Broome Tioga BOCES Rock on Café TM Food Procurement Program Presented by Julie M. Raway, MPH, RDN, CDN, SNS
Broome Tioga BOCES
Rock on CaféTM Food
Procurement Program Presented by Julie M. Raway, MPH, RDN, CDN, SNS
Rock on CafeTM
• This program, which is in its 9th school
year, is a service of Broome-Tioga
BOCES and currently 15 school districts
throughout Broome and Tioga County are
participating.
• This program is designed by the
cooperative effort of all of the Food
Service Directors and their nutrition expert.
Background
• 1995 Started Bid Group
• 1999 “BC Specification Coalition”
– 15 School Districts w/ Separate Menus
• 2006 Launched “BT BOCES Rock on Café”,
with Standard Menus and “BC Specification
Group Bid”
• 2009-Present Full-Time Registered Dietitian
who reviews all items for food bid
Broome Tioga BOCES Structure
Senior Director of Food Services
Food Service Director
6 Site Managers
Food Service Director
5 Site Managers
Food Service Director (1
Large District)
Registered Dietitian
Special Projects
Coordinator
2 Site Managers
What is Procurement?
• Procurement is the purchasing of goods
and services. The procurement process
involves:
Planning Drafting
Specifications
Advertising the
Procurement
Awarding a Contract
Managing a Contract
Source: USDA/FNS
Why are Procurement Rules
Important?
• To ensure that program benefits (and
taxpayer dollars!):
– Are received by eligible schools and students
– Are used effectively and efficiently, with no
waste or abuse
• Competition
– Competition is essential to ensure low cost
and good quality of goods and services
Source: USDA/FNS
Why?
From a Food Service Perspective:
• Food Buying Power
• Lower Food and Supply Cost To The Meet
The Bottom Line
• Control on Specifications
• More Creativity and Discussion on Menu
Planning
Why?
From Food Industry Perspective:
• Decrease Number of Similar Product
• Lower Cost in Volume Purchases
• Less Time in Bid Proposal Preparation
• Consistency in Product Specification and
Product Development
• Easy Presentation of New Products
Why?
From a Nutritional perspective:
• Insure Nutritional Integrity of Foods
• Insure Portion Size and Cost of Items
• Better Control Over Allergens with One
Data Base
• Systemized Procedure for Evaluation of all
Foods Before Being Allowed on Bid
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Final Rule
• Meeting Weekly Requirements of the Meal
Pattern:
– Age-appropriate calorie limits (min/max)
– Larger servings of vegetables and fruits
– A wider variety of vegetables, including dark
green and red/orange vegetables and legumes
– Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-
free)
– More whole grains/adequate protein
– Elimination of trans fats and 10% or less of total
calories from saturated fat
– Less sodium
Competitive Foods
(A La Carte Sales)
• Snack, beverages, and other entrée items
sold during school hours
• Nutrient Standards
– Calories, sodium, fat and sugar limits
• Identifying acceptable (price and taste)
products can have a positive/negative
effect on a programs financial status
Smart Snacks Bid
• Implemented in 2014
• Guidelines and bid shared with
stakeholders in schools who were selling a
la carte items during the school day
• Decreased number of products available
meeting requirements
Smart Snacks Taste Test
• Ask for samples from vendors
• Taste test with students through sampling
and voting
• Vend products and look at sales
• These guide price point (what students are
willing to pay)
Broome Tioga BOCES:
Food Procurement Bids
• Milk and Milk Products: 1x per year (Opens in June)
• Bread and Bread Products: 1x per year (Opens in July)
• Groceries/Smart Snacks: 1x per year (Opens in July)
• Meat and Cheese: 5x per year (Opens in July, October,
December, February, and April)
• NOI (Opens in February)
• Fee For Service (Opens in February)
• Paper and Supplies: 1x per year
(Opens In August and January)
Product Identification Process
Identify Product Needs
Identify Products and Cost
Per Serving
Cut Products
(Staff Only)
Evaluate Nutritional
Contribution to Menus
Test Taste Products
with Students
Specified Acceptable
Product Added to
Bid
Taste Testing
152 Yes
48 No
Carrot
Taste Tests
1. Bid is reviewed each year and deletions and
additions are suggested. (Ongoing, but is mostly
done in the spring before it is sent out)
2. Items suggested are reviewed for nutritional
integrity and contribution to the meal pattern. If
acceptable, samples are requested. (Ongoing)
3. Directors are periodically asked to attend food cuttings
to sample new items, If acceptable, samples are then presented to students for a
review. (Ongoing)
4. Then acceptable items are added to the Grocery Bid yearly or to the Meat and
Cheese Bid five times a year which gives flexibility to bid new items throughout the
year.
5. Bid is specified by product name and product code. Bid notice is posted (depending on the type of bid determines the time of
this.
6. A minimum of 3 directors review the bid to ensure
adherence to the bid specification. (Ongoing, but
also depends on what the bid is)
7. A line by line award is given to the Grocery and
Meat and Cheese bid. (depending on the type of bid determines the time of
this)
8. Any variations of products received by the schools is
relayed to the bid office in order to ensure that only acceptable
products are received. Companies are notified if there
is any variance in products. (Ongoing)
Staff Training & Decision Making
Rock on Café Benefits
• Community Partners
• Wellness Policies
• Promotions
• Farm To School
• Grants and Projects
Community Partners
• American Farmland Trust
• Broome County Health
Department
• Cornell Cooperative
Extension
• Cornell University
• Equinox Broadcasting
• Food and Health Network
• Food Bank of The
Southern Tier
• News Channel 34
• Rural Health Network
• NYS Farm to School
Coordinating Committee
• SUNY Binghamton
• SUNY Oneonta
• Tioga County Health
Department
• United Health Services
• WSKG
Wellness Policies
• Training
• Schools should lead wellness policy, but
food services should be a member
• Community Involvement
Promotions
Our Local
Farm To School Project
Foods Services is an Asset
• Appreciate the role of nutrition in the
educational process
– Wellness
– Hunger
– Educational Success
• Build a relationship with school food
service manger and staff
• Keep in mind they are busy and have a lot
on their plate (just like everyone!)
Broome & Tioga Counties
Approach The Rock on Cafe™
15 School Districts
Involvement of Every Director
Recipe
Development
Promotion
Menus
Bids
Community
Involvement
Nutrition
Education
Rock on
Café Gets
Published!
Questions?
Contact Information
Julie Raway, MPH, RDN, CDN, SNS
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
(607) 766-3937