Become a USDA Foods Vendor

Below are six recommended steps for becoming a USDA approved vendor.  We strongly recommend that prospective vendors explore the resources and documents below prior to submitting an application package.

Tools to Become a USDA Foods Vendor

• Webinar - How to Become a Certified USDA Vendor
• How to Become a Certified USDA Vendor Webinar Notes and Slides (pdf)
• New Vendor Qualification Checklist (pdf)

• Cómo Ser un Proveedor Certificado del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos - YouTube

• Cómo Ser un Proveedor Certificado del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (pptx)

Quarterly Webinars

Upcoming:

Previous:

• November 4, 2024 - Kosher and Halal Prospective Vendor Outreach Meeting
• July 31, 2024 – Subcontracting 101 Webinar for Large Vendors
• April 18, 2024 – USDA Foods: Want USDA to Buy Your Food Product?
• April 26, 2023 - APEX Accelerator Centers
• September 22, 2022 - Small Business Basics
• June 30, 2022 – Subcontracting Plans
• February 15, 2022- Become a Qualified Vendor for USDA Food Commodities Purchases (pdf)

1. Subscribe to the AMS CP News to receive email notification of solicitations and awards (Note: receiving solicitations via AMS CP News does not make a vendor qualified to submit an offer.) Subscription is voluntary and you may unsubscribe at any time.

Step 2: Understand the Master Solicitations. 

Review the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement (pdf) to understand the federal regulations, clauses, and provisions that affect USDA commodity contracts.

Step 3: Review the current purchase schedule & understand the purchase process. 

Read through the list of current and past solicitations and award information. Also, read How the Process Works.

• Current Purchase Schedule for Fruits, Vegetables, Poultry, Eggs, Red Meat and Fish
• Current Purchase Schedule for Dairy, Bakery, Pasta, Grains, Cereals, Peanut and Vegetable Oil Products

Step 4: Review USDA commodity specifications and technical requirements. 

These specifications and supplemental documents explain the production and processing requirements for USDA Foods.

Many AMS purchase programs require that suppliers and subcontractors undergo a technical approval process before they can supply raw materials or finished products under USDA contracts. This process may involve submission of production plans and/or technical proposals, product samples for evaluation, and on-site assessments of facilities and procedures. Information regarding the supplier eligibility process is contained in Supplements to the Master Solicitation, which accompany the product specifications:

• Product Specifications & Technical Requirements

Step 5: Learn the qualification requirements for being a vendor of:

1. New Vendor Qualification Requirements (pdf)

Step 6: Submit a Vendor Application Package 

Each application package must include the following information (as detailed by the documents in Step 5 above):

1. System for Award Management (SAM) registration
2. Paid Assistance from third-party companies
3. Business Status (as indicated in SAM)
4. Complete the WBSCM Vendor Registration Form that will be provided by the New Vendor coordinator.
5. Company Letter (certifying ability to perform)
6. Three (3) Letters of Reference (from customers your company provided similar products to)
7. Business Type (and similar details)

Completed application packages should be submitted via email.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0273. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Vendor Approval

The AMS Contracting Officer evaluates the Vendor Application Package and approves the applicant. If approved, the new vendor will be provided a WBSCM Corporate Vendor Administrator role and a Vendor Offer role. If denied, the reason(s) for denial shall be provided and the applicant must correct the issues if he/she wishes to re-apply. 

Please Note: As described in Step 4 above, many purchase programs require that suppliers undergo a technical approval process before they can participate. The technical approval process is separate from—and in addition to—the Qualification Requirements and application process described in Steps 5 and 6 above. 

Have Questions?  

At any time during the process, questions may be directed to:

Diana Dau David
New Vendor/Small Business Coordinator
USDA, AMS Commodity Procurement Staff
NewVendor@usda.gov
Fruit & Tree Nuts, Vegetables, International Bulk Commodities