Child Nutrition Programs

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is intended to provide a basis for selection of an FSMC. The selected FSMC will be responsible for: (1) the management of the food services staff, including training and development; quality and control; (2) extensive operational and technical support; and (3) financial management of the program. In submitting a proposal, the FSMC agrees that it will perform the work described in the RFP in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations adopted or promulgated by any Federal or State regulatory body or governmental agency. By reading and accepting this pre-qualification outline, the interested FSMC acknowledges that the SFA has no obligation to contract, unless, in its sole opinion, it is in its best interest to do so. The SFA employs 1,113 persons and provides food service to approximately 6,958 children at 11 sites, including 11 schools, 6-8 SSO feeding sites, and 5 At-Risk Afterschool feeding sites. The food service prepares

approximately 800,000 meals annually. Detailed SFA information is on Exhibit F. A. The SFA will adhere to the following Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in the oversight of the food service program. (1) The SFA shall adhere to the procurement standards specified in 7 CFR 210.21 when contracting with an FSMC. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(1)/2 CFR 200.319] (2) The SFA shall ensure that the food service operation is in conformance with the SFA’s agreement under the program. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(2)] (3) The SFA shall monitor the performance of the FSMC through periodic on-site visits. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(3)] (4) The SFA shall retain control of the quality, extent, and general nature of the food service and prices charged to children for meals. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(4)] (5) The SFA shall retain signature authority on the Food Program Permanent Service Agreement, free and reduced policy statement, and claims. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(5)] (6) The SFA shall establish an advisory board composed of parents, teachers, and students to assist in menu planning. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(8)] (7) The SFA shall obtain written approval of requests for proposals (RFP) for an FSMC before their issuance. The SFA must incorporate all Arizona Department of Education (ADE) required changes to its solicitation documents before issuing those documents. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(9)] (8) The SFA shall ensure that ADE has reviewed and approved the contract terms and that the SFA has incorporated all ADE required changes into the contract or amendment before any contract or amendment is executed. Any changes made by the SFA to the prototype contract must be approved in writing by ADE before the contract is executed. When requested, the SFA must submit all procurement documents by the due date set by ADE. [7 CFR 210.16(a)(10)] (9) The SFA shall maintain responsibility for the application process for all free and reduced-price meals and shall establish and notify parents and guardians of program criteria for eligible students. The SFA shall be responsible for verifying applications for free and reduced-price meals as required by USDA regulations. The SFA will ensure that no child is discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. Both the SFA and the FSMC shall be responsible for protecting the anonymity of students receiving free or reduced-price meals. [7 CFR 245.6] (10) Every school year, prior to February 1, the SFA with more than one school shall perform no less than one on-site review of the lunch counting and claiming system and the readily observable general areas of review as identified under 7 CFR 210.18(h) in each school operating the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and 50% of schools operating the Arizona Department of Education FSMC RFP Template 10.2023 - Page 6 of 76 School Breakfast Program (SBP) under its jurisdiction. In addition, schools operating Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) are encouraged to observe as many classrooms as they deem necessary. While the annual requirement is to complete 50% of the schools approved to participate in the SBP in the SFA’s jurisdiction, each school approved to participate in the SBP must be reviewed at least once every two years. If the review discloses problems with a school's meal counting or claiming procedures, the SFA shall ensure that the school implements corrective action; and, within forty-five (45) days of the review, conduct a follow-up on-site review to determine that the corrective action resolved the problem. Each on-site review shall ensure that the school's claim is based on the counting system authorized by the State agency under 7 CFR 210.7(c) and that the counting system, as implemented, yields the actual number of reimbursable free, reduced-price and paid lunches, respectively, served for each day of operation. [7 CFR 210.8(a)(1)]