Supplement 500 Tuna Products Approved

APPROVED

Supplement 500 to the AMS Master Solicitation for Purchase of Tuna Products for Distribution to Federal Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
Livestock and Poultry (LP) Program
Standards and Specifications Division (SSD)
Room 2702-S, STOP 0249
Phone: (202) 690-3148
Supersedes: Supplement 500 dated August 2024 – changes from previous requirements in blue Effective: March 2026

Overview

This document provides additional program requirements for the purchase of tuna Products by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the Federal Purchase Program Specification (FPPS) (Exhibit A).

Instructions to Potential Contractors

The tuna products will be purchased on a competitive bid basis from qualified contractors who are operating in accordance with the applicable Food and Drug Administrative (FDA) regulations and under the United States Department of Commerce (USDC), National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) Approved Establishment (AE) criteria. For information regarding Seafood Inspection, see the following web site address:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/seafood-commerce-and-trade/seafood-inspection

Approved by
DRD
Date Issued: 10/19/15
Date Revised: 02/24/26

All tuna processors and processing facilities used to fulfill USDA contracts shall be a USDC/NOAA SIP AE. USDC/NOAA SIP approved establishments must meet all pertinent Federal requirements applicable to processing fish and fishery products. USDC/NOAA SIP approved establishments must comply with the following regulatory requirements that are applicable to the firm:

211.1

21 CFR Part 101 - Labeling

21 CFR Part 117 Subparts A, B and F

21 CFR Part 123

50 CFR Part 260 & 261

NOAA SIP Approved Establishment Requirements

211.2

To meet the requirements processors of fish and fishery products must be USDC/NOAA SIP AE and must have a successful registration audit and be subjected to quarterly audits and remain in good standing.

All subcontractors and contractors of fishery products shall develop and maintain an AMS approved food defense plan.

212.1

The USDA, AMS, shall conduct a food defense audit that shall include, but is not limited to, a thorough evaluation of the potential contractors’ and subcontractors’ food defense plan. Documentation shall support the contractor’s or subcontractor’s food defense plan.

Actual purchases will be described in the AMS Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurements – Domestic Programs (MSCP-D) and applicable Solicitations.