USDA plans walnut purchases for nutrition assistance programs

USDA announced Aug. 24 that it plans to purchase walnuts and several other U.S. agricultural commodities for distribution through food nutrition assistance programs under Section 32 authority.

The planned purchases include walnuts, canned peaches, Concord grape juice, fresh mandarins, pork, prunes, raisins and wild-caught shrimp. Walnuts are the only tree nut specifically identified in the announcement.

USDA did not disclose the quantity or dollar value of walnuts it intends to purchase. Solicitations are expected to be issued in the near future through the Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) system. Future solicitation amendments and award notices also will be published through WBSCM and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.

Contracts are anticipated to be firm-fixed-price, with deliveries to various locations in the U.S. on a Freight on Board destination basis.

Commodities purchased under the contracts must be grown, processed and otherwise prepared for sale or distribution exclusively in the U.S. Packaging and container components are subject to separate federal trade requirements.

Potential suppliers must meet AMS vendor qualification requirements before submitting offers. Once qualified, vendors receive access to WBSCM, which must be used for bids, bid modifications, withdrawals and price adjustments.

Read the full USDA announcement here.