Prepare
Announce Institutional Commitment to Values-Based Purchasing
- Public & Private
- FSMC & Self-Operated
Introduction
Values-based purchasing hinges on an institution fulfilling its commitments. By announcing its commitments to certain values, the institution’s stakeholders will expect it to fulfill those commitments through its purchasing decisions. This section will:
- Discuss different methods for announcing values-based procurement commitments, weighing potential benefits and drawbacks for each.
- Explain the importance of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with values-based partners and provide model language for establishing MOUs.
- Provide external resources and examples from a wide range of institutions that have released announcements for their own values-based commitments.
Keep In Mind:
An institution’s commitment to its values, and to purchasing food that reflects those values, is a promise to its customers, partners, and constituents. It’s important that institutions only make commitments they can reliably deliver, so they can maintain a foundation of trust with those served by the institution.
Guiding Activities
Methods of Communication
Institutions can announce their commitment to values-based procurement through any number of promotional channels or materials. The chosen approaches should align with the institution’s current capacity and goals, balancing feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness.
Entering an MOU
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is one of the most effective ways for an institution to demonstrate its commitment to values-based procurement, serving as a formal yet nonbinding expression of shared intent and partnership with a values-based partner. Time and coordination are needed to develop an MOU, but MOUs help align institutional goals, secure leadership approval, and lay the groundwork for future legal and operational agreements.