Open federal opportunities

BULK TURKEY for use in Domestic Food Assistance Program

AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF.AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE.USDA AMS 3J14 · Response deadline: Fri, 06 Nov 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking bulk turkey for use in domestic food assistance programs. This is a commodity procurement typical of USDA's role in purchasing agricultural products to support federal nutrition initiatives such as the National School Lunch Program, food banks, and other food distribution programs serving low-income Americans.

NAICS code 311615 covers "Poultry Processing," which includes establishments primarily engaged in slaughtering poultry and small game; preparing processed poultry and small game meat and meat byproducts; and rendering feed from poultry and small game waste. The classification code 8905 corresponds to "Meat, Poultry, and Fish" in the Federal Supply Classification system, confirming this is a food commodity acquisition.

USDA AMS commodity purchases typically involve large-volume contracts with specific delivery requirements to various states or distribution centers. The actual quantities, delivery schedules, and product specifications—such as whole bird versus further-processed turkey, packaging requirements, or exact destinations—see the solicitation.

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is open to small business concerns under NAICS 311615. The "Partial" small business set-aside means the contracting officer will first evaluate bids from responsible small business offerors before considering other-than-small business responses. This structure gives small businesses a competitive advantage but does not entirely exclude large firms if small business offers are not acceptable.

To qualify, your business must meet the Small Business Administration's size standard for NAICS 311615. Additionally, you must be registered in SAM.gov, have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and comply with any USDA-specific requirements such as the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) license if applicable, or other food safety and handling certifications. See the solicitation for specific eligibility certifications.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand the commodity specifications. USDA turkey procurements typically detail exact product requirements—whole turkey, turkey parts, or further-processed products; fresh or frozen; weight ranges; and packaging. Obtain and review any attached product specifications or statement of work carefully.

Price competitively on a delivered basis. These contracts often include freight to specified delivery points. Clarify whether pricing should include delivery or if shipping is arranged separately. USDA commodity bids are typically evaluated on lowest price technically acceptable basis, so precision in your cost build-up matters.

Verify supply chain and capacity. Ensure your processing facilities can meet volume requirements and any seasonal delivery windows. Confirm your cold chain logistics and ability to maintain USDA inspection compliance throughout.

Address food safety requirements. Expect to document HACCP compliance, FSIS inspection, and possibly organic or other certifications. Have your food defense plan and recall procedures current.

Submit through SAM.gov. Combined synopsis/solicitation notices typically allow direct electronic response. Verify submission format—some USDA commodity bids require specific forms or eOffer/eBuy platforms.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 12-3J14-27-B-0024. Review all attached specifications, delivery requirements, and evaluation criteria thoroughly. Note the firm response deadline of November 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM Central Time—late submissions are not accepted. Consider contacting the contracting officer early with any questions about delivery locations, product specifications, or bonding requirements.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →