Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Part 3b: Formal Procurement: Invitation for Bids

Part 3b in the Procurement Guidance Course Series.

Course Description

Understand when it is appropriate to use the Invitation for Bids (IFB) solicitation method to conduct a formal procurement, identify the five best practice steps for the formal procurement method using the IFB solicitation method, and learn how to properly execute each step in the formal procurement process using the IFB solicitation method.

  • Course Number: 098
  • Training Length: 35 minutes
  • Certificate: Yes
  • Target Audience: School business officials and food service staff
  • Mandatory: No
  • Cost: Free
  • Date Recorded: December 2022

Online Course

Begin the Part 3b: Formal Procurement: IFB course.

Referenced Resources

Crediting

  • Crediting: 0.5 hours
  • Key Area: Operations (2000) or Administration (3000)
    • Training Topic: Purchasing (2400) or Program Management (3200)
      • Learning Objective: Purchasing food, supplies, and equipment in compliance with federal, state, and local procurement regulations (2430) or Oversee Standard Operating Procedures for routine operations (3220)

Contact Us

If you have technical difficulties or questions regarding the course content, please email the CDE Procurement Resources Unit at NSDProcurementReview@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Procurement Resources Unit | NSDProcurementReview@cde.ca.gov | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ground Beef (added 30-Jul-2025)
    Ada Valley Meat Company Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
  • 2025–26 FFVP Grant Recipient Announcement (added 29-Jul-2025)
    On July 28, 2025, the CDE NSD awarded and posted the FFVP first allocation grant recipients and funding allocations for School Year 2025–26 on the CDE FFVP Funding Results web page. The FFVP first allocation is July 1, 2025–September 30, 2025.
  • CEP Application and Mandatory P2 Base Year Review (added 28-Jul-2025)
    Provides guidance to school food authorities on how to apply for the Community Eligibility Provision and on the mandatory review of the Provision 2 base year.
  • Appeal Process for Grants (added 24-Jul-2025)
    This web page provides and overview and timeline for the appeal process for grants in California associated with the Child Nutrition Programs administered by the California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division.
  • Mandatory Review of Provision 2 Base Year (added 23-Jul-2025)
    This management bulletin provides guidance regarding the mandated review of school food authorities participating in Provision 2.

  • Noncongregate Waivers for Unanticipated Closures (added 23-Jul-2025)
    Noncongregate Waivers for Unanticipated School Closures SY 2025-26
  • California Agriculture in the Classroom Conference (added 21-Jul-2025)
    Join California Agriculture in the Classroom at the 38th Annual Agriculture in the Classroom Conference to gain hands-on tools, resources, and inspiration to integrate agriculture into every subject.
  • Food Safety Inspection for School Year 2024–25 (added 15-Jul-2025)
    LEAs participating in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and/or National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must complete the SY 2024-25 Food Safety Inspection Survey.
  • School Year 2025–26 Annual Update Now Open (added 14-Jul-2025)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) has opened the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) Annual Update in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) for School Year (SY) 2025–26 (July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026).
  • Updates to School Nutrition Program Standards (added 10-Jul-2025)
    This MB provides Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) Operators information and policy guidance regarding updates to federal CNP meal pattern requirements released on April 24, 2024.