Overview

Child Nutrition Programs | School Nutrition Programs | CACFP | SFSP

Sponsors of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs must ensure compliance with the requirements for contracting with vendors and food service management companies (FSMCs). These requirements apply to the school nutrition programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Federal, state, and local laws and regulations specify the methods that sponsors of Child Nutrition Programs must follow to properly procure contracts with vendors and FSMCs (7 CFR 200 and 210). State agencies are required to ensure that sponsors comply with the applicable regulations through audits, administrative reviews, technical assistance, training, guidance materials, and other means (7 CFR 210.19(a)(3)).

Contracts in School Nutrition Programs  |   Contracts in the CACFP  |   Contracts in the SFSP

Contracts in School Nutrition Programs

• Contracting with Food Service Management Companies: Guidance for School Food Authorities (USDA)
• Federal Financial Management and Procurement Requirements: CFR PART 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
• Request for Proposals (RFP)/Contract: To request the CSDE's Template Request for Proposals (RFP)/Contract document, contact Andy Paul at andrew.paul@ct.gov.
• USDA Memo SP 13-2023: Best Practices for Contracting with Food Service Management Companies

Monitoring

• School Food Authority/Food Service Management Company Monitoring Form (CSDE)
• Procurement for School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)

Training

• Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Request for Proposal (RFP) Process (January 30, 2024)
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  •  PowerPoint slides
• CSDE/DAS CTSource Training for NSLP Sponsors (February 22, 2023)
  This training was conducted by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and CSDE to provide guidance for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) sponsors on uploading their FSMC Request for Proposal to the DAS CTSource website.
• 2023-24 FSMC RFP Process Meeting with FSMC Personnel March 7, 2024
• FSMC RFP Process Open Office Hour March 5, 2024
• FSMC RFP Office Hour February 21, 2024: Online System Tutorial
• FSMC RFP Process Open Office Hour March 10, 2023 

Contracts in the CACFP

• Invitation for Bid and Contract (Non-profit and For-profit Sponsors)(CSDE)
• Instructions for Competitive Bidding Procedures for CACFP Institutions (CSDE)
• Sample Invitation to Bid Announcement (CSDE)
• Sample Recommendation for Bid Award (CSDE)
• Sample School Food Agreement in Child Care Programs (CSDE)

Contracts in the SFSP

• Invitation for Bid and Contract (IFB)
  • SFSP Invitation for Bid and Contract (IFB) for Food Service Management Companies (CSDE)
  • Schedule A: SFSP Site Information List (CSDE)
• FSMC Application for SFSP Registration
  • Food Service Management Company Application for SFSP Registration (CSDE)
  • Guidance and Instructions for the Food Service Management Company Application for SFSP Registration
• Recommendation for Bid Award for the SFSP (CSDE)
• SFSP Sponsor/Vendor Award Conference Checklist (CSDE)
• Summary of Instructions for SFSP Sponsors Contracting with a Food Service Management Company (CSDE)