Vegetarian/Halal/Kosher Ration Packs

1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)

An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends

to award a contract for goods, services or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing

other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities. If no

supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or

before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to

the pre-identified supplier.

2. Definition of the requirement

The Department of National Defence has a requirement for the supply of 67 Pallets/2010

Cases for One (1) firm year & Three (3) option years (each years order quantity will be 67

Pallets/2010 Cases) of Vegetarian/Kosher/Halal Rations. Each item must be kosher certified

by a kashruth agency and approved by the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision.

Each item also must be Certified Halal and Dhabiha Halal, and meet strict Islamic Halal

standards established by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). The

management of three separate types of ration packs (vegetarian, Kosher, and Halal) is not

currently possible in an operational theatre. DND is looking to obtain Reference number

16816-59994, or equivalent. The current part number is owned by My Own Meals INC.

3. Criteria for assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that its product meets the

following requirements:

Each ration pack must consist of a main meal entrée in a retort pouch, and an accessory kit of miscellaneous

food items to ensure that the nutritional requirement for each meal is met.

The total caloric value of the ration pack (main meal + accessory pack) must not be lower than 1100 calories.

All items contained in the ration pack, including the retort pouch and accessory kit, must be vegetarian, and

certified Halal and Kosher according to Annex A, paragraph 5.

Religious Certifications:

The Contractor must be responsible for obtaining the services of a recognized Kosher supervision

agency that is prepared to meet the requirements for Kosher certification and a recognized Halal

supervision agency that is prepared to meet the requirements for Halal certification. The Contractor

must be responsible for ensuring that appropriate Kosher and/or Halal guidelines are followed for all

meal components.

The Contractor must ensure that the Kosher and Halal inspectors are fully familiar with all relevant

aspects of the production. Certificates of compliance testifying that all ingredients meet Kosher and

Halal requirements must be provided. The Kosher and Halal inspectors may provide a list of

ingredients not requiring certification. Items requiring Kosher and/or Halal inspection must not be used

prior to approval.

Materials and packaging may, at the discretion of the Kosher and/or Halal inspectors, require

controlled storage and may need to be released for each day’s production by the Kosher

and/or Halal inspectors. Only equipment that has been approved by Kosher and Halal

inspectors must be used. These procedures must be documented by the Contractor in

conjunction with the Kosher and Halal inspectors.

All packaging and transportation of foods must be in packages, containers, vessels, or

vehicles that have been properly prepared according to the Kosher and Halal requirements.

Packaging and labeling materials must be controlled and segregated in such a way that only

the Kosher and Halal inspectors can release that material for the day’s production.

Kosher and Halal inspectors must have access to all parts of production and storage facilities

at all times.

Records of attendance of the Kosher and Halal inspectors at the production facility, or at any

sub-contractor’s facility, must be maintained and provided to the Contracting Authority,

Procurement Authority or Technical Authority upon request.

The bidder must provide a certificate of compliance from the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America

(IFANCA) and the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision (OOKS).

Retort Pouch Specifications

The retort pouch must be a commercially sold product.

The retort pouch must have a shelf life of a minimum of 5 years.

Product Descriptions for Retort Pouch Meals

Main meal retort pouch must have a minimum post-retort weight of 227g.

The total caloric value of the main meal retort pouch must be at least 180 calories.

Each box of ration packs must contain four different meals; three pasta meals and one vegetarian

stew.

Accessory Kit Specifications

All items in the accessory kit must have a shelf life of a minimum of one year. It is desirable that all

items in the accessory kit have a shelf life of a minimum of three years.

The accessory pack must at least contain the following; beverage mix, cereal, granola bar, candy/mint,

peanuts, seeds, dried fruit, toilet paper and a spoon. Other items not listed can be included in

the accessory pack.

The total caloric value of the accessory pack must be at least 920 calories.

Packaging Specifications

The language on all packaging must be English, and it is desirable that French translations are also

present.

Each shipping case must contain 12 full rations in two separate boxes; one box containing 12 retorted

main meals and the other box containing 12 accessory packs.

Accessory pack must be packaged in a clear bag.

Each case or retort pouches must contain three meals or each menu.

The cases of ration packs must be palletized for shipping with 30 boxes per pallet.

4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement

This procurement is subject to the following trade agreement(s) (insert only the applicable trade

agreement(s)):

o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier

The pre-identified supplier is the only known supplier who can provide dual-certified Halal and

Kosher vegetarian ration packs.

6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception(s)

The following exception(s) to the Government Contracts Regulations is (are) invoked for this

procurement under subsection 6(d) - "only one person is capable of performing the work.

7. Exclusions and/or Limited Tendering Reasons

The following exclusion(s) and/or limited tendering reasons are invoked under the (section of the

trade agreement(s) specified):

o Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) – Article 513: 1. (b) (iii). Limited Tendering

8. Period of the proposed contract or delivery date

Provide the period of the proposed contract or the required delivery, including potential renewal or

option years.

o The goods must be delivered on or before March 31,2022. Optional goods must be delivered

within 90 days of exercising the option.

9. Cost estimate of the proposed contract

The estimated value of the contract, including option(s), is $1,155,504.59 (GST/QST included).

Name and address of the pre-identified supplier

Name: My Own Meals, Inc.

Address: 400 Lake Cook Road, Suite 107

PO box 334

Deerfield, IL 60015

(847) 948-1118

Fax: (847)948-0468

14. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities

Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods described in

the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this

notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly

demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.

15. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities

The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is January 4th, 2022 at

2:00 p.m. EST.

16. Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:

Paige Morris, DLP A/6-3-1

101 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa ON K1A 0K2

E-mail: Paige.Morris@forces.gc.ca

Phone : 343-552-7713