Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs

Introduction

This web page provides procurement information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) administered by the California Department of Education (CDE), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Food Distribution Program (FDP). Procurement requirements apply to all agencies that participate in the CNPs. The CDE is committed to providing ongoing guidance to support CNP agencies with the proper procurement of goods and services, and encourages all CNP agencies to routinely review and use the resources on both this web page and the Procurement in School Nutrition Programs (SNP) web page.

Background

The federal government, in an attempt to streamline the administration of federal grants, consolidated several federal regulatory sections into Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Part 200 (Super Circular). The Super Circular replaces existing rules in Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), parts 3015, 3016, 3019, and 3052; and in 2 CFR, parts 215, 220, 225, and 230 (Office of Management and Budget Circulars A-133, A-21, A-87, and A-122, respectively). CNP operators can access the Super Circular on the U.S. Government Publishing Office Electronic Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 web page .

The procurement standards in the Super Circular became effective for the NSLP, SFSP, and FDP on October 1, 2015.

Overview

Procurement means buying goods and services. The steps in this process include planning, writing specifications, announcing/advertising the procurement, awarding a contract, and managing the contract. Procurement standards for the CNPs are located in 2 CFR, sections 200.317–200.327 and 7 CFR, parts 210, 225, and 250 (as applicable). At a minimum, the regulations require CNP participating districts and agencies to:

• Conduct procurements in a manner that promotes full and open competition
  
  
• Develop and maintain a written standard (or code) of conduct that covers conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest, and governs the performance of employees engaged in the selection, award, and administration of contracts
  
  
• Develop and maintain written procurement procedures designed to avoid the acquisition of unnecessary or duplicative items

Frequently Asked Questions

(Please check frequently for updates.)

• Procurement in CNPs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Updated Mar-2018)
  This CDE web page provides answers to FAQs regarding procurement in CNPs. It is meant to aid CNP operators with understanding the requirements surrounding the procurement of goods and services using federal funds. If you are unable to find the answer to your question, please contact the Office Technician from the appropriate program listed in the Contact Information section.
  

Federal Regulations and California State Laws*

• The Electronic 2 CFR, Part 200
  General procurement regulations in 2 CFR, sections 200.317–200.327.
  
  
• 2 CFR, Part 417
  Debarment and suspension regulations.
  
  
• 7 CFR, Part 210
  Federal regulations governing the NSLP.
  
  
• 7 CFR, Part 220
  Federal regulations governing the School Breakfast Program.
  
  
• 7 CFR, Part 225
  Federal regulations governing the SFSP.
  
  
• 7 CFR, Part 250
  Federal regulations governing the FDP.
  
  
• California Public Contract Code, sections 20110–20118.4
  
  
• California Education Code (EC) Section 49554
  
  
• EC sections 45103.1 and 45103.5
  
  
• California Government Code (GC), sections 1090–1097.5
  
  
• GC sections 87100–87505
  California GC regulations governing conflicts of interest.
  
  
• USDA School Meals Policy Page
  Guidance for the NSLP.
  
  
• USDA SFSP Policy Page
  Guidance for the SFSP.

*Not an inclusive list of federal regulations and California state laws.

Resources

The resources listed below provide procurement guidance to CNP districts and agencies.

• Procuring Local Foods
  This USDA web page contains a guide, decision tree, policies, resources, and the Finding, Buying, and Serving Local Foods webinar series, including geographic preference, to help ensure that agencies have the resources and knowledge necessary to incorporate local foods into their day-to-day operations.
  
  
• CDE Farm to Child Nutrition Programs web page
  CDE provides technical assistance, training, and resources to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs to incorporate a farm to school program into their existing food service operation.
  
  
• California Department of Food and Agriculture Farmers Marketplace
  The California Farmer Marketplace is a free statewide website featuring California produce, grains, meats, and other products for sale. The Marketplace offers farmers the opportunity to post products and connect directly with school food service to increase the amount of California grown and produced foods on school lunch trays. Primarily established to reduce communication barriers between buyers and sellers, the website is free and open to the general public, including ranchers, producers, distributors, institutional buyers, community groups, and individual consumers.
  
  
• USDA Fact Sheet - Selling Local Food to Schools
  This USDA fact sheet is a resource for farmers, ranchers, fisherman, food processors, bakers, or other food producers on how to provide and sell food to schools and educate students about food and agriculture.
  
  
• Community Food Systems - Food Safety FAQs
  This USDA FAQ page answers common questions about the important food safety tips that schools should follow when working with food from local farmers. This page also answers questions about and provides resources for general food safety, school garden produce, and USDA fruit and vegetable inspections.

School Nutrition Programs

• Procurement—SNP
  This CDE web page contains regulations, requirements, and guidance governing all school food service procurements for the SNPs.

• Procurement Guidance training series
  This CDE web page includes a series of helpful procurement-related videos to assist program operators procure goods and services.
  
  
• Buy American Provision Guidance
  This CDE web page (select the Procurement tab) contains guidance on the requirement for all school food authorities to comply with the Buy American Provision. Additional guidance is listed below:
  
  
  • USDA Policy Memo SP-38-2017, Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the NSLP
    
    
  • USDA Policy Memo SP-29-2006, Buy American Reminder
    
    
  • CDE Training: Buy American Provision in SNPs Video
    
    
  • Senate Bill 490 and Assembly Bill 778
    
    

• Local Agency Procurement Review School Year 2021–22
  A list of program operators scheduled for an off-site local agency procurement review in School Year 2021–22.
  
  
• Local Agency Procurement Review School Year 2023–24
  A list of program operators scheduled for an off-site local agency procurement review in School Year 2023–24.
  
  
• Procurement Review Instructions (Updated Apr-2021)
  Instructions for the procurement review process including the required documents that the SNP operator must submit to the CDE for review and a list of additional documents the CDE may request.
  
  
• Steps in the Procurement Review Process (Updated Apr-2021)
  Document that outlines the various steps in the procurement review process.
  
  
• Vendor Paid List Instructions (Updated Apr-2021)
  List of common goods and services that the SNP operator should include and exclude in the Vendor Paid List provided to the CDE for the procurement review.
  
  
• USDA Local Agency Procurement Review Tool
  Part of initial documents required from program operators chosen for procurement review. The table can be accessed in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) , Download Forms, Form ID PRU 01.
  
  
• Off-site Procurement Review Process
  Procurement guidance video that provides SNP operators with step-by-step instructions on the procurement review process.

Summer Food Service Program

• Administrative Guidance for Sponsors
  This USDA Food and Nutrition Service handbook for SFSP sponsors contains updated procurement information resulting from the Super Circular.

Cafeteria Fund

• Cafeteria Fund Guidance
  This CDE web page provides information about the cafeteria fund, a restricted account that SNP agencies may use only for the operation and improvement of the nonprofit school food service.

Contact Information

A list of Program Specialists is available in the Download Forms section of the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System . You can also contact the following program support staff for assistance:

• SNP: 800-952-5609
  
  
• Procurement Resources Unit: NSDProcurementReview@cde.ca.gov.
  
  
• SFSP: SFSP@cde.ca.gov.
  
  
• Resource Management Unit: SNPCafeFundQuestions@cde.ca.gov.

You can also contact the Nutrition Services Division by phone at 800-952-5609.