt. Election of Forum: By filing a protest with USDA, the protesters agree not to file a protest on the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If such a protest is filed externally, the USDA agency protest will be dismissed. Questions: Questions regarding this notice or protest procedures should be directed to the Contracting Officer identified in this solicitation.

The South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG) has a meal requirement 30 November through 4 December 2026, to support scheduled training meals with an estimation of 785 Breakfast Meals, 785 Lunch Meals, and 1013 Dinner Meals. The Dinner meals on 4 December (ONLY), are required to be a sack lunch*** Time Requirements: Normal mealtime hours each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Specific mealtimes will be discussed upon award. ***The numbers in the table on the PWS attachment are estimates only. One week prior to the period of performance start date, the contractor will coordinate with the government POC to determine the actual number of meals to be ordered. The government will be liable for the number of meals ordered. ** EVENT REQUIREMENTS: The South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG) has a requirement to support scheduled training with meals. The specifications are as follows: Delivery and Service Boundaries. The Contractor shall prepare, transport, and deliver meals to the designated South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG) facility in contractor-provided thermal transport containers, coordinating delivery access directly with the SDARNG Point of Contact (POC). The Contractor shall provide a sample menu with its quote in accordance with meal requirements detailed herein. The Government will furnish the dining facility and is solely responsible for meal service labor, disposable service ware (plates, napkins, cups, and utensils), dining room cleaning, and trash disposal. The Contractor is not responsible for facility cleanup or dining area restoration but shall retrieve and clean all Contractor-owned transport/service containers following the conclusion of each meal service. Approximately a week in advance the SDARNG Point of Contact (POC) will coordinate delivery times and provide the vendor with the number of troops expected for the meals and delivery POC. SDARNG will be responsible for the number of meals ordered. Vendor will submit an electronic invoice via Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) for the services provided. Instructions will be included in the award for invoicing. The meals will be delivered to the Dining Facility located Bldg. 801 Rapid City SD (Camp Rapid) 2823 West Main Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57702. **** PLEASE SUBMIT ALL OFFERS TO REGGAN.B.GREENE.CIV@ARMY.MIL **** ***See Attachments for SF1449, SF30, and additional attachments.

Kosher item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

Halal item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

Subsistence item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, PA intends to issue solicitation 15B20827Q00000005 for the requirements of: QUARTERLY SUBSISTENCE � Meat. Terms are FOB Destination with delivery dates will begin January 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2027. Deliveries will be made to Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940. The contract type is a firm-fixed price. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The Government will award to responsible vendor(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Quotations will be evaluated on price and past performance. Past Performance (poor past performance, failure to deliver awarded items in the past, not meeting required specifications, etc.), may result in the vendors quotes being considered as a non-responsible vendor. Please include shipping in all pricing. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small business concerns. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. Per FAR 52.212-3, please ensure your Representations and Certifications are current in SAM.gov; if not, a completed copy of your representation must be included with your quote. Offerors must provide a firm-fixed price inclusive of all shipping and processing costs. ANY CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT, REJECTING PART OR ALL OF THE QUOTES SUBMITTED. The solicitation will be made available on or about; November 6, 2026 and will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.sam.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this solicitation. Please sign Request for Quotation lines 13,14, 15 and 16. EMAIL QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED and must be sent to: ebritton1@bop.gov and r3woods@bop.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST, November 17, 2026. Also, can be mailed to the attention of E. Britton, PPS, FCI Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630. Payment will be made using the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or the Government Purchase Card for awards of less than $15,000.00. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is E. Britton, Property and Procurement Specialist, located at FCI Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940, and phone number (814) 471-1414 and R. Woods, Contract Specialist.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, PA intends to issue solicitation 15B20827Q00000004 for the requirements of: QUARTERLY SUBSISTENCE � Halal-Kosher. Terms are FOB Destination with delivery dates will begin January 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2027. Deliveries will be made to Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940. The contract type is a firm-fixed price. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The Government will award to responsible vendor(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Quotations will be evaluated on price and past performance. Past Performance (poor past performance, failure to deliver awarded items in the past, not meeting required specifications, etc.), may result in the vendors quotes being considered as a non-responsible vendor. Please include shipping in all pricing. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small business concerns. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. Per FAR 52.212-3, please ensure your Representations and Certifications are current in SAM.gov; if not, a completed copy of your representation must be included with your quote. Offerors must provide a firm-fixed price inclusive of all shipping and processing costs. ANY CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT, REJECTING PART OR ALL OF THE QUOTES SUBMITTED. The solicitation will be made available on or about; November 6, 2026 and will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.sam.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this solicitation. Please sign Request for Quotation lines 13,14, 15 and 16. EMAIL QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED and must be sent to: ebritton1@bop.gov and r3woods@bop.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST, November 17, 2026. Also, can be mailed to the attention of E. Britton, PPS, FCI Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630. Payment will be made using the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or the Government Purchase Card for awards of less than $15,000.00. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is E. Britton, Property and Procurement Specialist, located at FCI Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940, and phone number (814) 471-1414 and R. Woods, Contract Specialist.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, PA intends to issue solicitation 15B20827Q00000003 for the requirements of: QUARTERLY SUBSISTENCE ? Dairy. Terms are FOB Destination with delivery dates will begin January 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2027. Deliveries will be made to Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940. Milk is expected to be delivered weekly. The contract type is a firm-fixed price. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The Government will award to responsible vendor(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Quotations will be evaluated on price and past performance. Past Performance (poor past performance, failure to deliver awarded items in the past, not meeting required specifications, etc.), may result in the vendors quotes being considered as a non-responsible vendor. Please include shipping in all pricing. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small business concerns. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. Per FAR 52.212-3, please ensure your Representations and Certifications are current in SAM.gov; if not, a completed copy of your representation must be included with your quote. Offerors must provide a firm-fixed price inclusive of all shipping and processing costs. ANY CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT, REJECTING PART OR ALL OF THE QUOTES SUBMITTED. The solicitation will be made available on or about; November 6, 2026 and will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.sam.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this solicitation. Please sign Request for Quotation lines 13,14, 15 and 16. EMAIL QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED and must be sent to: ebritton1@bop.gov and r3woods@bop.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST, November 17, 2026. Also, can be mailed to the attention of E. Britton, PPS, FCI Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630. Payment will be made using the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or the Government Purchase Card for awards of less than $15,000.00. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is E. Britton, Property and Procurement Specialist, located at FCI Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940, and phone number (814) 471-1414 and R. Woods, Contract Specialist.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, PA intends to issue solicitation 15B20827Q000000002 for the requirements of: QUARTERLY SUBSISTENCE ? Bread. Terms are FOB Destination with delivery dates will begin January 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2027. Deliveries will be made to Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940. Bread is expected to be delivered weekly. The contract type is a firm-fixed price. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The Government will award to responsible vendor(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Quotations will be evaluated on price and past performance. Past Performance (poor past performance, failure to deliver awarded items in the past, not meeting required specifications, etc.), may result in the vendors quotes being considered as a non-responsible vendor. Please include shipping in all pricing. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small business concerns. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. Per FAR 52.212-3, please ensure your Representations and Certifications are current in SAM.gov; if not, a completed copy of your representation must be included with your quote. Offerors must provide a firm-fixed price inclusive of all shipping and processing costs. ANY CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT, REJECTING PART OR ALL OF THE QUOTES SUBMITTED. The solicitation will be made available on or about; November 6, 2026 and will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.sam.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this solicitation. Please sign Request for Quotation lines 13,14, 15 and 16. EMAIL QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED and must be sent to: ebritton1@bop.gov and r3woods@bop.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST, November 17, 2026. Also, can be mailed to the attention of E. Britton, PPS, FCI Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630. Payment will be made using the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or the Government Purchase Card for awards of less than $15,000.00. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is E. Britton, Property and Procurement Specialist, located at FCI Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940, and phone number (814) 471-1414 and R. Woods, Contract Specialist.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, PA intends to issue solicitation 15B20827Q00000001 for the requirements of: QUARTERLY SUBSISTENCE � Dry Goods. Terms are FOB Destination with delivery dates will begin January 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2027. Deliveries will be made to Federal Correctional Institution, Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940. The contract type is a firm-fixed price. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The Government will award to responsible vendor(s) whose offer conforms to the solicitation, and is considered to be most advantageous to the Government. Quotations will be evaluated on price and past performance. Past Performance (poor past performance, failure to deliver awarded items in the past, not meeting required specifications, etc.), may result in the vendors quotes being considered as a non-responsible vendor. Please include shipping in all pricing. This acquisition is 100% set aside for small business concerns. Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov. Per FAR 52.212-3, please ensure your Representations and Certifications are current in SAM.gov; if not, a completed copy of your representation must be included with your quote. Offerors must provide a firm-fixed price inclusive of all shipping and processing costs. ANY CHANGES TO THE SOLICITATION CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNMENT, REJECTING PART OR ALL OF THE QUOTES SUBMITTED. The solicitation will be made available on or about; November 6, 2026 and will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.sam.gov. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to-date information about this solicitation. EMAIL QUOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED and must be sent to: ebritton1@bop.gov and r3woods@bop.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST, November 17, 2026. Also, can be mailed to the attention of E. Britton, PPS, FCI Loretto, P.O. Box 1000, Cresson, Pennsylvania 16630. Payment will be made using the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or the Government Purchase Card for awards of less than $15,000.00. Please sign Request for Quotation lines 13,14, 15 and 16. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is E. Britton, Property and Procurement Specialist, located at FCI Loretto, 772 Saint Joseph Street, Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940, and phone number (814) 471-1414 and R. Woods, Contract Specialist.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0090 is issued as an invitation for bid (IFB) for CANNED SALMON products. This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to fair, transparent, and efficient acquisitions. Interested parties with concerns about this solicitation are encouraged to seek resolution through the following USDA procedures. Tier 1: Contracting Officer Concern Resolution Submission: Interested parties with concerns about either the solicitation or subsequent award should first submit their concern directly to the Contracting Officer, providing sufficient detail to allow the Contracting Officer to understand and assess the issue. Process: The Contracting Officer will review the concern, seek clarification as needed, and engage with the interested party to attempt prompt resolution. Review Timeline: The Contracting Officer will make every effort to provide a response or resolution within 10 business days of receiving the concern. Effect on Award or Performance: Tier 1 engagement is not considered an official notification of filing an agency protest and does not pause solicitation deadlines, delay award decisions, or suspend contract performance. Next Steps: If the matter cannot be resolved at Tier 1, the interested party may file a written agency protest under Tier 2. USDA encourages all parties to seek resolution with the Contracting Officer before filing an agency protest. Tier 2: Agency Protest If concerns cannot be resolved at Tier 1, an interested party may file a written agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority. The decision by the USDA Independent Review Authority is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The USDA Independent Review Authority will not consider an appeal of the Contracting Officer�s decision on an agency protest. The protest must state whether the protester elects review by the Contracting Officer, by the UDSA Independent Review Authority. If no election is stated, the Contracting Officer will decide the protest. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104-4 (a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. Submission: Agency protests should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. Effect on Award or Performance: Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Review Timeline: USDA strives to resolve agency-level protests within 35 business days of receipt. Election of Forum: By filing a protest with USDA, the protesters agree not to file a protest on the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If such a protest is filed externally, the USDA agency protest will be dismissed. Questions: Questions regarding this notice or protest procedures should be directed to the Contracting Officer identified in this solicitation.

