Attachment_1_-_SOO_-_Study_on_Sodium_Targets_and_School_Meals.pdf

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

TITLE: STUDY ON SODIUM TARGETS AND SCHOOL MEALS

SECTION C: STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

C.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW.................................................................................................. …2

C.2 BACKGROUND

C.2.1 Background of the School Meals Program C.2.2 The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 C.2.3 School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children C.2.4 Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools; Leading the Way Toward a Healthier Future……………………………………………………………………………………. 5 C.2.5 Dietary Guidelines for Americans……………………………………… ......... ….5

C.3 PREVIOUS FNS RESEARCH RELEVANT TO THE STUDY OBJECTIVES AND

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

C.3.1 Special Nutrition Program Operations Study: State and School Food Authority Polocies and Practices for School Meals Programs School Year 2011-12 C.3.2 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study Series (SNDA I-IV)

C.4 FNS RESEARCH PRESENTLY IN THE FIELD

C.4.1 School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS or SNDA-V)……………

C.5 FOOD PRODUCTS DATABASES………………………………………………

C.5.1 USDA, Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Nutrient Database Laborator… ... 7 C.5.2 USDA, Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) .............................................................................................................. …8

C.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS……………………… .......... …9

C.6.1 Objective 1……………………………………………………………… .... ……9 C.6.2 Objective 2……………………………………………………………… .... …..10

C.7 STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES……………………… ......... …11

C.7.1 Design Overview…………………………………………………………… C.7.2 Design Parameters and Constraints…………………………………………

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 1

C.1 General Overview

Improving child nutrition is the focal point of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

The legislation authorizes funding and sets policy for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) school meal programs. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, the opportunity to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children. These reforms include improvements to the nutrition standards for school meals that align with the current dietary guidance. The resulting updated school meal patterns provide more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and reduced saturated fat, and trans fat, in age-appropriate portion sizes and calories. Also among the reforms are gradual reductions in sodium levels for school meals over the course of 10 school years, with the final sodium target taking effect in school year 2022-2023. The sodium targets for school meals can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/HealthyHungerFreeKidsActof2010.pdf . Implementation began in 2012. The table below describes the sodium reduction targets by age/group, amount, and date of implementation.

Sodium Reduction: Timeline & Amount

Age/Grade Group

Baseline:

Average Current

Sodium Levels As Offered1

(mg)

Target 1:

July 1, 2014

SY 2014-2015

Target 2:

July 1, 2017

SY 2017-2018

Final Target:

July 1, 2022

SY 2022-2023

School Breakfast Program

K-5 573 (elementary)

< 540

< 485

< 430

6-8 629 (middle)

< 600

< 535

< 470

9-12 686 (high)

< 640

< 570

< 500

National School Lunch Program

K-5 1,377 (elementary)

< 1,230

< 935

< 640

6-8 1,520 (middle)

< 1,360

< 1,035

< 710

9-12 1,588 (high)

< 1,420

< 1,080

< 740

Through its Food Distribution Programs, the USDA offers a variety of no salt added and lower sodium options, including canned, frozen, and fresh vegetables, beef, poultry, pork, fish, and cheese.

USDA Foods make up about 15-20% of the items served in school meals and these lower sodium options support schools in their efforts to meet the school year (SY) 2014-15 sodium reduction

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 2 http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/HealthyHungerFreeKidsActof2010.pdf targets. The USDA will continue to work with industry to identify additional opportunities for sodium reduction in USDA Foods products, as appropriate..

The recently signed H.R.83 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 20151 has impacted future sodium targets. Section 752 states schools are no longer required to meet sodium targets below Target 1 until further scientific research establishes the reduction is beneficial for children.

The purpose of this study is to examine from both the industry and school perspectives, successes and challenges in implementing the HHFKA sodium targets for school meals programs. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeks a contractor to design, conduct, and report on the market availability of foods in schools (as well as the broader retail space) that meet the current and future sodium requirements under the original targets set by regulation in 2010.2 Vendors should submit a comprehensive proposal that includes a detailed description of methodologies and best recommendations for meeting the study objectives and research questions. Vendors should keep in mind that results of this study should help FNS inform future technical assistance efforts for schools, Child Nutrition Program operators, and the food industry, as well as provide a picture of the current marketplace for lower-sodium products, along with information on the future landscape.

C.2 BACKGROUND

The following section provides background information on the school meals programs and previous research in this area.

