Okla. Admin. Code § 310:410-3-12

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 310:410-3-12 - Authorization criteria and procedures

(a) Only WIC retail vendors authorized by the department shall be eligible to accept food benefits or otherwise provide supplemental foods to WIC participants. Any applicant seeking authorization to become a WIC retail vendor has an obligation to meet the following criteria before authorization. In addition, any approved vendor has a continuing obligation to meet the below listed criteria during the period of authorization:

(1) The vendor site shall be located within the boundary lines of the state of Oklahoma.

(2) The vendor site shall have a fixed and permanent location. This site shall be the address indicated on the WIC vendor application and shall be the location where a WIC participant or proxy shall select WIC foods during business hours.

(A) This site shall not be at an address or within any building where food benefits are distributed to WIC participants without written agreement from the State, i.e., extenuating circumstances, outreach, participant access, and/or rural areas. Provided, however, the Department retains the right to place a service location within the same building where food benefits are redeemed.

(B) The price charged to the WIC Program for WIC foods provided through participant requested delivery shall not exceed those prices charged to cash paying customers nor the prices posted at the vendor site. The vendor shall not charge for delivery of WIC foods.

(3) Each vendor site listed in the application shall have seventy percent (70%) or more gross receipts from the sale of products other than beer, hot foods and motor fuel.

(4) Authorization to participate in the USDA SNAP or any other federal food program is not a prerequisite for authorization as a WIC retail vendor. If, however, an applicant or vendor has been authorized to participate in the USDA SNAP or other federal food program, he shall not have been denied, suspended, disqualified, terminated, or assessed a civil money penalty during the two (2) years preceding application for authorization as a WIC retail vendor.

(5) Neither the applicant, vendor, nor any officers or officials shall have been involved in bribery as prohibited under Oklahoma Purchasing Act.

(6) Neither the applicant, vendor, its officers, directors, individual partners, nor their spouses or minor children who own more than seven and one-half percent (7 1/2%) ownership or beneficial interest in the business entity seeking authorization to participate in the WIC Program shall be employed by the state or county health departments directly or indirectly involved in the delivery or administration of WIC services.

(7) Neither the applicant, nor the vendor shall have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving fraud, misuse or theft of state or federal funds or of any felony. A certified copy of conviction may be offered and admitted into evidence as proof of such conviction.

(8) Neither the applicant, vendor, nor any owner of thirty percent (30%) or more ownership shall have been terminated from the WIC Program in the previous two (2) years.

(9) The applicant or vendor shall adhere to the provisions of the USDA WIC Regulations and this part.

(b) Applicants shall be authorized as WIC retail vendors based upon the following:

(1) An application and all supporting documents shall be properly completed and verified by the department. No application shall be deemed complete unless it includes all necessary supporting documents required by this part.

(2) The applicant's proposed vendor site may be initially inspected by the department.

(A) The department may conduct an initial inspection of the proposed vendor site after receipt of a completed application. Such inspection shall determine whether the applicant has the minimum quantities, sizes, and types of WIC foods and shall verify any business or financial information submitted by the applicant.

(B) If the inspection discloses that the applicant's proposed vendor site does not have the minimum quantities, sizes, or types of WIC foods necessary, or that business or financial information supplied by the applicant is erroneous, inaccurate, or insufficient, the department shall advise the applicant of the deficiencies and conduct another inspection of the vendor site.

(C) If the second inspection by the department discloses that the applicant's proposed vendor site does not meet the minimum quantities, sizes, and types of WIC foods or if business or financial information supplied by the applicant remains erroneous, inaccurate or insufficient, the application shall be denied.

(3) The minimum quantities, sizes, and types of WIC foods necessary at a vendor site are those specified in the WIC Vendor Agreement. A copy of this list shall be provided to each applicant and approved vendor.

(4) The department shall complete a retail vendor price survey of WIC foods during the initial inspection by collecting the lowest posted shelf prices for WIC foods. If the regular vendor applicant's prices are ten percent (10%) above the average prices in the same peer group for WIC foods, the application shall be denied. If the above 50% WIC vendor applicant's prices are above the statewide average prices for WICfoods, the application shall be denied.

(5) The applicant shall be notified by the department within sixty (60) calendar days, whether or not the inspection or the proposed vendor site, the business, the financial, or other information provided by the applicant meet the criteria set forth in this part. If the applicant meets such criteria, he shall be notified of approval to attend the initial retail vendor training course.

Okla. Admin. Code § 310:410-3-12

Added at 10 Ok Reg 4203, eff 8-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 3823, eff 7-11-94; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2505, eff 6-25-99; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 870, eff 5-11-08

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 23, August 15, 2023, eff. 9/11/2023