Amendment 1 - 11/6/2026 - This amendment adds a 10% SDVOSB set-aside to the following materials: 100333 (Tomato Sauce Can - 24/300) 100334 (Tomato Sauce Can - 6/10) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 200011629 is issued as an Invitation for bid (IFB) for Canned Tomato Products. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to fair, transparent, and efficient acquisitions. Interested parties with concerns about this solicitation are encouraged to seek resolution through the following USDA procedures. Tier 1: Contracting Officer Concern Resolution Submission: Interested parties with concerns about either the solicitation or subsequent award should first submit their concern directly to the Contracting Officer, providing sufficient detail to allow the Contracting Officer to understand and assess the issue. Process: The Contracting Officer will review the concern, seek clarification as needed, and engage with the interested party to attempt prompt resolution. Review Timeline: The Contracting Officer will make every effort to provide a response or resolution within 10 business days of receiving the concern. Effect on Award or Performance: Tier 1 engagement is not considered an official notification of filing an agency protest and does not pause solicitation deadlines, delay award decisions, or suspend contract performance. Next Steps: If the matter cannot be resolved at Tier 1, the interested party may file a written agency protest under Tier 2. USDA encourages all parties to seek resolution with the Contracting Officer before filing an agency protest. Tier 2: Agency Protest If concerns cannot be resolved at Tier 1, an interested party may file a written agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority. The decision by the USDA Independent Review Authority is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The USDA Independent Review Authority will not consider an appeal of the Contracting Officer�s decision on an agency protest. The protest must state whether the protester elects review by the Contracting Officer, by the USDA Independent Review Authority. If no election is stated, the Contracting Officer will decide the protest. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104-4 (a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. Submission: Agency protests should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. Effect on Award or Performance: Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Review Timeline: USDA strives to resolve agency-level protests within 35 business days of receipt. Election of Forum: By filing a protest with USDA, the protesters agree not to file a protest on the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If such a protest is filed externally, the USDA agency protest will be dismissed. Questions: Questions regarding this notice or protest procedures should be directed to the Contracting Officer identified in this solicitation.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0081 is issued as a invitation for bid (IFB) for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for distribution to federal Food Nutrition Assistance Programs. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to fair, transparent, and efficient acquisitions. Interested parties with concerns about this solicitation are encouraged to seek resolution through the following USDA procedures. Tier 1: Contracting Officer Concern Resolution Submission: Interested parties with concerns about either the solicitation or subsequent award should first submit their concern directly to the Contracting Officer, providing sufficient detail to allow the Contracting Officer to understand and assess the issue. Process: The Contracting Officer will review the concern, seek clarification as needed, and engage with the interested party to attempt prompt resolution. Review Timeline: The Contracting Officer will make every effort to provide a response or resolution within 10 business days of receiving the concern. Effect on Award or Performance: Tier 1 engagement is not considered an official notification of filing an agency protest and does not pause solicitation deadlines, delay award decisions, or suspend contract performance. Next Steps: If the matter cannot be resolved at Tier 1, the interested party may file a written agency protest under Tier 2. USDA encourages all parties to seek resolution with the Contracting Officer before filing an agency protest. Tier 2: Agency Protest If concerns cannot be resolved at Tier 1, an interested party may file a written agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority. The decision by the USDA Independent Review Authority is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The USDA Independent Review Authority will not consider an appeal of the Contracting Officer�s decision on an agency protest. The protest must state whether the protester elects review by the Contracting Officer, by the USDA Independent Review Authority. If no election is stated, the Contracting Officer will decide the protest. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104-4 (a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. Submission: Agency protests should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. Effect on Award or Performance: Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Review Timeline: USDA strives to resolve agency-level protests within 35 business days of receipt. Election of Forum: By filing a protest with USDA, the protesters agree not to file a protest on the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If such a protest is filed externally, the USDA agency protest will be dismissed. Questions: Questions regarding this notice or protest procedures should be directed to the Contracting Officer identified in this solicitation.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0078 is issued as an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for Vegetable Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil pursuant to the AMS Master Invitation for Bids Domestic Commodity Procurement for use in the Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs. This acquisition is not set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The USDA is committed to issuing solicitations and awarding contracts in a fair and prompt manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to address protest issues within the agency, providing an alternative to costly and time-consuming litigation. Operating independently, OPAP offers relief comparable to that granted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to resolve concerns through USDA�s internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process before pursuing external forums such as the GAO. Concerns may be addressed informally or through a formal agency protest filed with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman. Informal Forum with the Ombudsman 1. Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer. 2. Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization of the informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest with the agency or other forums. 3. Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable). Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman 1. Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions. 2. Independent Review: If the protester�s concerns remain unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government. 3. Resolution Timeline: The agency�s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing. 4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. 5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. 6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0083 is issued as a invitation for bid (IFB) for Raw Shelled Peanuts. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to fair, transparent, and efficient acquisitions. Interested parties with concerns about this solicitation are encouraged to seek resolution through the following USDA procedures. Tier 1: Contracting Officer Concern Resolution Submission: Interested parties with concerns about either the solicitation or subsequent award should first submit their concern directly to the Contracting Officer, providing sufficient detail to allow the Contracting Officer to understand and assess the issue. Process: The Contracting Officer will review the concern, seek clarification as needed, and engage with the interested party to attempt prompt resolution. Review Timeline: The Contracting Officer will make every effort to provide a response or resolution within 10 business days of receiving the concern. Effect on Award or Performance: Tier 1 engagement is not considered an official notification of filing an agency protest and does not pause solicitation deadlines, delay award decisions, or suspend contract performance. Next Steps: If the matter cannot be resolved at Tier 1, the interested party may file a written agency protest under Tier 2. USDA encourages all parties to seek resolution with the Contracting Officer before filing an agency protest. Tier 2: Agency Protest If concerns cannot be resolved at Tier 1, an interested party may file a written agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or the USDA Independent Review Authority. The decision by the USDA Independent Review Authority is an alternative to a decision by the Contracting Officer. The USDA Independent Review Authority will not consider an appeal of the Contracting Officer�s decision on an agency protest. The protest must state whether the protester elects review by the Contracting Officer, by the UDSA Independent Review Authority. If no election is stated, the Contracting Officer will decide the protest. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104-4 (a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. Submission: Agency protests should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. Effect on Award or Performance: Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Review Timeline: USDA strives to resolve agency-level protests within 35 business days of receipt. Election of Forum: By filing a protest with USDA, the protesters agree not to file a protest on the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If such a protest is filed externally, the USDA agency protest will be dismissed. Questions: Questions regarding this notice or protest procedures should be directed to the Contracting Officer identified in this solicitation.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, Springfield, Missouri, intends to issue a solicitation 15B41427Q00000003 for the requirements of Quarterly Subsistence/Spices/Kosher/Meat. The contractor shall adhere to the delivery schedule established in the solicitation. Estimated delivery date will be no earlier than, January 01, 2027 (see Delivery Schedule and Delivery Information Clauses). Deliveries will be made to the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, 1900 West Sunshine Street, Springfield, Missouri, 65807. The Government reserves the right upon award to make a formal single or multiple awards. The NAICS code for this solicitation is 311999. The solicitation is restricted to 100% small business, FOB Destination, and is a firm-fixed price contract. The Government will award to the responsible contractor(s) whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, is considered to be most advantageous to the Government based on price related factors and past performance per FAR 13.106-2(b)(3). The solicitation will be available on or about/after November 06, 2026 and will be distributed solely through the General Service Administration Federal Business Opportunities website at https://sam.gov/. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be available. The site provides downloading instructions. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed solely through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information about this acquisition. By submission of an offer, the contractor acknowledges the requirements that a prospective awardee must be registered in the System for Award Management, (SAM), database prior to award. Lack of registration in the SAM database will make a contractor ineligible for award. Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the Internet at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. The anticipated cutoff date for receipt of quotations is on or about November 23, 2026. The Government reserves the right to make payments using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), or Government purchase card (GPC). Payment will be made using the GPC for awards less than $15,000.00. For awards $15,000.00 or greater, payment will be made using EFT invoices for awards over $15,000 will be sent to SPG-Accountants@bop.gov. The point of contact for all information regarding this solicitation is Bradley Buchanan, Procurement & Property Specialist at the email referenced in this posting.

