USDA Food Donations: $1.99M for Frozen Fruit & Berries from Tabatchnick Fine Foods Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,997,958 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Tabatchnick Fine Foods Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-12-31

End Date: 2026-03-31

Contract Duration: 90 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011117/4400002429/4100033516/PEACH FREESTONE DICED FRZ CUP-96/4.4 OZ,MIXED BERRY FRZ CUP-96/4.OZ

Place of Performance

Location: SOMERSET, SOMERSET County, NEW JERSEY, 08873

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $2.0 million to TABATCHNICK FINE FOODS INC for work described as: COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011117/4400002429/4100033516/PEACH FREESTONE DICED FRZ CUP-96/4.4 OZ,MIXED BERRY FRZ CUP-96/4.OZ Key points: 1. Spending focuses on frozen fruit and berry cups for food donations. 2. Tabatchnick Fine Foods Inc. is the sole awardee for this delivery order. 3. The contract is a firm fixed price, indicating price certainty. 4. This award falls under the Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $1.99 million. Benchmarking per-unit costs for similar frozen fruit and berry products in government contracts is difficult without more specific product details and quantities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. This suggests that while competition was sought, specific circumstances led to excluding certain sources, potentially impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for food donations, supporting food security initiatives. The effectiveness of the spending depends on the distribution and impact of these donated commodities.

Public Impact

Supports federal food assistance programs and food banks. Provides essential food items to vulnerable populations. Contributes to the agricultural sector by purchasing processed goods.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited transparency on the specific 'exclusion of sources' in competition.
Potential for higher costs due to restricted competition.
Lack of detailed product specifications for cost comparison.

Positive Signals

Supports important federal food donation programs.
Firm fixed price contract provides cost predictability.
Awarded to a single vendor, potentially streamlining logistics.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the food manufacturing sector, specifically frozen fruit, juice, and vegetable manufacturing. Government spending in this area typically supports agricultural supply chains and food assistance programs.

Small Business Impact

Analysis of small business participation is not directly available from the provided data. The award was made to Tabatchnick Fine Foods Inc., and further investigation would be needed to determine if they are a small business or if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a delivery order under a larger agreement. Oversight would involve monitoring delivery schedules, product quality, and adherence to contract terms by the Agricultural Marketing Service.

Related Government Programs

Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Agricultural Marketing Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to source exclusion.
Lack of detailed product specifications hinders cost analysis.
Dependence on a single vendor for a significant food donation order.
Need for clarity on the justification for excluding sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $2.0 million to TABATCHNICK FINE FOODS INC. COMMODITIES FOR USG FOOD DONATIONS: 2000011117/4400002429/4100033516/PEACH FREESTONE DICED FRZ CUP-96/4.4 OZ,MIXED BERRY FRZ CUP-96/4.OZ

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TABATCHNICK FINE FOODS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Marketing Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-12-31. End: 2026-03-31.

What was the rationale for excluding sources in the full and open competition?

The rationale for excluding sources in a 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award typically involves specific justifications such as national security, essential emergency procurement, or unique capabilities required that only a limited number of vendors possess. Without further details from the contracting agency, the precise reason for exclusion remains unclear and warrants further inquiry to ensure fair competition principles were upheld.

How does the per-unit cost compare to market rates for similar frozen fruit and berry products?

A precise per-unit cost comparison is challenging without detailed product specifications (e.g., exact fruit ratios, sugar content, packaging details) and the specific quantities purchased per unit. However, the total award of $1.99 million for 90 days of supply suggests a significant volume. Further analysis would require access to the detailed solicitation and award documents to benchmark against industry pricing for comparable food donation commodities.

What is the expected impact of these food donations on food insecurity in the recipient regions?

The expected impact on food insecurity depends heavily on the distribution network and the specific needs of the communities served by the USDA food donation programs. These frozen fruit and berry cups are intended to supplement nutritional intake, particularly for children and families. The effectiveness will be measured by their successful delivery to food banks and charitable organizations, and subsequent distribution to end recipients, thereby increasing access to healthy food options.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing › Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: SUBSISTENCE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 123J1425B0360

Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1230 HAMILTON ST, SOMERSET, NJ, 08873

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Other Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,997,958

Exercised Options: $1,997,958

Current Obligation: $1,997,958

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 123J1425D0045

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline