SOURCES SOUGHT FOR CO-BRAND AGREEMENT FOR SOUP BASES AND GRAVY MIXES

On behalf of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission) the independent federal agency that administers the AbilityOne Program, SourceAmerica, a designated central nonprofit agency, is pursuing potential partnerships with U.S. commercial manufacturers of Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes for the purpose of providing employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities.  The result will be the continuation of the 6 Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes offered on the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL) under a co-brand agreement between the manufacturer and the AbilityOne Program, and its registered brands.

The Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes must meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements. 

At a minimum, the following criteria must be met: 

PRODUCT

• 6 Flavors:

Low Sodium Chicken Flavored Dry Gravy Mix

Low Sodium Brown Dry Gravy Mix

Brown Dry Gravy Mix

Chicken Flavor Dry Gravy Mix

Country Dry Gravy Mix

Turkey Flavor Dry Gravy Mix

• Shelf Stable
• No Added MSG
• Berry Amendment Compliant

• Meet and/or exceed FAR and other Federal Government published standards, Executive Orders and Federal Agency requirements. 
• The product must meet industry performance specifications and standards for construction, performance, sustainability and reliability.
• Be manufactured and lab tested, certified and customer tested to be effective according to their purpose, have current Certificate of Analysis or Certificate of Conformance, as necessary, and meet certifications with corresponding documentation designated by customers.
• Meet industry performance specifications and standards for Food Safety, performance, sustainability and reliability.
• Possession of a nationally known brand name that can be demonstrated to have significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales.

1. The chosen manufacturer must be willing to set a high priority for delivering the Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes to the Non-Profit Agency to assure on-time deliveries to the U.S. Military through the DLA Troop Support Prime Vendor Program.  In the event of a surge or Full-Scale Mobilization the Soup Base and Gravy Mix Co-branding Partner must be willing to provide up to 300% of the annual requirement of 354,470 Lbs of Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes.
2. A Certificate of Analysis must be provided for all in-bound Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes.

MANUFACTURER

• Must possess a nationally or industry known brand name that can demonstrate significant appeal through evidence of substantial sales.
• Demonstrate how it will assist the Commission’s designated nonprofit agency (NPA) to expand its line of Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes thus increasing participant work hours, while keeping expansion costs to the NPA at a minimum.  
• Willing to deliver bulk materials to the non-profit agency to assure the agency of on-time deliveries to federal government customer(s).
• Willing to enter into a multi-year agreement to include:
  • On-going technical and production assistance.
  • The necessary factory trained technical field support
  • Enabling the non-profit agency to meet the criteria of the AbilityOne Program to convert material, fill containers, label, assemble and package the products thereby creating employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working with the AbilityOne Program to market the product(s) solicited herein to Government customers. Preference is given to manufacturers who have a dedicated team for Federal Government sales and marketing.
• Be willing to work with the NPA and AbilityOne to ensure that the price to the end-users is a fair and reasonable price.
• The Non-profit Food Producing Agency will be subject to a comprehensive Quality Audit by the selected supplier, to ensure they meet the standards of the Co-Branding Partner, it will be the responsibility of the supplier to work with the Non-profit to meet those strict quality requirements.

Manufacturers’ submissions must demonstrate that proposed products meet the criteria listed above, as well as indicate what functions the nonprofit agency’s employees would perform.

The deadline for response is 04/17/2025.

The written, electronic responses should be directed to the contact listed in this Notice.

Questions should be directed by email to achipiwalt@sourceamerica.org no later than 04/07/2025.  The subject line should begin with ‘Question: Sources Sought CP- CP-03-17-25-01 Soup Bases and Gravy Mixes

Information regarding the Commission can be found at www.abilityone.gov.  Specific information regarding co-brand agreements can be found by navigating the top left corner of the website.  Mouse over Laws, Regulations, and Policy and select Policy Memoranda.  Select Operation Memoranda, then select Memorandum Number 22.