Dear Vendor: Enclosed is a solicitation package prepared by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota, Contracting Officer for the acquisition of various subsistence products. This package contains all the necessary information for submitting a request for quote for evaluation. In submitting the request for quote, vendors should consider all information provided herein. Please carefully follow all instructions located in the solicitation package concerning the content, format and submission of your quote. All future information about this acquisition, including solicitation amendments, will also be distributed through this site. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this site to ensure they have the most up-to date information about this solicitation. Offerors should include their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in their offers. The Contracting Officer will verify registration in the SAM database prior to award by entering the potential awardees� UEI number into the SAM database. Delivery times are 8:00am to 11am and 12pm to - 2:30pm CST except on federal holidays; no reservations are needed for delivery. Please call 507-424-7323 for any issues concerning delivery. Any deliveries not made within 4 weeks of award will be canceled and awarded to the next lowest bidder. Note that some frozen items will be identified in the line item as going to our contract freezer company. Our contract freezer is MCS LLC. The address is 7447 Dresser Drive NE Rochester, MN 55934. Contact # is Justin Ellingson at 507-251-3863. The freezer contact requests a 24hr notice prior to deliveries and his delivery hours are 9:30am to 3:30pm. The email is minnesotacoldstorage@gmail.com. The Government intends to make multiple fixed price awards to the offerors (bidders) offering the lowest price and who conform to all requirements of the solicitation. Individual credit card orders will be issued for all orders under $15,000 and purchase orders will be issued for orders over $15,000. The Government reserves the right to award by line item or in aggregate. Each offeror/bidder shall carefully read and review each line item offered for bid, paying close attention to the size of the container, description and number of units of issue, etc., requested prior to offering your price. No line item substitutions are accepted. All line items must adhere to the National Specifications for food set forth by Central Office. Bulk dry goods are required to be in 50lb bags or smaller. Any items deemed non-conforming will be refused and shipped back at the vendor's expense. Per FAR 12.206 Past performance will be used in determining awards for this solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.304 (c)(5)(e) past performance will be valued (1) Significantly more important than cost or price. Include page 1 of the RFQ signed and only the pages that you are bidding on in the attached bid sheet. Offers shall be received on or before the deadline of Nov 24, 2026 @5:00 PM. Central Standard Time, via email. Greg Visser, Contract Specialist FMC Rochester 2110 E Center St Rochester, MN 55904 Email: gvisser@bop.gov Please do not submit quotes to any location other than the one listed above. Quotes received after the deadline will not be considered

RFP HT940827RE003 is amended on 5 November 2026 to make the following changes: 1. Provide a "fillable" SF 1449 for Offerors to complete unit (i.e, by month) pricing and extended (i.e., number of months multiplied by monthly price) pricing. This SF 1449 is uploaded below; Offerors shall use either the 5 Nov 2026 or 30 Oct 2026 version when submitting their proposal. All other instructions for completing the SF 1449 still apply. NOTE: No SF 30s have been issued for this solicitation. 2. Provide additional Government Answers to Vendor Questions that were not answered previously. There will not be an update to Technical Exhibit E at this time; the awardee(s) will be able to tour each MTF during the transition period. 3. The due date and time for receipt of proposals remains Friday, 13 November 2026 at 1200pm (noon) Central via email to the POCs listed below. Offerors are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure all documents are received by the POCs by the established closing date and time. ///////////////// RFP HT940827RE003 is amended on 30 October 2026 to make the following changes: 1. Extend closing due date and time for receipt of proposals to Friday, 13 November 2026 at 1200pm (noon) Central. 2. Update various Attachments and Exhibits. See list below - any attachments/exhibits with a date of "30 Oct 2026" are NEW versions (i.e., updated) as of this amendment. Changes are in red font where applicable. The previous versions are hereby deleted. The previous version of Attachment 4 (Past Performance Questionnare) may still be used, but must follow the updated submission instructions (eg, directly to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist). Any attachment/exhibit without a date remain as originally uploaded (ie, no changes). 3. Provide Government Answers to Vendor Questions. The Government anticipates providing further answers NLT Wednesday, 4 November 2026 and an updated Technical Exhibit E, but does not anticipate these will materially impact a proposal; therefore, no further extensions to the due date for receipt of proposals are anticipated. No further questions will be accepted. ///////////////// Nutrition Care Food Service, Various Military Medical Treatment Facilities The solicitation number for the below-described requirement is HT940827RE003. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 722310, Food Service Contractors, which has a size standard of $47 million. This requirement was previously announced, but never solicited, under ID: HT940826RE017. The Government has updated some of the documents that were previously posted as a result of questions asked since the initial posting; if an interested party still has questions or feels that any information is still unclear, they are encouraged to submit those questions to the POCs listed herein. The Defense Health Agency has a requirement for non-personal services providing qualified labor and management necessary to perform nutrition care food management, supervisory, technical, administrative, and clerical services that focus primarily on the following areas: dining facility management functions, therapeutic food preparation, patient tray assembly and delivery service, clinical training, facility sanitation, janitorial duties as it relates to the services being provided, and the associated logistics analysis and management functions in support of the Nutrition Care Divisions for five (5) Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs). The following MTFs requiring the Nutrition Care Food Service support are: Weed Army Community Hospital (Fort Irwin, California), General Leonard Wood Community Hospital (Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri), Irwin Army Community Hospital (Fort Riley, Kansas), Winn Army Community Hospital (Fort Stewart, Georgia), and Keller Army Community Hospital (West Point, New York). A transition period of 1 December 2026 � 31 January 2027, base period of 1 February 2027 � 30 September 2027, and two (2) twelve-month option periods through 30 September 2029 are contemplated. The contract will be firm-fixed-price, with a set monthly price established per MTF. Multiple contracts may be awarded, up to one (1) per MTF. The Randolph Sheppard Act (RSA) applies to this requirement; therefore, priority will be given to any responsive State Licensing Agency (SLA) pursuant to the RSA. The priority established by the RSA applies to the award of contracts for the operation of cafeterias on Federal property. NOTE: The evaluation criteria will be the same for all offerors, including any responsible SLA. However, the solicitation will be issued on a full-and-open basis with a small business participation (eg, subcontracting) plan as one of the evaluation criteria for other-than-small businesses and non-SLAs. The solicitation will be issued on or about 16 October 2026, with an estimated closing date of 4 November 2026. Questions are due via email to the POCs listed below by 22 October 2026. The solicitation and all associated documents necessary for preparing a proposal are posted on sam.gov. Interested vendors are encouraged to contact the POCs listed below with any questions they may have, including about the attachments. This notice does not in itself represent the issuance of a formal request for proposals and is not intended to be taken as such. Prospective offerors are advised that if tentatively selected for award, they must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) (http://www.sam.gov) and obtain a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) prior to any award being made. Paper copies of this solicitation will not be physically issued, and telephone and faxed requests for the solicitation will not be honored. Interested parties are urged to visit SAM frequently for any updates/amendments to any and all documents. All questions regarding this notice are to be submitted in writing via e-mail to the listed POCs. Please use the solicitation number �HT940827RE003� in the subject line of all correspondence. All questions submitted are subject to be posted in this notice and the associated solicitation, along with the appropriate response(s). Vendor identities will not be disclosed. Prospective Offerors must comply with all the requirements of the solicitation and any attachments thereto to be considered responsive.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0059 is issued as an invitation for bid (IFB) for Crackers and Frozen Pancakes. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The USDA is committed to issuing solicitations and awarding contracts in a fair and prompt manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to address protest issues within the agency, providing an alternative to costly and time-consuming litigation. Operating independently, OPAP offers relief comparable to that granted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to resolve concerns through USDA�s internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process before pursuing external forums such as the GAO. Concerns may be addressed informally or through a formal agency protest filed with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman. Informal Forum with the Ombudsman 1. Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer. 2. Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization of the informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest with the agency or other forums. 3. Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable). Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman 1. Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions. 2. Independent Review: If the protester�s concerns remain unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government. 3. Resolution Timeline: The agency�s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing. 4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. 5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. 6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The solicitation number is Unison Buy #1214724 and is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ), unless otherwise indicated herein. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-02. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 311991 with a small business size standard of 700.00 employees. This requirement is a Small Business Set-Aside and only qualified sellers may submit bids. The solicitation pricing on https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com will start on the date this solicitation is posted, and, unless otherwise displayed at https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com, will end on: 2026-11-16 11:00:00.0 Eastern Time. This time supersedes the Offers Due Time listed above. FOB Destination shall be Coleman, FL 33521 The DOJ BOP Field Offices - FCC COLEMAN requires the items to be Meet or Exceed. To review line items, terms, etc., refer to the link below. Solicitation and Buy Attachments ***Question Submission: Interested Sellers must submit any questions concerning the solicitation at the earliest time possible to enable the Buyer to respond. Questions must be submitted by using the 'Submit a Question' feature at https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com. Questions not received within a reasonable time prior to close of the solicitation may not be considered.