Documents/Forms

Buy American  |   Equipment Purchases  |   Forms  |   Geographic Preference (Local Foods)
Policy Memos  |   Procurement Review  |   Resources  |   Training

Buy American Requirement

• Buy American Factsheet (USDA)
• Buy American Justification Form (CSDE)
• Buy American: U.S. Agriculture Supporting Healthy School Meals (Insitute of Child Nutrition Training)
• Overview: Buy American Requirement for the School Nutrition Programs (CSDE)
• Section 18: Buy American of the USDA's Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• USDA Memo SP 23-2024: Buy American Provisions Related to the Final Rule Titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
• USDA Memo SP 32-2019: Buy American and the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
• USDA Memo SP 38-2017: Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the NSLP
• USDA Memo SP 29-2006: Buy American Reminder 

Equipment Purchases

• Capital Expenditure Requests and Equipment Approvals (CSDE's Financial Management for School Nutrition Programs webpage)

Forms

• Buy American Justification Form (CSDE)
• Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion – Lower Tier Covered Transactions (CSDE)
• Sample Code of Conduct (CSDE)
• Sample Procurement Procedures (Version 1) (CSDE)
• Sample Procurement Procedures (Version 2) (CSDE)

Geographic Preference (Local Foods)

• Final Rule: Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs (76 FR 22603) (USDA)
• Finding, Buying and Serving Local Foods: Using Geographic Preference (USDA)
• Geographic Preference: What it is and how to use it (USDA)
• Guide: Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
• Procuring Local Foods (USDA webpage)
• USDA Memo SP 22-2024, CACFP 08-2024, and SFSP 13-2024: Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• USDA Memo SP 02-2016, CACFP 02-2016 and SFSP 02-2016: Questions and Answers on the Transition to and Implementation of 2 CFR Part 200
• USDA Memo SP 03-2013, CACFP 02-2013 and SFSP 02-2013: Procurement Geographic Preference Q&As – Part II
• USDA Memo SP 18-2011: Procurement Geographic Preference Q&As
• USDA Memo SP 08-2010, CACFP 05-2010 and SFSP 06-2010: Geographic Preference for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in the Child Nutrition Programs

Policy Memos

• USDA Memo FD-144, SP 04-2018, SFSP 01-2018, and CACFP 04-2018: Market Basket Analysis when Procuring Program Goods and Modifying Contracted-For Product Lists
• USDA Memo SP 05-2017, CACFP 03-2017 and SFSP 02-2017: Q&A: Purchasing Goods and Services Using Cooperative Agreements, Agents, and Third-Party Services
  • USDA Policy Memo Webinar: Group Purchasing through Cooperatives, Agents, and Third- party Entities
• USDA Memo SP 60-2016: Indirect Cost Guidance
• USDA Memo SP 12-2016, CACFP 05-2016 and SFSP 09- 2016: Guidance on Competitive Procurement Standards for Program Operators
• USDA Memo SP 03-2016, CACFP 03-2016 and SFSP 03-2016: Procurement Standards and Resource Management Requirements related to Franchise Agreements
• USDA Memo SP 02-2016, CACFP 02-2016 and SFSP 02-2016: Questions and Answers on the Transition to and Implementation of 2 CFR Part 200
• USDA Memo SP 17-2012 Opens in a new window: Procurement Q&As to Assist in the Implementation of the final rule titled Nutrition Standards in the NSLP and SBP
• USDA Memo SP 02-2010: Procurement Questions
• USDA Memo SP 02-2022, CACFP 03-2022 and SFSP 01-2022: Updates to the Federal Micro-Purchase Threshold in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)
• USDA Memo SP 15-2008: Allowability of Procurement Fees in School Food Authority Contracts
• USDA Memo SP 09-2008: Final Rule, Procurement Requirements for the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Programs
• USDA Memo SP 06-07-2005: Applicability of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Cost Circulars to Fixed Price Contracts
• USDA Memo SP 07-09-2004: Reaffirming FNS’ Position on Rebates, Discounts, and Other Applicable Credits in Cost Reimbursable Contracts
• USDA Memo SP 07-09-2004: Providing Information versus Writing Bid Specifications and Contract Terms

Menu Planning and Crediting Foods

• Crediting Foods for Grades K-12 in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Crediting Foods for Preschoolers in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Menu Planning for Child Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)

Procurement Review for School Nutrition Programs

• CSDE Operational Memo No. 11-16: Procurement Reviews for School Food Authorities in School Year 2016-17
• USDA Memo SP 39-2017: Local Agency Procurement Reviews for School Food Authorities

Resources

• CT Source (Department of Administrative Services)
• Food Distribution Program (USDA Foods) (CSDE webpage)
• Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Contracts (CSDE webpage)
• Forecasting the Procurement of Foods (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) (CSDE webpage)
• Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (USDA)
• Grades and Standards for Foods (USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service)
• Inventory Management (Chapter 5 of USDA's Menu Planner for School Meals)
• Procurement Acronyms and Definitions (CSDE)
• Procuring Local Foods (USDA)
• Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• USDA Foods School Recipient Agency (RA) Processing Handbook (American Commodity Distribution Association)
• More resources: CSDE's Resources for Child Nutrition Programs webpage. 

Training on Procurement

• Buy American: U.S. Agriculture Supporting Healthy School Meals (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• CSDE Webinars
  • Procurement 101 Training Part I, October 23, 2024
  • Procurement 101 Training Part 2, October 24, 2024
• Forecasting the Procurement of Foods (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Procurement of Foods: Cooperative Purchasing Groups (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• USDA State Agency Guidance to Procurement Topics 1, 2, and 3 (ICN Online Web-based Procurement Training Guide)
  • Topic 1: General Requirements and Responsibilities
  • Topic 2: How Procurement Works: Planning, Executing, and Administering a Competitive Procurement
  • Topic 3: Special Considerations
• USDA Webinars
  • Contracting with FSMC: Developing Solicitations and Contracts (USDA)
    • Contracting with FSMC Webinar 
    • Contracting with FSMC PowerPoint 
  • Group Purchasing through Cooperatives, Agents, and Third-party Entities includes Buy American Provision (USDA
  • Indirect Cost Guidance (USDA)