(a) An agency should utilize an appropriate method of procurement as prescribed in Arkansas Procurement law for the purchase of food products. This may be a competitive sealed bid if price alone is being considered as the determinative factor, or a request for proposals if other factors, such as a history of health code violations, are being considered. A cooperative purchasing agreement may also be an appropriate mechanism for procuring local farm of food products as a means of reducing the administrative cost of food procurement.

(b) In the event an agency utilizes a procurement method wherein a contract is to be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder, such as competitive sealed bidding, the lowest bid should be accepted only if the bid does not exceed the lowest bid from a provider of local food or farm products by more than ten percent (10%) and if the bidder submitting the lowest bid is not a provider of local farm or food products.