Nutrition Services Procurement Codes of Conduct

Nutrition Services Procurement Codes of Conduct

Fresno Unified hereby accepts and implements all guidance and procedures established by the CDE Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin Number: CNP-01-2015 Date: November 2015, as documented in the following procedure.  Where more specific FUSD procedures are requested by the CDE they have been included and presented in italic text.

Subject: Written Codes of Conduct and Performance of Employees Engaged in the Procurement, Award, and Administration of Contracts

The Management Bulletin (MB) provides clarifying guidance to all agencies participating in the federal child nutrition programs (CNP) regarding U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and California regulations that require CNP agencies to have a written Code of Conduct covering procurement practices. This MB will refer to any CNP-participating school districts, community-based organizations, childcare centers, sponsors, etc., as agencies.

Background

In accordance with the general procurement standards in Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Section 200.318(c), each agency must develop and maintain written standards of conduct to cover potential personal and organizational conflicts of interest. These written standards must govern the actions of agency employees, officers, or agents who engage in the selection, award, and administration of contracts funded by federal awards.

The District’s Nutrition Services Procurement Code of Conduct prohibits:

  • Employees, officers, or agents from soliciting gifts, travel packages, and other incentives from prospective contractors
  • An employee, officer, or agent from participating in the selection, award, and administration of any contracts supported by a federal award if the employee has a real or apparent conflict of interest
  • Gifts may be acceptable when the financial interest is not substantial, or a gift is an unsolicited item of nominal value.
    • Gifts not to exceed $25 and no more than one per vendor per year
    • Gifts of food for staff (i.e. holiday) must be able to be consumed in one day
  • In the event this policy is violated the:
    • FUSD standard progressive disciplinary procedures will be followed

      A conflict of interest arises when the District’s employee, officer, agent, or any member of their immediate family, a partner, or an organization that employs or is about to employ any immediate family member, has a financial or other interest in—or would gain a tangible personal benefit from—a firm considered for a contract. 

      Pursuant to 2 CFR, Section 400.2(b), the District must disclose any potential conflicts of interest in writing to the California Department of Education (CDE).

      California Government Code, Section 87100, states:

      No public official at any level of state or local government shall make, participate in making or in any way attempt to use his official position to influence a governmental decision in which he knows or has reason to know he has a financial interest.

      Public officials at every level of the District must disclose reportable investments, business positions, interests in real property, and income (financial interests). The District Board Policy 4000 includes a conflict of interest code tailoring the disclosure requirements for each position within the agency to the types of governmental decisions a person holding that position would make. A financial interest is reportable under a conflict of interest code if the business entity in which the investment or business position is held, the interest in real property, or the income or source of income may foreseeably be affected by any decision made or participated in by the public official. (California Government Code sections 87301 and 87302). 

      For more information, please visit the California Fair Political Practices Commission Web site at https://www.fppc.ca.gov/.

      Procurement Standards 

      The District must conduct all procurement transactions in a manner that allows full and open competition consistent with the standards stated in 2 CFR, Section 200.319. To ensure objective vendor performance and eliminate any unfair competitive advantage, vendors that develop or draft specifications, requirements, statements of work, invitations for bid (IFB), or requests for proposal (RFP) must be excluded from competing for the bid (2 CFR, Section 200.319[a]). 

      Actions that restrict competition include, but are not limited to:
  • Placing unreasonable requirements on firms in order for them to qualify to do business
  • Requiring unnecessary experience and excessive bonding
  • Conducting noncompetitive pricing practices between firms or between affiliated companies
  • Awarding noncompetitive contracts to consultants who are on retainer contracts
  • Allowing organizational conflicts of interest
  • Specifying a brand name product instead of allowing an equal product to be offered by describing product performance or other relevant requirements
  • Engaging in any arbitrary action during the procurement process, such as awarding a contract—without a valid reason—to a vendor that did not rank first (or lowest in price) according to the agency’s evaluation criteria when awarding a contract

Incentives 

Incentives that may serve to induce or influence an employee engaged in the selection, award, or administration of contracts may be unlawful. Examples of incentives include, but are not limited to:

  • Extra goods or services that were not solicited
  • Gifts (such as free merchandise, event tickets, gift cards)
  • Money for scholarships
  • Cash
  • Points that can be redeemed for merchandise
    To avoid noncompliance with federal procurement regulations (including, but not limited to, 2 CFR sections 200.318, 200.319, and 400.2) and to prevent bid protests, the District’s prohibits staff from accepting any incentives offered by a bidder for any agency staff member’s personal use.

    Incentives solicited the District’s RFP or IFB are a complex matter and should be handled with caution. Incentives may be allowable if the incentive or related item benefits the food service operation. If there is a question about the incentive meeting this requirement, consider removing the incentive. The CDE can help assess allowability; however, compliance is ultimately the District’s responsibility. 

    When requesting incentives, the District understands:
  • All responsive bids or proposals, including those without the requested incentives, must be evaluated
  • All requested incentives must exclusively and directly benefit the food service program; incentives that are retained for nonprogram use, or given to employees or students as a reward for an accomplishment, are not allowed
  • Soliciting incentives must not create a barrier to full and open competition
  • Eliminating bidders based on the provision of incentives or points programs limits full and open competition by placing unreasonable requirements on those bidders that are unable or unwilling to provide such incentives
  • Requesting incentives may reduce the pool of bidders
  • Unless all bidders can offer the solicited incentives, the District may not score the solicited item as part of the evaluation criteria
  • Bids and proposals that include unsolicited incentives are considered overly responsive and the District may be required to disqualify overly responsive bids, especially if it causes a material change to the RFP

    Note: Best procurement practices include proper procurement planning. If agencies are interested in soliciting incentives, procurement planning should include market research regarding the types of incentives commonly offered by vendors. With this information, the District can write a solicitation that does not limit competition and is not difficult to evaluate.

Consequences 

Pursuant to Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 210.19(a)(4), the CDE is required to investigate complaints received or irregularities noted in connection to the operation of the food service program. This requirement extends to the performance of individuals and organizations engaged in contract solicitation, award, and administration. The CDE’s oversight and monitoring of the District’s procurement activities include a review of the agency’s written Code of Conduct and, when necessary, investigations of reported real or apparent conflicts of interest. If a CDE investigation reveals that the District violated their Code of Conduct, the CDE will issue a finding of noncompliance and require the District to take corrective action. Consequences for failure to comply with federal regulations are outlined in 2 CFR, sections 200.339 (Remedies for Noncompliance) and 200.340 (Termination), and may include temporary withholding of cash payments, suspension of program funding, denial of all or part of the cost of the noncompliant activity, other remedies to bring the District into compliance, and termination. 

Agencies must be familiar with federal, state, and local laws regarding the misuse of public funds that could lead to other consequences, including civil or criminal penalties, lawsuits, and bid protests that may also result in public mistrust. The District remain responsible for ensuring that their procurements and contracts comply with all applicable laws, program instructions, and guidance materials, and should consult their legal counsel regarding any proposed procurement methods or contract language. 

Back to top