Procurement of Fluid Milk and Fluid Milk products

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Health Services Administration
Indian Health Service
Rockville, Maryland

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE CIRCULAR NO. 75-01

1. BACKGROUND

   This manual circular will update and establish Indian Health Service policy concerning the procurement and sanitary quality of fluid milk and fluid milk products and Grade A condensed and dry milk products for use within Indian Health Service facilities.

2. POLICY

   Effective November 1, 1974, all contracts for the purchase of fluid milk and fluid milk products and condensed and dry milk products for use in Indian Health Service facilities shall be awarded only to bidders offering Grade A pasteurized fluid milk and fluid milk products and Grade A condensed and dry milk products as defined in the 1965 Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance No. 229 (or the latest revision thereof).  All bidders shall have received a current pasteurization milk sanitation compliance rating of 90% or higher on the basis of the U.S. Public Health Service rating method by a certified State milk sanitation rating officer or by the U.S. Public Health Service.

3. PROCEDURES

   The Area Contracting Officer will ask bidders to indicate:

   1. Their current milk sanitation compliance and enforcement rating.
   2. State milk sanitation rating agency.

   The majority of milk sanitation ratings awarded by State agencies are published by the U. S. Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, in its quarterly listing entitled "Sanitation Compliance and Enforcement Ratings of Inter-State Milk Shippers."  The names of bidders shall be checked against the current listing. Bidders in contention, such as intra-State shippers, or those not otherwise listed, that have indicated an acceptable pasteurization milk sanitation rating may be checked by contacting the appropriate State milk sanitation rating agency or the Department of Health, Education and Welfare Regional Office.

   All contracts for procurement of Grade A fluid milk products, Grade A condensed and dry milk products, shall contain the following statement:

   "All fluid milk and fluid milk products supplied under this contract shall have a current (not over 2-years old) pasteurized milk sanitation compliance rating of at least 90% as determined by a certified State milk sanitation rating officer or by the U.S. Public Health Service, and such rating shall continue at 90% or more during the period of contract.  All milk and milk products delivered under this contract shall be subject to sampling by the contracting officer or his authorized representative."

   "Should the rating awarded the supplier by the certified milk sanitation rating officer at any time during the period of this contract be less that 90%, or should laboratory examinations of the milk or milk products conducted by the contracting officer or his authorized representative determine that the products do not meet the requirements as provided for in the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and Supplement 1 - 1965 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service, the supplier shall be in violation of the terms and conditions of this contract, and such violation shall constitute sufficient cause for the contracting officer to terminate this contract."

4. NOTIFICATION TO SUPPLIERS

   All current and potential suppliers should be advised of this policy immediately for planning purposes.

5. SUPERSESSION

   This circular supersedes Procurement Circular No. IH-3 of March 12,1965.