C.2.1 BACKGROUND OF THE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMS

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in almost 100,000 public and non‐profit private schools and residential child care institutions. FNS administers the program at the Federal level. At the State level, the NSLP is usually administered by State education agencies, which operate the program through agreements with school food authorities (SFAs). School districts that participate in NSLP receive cash subsidies and commodities (USDA Foods) from USDA for each meal they serve. The cash subsidies are much larger for those meals served to children certified for free or reduced-price meals.

1 H.R.83 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr83 2 United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (7 CFR Parts 210 and 220), June 28, 2013. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-28/pdf/2013- 15249.pdf

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 3 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr83 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-28/pdf/2013-15249.pdf http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-28/pdf/2013-15249.pdf

Any child enrolled in a participating school may purchase a meal through the NSLP. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals.

Children from families with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of poverty are eligible for reduced-price meals (no more than 40 cents). For the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, 130 percent of the poverty level is $31,005 annually for a family of four; 185 percent is $44,123 annually. Children from families with incomes over 185 percent of poverty pay for full-price (paid) meals at rates established by local school food authorities. In 2014, more than 28 million children each day received a nutritionally balanced meal. More than 70 percent of these meals were served to low-income children certified to receive free or reduced-price meals.

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program administered by FNS that is operating in almost 90,000 public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It began as a pilot project in 1966, and was made permanent in 1975. In 2014, more than 12 million children received a school breakfast each day. More than 80 percent of these meals were served to low-income children certified for free or reduced-price meals.

The Food Distribution Division (FDD) of FNS coordinates the distribution of USDA Foods to more than 94,000 public and private nonprofit schools that provide meals to students. Schools participating in NSLP receive “entitlement dollars” to use toward the purchase of more than 200 different food options available through USDA Foods. In school year 2014-15, the published entitlement rate was 24.75 cents for each lunch claimed in the prior year, but after factoring in the additional funding supplied by the 12% rule, the effective rate was approximately 30.44 cents per lunch claimed. States and school districts do not currently earn entitlement dollars for participation in the School Breakfast Program. However, many USDA Foods options are suitable for breakfast, and entitlement earned through NSLP may also be used to purchase products for breakfast.

C.2.2 THE HEALTHY HUNGER FREE KIDS ACT of 2010

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) authorizes funding and sets policy for USDA's core child nutrition programs: the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, opportunity to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children, more specifically related to the updated nutrition standards for school meals programs. The following weblink provided is for the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 PDF document:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/HealthyHungerFreeKidsActof2010.pdf .

For all published regulations on the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 please visit:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!home

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 4 http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/HealthyHungerFreeKidsActof2010.pdf http://www.regulations.gov/%23!home

C.2.3 SCHOOL MEALS: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN3

The vendor should review the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children. The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) provide recommendations to inform the revision of the nutrition and food-related standards and requirements for the NSLP and SBP. This request related to the congressional requirement that USDA issue new guidance and regulations for the Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements of the school meal programs.

Link to this report: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SchoolMealsIOM.pdf

C.2.4 NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR FOODS IN SCHOOLS: LEADING THE WAY

TOWARD HEALTHIER YOUTH4

The vendor should review the Institute of Medicine report Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools;

Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. In fiscal year 2005, Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to initiate a study with the Institute of Medicine to review evidence and make nutrition standard recommendations for the availability, sale, content, and consumption of foods at school, with attention to foods offered in competition with federally reimbursable meals and snacks.

C.2.5 DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS 2015

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been published every five years since the first release in 1980. As mandated in Section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341), the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is reviewed, updated, and published every 5 years in a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA.

Beginning with the 1985 edition, HHS and USDA have appointed a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) consisting of nationally recognized experts in the field of nutrition and health.

The charge to the Committee is to review the scientific and medical knowledge current at the time and provide recommendations based on the scientific research5.

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) submitted the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Advisory Report) to the Secretaries of the USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February 2015. The purpose of the Advisory Report is to inform the Federal government of current scientific evidence on topics related to diet, nutrition, and health. It provides the Federal government with a foundation for developing

3 IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2010. School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

4 IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2007. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

5 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015, http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015.asp

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 5 http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/SchoolMealsIOM.pdf http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015.asp national nutrition policy. However, the Advisory Report is not the Dietary Guidelines for Americans policy or a draft of the policy. The Federal government will determine how it will use the information in the Advisory Report as the government develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. USDA and HHS will jointly release the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015 later this year, and it will provide the basis for Federal food and nutrition policy and education initiatives.

