The purpose of this memorandum is to address recent inquiries on the application of the geographic preference option in the procurement of unprocessed locally grown or raised agricultural products.
FD-119 provides clarification for the option to combine the solicitation of procurement of end products and commercial food products. Some school food authorities may solicit bids for procurement of end products in their solicitation for procurement of commercial food products from commercial distributors, rather than conducting two separate solicitations.
Following the Jan. 26, 2012, issuance of the final rule titled Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, several questions have been raised regarding its effect on current contracts between school food authorities and food service management companies.