School Services of Montana
  • About Us
    • Members >
      • Become A Member
      • Member Benefits >
        • Newsletter ARCHIVES 21-22 >
          • Newsletter ARCHIVES 18-19
    • Overview of Services
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Professional Learning
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Event Archives >
        • Science Summer Institute 2021
        • Common PIR Day 2019
        • Common PIR Day 2018
        • Science Summer Institute 2019 >
          • Session Details
          • Exhibitors & Sponsors
          • Exhibitor Registration
          • Half Page Handout
        • Science Summer Institute 2018
    • 2022 STEM Summer Institute >
      • SSI 2022 Schedule
      • Exhibitor & Sponsor Registration
    • Customized District PL
    • Virtual Courses
    • Curriculum Consortium >
      • Curriculum Design Institutes
      • Curriculum Resources
      • 2020-21 MECC Archives
      • 2019-20 MECC Archives
      • 2018-19 MECC Archives
    • Indian Education for All >
      • IEFA Archives >
        • IEFA MOR Institute 2019
      • IEFA Book Inventory
    • CPI Workshops
    • Meet Our Facilitators
    • General Cancellation Policy
  • Technology
    • Current Services >
      • SSoM Annual Tech Summit >
        • Tech Summit 2019
        • Tech Summit 2018
    • Meet Our Tech Team >
      • Tech Services Testimonials
    • Infinite Campus Support >
      • Testimonials
      • Behind the Scenes at Infinite Campus
      • AIM/OPI User Guides
      • AIM Collection Schedule
      • Archives: Infinite Campus Emails
  • Medicaid Billing
    • Service Portal
    • Forms
    • Student Data Uploads
    • Medicaid Newsletter Archives
  • Co-op Purchasing
    • 22-23 SY Ordering Details
    • 2022-2023 Bid Details
    • Order Archives >
      • Spring 2022 Order Info
      • Fall 2021 Order Info
      • Spring 2021 Order Info
      • Fall 2020 Food Order
      • Spring 2020 Food Order
    • Bid Archives >
      • 2021-2022 Food Bid Info
      • 2020-2021 Bid A
      • 2020-2021 Bid B
      • Spring 2020 Bid
      • Fall 2019 Bid
      • Spring 2019 Bid
  • Blog
  • Donate
2022-2023 CO-OP FOOD

PROGRAM ORDER DETAILS

If you work for a K-12 Montana School, this page is for YOU!

THE SSoM CO-OP FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM
​
JUST GOT A MASSIVE UPGRADE!

-  updated  June 24, 2022   -

PAGE OVERVIEW:   About This Program | Updated Opt-In Form | Upcoming
Events: Training Webinar | FAQs | Resources! | Facts About SSoM
The School Services of Montana (SSoM) Cooperative Food Purchasing Program provides quality food and food service supply items to K-12 schools and child-based organizations across Montana at a substantial cost savings through high-volume bid purchasing. But wait! It. Just. Got. Better!

The NEW program has been created to provide Food Service Directors with more choices, greater flexibility, higher fulfillment rates, lower costs, less frustration, and happier, well fed students! Here's an overview of details, features, & benefits:​
  • The 22-23 SY Bid was awarded to US Foods on June 14 and features the Premier Foodservice Program!
  • Everyone receives the same great cost-plus pricing through this co-op program;
  • Access the distributor's entire database of food, disposables, and smallwares;
  • LIVE ordering database increases fulfillment rates to near pre-pandemic levels and suggests alternates if your preferred item is out of stock;
  • Huge bi-annual orders eliminated! No more storage issues! Place orders AS NEEDED, receive deliveries as often as weekly, make quick adjustments to types & quantities of food to meet unexpected fluctuations in your nutrition program;
  • Use this program for your breakfast, lunch, snack, and backpack programs, and even for concessions and fundraising events!
  • US Foods will stock our most popular special-order items*;
  • Bi-annual Administrative Fees eliminated;
  • Every district receives a dedicated Account Executive;
  • Program benefits begin July 1st and will be available during the entire 22 - 23 school year!