2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Scientific Report Link:

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/

C.3 PREVIOUS FNS RESEARCH RELEVENT TO THE STUDY OBJECTIVES AND

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

A full literature review is beyond the scope of this announcement but the following previously completed FNS studies have relevance to data collected on sodium in the school meals programs and food procurement processes and practices. A brief overview of the studies including links to the full reports are discussed below.

C.3.1 Special Nutrition Program Operations Study: State and School Food Authority Policies and Practices for School Meals Programs School Year 2011-126

The Special Nutrition Program Operations Study is a multiyear study designed to provide USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service with a snapshot of current State and School Food Authority policies and practices, including information on school meal standards, competitive foods standards, professional standards, school lunch pricing and accounting, and standards for local school wellness policies. The information in this first year study (SY 2011-12) will provide a baseline for observing the improvements resulting from the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). The entire report can be downloaded at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/special-nutrition-program-operations-study-state-and-school-food-authority-policies-and-practices.

C.3.2 School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study Series (SNDA I-IV)

This SNDA series evaluates the nutrients and food provided in school meals, and describes the dietary intakes of the nation’s students on a typical school day. Dietary intake data is only available in SNDA I and III. Each iteration in the series compares data with regulatory standards in effect at the study time period. Each study in the SNDA series collects data from separate nationally representative samples of public and private schools participating in the NSLP and a nationally representative sample of students attending those schools.

6 L. May et al. (2013). Special Nutrition Program Operations Study, State and SFA Policies and Practices for School Meal Programs: SY 2011-12. Prepared by Westat. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. Project Officer: John Endahl. Available online at: www.fns.usda.gov/research.

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 6 http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/ http://www.fns.usda.gov/special-nutrition-program-operations-study-state-and-school-food-authority-policies-and-practices http://www.fns.usda.gov/special-nutrition-program-operations-study-state-and-school-food-authority-policies-and-practices

SNDA I full report can be downloaded at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm SNDA II full report can be downloaded at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm SNDA III full report can be downloaded at: www.fns.usda.gov/ora/ SNDA IV full report can be downloaded at: www.fns.usda.gov/ora/

C.4 FNS RESEARCH PRESENTLY IN THE FIELD

C.4.1 School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS or SNDA-V)

The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS or SNDA-V) is the latest installment in the SNDA series. It includes an analysis of the Meal Costs, which is included in alternate SNDA cycles. It will be the first assessment of school meals after implementation of the HHFKA-based changes. Conducting the SNMCS at this historic juncture will provide FNS with crucial information about the effects of the new meal standards on nutritional quality and the cost of school meals. No national study has simultaneously examined the cost of producing and serving healthy meals children will eat. The SNMCS will provide this much-needed information. In addition, the SNMCS will, for the first time, examine plate waste in a nationally-representative sample of schools. This will enable FNS to assess students’ acceptance of meals that comply with the new meal pattern and nutrient requirements. The SNMCS will collect a broad range of data from nationally representative samples of public school food authorities, schools, students, and parents during SY 2014–2015.

C.5 FOOD PRODUCTS DATABASES

C.5.1 USDA, Agriculture Research Service (ARS), Nutrient Data Laboratory

The mission of the Nutrient Data Laboratory is to provide leadership and to promote international cooperation in the development of authoritative nutrient databases and state of the art methods to acquire, evaluate, compile and disseminate composition data on foods available in the United States.

Food composition data is collected through nationwide product sampling and analysis, collaborations with manufacturers, agricultural scientists, and publicly-available information.

ARS Nutrient Data Laboratory website:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=80-40-05-25

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 7 http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm http://www.fns.usda.gov/Ora/menu/Published/CNP/cnp-archive.htm http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/ http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/ http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=80-40-05-25

C.5.2 USDA, Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agencies purchase a variety of domestically produced and processed USDA Foods products, through a competitive process among approved vendors. These purchase activities support American agriculture by connecting nutrition assistance programs with products produced by American growers. These wholesome, high quality products, collectively called USDA Foods, are delivered to schools, food banks, and households in communities across the country and are a vital component of our nation’s food assistance programs. All products purchased by USDA have specifications that define the many attributes desired, including nutrition standards, food safety requirements, and packaging. USDA posts a public solicitation for each procurement opportunity and approved vendors can provide their best offer to supply to one or more destinations. We recommend you review the links below for a list of USDA Foods suppliers.

