Child Nutrition Reviews

The state of Arkansas, through the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services Office of State Procurement (TSS OSP) on behalf of the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Child Nutrition Unit (CNU), is seeking a qualified contractor to conduct Administrative Reviews (ARs) and Procurement Reviews (PRs) for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Special Provisions. The CNU is seeking services to assist in completing 15 to 75 ARs and 15 to 75 PRs during the 2022-2023 school year, with the amount of ARs and PRs assigned to the contractor evaluated annually based on need and available funding. The initial contract term is from the award date to June 30, 2023, with the option to renew in one-year increments for up to six additional years. Prospective contractors must have a minimum of one year of experience conducting the required reviews and demonstrate financial stability.

The contract opportunity does not appear to have any set-aside requirements, and there is no information provided about the current incumbent or overall funding details. However, the RFP states that pricing must be proposed in U.S. dollars and cents, and the contractor will be required to maintain various insurance coverages. The selection process involves an evaluation of technical proposals and interviews, with the highest-ranking contractor moving forward to discussions to finalize the contract details. The estimated annual value of the contract is not specified, but the current incumbent, ABC Services, has held the contract for the past three years.