Our goal is to provide your district with a purchasing program that meets the diverse needs of your school's nutrition program so you can focus on what's really important - feeding your students. Thank you for taking the time to visit our Order Details page. Feel free to share our updated Flyer with your admin team or with districts you know would benefit from our program!
NEW! 22-23 SY PROGRAM FLYER

22-23 SY OPT-IN FORM & DETAILS

OPT-IN FORM: 3 Pages
Districts who choose to participate in our Co-op Food Program must complete and return Page 1 of the Opt-In form (click the blue button to view and download). For many of you it will look similar to the Signature Page you used to sign and return when you placed orders through the "old" SSoM co-op food program - delivery & billing address, Food Service Director name & contact info, and 2 signatures. Return instructions are included at the bottom, and you will only return Page 1.  Please keep page 2 & 3 for your records.

Page 3 
was created 6/17/22 and is now an official part of the Opt-in Form.

In
structions for submitting your projected weekly usage of your favorite special order items (from our "old" program) will be sent out via Excel Spreadsheet. Details coming soon : ) 

UPCOMING EVENTS

LIVE TRAINING WEBINAR!
1-2 pm Tuesday, June 28, 2022

All school districts who have sent in their completed Opt-in Forms are cordially invited to join our Co-op Food Program live training webinar from 1 - 2pm on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. This webinar will be led by Alec Hilty, US Foods National Sales Manager, and I will be moderating the chat and Q & A.

WHO: Food Service Directors/Head Cooks responsible for ordering; District Clerks &/or Superintendents are also welcome to join : )

WHAT: a "how to" webinar on navigating the US Foods e-Commerce website including: accessing the site, search the catalog like a pro, don't order on an empty stomach, symbols & notations, who doesn't love a good list (or 20), cool features, and more, with time for Q & A at the end

WHEN: 1 - 2 pm MST Tuesday, June 28 (recording available by EOD 6/29/22)

WHERE: online; link emailed to districts who have returned their Opt-in Form
Contact Jennifer Brekke immediately if you are eligible to attend and have not received your link to join.

WHY ATTEND: If you are new (to the US Foods e-Commerce site) this is for YOU. Some of you are already familiar with this US Foods site, so the webinar will act as a refresher, in addition to highlighting features you may not be familiar with. Either way, expect it to be a valuable resource.​​
Picture
PAST EVENT
MTSNA SUMMER CONFERENCE 2022  "Bee Kind"
June 20 - 23  |  Billings Hotel & Convention Center
MTSNA.org , and follow MTSNA on Facebook!

School Services of Montana has been a proud sponsor of the MTSNA Summer Conference for several years now, and was the ONLY organization offering a statewide co-op food program to attend this year!


PROGRAM FAQs

We are grateful for the tremendous positive response we have received about this new opportunity for school nutrition programs in Montana. In discussing this new bid with Food Service Directors across the state, we worked diligently to answer the questions they had about our new program. Given that many of you may be asking the same questions, we put together this FAQ to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information about our new and improved statewide cooperative food purchasing program. ​
PLEASE NOTE:  additional Q & A will be posted in this section if and when received : )
Q. Why did SSoM change its cooperative food purchasing program this year? 
A. For years, SSoM operated a fixed price bid, meaning that we would assemble a selection of high-volume, high-quality items and put them out to bid at a fixed price. With the impact of the pandemic, unanticipated product shortages, and resulting inflation, distributors in Montana were unlikely to be able to make a similar commitment going forward. As a result, we revised our food program to actively seek and secure the lowest possible pricing options and the widest array of products for Montana schools. 

