Request for Information (RFI)- Warehousing/Logistics Services for U.S. Gulf of Mexico

This is a Request for Information (RFI) and sources are sought for small businesses only as part of conducting market research. For the past ten years, USAID has operated a global warehousing program for the preposition of agricultural food products both domestically and in various regions of the world for the purpose of responding to humanitarian emergencies. Without guarantee, the program has historically handled approximately 50,000- 60,000 net metric tons of food assistance commodity cargo globally per year. Cargo originates in the United States and is shipped to the prepositioning sites as required. USAID is seeking to obtain domestic warehousing and logistics services for prepositioned Title II humanitarian food aid commodities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Region. The commodities will largely consist of packaged agricultural products in bags, cartons, or pallets. The commodities may be processed or unprocessed. They may include specialized emergency food products, that require at a minimum ambient air temperature storage below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The contractor will be required to provide warehousing space in close proximity to a major ocean port in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico region. The maximum quantity that may be stored at any given time in the ambient temperature warehouse is 30,000 net metric tons. USAID does not guarantee a minimum quantity of commodities at any given time. The contractor does not have to maintain open warehouse space when not required by USAID but will be required to have warehouse space available at the request of USAID with 30-day notice The contractor will be required to demonstrate an ability to obtain additional space or warehouses in the U.S. should the need arise. The title to all USAID commodities is retained by USAID (at all times), whether it is in-transit or when stored at the contractor supplied warehouse(s).