Procurement During Difficult Times

Menu needs have shifted towards more distributable, durable, and contact-free food items since the pandemic. Such changes have compelled districts to quickly source new items not only for consumption, but for safe serving as well. Faced with the challenges of product availability and promoting “safe” food items, the USDA released nationwide waivers to allow meal pattern flexibilities and to extend expiring contracts with Food Service Management Companies (FSMC) to ensure districts can continue serving. However, when it comes to contracts and procurement, there aren’t any particular FNS waivers released so you’ll want to be sure to stay up to date on these 4 key areas for the latest and greatest info available:

1. Your State and Local Regulations

The procurement methods you use ultimately depend on your local and state policies, so you’ll want to check there first to get a full understanding of your options and/or limitations, in case anything has changed.

2. The Five Procurement Methods

School districts are required to follow one or more of the procurement methods shown here:

Micro purchases (for purchases under $10,000)
Informal procurement (for purchases between $10,000 and the Small Purchase Threshold. Federal law sets the threshold at $250,000 right now, however, state and local agencies may set more restrictive micro-purchase and/or small purchase thresholds)
Invitations for Bid (IFB)
Competitive Proposals aka Requests for Proposal (RFP)
Sole Source purchases (must be pre- approved by the state agency)

Understanding these types of procurement methods and when to use them can make a huge difference in your time and budget, as well as ensure you’re in compliance with federal purchasing guidelines.

3. The Critical Elements of Procurement

Remember that all district procurement should contain the same critical elements and follow the basic fundamentals outlined by the USDA, which includes the procurement methods listed above. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) provides an easy-to-read document “to help anyone involved in purchasing goods and services for a school foodservice program to gain a better overall understanding of the purchasing rules required of districts.” Check to make sure you are including and applying the elements required of procurement.

Have questions about putting together an RFP? Check out our Tips for RFP’s ebook!