*** For this solicitation, DOJ BOP Field Offices - FCC COLEMAN intends to conduct an online competitive reverse auction to be facilitated by the third-party reverse auction provider, Unison Marketplace. Unison Marketplace has developed an online, anonymous, browser based application to conduct the reverse auction. A Seller may submit a series of pricing bids, which descend in price during the specified period of time for the aforementioned reverse auction. DOJ BOP Field Offices - FCC COLEMAN is taking this action in an effort to improve both vendor access and awareness of requests and the agency's ability to gather multiple, competed, real-time bids. All responsible Sellers that respond to this solicitation MUST submit the pricing portion of their bid using the online exchange located at https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com. There is no cost to register, review procurement data or make a bid on https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com.Sellers that are not currently registered to use https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com should proceed to https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com to complete their free registration. Sellers that require special considerations or assistance may contact Marketplace Support at 1.877.933.3243 or via email at marketplacesupport@unisonglobal.com. Sellers may not artificially manipulate the price of a transaction on https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com by any means. It is unacceptable to place bad faith bids, to use decoys in the https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com process or to collude with the intent or effect of hampering the competitive https://marketplace.unisonglobal.com process. Should Sellers require additional clarification, notify the point of contact or Marketplace Support at 1.877.933.3243 or marketplacesupport@unisonglobal.com.

Kosher item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

Halal item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

Subsistence item solicitation, see attachments for instructions.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products or commercial services prepared in accordance with part 5.101(d). This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0082 is issued as an invitation for bid (IFB) for Corn Products. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?NOTICE FOR FILING AGENCY PROTESTS United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ombudsman Program The USDA is committed to issuing solicitations and awarding contracts in a fair and prompt manner. The Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests (OPAP) was established to address protest issues within the agency, providing an alternative to costly and time-consuming litigation. Operating independently, OPAP offers relief comparable to that granted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Interested parties are encouraged to resolve concerns through USDA�s internal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process before pursuing external forums such as the GAO. Concerns may be addressed informally or through a formal agency protest filed with either the Contracting Officer or the Ombudsman. Informal Forum with the Ombudsman 1. Initial Point of Contact: Interested parties who believe a specific USDA procurement is unfair or otherwise defective should first direct their concerns to the applicable Contracting Officer. 2. Escalation: If the Contracting Officer is unable to address their concerns, interested parties are encouraged to contact the USDA Ombudsman for Agency Protests. Under this informal process, the agency is not required to suspend contract award performance. Utilization of the informal forum does not suspend any time requirement for filing a formal protest with the agency or other forums. 3. Required Information: To ensure a timely response, interested parties should provide the following information to the Ombudsman: solicitation/contract number, contracting office, Contracting Officer, and solicitation closing date (if applicable). Formal Agency Protest with the Ombudsman 1. Effort to Resolve: Prior to submitting a formal agency protest, protesters must first use their best efforts to resolve their concerns with the Contracting Officer through open and frank discussions. 2. Independent Review: If the protester�s concerns remain unresolved, an Independent Review is available by the Ombudsman. The protester may file a formal agency protest with either the Contracting Officer or, alternatively, with the Ombudsman under the OPAP program. Contract awards or performance will be suspended during the protest period unless justified in writing for urgent and compelling reasons or determined in writing to be in the best interest of the Government. 3. Resolution Timeline: The agency�s goal is to resolve protests within 35 calendar days from the date of filing. 4. Required Information: Protests shall include the information set forth in FAR 33.104(a)(3). Failure to submit the required information may result in a delay or dismissal of the protest. 5. Timeliness: Protests must be filed within the timeframes specified in FAR 33.104. 6. Submission: Formal protests under the OPAP program should be submitted electronically to SPE.inquiry@usda.gov and the Contracting Officer. Election of Forum. By initiating a protest with the USDA, the protester agrees not to pursue the same matter with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) or any other external forum while the agency protest is pending. If a protest is filed externally, the agency protest will be dismissed.