Procurement Solutions
Video Presentation: A Discussion of Further Processing of USDA Foods
Slide Presentation: A Discussion of Further Processing of USDA Foods
American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) USDA Foods Overview Study Guide
American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) Processing Resource Handbook
Arch Ford Processing Offers - SY 2025
Commodity Calculators - SY 2025
Product Labels as of 02-14-2023
Industry Partners Directory as of 06-26-2024
SY 2025 Request for Proposal (RFP) Tracking
Request to Add Products to Purchasing Aggregate
Request to Delete Products from Purchasing Aggregate
Procurement Solutions Resources
Procurement has really come to the forefront in recent years as the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks to encourage more transparent procurement practices that maximize free and open competition. To this end, Arch Ford offers a full complement of procurement solutions.
Templates that can be used for local procurement purposes are available to members as are procurement plans and related policies, procedures, and forms needed for organizational code of conduct and vendor appeals. Arch Ford can help write procurement documents for local procurement to ensure that large equipment purchases truly meet the needs of the local organization and provide for maximum competition among large equipment manufacturers, brokers, and distributors.
Procurement Solutions also includes a foodservice purchasing cooperative available to all federal feeding program sponsors for a variety of purchasing aggregates, including, but not limited to:
Cafeteria Signage
Cafeteria Software
Cooperative Farming
Dry, Refrigerated, and Frozen Goods
Farm Fresh Beef (awarded)
Foodservice Custodial and Cleaning Supplies
Foodservice Paper and Plastic Products (awarded)
Fresh Bakery Items (terminated)
Fresh Pizza Delivery (awarded)
Full-Line Distribution (awarded)
Further Processing of USDA Foods (awarded)
Ice Cream and Ice Cream Novelties
Milk Products and Fresh Juice (awarded)
Other Juice and Juice Beverages
Records Management Services
Retail Snack Foods and Vending
Small Equipment and Non-Expendable Items
Temperature Monitoring Systems
Uniforms and Uniform Services
Arch Ford's preferred portal for distribution and collection of school nutrition procurement solicitations is Interflex Bid Advantage for Schools. Interested vendors may create a profile there for current or future solicitations and request access to any solicitation from Arch Ford by contacting Priscilla Riedel-Cohan, MS, RDN, SNS, at Email Priscilla Cohan.
The advisory committee for cooperative foodservice purchasing meets regularly. Members of the advisory committee include each member organization with a slate of elected officers as follows:
Chairperson: Lisa Owens, Child Nutrition Director, Western Yell County School District
Vice-Chairperson: Cassidy Brown, Child Nutrition Director, Atkins County School District
Secretary/Parliamentarian: Pam Davis, Child Nutrition Director, East End School District
Reporter/Membership/Sunshine Coordinator: Valerie Sims, Child Nutrition Director, Nemo Vista School District
A schedule of meeting dates, copies of agendas with handouts, approved minutes, and any recordings of advisory committee meetings can be found here.