Agriculture Marketing Service website:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateQ&navID=Com modityPurchasing&leftNav=CommodityPurchasing&page=CommodityPurchasing&acct=AMSPW Meat and Aquatic Eligible Suppliers List:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5097797 Fruit and Vegetable Suppliers List:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5103231 Poultry and Egg Suppliers List:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5103320 USDA Vendor Information-USDA Commodity Specifications/AMS Master Solicitation Supplements:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateJ&page=CPDC ommodityPurchaseSpecification

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 8 http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateQ&navID=CommodityPurchasing&leftNav=CommodityPurchasing&page=CommodityPurchasing&acct=AMSPW http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateQ&navID=CommodityPurchasing&leftNav=CommodityPurchasing&page=CommodityPurchasing&acct=AMSPW

C.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Section 201 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) required USDA to establish updated school meal pattern requirements based on recommendations of the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board. Those standards took effect in July 2012, which include targets for sodium reduction over the next ten years, with the last sodium target taking effect in school year 2022-2023. The purpose of this study is to examine from both the industry and school perspectives, successes, challenges, and technical assistance needs related to the implementation of the HHFKA sodium targets for school meals programs.

For this study, FNS seeks a contractor to design, conduct, and report on the market availability of foods served in school meals (as well as the broader retail space) that meet the current and future sodium requirements, as well as the implementation realities and technical assistance needs of School Food Authorities (SFAs) in meeting the HHFKA sodium targets for school meals.

The recently signed H.R.83 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 has impacted future sodium targets. While Section 752 states schools are no longer required to meet sodium targets below Target 1 until further scientific research establishes the reduction is beneficial for children, the purpose of this study is to gauge the progress made by schools and industry in implementing the HHFKA sodium reduction policy and sodium targets for school meals programs.

This study aims to identify: successes and challenges faced by schools and industry; the strategies, tools, resources and technical assistance SFAs have been employing that have worked well; and what strategies, tools, resources and technical assistance are still needed to achieve the sodium targets for school meals programs.

In this section, “foods lower in sodium” refers to reduced sodium, low-sodium, and no-added-sodium foods and food products. USDA/FNS is interested in all of these foods lower in sodium as a part of this study.

C.6.1 OBJECTIVE 1: Examine the market availability of foods that meet the current and future sodium standards (i.e., sodium targets) for school meals programs.

Research Questions:

1. Is the food industry positioned to sell foods lower in sodium to schools/school districts?

2. What research and development efforts have been put in place to develop lower sodium foods to meet school meals standards for sodium?

3. What are the current barriers the food industry faces, and what barriers does the food industry foresee in providing (and continuing to provide) schools with lower sodium foods (short-term, long-term)?

4. What outreach/communication efforts has the food industry put forth about product availability of lower-sodium foods?

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 9

5. What are the most common foods being reformulated/developed by the food industry? And why?

6. Are new food products in development to meet the future sodium standards for school meals (e.g. Sodium Targets 2 and 3)?

7. Does the food industry think that people’s tastes are changing and the wider market is shifting towards lower sodium foods? What about for the school foods market (elementary, middle, and high schools)?

8. Are there higher costs associated with producing lower sodium foods?

9. Does the food industry develop specific lower sodium foods for the National School Lunch

Program vs. the general public?

10. What technical assistance would the food industry like from USDA/FNS with regard to providing lower sodium foods for school meals programs that meet the new sodium standards?

11. Are Food Service Management Companies trying to incorporate more fresh, frozen, and/or local items?

C.6.2 OBJECTIVE 2: To identify “best practices” in schools that are successfully meeting sodium targets that could be used to provide technical assistance to School Food Authorities (SFAs) developing lower sodium menus.

Research Questions:

1. What are the strategies, tools, and best practices that could be used to provide technical assistance to SFAs and schools trying to meet the sodium standards for school meals?

2. What technical assistance could USDA/FNS provide SFAs and schools to help them meet the sodium requirements?

a. Is there assistance available now that has been helpful in meeting the sodium requirements?

3. Are SFAs meeting sodium standards through recipe modification or by purchasing lower sodium foods, or both?

a. Are specific components of meals driving up the average daily sodium amount for school lunches?

4. What products and recipes have gained the greatest student acceptance? What specific strategies, tools, and resources have been used to gain such student acceptance?

