Competitive pricing.—
(i) In general .—
(i)In general .—#
The State agency shall establish competitive price criteria for each peer group for the selection of vendors for participation in the program that—
(I) ensure that the retail prices charged by vendor applicants for the program are competitive with the prices charged by other vendors; and
(II) consider— (aa) the shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers; or (bb) the prices that the vendor bid for supplemental foods, which shall not exceed the shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers.
(i)(I)#
ensure that the retail prices charged by vendor applicants for the program are competitive with the prices charged by other vendors; and
(i)(II)#
consider—
(aa) the shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers; or
(bb) the prices that the vendor bid for supplemental foods, which shall not exceed the shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers.
(i)(II)(aa)#
the shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers; or
(ii)Participant access .—#
In establishing competitive price criteria, the State agency shall consider participant access by geographic area.
(iii)Subsequent price increases .—#
The State agency shall establish procedures to ensure that a retail store selected for participation in the program does not, subsequent to selection, increase prices to levels that would make the store ineligible for selection to participate in the program.