Great Plates Program – Administered by Age Well
Food Provider Information and Application
Thank you for your interest in being a food provider to those participating in the Great Plates Delivered program. All the requirements for qualifying as a food provider are in the document below. If you would like to be considered as a food provider in this program, please note:
Please note: Many more restaurants and caterers have submitted applications than can be accommodated during Phase 2 below, which is nearing completion. All applications will be reviewed and kept on file. Based on participant demand and how long the program continues, Phase 3 will be opened.
Age Well Senior Services was contracted by the County of Orange on May 13, 2020, to administer the Great Plates Delivered program across South Orange County, including: Aliso Viejo, Capistrano Beach, Corona Del Mar, Coto De Caza, Dana Point, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rancho Viejo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Silverado Canyon and Trabuco Canyon.
The program is active through June 10 and may be extended.
The approved Meal Provider recruitment strategy for Orange County includes:
- Phase 1 – Fast Start (Completed): Contract with Orange County-based caterer(s) that have the ability and capacity to quickly provide a large number of meals delivered to multiple cities and zip codes.
- Phase 2 – Extend Reach (Nearing Completion): Based on participant enrollment and demand, contract with Chain Restaurants that have a larger scope (able to deliver to at least 100 participants a day to multiple zip codes) and/or that can meet various dietary needs or ethnic meal preferences.
- Phase 3 – Expand Based on Demand (Pending): Based on participant enrollment, demand and term of the Great Plates Delivered program, additional food service providers will be included in order to continue adding local favorites and to meet ethnic preferences.
In Orange County, Great Plates Delivered is funded in part through a grant from the California Office of Emergency Services, as allocated by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and administered by the Office on Aging. As a government-funded program, there are requirements in order to ensure successful program and fiscal administration. Meal Providers must:
- Be able to prepare and deliver three chilled, ready-to-eat meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in a single delivery) to at least 100 participants (seniors) a day. NOTE: Meal providers must be able to offer breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. (Exceptions to the minimum meal volume of 100 participants may be made for specialty providers who can meet specific dietary requirements. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will still be required.)
- Not be currently participating in a state or federal meal service program.
- Provide meals that meet the following nutritional requirements:
- Breakfast: low in sodium (no sodium added), no sugary drinks (<24 calories/ 8 oz. and of fruit juice, must be only 100 percent fruit juice allowed); and
- Lunch / Dinner: a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable on each dish, and low in sodium (no sodium added), no sugary drinks (<24 calories/ 8 oz. and of fruit juice, only 100 percent fruit juice allowed).
- Senior portions may be served, e.g., cooked protein 2 -3 oz., fresh fruit ½ cup or whole; cooked vegetables ½ cup, salad 1 cup
- Be in good standing with the Orange County Health Care Agency
- Meet required liability insurance, information security, employment and food handling/COVID-19 practices
- Background check all delivery drivers
- Meet all other requirements that apply
The approved meal-provider per diem reimbursement rate for Orange County is $36.11, including making, packaging and delivering three chilled senior meals (B, L, D) and any applicable sales/other taxes. Note: The State’s published per diem rate is larger because it covers all costs of administering the program, not just meal preparation and delivery. Administration costs include program development, interfacing with interested seniors, screening for eligibility and enrolling them in the program; meal-provider contract administration; fiscal administration; and other program-related costs.
If you, after reviewing the requirements above, would like to apply to become a meal provider, complete the following document, answer all the questions, and then return to this page and submit the document as part of the form below. You will be contacted in the future as the demand for your services arises.
Submit the completed document by filling out the form below and uploading the document.