5. What products and recipes have not gained student acceptance?

6. How does the use of USDA Foods and/or Department of Defence (DoD) Fresh Fruit and

Vegetable Program relate to meeting the sodium standards? (i.e., do the programs help SFAs meet sodium standards)

7. Do schools have difficulty finding and purchasing lower-sodium foods? What types of products are the most difficult to procure? What do schools wish that they had? What exactly are the challenges?

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 10

8. Are schools working with the food industry/distributors/producers to develop/reformulate menus or products? Are there other ways that the food industry has supported SFAs (e.g., going into schools to help with taste-testing, providing menus or recipe, etc.)?

9. Are schools incorporating more scratch-cooking, or planning to do in the future?

10. Did any SFAs meet the Target 1 sodium standards before implementation was required in

School Year 2014-2015?

11. Do you think SFAs will be able to continue lowering sodium levels in school lunches in the future, such as to meet Sodium Targets 2 and 3?

12. Does the type of school play a role in meeting the sodium standards for school meals?

i. elementary, middle, high

13. Does geographic region, or urbanicity play a role in meeting sodium standards? What are the specific barriers faced by geographic region, large vs small district, urban/rural?

14. Does type of procurement system affect ability to purchase lower sodium foods?

a. Method of Food Procurement:

i. Consortium of States

ii. State

iii. Food Service Management Companies

iv. DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

v. Co-op

vi. Schools

vii. SFA

C.7 STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES

C.7.1 DESIGN OVERVIEW

The Study on Sodium Targets and School Meals is very important, given the changes mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The contract will be awarded in Fiscal Year 2015. The primary data collection is expected to take place in FY 2016.

C.7.2 Design Parameters and Constraints

To conserve limited study resources, the vendor shall use existing data collection instruments to the maximum extent feasible. If new instruments are deemed necessary, the Vendor shall note that any pre-test with more than nine (9) respondents may require approval under terms of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), described below.

• The Vendor must prepare the required publication notices and clearance package for submittal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain approval for all data collection activities in all components of the evaluation subject to the requirements of the PRA. The clearance package must provide an explicit, concise description of the direct links between the study objectives, research questions, variables, instrument items, data analysis plans and desired

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 11 products. The PRA data collection package shall contain copies of all final data collection instruments and a supporting statement as set forth in the revised Standard Form No. 83a, “Instructions for Requesting OMB Approval under the Federal Reports Act”, as Amended.

• Vendors are advised that obtaining approval for data collections under the PRA can be a lengthy process. The Vendor should be aware that the OMB data collection package will be reviewed by multiple groups within USDA. Revisions to the package may be required after each level of review and the package will not be considered complete until it receives official OMB clearance.

Past experience has shown that it can take six to nine months from the first submission of a 60-day Federal Register notice to final approval of the information collection. Vendors are advised that clearance is often the primary rate limiting factor in many studies. Preparation of a high-quality initial draft of instruments and justification statements, followed by timely responses to required revisions, will greatly facilitate the approval process. For additional information — including detailed guidance, a checklist for final collection request submissions, and estimated timelines, see the following link (www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/information-collection). Vendors are advised that clearance package formats that have worked at other Federal agencies may be rejected by USDA.

• Full conformance with the OMB standards and guidelines for surveys is required. Vendors shall note that an 80 percent survey response rate is required; if response rates are less, a nonresponse bias analysis is mandatory. Vendors shall explain and justify their proposed procedures for ensuring that high response rates are obtained and demonstrate their understanding and acceptance of OMB standards and guidelines for calculating response rates and actions that are required if response rates are under 80 percent.

• USDA is interested in research of high scientific rigor communicated in a policy relevant fashion. The Vendor shall propose an approach to document, communicate, and present the results of the evaluation and supporting analyses to USDA, the broader research and policy field.

USDA also has a strong interest in obtaining results as soon as possible from the contract award.

• In general, USDA expects to have multiple opportunities for engagement in the review and comment on most aspects and products of the independent evaluation, including revised study, data collection and analytic plans; data collection instruments and requests for PRA clearance;

preliminary data tables and graphics; final reports; briefing materials; and public use data files.

The set of proposed tasks should clearly indicate proposed deliverables and timelines for USDA review, and comment, and subsequent revisions.

Attachment 1 - SOO Page 12 http://www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/information-collection/information-collection-package http://www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/information-collection/information-collection-package

C.3.1 Special Nutrition Program Operations Study: State and School Food Authority Policies and Practices for School Meals Programs School Year 2011-125F