USDA - FNS Provides Guidance on Technology Procurements

Given the complex nature of K-12 technology procurement, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has recently issued several documents to provide clear guidance and resolve questions frequently asked by school foodservice departments.

In this guidance, the USDA FNS urges districts to avoid providing a narrow list of features as specifications, which are considered to be anti-competitive in nature. Bidders can propose more creative technology solutions to better address your short- and long-term foodservice technology needs if the proper context for business solutions is more broadly presented in the procurement process.

Furthermore, the USDA FNS “encourages SFAs to obtain information from as many sources as possible when developing procurement specifications.”  (Question #10 in the following Q&A document: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2005-04-29.pdf)

To assist SFAs with this process, the USDA has made available “Developing an Open Process for the Purchase of a Software System.” This presentation, delivered at a recent SNA Annual National Conference by a panel of industry experts, contains best practices for developing a fair RFP that best meets the needs of your foodservice operation. The USDA has updated the presentation handout to reflect current procurement requirements. The updated version may be found here:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2005-04.pdf.