FBO: Federal Business Opportunities

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), the Federal agency that oversees the Javits-Wagner-.O?Day (Ability One) Program, is seeking a U.S. commercial manufacturer of aseptically processed and packaging food such as shelf stable soup, shelf stable milk, shelf stable cream and evaporated milk to partner with selected nonprofit agencies to furnish such products to the Federal Government under the Ability One Program. The products described must be 1) Processed in a FDA/AMS approved facility. 2) Finished milk products shall meet the specifications of the commercial item description (CID) A-A-200338, A-A-20251, A-A-20072B and must be package Aseptically processed and packaged (Ultra High Temperature (UHT))(Sec. 5.1.2). 3) Soups must be packaged in a 32 oz. container Aseptically processed and packaged (Ultra High Temperature (UHT))(Sec. 5.1.2).. To be considered for this commercial partner opportunity, the following criteria, at a minimum, must also be met:

1) Possession of a nationally-known brand name that can be demonstrated to have had significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales and market share. 2) The company must have had 3 years participation with Federal and State commodity exchange programs proving acceptability of brand, package, and or proof of successful performance. 3) Willingness to enter into a multi-year agreement, which includes on-going technical and production assistance while enabling the selected nonprofit agencies to meet the suitability criteria of the Ability One Program in the production process and instructing the non-profit agencies in proper techniques to complete the manufacturing and subsequent packaging of the products, thereby creating employment for people who are blind or severely disabled. 4) The chosen commercial manufacturer must be willing to set a high priority for delivering the bulk materials to the nonprofit agency in order to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to the end-use customers. 5)Commitment to working cooperatively with Ability One personnel to market the products to Government customers under the Ability One Program. 6) Willingness to work with the selected nonprofit agencies, NIB or NISH and the Committee to ensure that the products? price to end-users is a fair and reasonable price. 7) All products must be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose. 8) Manufacturers? submissions must demonstrate that the specific products meet the various criteria, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency?s employees would perform. Submission should recommend ways to maximize the employment for people who are blind or severely disabled in the fulfillment of the products.