What's New Webinar August 28, Regional Procurement Training, FY18 Applications Due

Dear Authorized Representative and Food Service Director:

This notice is sent to the Authorized Representative, the Food Service Director and other requested staff.  If you desire additional staff members to receive the monthly emails please send me their contact information and I will add them to the distribution list.   Please contact me at patti.harding@iowa.gov if you have additional questions or desire assistance.

Iowa Dept. of Education's Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services will be holding a "What's New in School Nutrition Webinar" on Monday, August 28 at 2pm. This month we will review essential information that schools need to comply with USDA regulations and file timely claims and required reports.

Please register by 10:00am on August 28 to allow us time to send you the link.  To register for the webinar, click here. 

Please submit the FY18 Application Packet on IowaCNP now if you have not already done so.  For assistance, contact your Area Consultant or Patti Harding, Administrative Consultant at patti.harding@iowa.gov.

SY 2017 – 2018 School Food Service Procurement Reviews

Beginning SY 2017-2018, the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services will conduct comprehensive procurement reviews of school food service operations using a new procurement review tool. Procurement procedures and processes is a key focus for USDA. The procurement review will be conducted during the program Administrative Review (AR).

Individual(s) responsible for school food service purchases should plan to attend regional procurement training concerning the tool.  Trainings are scheduled in September and October. Each training will be about 3 hours long. Members of a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) remain responsible that the GPO meets procurement requirements and attendance at this training is appropriate. The regional trainings are open to all districts, Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs), and non-public schools, however, if a training site is over-capacity, priority will be given to those with an AR scheduled in the upcoming School Year.

Register for the training by going to the Education Events – School  Meals webpage on the Iowa Department of Education website, click Education Events - School Meals.  Under the Regional Procurement Trainings, the location for the training is listed in parentheses. Select the date and time most convenient. Click on the date and time to go directly to the registration webpage for that training location.  Please bring the items listed on the registration page to the training.  If you have any questions, please contact Keerti Patel at keerti.patel@iowa.gov.

 Sincerely,