U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Service, Contract Management Branch, Room 914, Alexandria, VA 22302

G -- ON-SITE OBSERVATION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES TO CONFIRM RETAIL FOOD STORE APPLICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM POC See the FCS Regional Office contact persons listed below. Sources are sought in all regions of the country for multiple anticipated procurements entitled ''On-Site Observation Services with Photographic Documentation to Confirm Retail Food Store Applications to Participate in the Food Stamp Program.'' The Food and Consumer Service (FCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the agency responsible for the Food Stamp Program (FSP). FCS accepts applications from retail food stores that wish to participate in the FSP, reviews the applications in order to determine whether or not the store meets eligibility requirements, and makes a decision whether to grant or deny authorization to the store to accept food stamp benefits from households. When a store applies for authorization to accept food stamps, it provides a self-declaration of the type of store it is, its level of gross sales, eligible food and staple food sales, and similar information. In the majority of authorization decisions, confirmation of applicant-supplied information through a visit to the store site is critically important for an accurate determination of eligibility. In the past, some applications have proved to be fraudulent: food is not present, or is present in such small quantities that it is questionable whether the store is truly in the business of selling an ample variety of staple food for home preparation and consumption. This is why it is so important to make in-person visits and confirm data on applications. USDA intends to enter into multiple procurements in all regions of the country to supplement FCS' ability to visit food stores, in person, for the purpose of confirming that the store is in the business of selling an ample variety of staple food for home preparation and consumption. The objective of these procurements is to make documented observations -- such as photographs of a store's staple food sections and/or the filling out of a checklist bearing on store appearance and food stock -- to confirm applicant-supplied information. These materials are to be gathered by the contractor(s) on an ''as needed'' basis. Each anticipated contract will be for a specific territory. Under each contract, FCS will issue orders identifying specific stores to be visited, whether photographic or checklist documentation or both are required to be supplied, and the deadline for completing the deliverable. The contractor shall be prepared to complete specified store observations within 10 to 15 days from issuance of an order. Firms interested in being considered for one or more of these procurements must send the following by COB March 8, 1996 to one or more of the addresses below. FCS anticipates a competitive award resulting in a blanket purchase agreement process from among firms expressing interest to this notice by the deadline. Firms that do not express interest by the deadline may not be eligible for award under these procurements. Interested firms shall supply in writing: business name, mailing address, name of person to be contacted in regard to these procurements, telephone number and area code of contact person, description of territory firm is competent to cover (e.g., specific States or cities). Telephone calls will not be accepted by FCS nor will letters confirming receipt be mailed out. Firms that wish to receive confirmation that their expression of interest was received shall enclose a stamped self addressed postcard for FCS to return. The above material shall be sent to: Store Visit Coordinator - 1) Mid-Atlantic Region, USDA, FCS, MARO, Iris Innocenzi, Financial Management, Mercer Corporate Park, 300 Corporate Blvd., Robbinsville, NJ 08691-1518. For the States of: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; 2) Midwest Region, USDA, FCS, MWRO, Bill Uhl, Dir., Personnel and Management, 77 West Jackson Blvd., 20th Fl., Chicago, IL 60604-3507. For the States of: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; 3) Mountain Plains Region, USDA, FCS, MPRO, Brenda Komloske, Administrative Management, 1244 Speer Blvd., Denver, CO 80204-3581. For the States of: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming; 4) Northeast Region, USDA, FCS, NERO, Joseph Caggiano, FM-Information Technologies, 10 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02222-1069. For the States of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont; 5) Southeast Region, USDA, FCS, SERO, Gayle Kinchen, Financial Management, 77 Forsyth St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30303-3427. For the States of: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; 6) Southwest Region, USDA, FCS, SWRO, Ron Warren, Management Services, 1100 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75242-9980. For the States of: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas; 7) Western Region, USDA, FCS, WRO, Rod Andres, Administrative Services, 550 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108-2518. For the States of: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. (0060)

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