Any public school that intends to use a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) to run their food service operation must competitively bid for services. A non-public school, jail or residential child care institution participating in a Child Nutrition Program that wants to use a management company to manage their food service operation in whole or in part must competitively bid for those services.

It has come to our attention that school food authorities (SFAs) are scheduling walk-through visits at schools where the Child Nutrition Program is going out to bid, before the bid documents are distributed to the FSMCs interested in bidding. The requirements of the bid specification and agreement must be known to all potential bidders at the time the work site is examined, in order to provide a level playing field for all potential bidders, which includes the incumbent FSMC. The goal of competitive bidding is to provide a level playing field for all potential bidders.  Creating an advantage for one potential bidder is clearly inappropriate.  Failure to follow this procedure will result in the contract not being approved by our office and the SFA will be required to properly re-bid for the service.  

If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please contact Sharon M. Smith at 518-473-1525.