Implement

Private Institutions: Draft Food Service Management Contracts

This stage guides an institution in incorporating values-based procurement requirements into its food service contract with a food management company.
  • Private Institution
  • FSMC-Operated
Implement: 

Why is it Important to Include Values-Based Procurement in the Food Service Contract?

When a private institution hires a management company, it is outsourcing part, or all, of its food service operations. This delegation gives the management company significant responsibility and flexibility in food purchasing. Therefore, when drafting the food service contract, it is important to make requirements clear and specific to best ensure compliance with values-based procurement provisions.

Incorporating values-based procurement requirements into the food service contract ensures that the institution’s food purchasing guidelines are binding on the management company. In this way, an institution can use the food service contract to mandate values-based procurement practices and ensure that its goals are met.

Footnotes

[1] See e.g., Sustainability Guidelines for Food Service Purchasing from the Emory University Sustainable Food Committee, Emory University, https://sustainability.emory.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SustFoodPurchGuidelns5-27-16.pdf; Sample Language & Resources for Local Foods in Contracts & RFPs, Massachusetts Farm to School and Farm to Inst. New England (FINE) 6, https://www.farmtoinstitution.org/sites/default/files/imce/uploads/Local%20Food%20Language%20for%20Contracts.pdf.

[2] Advancing School Food Procurement: Driving Values-Based Purchasing through Competitive Solicitations, The Common Mkt. 31 (Nov. 2022) https://www.thecommonmarket.org/assets/uploads/reports/Advancing-School-Food-Procurement-Driving-Values-Based-Purchasing-through-Competitive-Solicitations.pdf.

[3] Setting the Table for Success: A Toolkit for Increasing Local Food Purchasing by Institutional Food Service Management, Farm to Inst. New England, https://www.farmtoinstitution.org/food-service-toolkit.