USAID Looks Into Revamp of Ocean Contracting Practices

Following a tumultuous year for USAID’s flagship Food for Peace international food aid program, the agency has issued a Request for Information from stakeholders regarding the incorporation of new types of ocean transportation contracts for use in the carriage of international food aid. The notice requests, inter alia, information regarding compliance with cargo preference requirements, the appropriate role of private voluntary organizations in the process, programmatic flexibility, appropriate minimum guaranteed quantities, ensuring competition, and “synergizing transportation and commodity procurements.” Notably, USAID did not publish the notice in the Federal Register, and the notice directs that comments be submitted via email rather than through the open docket process available at FedBizOpps.gov. Comments are due March 7, 2014.