Q. What advantages does this new SSoM program provide to our district? 
A. With this new food bid, we are no longer limited to a set number of high-volume products. Schools will now have access to the entire product catalogue offered by the bid winner. Further, our bid language specifically requests bid pricing with the participation of a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO). By utilizing a GPO, we can increase our purchasing power and keep costs as low as humanly possible. 

Q. Who can participate in the SSoM cooperative food bid? 
A. Any public or private school or youth serving agency in Montana is eligible to participate. You do not need to be a SSoM member school to participate, and we do not charge any additional fees for participating in this program. To be clear, participation is open to all. 
 
Q. What makes SSoM’s cooperative purchasing program unique? 
A. SSoM is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a statewide cooperative food program. We are for Montana, not for profit. 
  • Because we are nonprofit, we will not be beat on price. 
  • SSoM places tremendous value on our relationships with Food Service Directors across the state, and we pledge to do whatever we can to meet your specific needs. 
  • As a result, we will not pressure or deceive you about any of your purchasing options – you can order what you want when you need it. 
  • SSoM is your advocate. Programs like these necessarily require the participation of multiple parties across the state and country to be successful. SSoM will be your advocate to make sure you continue to get the high quality of service and low pricing that you deserve. 
  
Q. Can we participate in the SSoM program at the same time as other cooperative purchasing programs? 
A. Yes. Like all similar programs, the SSoM cooperative food bid has minimum purchase requirements set by the distributor to ensure that all Montana schools can access the lowest prices and highest quality items to meet the needs of their nutrition programs. As long as these requirements are met, there is absolutely no restriction whatsoever, either in our RFP or contract, that would prohibit you from taking advantage of other cooperative purchasing opportunities. 
 
Q. This sounds great – how do we get started? 
A. The process could not be easier. Simply return your completed Opt-In Form to SSoM, and we will notify you once the dates have been confirmed for the training webinar (a recording will also be available). This program begins with the start of the new school year on July 1, 2022 and is sure to meet your school’s nutrition program needs. 
  
Q. We have a few more questions – can we contact you to discuss? 
A. We would love to hear from you! Please contact one or both of us:
  • SSoM Purchasing Manager, Jennifer Brekke  |  (406) 580-7547  |  jbrekke@mt-schools.org
  • SSoM Executive Director, Tom Franta  |  (612) 360-7930  |  tfranta@mt-schools.org.

FACTS ABOUT SSoM

School Services of Montana is a 501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT that offers this Co-op Food Purchasing Program to every school district in Montana. Our Board of Directors is comprised of superintendents from class AA, A, B, and C school districts across the state and is elected by our member school districts.

Our core beliefs include honesty, integrity, and authenticity: we don't believe in high pressure sales, fear tactics or guerilla marketing. We will earn your business, and we are committed to offering the LOWEST PRICES AVAILABLE through our food program. As a non-profit with extremely low overhead, all profits go directly into expanding our programs & services, providing affordable and FREE PD, and supporting Montana schools, NOT into increased private company executive pay and bonuses.
​
You DO NOT have to be a member of SSoM to utilize our food program. However, there are discounts, low cost and FREE professional development opportunities, and members-only programs available to our member districts. Click here, or contact me for details!

RESOURCE CENTER

School Nutrition Association (SNA) 
SNA is the national organization of school nutrition professionals committed to advancing the quality of school meal programs through education and advocacy.
  • Featured Resource  SNA Learning Center: Breakfast in the Classroom | Culinary Skills | Financial Management | Training Zone | Procurement | USDA Professional Standards, and more : )
  • Food Allergy Resource Center: Ask the Allergy Expert | The Big 9 | CDC Resources | Food Allergy Training | FAQ | Additional Resources 

USDA Team Nutrition  "Fueling Children's Healthy Growth, Learning, and Play"
Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Guide to Smart Snacks in School  This booklet gives easy-to-understand tips on how to meet smart snacks standards and why they are important. 
  • Crediting Tip Sheets in CN Programs: fruits & vegetables  The crediting tip sheet series provides handy references for program operators on how to credit the five meal components in child nutrition programs. Each tip sheet provides simple, easy-to-use information for one meal component. 

