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

California Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) Course Catalog web page
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 2 CFR web page
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Procuring Local Foods web page
California Legislative Information Public Contract Code web page
CDE Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs web page

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: Friday, October 31, 2025

Related Content

Child Nutrition Programs Course Catalog
A catalog of online training courses for program operators participating in the Child Nutrition Programs.

Trending in Nutrition

Recently Posted in Nutrition

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 (added 30-Jan-2026)
Key updates to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 such as fluid milk requirements, fluid milk substitutes, and dietary specifications for saturated fat.
Competitive Foods Webinar Series 2026 (added 26-Jan-2026)
Competitive Foods Webinar Series 2026 will consist of five webinar trainings in February 2026.
Non-congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas (added 26-Jan-2026)
Provides guidance on rural non-congregate meal service options in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), collectively referred to as the Summer Meal Programs (SMP). This MB supersedes MB.
Non-congregate Meal Service Options in Rural Areas (added 22-Jan-2026)
This management bulletin provides guidance on non-congregate meal service options in rural areas in the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option.
Civil Rights and Program Complaints (added 22-Jan-2026)
Information about filing a complaint for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).

CNP Civil Rights FAQ (added 22-Jan-2026)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers regarding civil rights compliance and complaints in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).
Civil Rights Compliance and Staff Responsibilities (added 22-Jan-2026)
These items relate to internal procedures, staff duties, and regulatory compliance.
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsor - 2026 (added 15-Jan-2026)
Summer Food Service Program Sponsors Survey for summer 2026.
Salad Bars in the School Nutrition Programs (added 15-Jan-2026)
Management Bulletin SNP-02-2026 clarifies that program operators will incur fiscal action for meal pattern violations when there are missing meal components or missing production records.
Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan (added 14-Jan-2026)
The Waiver for Non-congregate Meals During Ramadan allows approved school food authorities to offer non-congregate meals to students fasting during Ramadan.