The Buy American provision is an important aspect of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, and there continues to be a large emphasis on it during administrative reviews. It’s a topic that’s not going away, so foodservice directors should make it a consistent focus.
What is the Buy American Provision?
Commodities and foods that support the Buy American provision must be substantially produced and processed within the United States. “Substantial” is defined as “over 51% of the final processed product consists of agricultural commodities that were grown domestically.” Schools need to consider how this affects processed and unprocessed foods:
- Los alimentos sin procesar o los productos agrícolas deben ser de origen nacional.
- Los alimentos procesados deben elaborarse en Estados Unidos utilizando ingredientes nacionales y tener un contenido nacional superior al 51 por ciento, en peso o en volumen.
Exceptions to the Buy American Provision
There are two instances when adherence to the Buy American provision does not need to be maintained, but such occurrences are considered rare. These exceptions are based on availability and cost. The USDA defines them as follows:
Disponibilidad del producto: The product is not produced or manufactured in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available quantities of satisfactory quality.
Product cost: Competitive bids reveal the cost of a US product is significantly higher than a foreign product. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has not defined what “significantly higher” means.
Schools that choose to execute an exception for either reason noted above must provide documentation supporting their choice. Acceptable forms of documentation may include e-mails or detailed notes from a phone conversation with a distributor or vendor.
Furthermore, before considering an exception, the SFA should explore alternative products or items that are domestically sourced or meet the Buy American Provision. The USDA notes several questions including these considerations, which should be taken before utilizing an exception:
- “¿Existen otras fuentes nacionales para este producto?”
- “¿Existe algún producto nacional que pueda sustituirse fácilmente si el producto extranjero es más barato?”
- “¿Estoy solicitando ofertas para este producto en la mejor época del año? Si cerrara el contrato antes o después en esta temporada, ¿cambiarían los precios o la disponibilidad?”
YOU Are Responsible
Muchos programas escolares pueden recibir productos de un grupo de gestión de contratos o recurrir a una organización de compras colectivas (GPO) para que les ayude a seleccionar los artículos. En esos casos, independientemente de quién realice la compra de los alimentos, el cumplimiento de la disposición «Buy American» sigue siendo responsabilidad de la Autoridad de Servicios de Alimentación Escolar (SFA).
And remember: just because a product is made by a well-known U.S. brand does not mean it will meet the Buy American provision. Similarly, just because an item is carried by a U.S. foodservice distributor, it’s not guaranteed to be compliant.
Monitoring Compliance
School Food Authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance with the Buy American provision, especially with changes in seasons and produce availability.
Here are tips for doing so:
- Realizar inspecciones aleatorias de las zonas de almacenamiento, incluidos los congeladores y los almacenes en seco, para identificar los productos nacionales y los no nacionales.
- Review any products that are not domestic and make sure you have documentation to support the exception. The vendor will provide that information.
Best Bid Practices for Adherence
Work with your foodservice distributor and manufacturers to understand the items you’re purchasing and menuing. Build your bid specifications to eliminate non-domestic products or include alternate domestic items. Understand the best time of year to complete your bid and work that into your calendar. Specify your adherence to the Buy American Provision and consider including a statement emphasizing that products must be substantially produced and processed within the United States.
How Can Gordon Food Service Help
Gordon Food Service has a Buy American filter in Gordon Ordering to help when reviewing your order guide or when viewing the product catalog for new products. In addition, we have Buy American letters; including exception letters, available from the vendors that have supplied them.
