Community Procurement Unit

Overview

The Community Procurement Unit (CPU) was created to provide collaborative support to assist agencies in the operational components of procurement within the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CPU will provide technical assistance, resources, and educational guidance based on federal procurement policy guidance and regulations. The CPU does not oversee compliance or conduct on-site or off-site procurement reviews.

The CPU works in partnership with the CACFP team. The CACFP Branch works directly with program participants, often referred to as program operators, sponsors, or agencies.

If your agency creates documentation for the purpose of purchasing goods or services, you may find the Community Procurement Unit resources to be helpful in your procurement processes.

CPU Priorities

Our priorities in CPU are focused on the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How:

To Help You

Our top priority is to help you. We in CPU understand that procurement is not an easy topic to understand or approach. We are here to help you and to provide technical assistance with understanding regulations and policy guidance. We will listen to your current processes and provide suggestions for how to build on current procurement operations.

Keep You Informed

We also feel it is important to keep you informed. We in CPU believe it is important to provide transparency and additional guidance when changes in policy or regulations occur. To achieve this goal, we will work with our stakeholders prior to communicating policy updates.

Exceptional Customer Service

We always strive to provide exceptional customer service. We in CPU believe in taking the extra time to engage in conversation to better understand the current situation, desired results, and provide suggestions and guidance for how to achieve those results.

Actively Listen

We actively listen. We may ask a lot of questions, and it is because we want to understand your agency’s situation, the current approach, and the desired outcome. By actively listening and engaging in a conversation, we can brainstorm ideas and approaches.

Data Driven

Our focus is data driven. Our focus is to meet your agency where you are. We would like to shift the focus of procurement to the 5 W’s and 1 H. Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.

Provide Educational Guidance

We want to provide educational guidance. Our goal is to provide continuous educational guidance to assist in your agency’s approach to procurement.

Culture of Innovation

We also want to ensure that we are providing and supporting a culture of innovation. To create and support an environment that values the knowledge, experience, and needs of our stakeholders (CACFP operators).

Procurement in CACFP Resources

Contact Information

Child and Adult Care Food Program by email at CACFPInfo@dss.ca.gov

Community Procurement Unit by email at ProcurementCACFP@dss.ca.gov

Your agency’s first point of contact should be your CACFP Specialist. If you have general procurement questions, please feel free to reach out to us by email. We work closely with the CACFP team and will work together to provide collaborative support to all program operators.
 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.