GDSN CONNECT / RESOURCES

GDSN Connect Resources

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The Move to GDSN Standards in School Food Service

Guidance materials published over the past several months by USDA, SNA, and ACDA have all recognized the complexity and ambiguities of current federal competitive procurement regulations. Each has acknowledged the value of the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) standardized data in streamlining the procurement process for multiple stakeholders.

United States Department of Agriculture

GTIN is to food service what UPC is to retail groceries. Ensure your procurement program requests GTIN technology during solicitations.

American Commodities Distribution Association

USDA Foods vendors are required to submit product specs via GDSN. New attributes are being added to also share SEPDS data for processed end products.

School Nutrition Association

Enhanced tech in procurement offers templates, standardization, and accuracy, starting with wider adoption of the GDSN.

Urban School Food Alliance Assessment Tool for Procurement

Self-assessment tool encourages best practices for better food, cost control, and supply chain improvements, including the use of GDSN and GTINs

New Regulations for Locally Grown Procurement Specifications and Produce Safety Rules

In recent years, the USDA has been actively working to update and refine regulations to support the procurement of locally grown foods and enhance produce safety standards for school nutrition programs. These regulations are designed to facilitate easier access to fresh, local produce, ensuring that schools can provide nutritious meals while supporting local agriculture. Key updates include:

Immediate Final Rule – Procurement Specifications for Local Foods

USDA’s final rules explicitly permit procurement specifications to require ‘locally grown, raised, or caught’ foods.

FSMA Final Rule for Produce Safety Coverage and Exemptions-Exclusions

The Produce Safety Rule flow chart shows criteria for exempting certain small farms with short supply chains from the rule.

Distributor Role for Farms Exempt from Produce Safety Rule

Most distributors require GAP certification; FSMA rules also permit alternative safety and traceability monitoring of small farmer/ suppliers.

Data Sharing Carriers & FSMA Produce Safety Rule 204 – iFoodDS Article

Food industry uses data-sharing tech like GS1 to meet FDA’s Traceability Rule and enhance supply chain transparency.

Purchasing Cooperatives

Federal Procurement expertise is lacking in most school districts that can be found in third party organizations. Food Purchasing Co-Ops vary in size and manage competitive procurements from $1Million to over $300 Million for food and supplies. They typically charge a modest fee for their administrative services which is included in the contracted price members pay for goods and services as they “piggyback” on to those contracts.

With 270 member districts and annual purchasing volume exceeding $200 M, Texas ESC Region 10 Multi-Region Purchasing Cooperative (R10MRPC) has pioneered boilerplate language establishing “bidding by GTIN.” R10MRPC’s efforts have helped bring hundreds of K-12 Suppliers and several software companies into the mainstream of data sharing using GDSN. Utilizing best practices, R10MRPC has developed comprehensive procurement templates to streamline bid management and compliance requirements for both vendors and the co-op.

Federal Regulations Procurement Template

Contracts must adhere to CFR and USDA rules for school nutrition, allowing bidders to manage certifications in one editable package.

R10MRPC Inter-Agency Agreements & GDSN Technology Template

R10MRPC uses Inter-Agency Agreements and e-bid tools to facilitate procurement, focusing on GDSN technology-based services.

R10MRPC Vendor Product Registration Requirement

Vendors must use GDSN and provide GTINs in bids, granting members and affiliates access to current product info and meeting MRPC requirements

Applying GTINs to Core Specifications – R10MRPC Template

Vendors must use GDSN and provide GTINs in bids, as R10MRPC’s document aligns with CFR 200.319 and GDSN standards.

Texas Regulations Procurement Template

Contracts must follow TDA ARM Section 17 for school nutrition, letting bidders manage all certifications in one editable package.

What’s Next: Best Practices Procurement
Language Examples

Explore innovative procurement language examples currently in use or under consideration by school districts and co-ops. These examples represent new approaches to addressing long-term system inefficiencies, aiming to streamline procurement processes, enhance supply chain efficiencies, and reduce costs. By adopting these best practices, schools can improve their procurement strategies, ensuring better resource management and compliance with regulatory standards.