Join the P.O.W.E.R. Buying Group

The P.O.W.E.R. Buying Group (PBG) brings together school nutrition programs across Florida to strengthen purchasing power, support regulatory compliance, and provide valuable resources for program success.

Competitive Purchasing Power

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By combining the purchasing needs of districts representing 343,000 students, PBG members benefit from significantly increased buying power. This cooperative approach helps secure competitive pricing from a large network of vendors and brokers interested in serving the group.

Professional Collaboration

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Members gain valuable opportunities to network with school nutrition directors and administrators across Florida, sharing knowledge and best practices related to program administration, procurement, and operations.

Comprehensive Product Information

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Members have access to detailed information on all PBG-awarded products through the 1FS system utilizing the Global Data Network, including:

• Nutrition information per serving
• Meal pattern crediting
• Allergen details
• Packaging specifications
• Product images
• Smart Snack compliance
• Complete product specification files

Procurement Compliance Support

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PBG prepares detailed food and supply product specifications designed to support compliance with current USDA meal patterns and Dietary Standards. Members also benefit from collaboration with the state agency procurement team to help maintain compliance and prepare for state reviews.

Product Support & Issue Resolution

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PBG assists members when product issues or incidents occur, helping coordinate with vendors to secure credits, replacements, or other resolutions as needed.

Members-Only Resources

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The Members Only section of the PBG website provides access to helpful resources, program updates, and posted minutes from Executive Committee meetings and conference calls.

Product Evaluation & Quality Oversight

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Products are continuously reviewed and re-evaluated as guidelines evolve or manufacturers reformulate products. This ensures members always have access to items that meet the most current program requirements.

Long-Term Vendor Stability

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PBG maintains strong vendor partnerships through long-term contracts. The current SBHC RFP contract runs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028, providing stability and consistency for member districts.

Member Participation in Product Selection

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Members and vendors may participate in an interactive online process to request additional products for future competitive pricing and potential inclusion in the PBG awarded product list..

Beliefs

  • We believe we need to be flexible to accommodate the uniqueness  of each member school district.

 

  • We believe we are a grass roots effort that has lead to a cooperative venture among the member school districts.

  • We believe all member school districts to have an equitable voice in decisions.

 

  • We believe in procuring high quality items at a low cost.

Mission

The mission of the POWER Buying Group is to work collaboratively to procure high quality, competitively priced foods and supplies that will enhance the health and nutritional well-being of students participating in Florida Child Nutrition Programs.

Vision

Participation in the P.O.W.E.R. Buying Group will maximize each member school district’s ability to provide high quality cost-effective meals at reasonable prices to enhance the student’s ability to learn.