Contracting
Contracts are formal agreements that define the terms and conditions of business relationships between parties, providing a clear framework for collaboration. Nutrition programs may involve multiple contracts with vendors, suppliers, and service providers, each tailored to specific needs. A solid understanding of how to develop and manage contracts is essential to protect your organization, foster successful partnerships, and ensure you meet your program goals.
- Business Contracts: Ensuring Flexibilities During the Unexpected — Considerations for food service contracts (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2023)
- Evaluating Food Service Approaches — Tip sheet for evaluating features and limitations of different food service approaches, including contracted or self-operated models (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2023)
- Contracting Tips for Purchasing Meals/Food — Outline of the recommended process for sourcing meals (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2020)
- Options for Contracting Meals — Guidance on how to choose the right meal provider for your program (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2021)
- SBA Contracting Guide— Resource from to assist in navigating the contracting process (U.S. Small Business Administration)
- Implementing a Medically Tailored Meals Program (YouTube)— Four-minute Network Spotlight highlighting the process of contracting with health care plans in California to implement a medically tailored meals program (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center, 2023)
- Business Acumen — Presentation regarding contract with an accountable care organization (Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, 2017)
- Contract in Hand: Now What — Presentation on contracts with health care organizations (Southern Maine Agency on Aging, 2017)
- Procurement Professional Development— Free on-demand and instructor-led courses (National Association of State Procurement Officials)
- Memorandum of Agreement for Culturally Appropriate Meal Program — Sample memorandum of agreement for a site to manage and administer a culturally appropriate meal program (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
- Memorandum of Understanding for Basic Provisions — Sample agreement between a AAA and a nutrition site outlining essential provisions (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
- HCBS Business Acumen Toolkit— Toolkit to prepare community-based organizations to contract with integrated health care entities (ADvancing States)
- Request for Proposals Template — Customizable tool with tips to simplify the process of soliciting bids and selecting vendors (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
- Contracting Toolkit— Critical elements of CBO-health care contracts (Aging and Disability Business Institute, 2020)
- Sample Contract Language for RDNs — Examples of deliverables that can be included in RDN contracts or requests for proposals (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
- Understanding and Writing Contracts and Memoranda of Agreement— Resources offering guidance on effectively drafting and interpreting contracts and memoranda of agreement (University of Kansas Community Tool Box)