Billing Code 3410-10
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Inviting Input about the $50 Million Nontraditional Shelf-Stable Commodities Pilot Program
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Request for information.
SUMMARY: The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
requests comments from the public to inform an understanding on non-traditional, shelf-stable
commodities that could be used in food assistance programming. FAS seeks to learn what
commodities could be considered outside the traditional food assistance commodities. This RFI
offers interested parties the opportunity to provide FAS with information regarding nontraditional, shelf-stable food aid commodities.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 30, 2024, to be assured of
consideration.
ADDRESSES: USDA invites submission of the requested information through one of the
following methods:
•

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.

•

Email: FAS will accept electronic submissions emailed to PPDED@usda.gov. The email
should contain the subject line, “Response to RFI: $50 million pilot program.”

Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. All comments submitted in response to this RFI
will be included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that the
substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the
comments will be subject to public disclosure. USDA will make the comments publicly
available via https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly Kairn, Program and Management
Analyst, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, e-mail
PPDED@usda.gov, Phone 202-713-8673.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In October 2023, USDA announced with United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) the use of $1 billion of Credit Commodity Corporation funding to help fill food
security gaps and supply safe and nutritious food to the global community in need.
Of this funding, up to $50 million will be set aside for use in a pilot program that will operate to
utilize U.S. commodities that:
1. Have not recently been substantially included in international food assistance
programming,
2. Are shelf-stable, and
3. Are suitable for use in feeding food-insecure populations.
These U.S.-grown commodities could include, but are not limited to, nuts; dried fruits; grains
such as quinoa, farro, and oats; and canned fish or canned meats.
Request for Information:
FAS requests information from the public to help identify non-traditional, shelf-stable
commodities that could be used in food assistance programming under the proposed $50 million
pilot program. Non-traditional commodities could include, but are not limited to, commodities
that have never been used before in food assistance programming, commodities that have not
been used in food assistance programming in at least the last 5 years, and/or commodities that

can be made into a new product. Additionally, FAS requests information from the public about
non-traditional commodities including:
1. Cost per metric tonnage, or other customary commercial unit of measure, including cost
to the U.S. Government,
2. Estimated cost of delivery of commodities to a U.S. port,
3. Packaging details, including transportation/containerization requirements and costs,
4. The expected shelf life under normal storage conditions and adverse conditions that
might be expected in developing countries (i.e., high humidity and temperatures),
5. Any history/documentation of successful storage performance for the commodity,
6. Nutritional benefits for adults and for children,
7. Essential minerals,
8. Testing requirements for food safety,
9. Consumer preparation instructions, if any, including requirements for potable water, fuel,
and cooking time,
10. Whether the commodity meets current Food and Drug Administration requirements,
11. The current production capacity in the United States, and seasonality/availability of the
commodity for export,
12. Known challenges and barriers around imports, and
13. Intended age range for population if product is fortified.

Please include any relevant data sources. The response to this RFI is voluntary, and the public is
welcome to address any or all the questions and provide additional information that may be
relevant to seeking information on non-traditional food aid commodities.
Responses may not exceed ten (10) pages per respondent and should focus on addressing the
questions described above. Please do not submit applications, proposals, resumes or promotional
materials. The submission shall be written in English and typed on standard 8 1/2" x 11"

electronic paper (216mm by 297mm paper), single spaced, font size 12, with each page
numbered consecutively. Any information obtained from this RFI is intended to be used by the
Government on a non-attribution basis for planning and developing a pilot program for nontraditional, shelf-stable commodities. This RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for
proposals or abstracts. Your response to this notice will be treated as information only. FAS will
not reimburse any costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that FAS is
under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to
respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do
not bind FAS to any further actions related to this topic. Responses will become government
property.
No confidential information, such as confidential business information or proprietary
information, should be submitted in comments for this RFI. Comments received in response to
this notice will be a matter of public record and will be made available for public inspection and
posted without change and as received, including any business information or personal
information provided in the comments, such as names and addresses. Please do not include
anything in your comment submission that you do not wish to share with the public.

Daniel Whitley,
Administrator,
Foreign Agricultural Service.

[FR Doc. 2024-15474 Filed: 7/11/2024 4:15 pm; Publication Date: 7/15/2024]