Montana Team Nutrition
​
In collaboration with partners across the state, Montana Team Nutrition leverages evidence-based practices and policies to provide training, resources, and support to K-12schools that promote engaging food-based education, foster positive food relationships, and cultivate healthy school environments.
  • Resources  Healthy and Pleasant Mealtimes | Nutrition Education | School Wellness Policy | PD for School Nutrition Staff | Connect
  • Current & New Projects  Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice Checklists | Roadmap to Building Quality School Meals | 2021 Harvesting Montana Recipes Project

Montana OPI School Nutrition Programs
OPI's School Nutrition Programs collaborate with the child nutrition community to provide high-quality training, support, and resources to ensure program integrity and access to nourishing meals. 
  • Resources  Summer Pandemic EBT Info | School Nutrition Program Login & Contact Page | Supply Chain Assistance for Schools
  • Resource Highlights  School Meal Programs | Summer Food Service Program | USDA Foods & DOD Fresh | Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program | Procurement | Professional Standards & Training | Agreements, Claims, & Data, and more : )

Picture
CONTACT US

Jennifer Brekke
Marketing & Co-op Purchasing Manager
office/mobile (406) 580-7547
email: jbrekke*
*see footer for email instructions

School Services of Montana  |  4055 Valley Commons Drive, Suite G  |  Bozeman, MT 59718  |  (406) 247-0284
© 2022
*Please add @mt-schools.org to listed usernames to email our staff.
​
We recently made this change in an effort to discourage spam robots.
  • About Us
    • Members >
      • Become A Member
      • Member Benefits >
        • Newsletter ARCHIVES 21-22 >
          • Newsletter ARCHIVES 18-19
    • Overview of Services
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Professional Learning
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Event Archives >
        • Science Summer Institute 2021
        • Common PIR Day 2019
        • Common PIR Day 2018
        • Science Summer Institute 2019 >
          • Session Details
          • Exhibitors & Sponsors
          • Exhibitor Registration
          • Half Page Handout
        • Science Summer Institute 2018
    • 2022 STEM Summer Institute >
      • SSI 2022 Schedule
      • Exhibitor & Sponsor Registration
    • Customized District PL
    • Virtual Courses
    • Curriculum Consortium >
      • Curriculum Design Institutes
      • Curriculum Resources
      • 2020-21 MECC Archives
      • 2019-20 MECC Archives
      • 2018-19 MECC Archives
    • Indian Education for All >
      • IEFA Archives >
        • IEFA MOR Institute 2019
      • IEFA Book Inventory
    • CPI Workshops
    • Meet Our Facilitators
    • General Cancellation Policy
  • Technology
    • Current Services >
      • SSoM Annual Tech Summit >
        • Tech Summit 2019
        • Tech Summit 2018
    • Meet Our Tech Team >
      • Tech Services Testimonials
    • Infinite Campus Support >
      • Testimonials
      • Behind the Scenes at Infinite Campus
      • AIM/OPI User Guides
      • AIM Collection Schedule
      • Archives: Infinite Campus Emails
  • Medicaid Billing
    • Service Portal
    • Forms
    • Student Data Uploads
    • Medicaid Newsletter Archives
  • Co-op Purchasing
    • 22-23 SY Ordering Details
    • 2022-2023 Bid Details
    • Order Archives >
      • Spring 2022 Order Info
      • Fall 2021 Order Info
      • Spring 2021 Order Info
      • Fall 2020 Food Order
      • Spring 2020 Food Order
    • Bid Archives >
      • 2021-2022 Food Bid Info
      • 2020-2021 Bid A
      • 2020-2021 Bid B
      • Spring 2020 Bid
      • Fall 2019 Bid
      • Spring 2019 Bid
  • Blog
  • Donate