Food and Nutrition Programs

Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Request for Proposal (RFP)/Contract and Renewal Template

School Food Authorities (SFAs) contracting with an FSMC and exercising their option to renew an existing contract must follow procurement standards specified in 7CFR 210.21 as well as Program and Uniform Administrative regulations set forth in 2CFR Part 200 (referred to as the Super Circular).

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) has created a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Contract Template that is required to be used by Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that contract with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC). All districts who are required to go out to bid must use the template.

RFP/Contract Template

*New this year: The RFP/Contract template will be a web-based form to be completed in the security portal. Districts will be able to complete RFP/Contract Template online and produce a password protected Word document upon approval.

Contract Renewal Template

FNP will phase in a Contract Renewal Template for use by SFAs whose FSMC procurements were completed using the DESE FSMC RFP/Contract Template. Instructions for renewal for both districts using the template and districts who have yet to adopt the template will be issued in late winter.

Deadlines:

• The completed RFP section of the template must be submitted, for approval from our office to the current fiscal year Compliance Packet prior to posting no later than January 25, 2024.
• DESE will respond within two weeks of receipt of the RFP.
• Upon completion of the procurement process, the mutually agreed upon unsigned contract portion of the Contract Template must be submitted, for approval from our office to the Compliance Packet by April 15, 2024.

Training

Join us on Wednesday November 29^th from 7:30–12:00 at Framingham State University for a training around completion of the template and to answer questions about the process. The information provided is essential to being prepared to utilize and implement the RFP/Contract Template. This training will cover:

• Navigating the web-based forms to complete the RFP scoring the proposals and awarding the contract
• Timelines, addendums, and amendments
• Register via: FSMC Training - John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition

Resources:

For any additional questions please contact FSMC.Template@mass.gov .

USDA's FSMC Guidance for School Food Authorities and scoring examples can be found in the 'NSLP - Food Service Management Company' section of the Document and Reference Library within the DESE Security Portal.

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