Public Notification – National School Lunch Program Waiver Request

Published on Thursday, April 11, 2019

On April 11, 2019, the Rhode Island Department of Education submitted a waiver request for relief from the required 3-year cycle for National School Lunch Program Procurement Reviews for School Food Authorities with a Food Service Management Contract.

If granted, this waiver will extend the current 3-year cycle to a 5-year cycle for National School Lunch Program Procurement Reviews. Therefore, the current review cycle will be July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021. The goal of the waiver is for the Rhode Island Department of Education to have the ability to distribute the required Procurement Reviews over a 5-year period. This would allow the Rhode Island Department of Education to be in compliance with the Procurement Review cycle. In addition, the waiver will allow time for reviewers to provide assistance to sponsors, particularly new sponsors, as well as to attend to other responsibilities tied to the National School Lunch Program in a timely fashion.

For more information on the program, call the Rhode Island Department of Education, Office of Statewide Efficiencies, Child Nutrition Programs at (401) 222-4682 or (401) 222-4269.