# Tuna Sources Sought Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/123j14notice24048 - Solicitation number: 12-3J14-Notice-24-048 - Notice type: Sources sought - Status: Awarded to Starkist Co for $4,811,768.12 - Department: Department of Agriculture - Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service - Contracting office: USDA Ams 3J14 (123J14) - NAICS: 311710 Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging - Product or service code: 8905 Meat, Poultry, and Fish - Place of performance: District of Columbia - County: District of Columbia (FIPS 11001). https://abierto.us/counties/district-of-columbia-dc-11001 - First posted: September 5, 2024 - Last posted: June 5, 2025 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/e2f3c4ccd9b14260832ab9a02039d120/view ## Description **Description:** This is a Sources Sought Notice for canned, domestically-produced tuna for USDA Food Programs. Capability must demonstrate 100% domestic tuna in the following pack sizes: Canned Tuna - 12.0 oz. Canned Tuna - 66.5 oz. Canned Tuna Kosher – 66.5 oz Pouch Tuna - 43.0 oz. This notice is issued for market research purposes; only for interested parties to provide information. It is a Request for Information as defined in FAR 12.201(e) and does not constitute a commitment by the government, nor is it a formal solicitation or request for offers. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to conduct market research for the commercial availability of canned, domestically-produced tuna for USDA Food Programs. All information gathered in response to this notice will be used solely for planning purposes. Please review the specification referenced, and assess your company's capacity and capabilities for tuna production. **Additional References:** “Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements, dated February 13, 2024,” USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MSCP.pdf “Become a USDA Foods Vendor,” USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/becoming-approved Information Requested: All information provided with regard to the commercial practices for these products should take into account USDA's 100 percent domestic origin requirement (see Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements in “Additional References,” above). Please respond as completely as possible to the following questions: 1) Your company’s interest in this procurement; 2) Complete description of the product and product brand name; 3) Product labeling information, including: a. Ingredients list b. Allergen statement c. Nutrition Facts panel d. Kosher and/or Halal certification, if applicable e. Safe handling instructions and heating instructions 4) Net weight per package; 5) Federal agency with oversight of your facility; 6) Shipping requirements, including: a. Temperature requirements b. Storage requirements c. Truckload unitization: packages per case, cases per pallet, and pallets per truckload; net case weight (in lbs.) and gross case weight (in lbs.) d. Minimum number of pallets that could be delivered to a single location, and any relevant information on your ability to ship in less than truckload quantities; 7) Distribution limitations, including: a. Volume constraints; estimated capacity/quantity available on a monthly basis b. Geographic limitations, if any; ability to provide product throughout the United States 8) Estimated cost or market price per unit; 9) Anticipated shelf life of the product; 10) Product bulletin/brochure, commercial label, and commercial warranty; 11) Grading methodology and size standards utilized by your organization; 12) Small Business Administration (SBA) size of your firm; 13) Any other relevant information, recommendations, comments, issues and/or concerns that would be beneficial to the Government; 14) Name, title, contact information, and organization name, as applicable. All applicable Federal and State mandatory requirements and regulations relating to the preparation, packaging, labeling, storage, distribution of the product within the commercial marketplace must be met. Should USDA move forward and publish an actual solicitation as a result of this market research, suppliers must become qualified vendors before being eligible to bid (see “Additional References,” above). Responses and questions shall be emailed to the attention of LaShawne Brown at lashawne.brown@usda.gov and Kevin Day at kevin.day@usda.gov. Responses are requested to be received no later than September 20, 2024. ## Award on USAspending - Recipient: Starkist Co (UEI Q15NKX4K7531) - Contract: 123J1425C0580, definitive contract - Obligated: $4,811,768.12 - Competition: Not Competed, 1 offers received - Link: award number 123J1425C0580 equals the contract number; same awarding office 123J14 (high confidence) - Record: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_123J1425C0580_12K2_-NONE-_-NONE-/ ## Publications - September 5, 2024: Sources sought, due September 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice 8ed6d9ab80994e3dbb036a7a61d87ad7. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/8ed6d9ab80994e3dbb036a7a61d87ad7/view - September 5, 2024: Sources sought, due September 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice c955617e62da433dbbc1bd8b790cbdcc. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/c955617e62da433dbbc1bd8b790cbdcc/view - February 13, 2025: Sources sought, due September 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice 699e8c3d6e4e4f7099cc77a31427d686. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/699e8c3d6e4e4f7099cc77a31427d686/view - February 13, 2025: Award notice. Notice b85ea2f65c924a048d49cd96aabf0f6d. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b85ea2f65c924a048d49cd96aabf0f6d/view - June 5, 2025: Sources sought, due July 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice 9c91a8463b56402b9ce6288c81b7084b. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/9c91a8463b56402b9ce6288c81b7084b/view - June 5, 2025: Sources sought, due July 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice e2f3c4ccd9b14260832ab9a02039d120. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/e2f3c4ccd9b14260832ab9a02039d120/view ## Points of contact - LaShawne Brown, lashawne.brown@usda.gov, 2024401453 - Kevin Day, kevin.day@usda.gov, 2026903154 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract and USAspending.gov award data. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/123j14notice24048.