Summer Food Service Program
SFSP Advance Payments
The State agency will make advance payments to sponsors that have executed a Program agreement in order to assist in meeting initial operating and administrative expenses. However; advance payments shall not exceed the amount of the estimated reimbursement. It is expected that all sponsors requesting an advance take the time to evaluate how their program is operating and make the necessary adjustments to reflect the most accurate site participation, enrollment and income eligible children. SED will be evaluating all advances to ensure that they do not exceed the estimated reimbursement.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in Schools Reauthorization 2004
Section 111 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) amended section 9(h) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by requiring school food authorities (SFAs) to implement a food safety program. The Reauthorization Act requires that, during the preparation and service of meals, the SFA comply with a HACCP system established by the Secretary of Agriculture. The law requires compliance with this requirement by July 1, 2005.
Child Nutrition Program Civil Rights Requirements
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is required to comply with the regulations of the United States Office of Civil Rights. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that receive federal funds from USDA such as Child Nutrition Program lunch, breakfast, snack, or milk reimbursements must collect data specific to their operations regarding non-discrimination and civil rights. Most school districts and many nonpublic schools already collect this data as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Procurement Geographic Preference Q&As
USDA recently created the attached Questions and Answers (Q&As) to further explain the geographic preference option. This information will provide guidance and technical assistance to schools that are trying to connect with local or regional farmers in order to incorporate more fresh, local foods into their school meal programs.
Using Vending Machines to Provide Reimbursable Meals in the School Meal Programs
There is a growing interest among school food authorities (SFAs) on the use of vending machines to provide reimbursable meals in the school meal programs. USDA has provided the following guidance for SFAs that are considering whether a meal vending machine could be successfully incorporated into their National School Lunch (NSLP) and School Breakfast Programs (SBP).
Record-Keeping for Procurement Transactions
School food authorities (SFAs) must maintain appropriate records for procurement transactions occurring in connection with the Child Nutrition Programs.
Farm to School Cafeteria Initiatives
The recently enacted Fiscal Year 2008 Agriculture Appropriations Act directed the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with School Meal Program administrators and local food advocates to identify opportunities for growth in local procurement, and provide Congress a report on these efforts. In response to this request and their ongoing Farm to School efforts, USDA recently held a “Farm to School” session at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference sponsored by the Food Research and Action Center and America’s Second Harvest. The session, which was held on March
School Food Authorities and Federal Procurement Regulations/Record-Keeping Requirements
Federal regulation 7 CFR Part 3016.36(b) prohibits the awarding of contracts to any entity that develops or drafts specifications, requirements, statements of work, invitations for bids, requests for proposals, contract terms and conditions or other procurement documents. This reminder is being re-issued since USDA continues to receive complaints that a number of school food authorities (SFAs) are not drafting their own specifications and procurement documents, but instead directly incorporating a list of features written by a prospective bidder.
Geographic Preference Option for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in Child Nutrition Programs
The 2008 Farm Bill amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct that the Secretary of Agriculture encourage institutions operating Child Nutrition Programs to purchase unprocessed locally grown and locally raised agricultural products.
Provisions of the law effective October 1, 2008 were initially implemented through policy memoranda and explanatory question and answer communications. A proposed rule was published April 19, 2010; USDA received 77 comments which were reviewed before they issued their final rule on this subject on April 22, 2011.
Geographic Preference for the Procurement of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in the Child Nutrition Programs
The purpose of this memorandum is to update the definition of what is considered “unprocessed” for the purposes of applying the optional geographic preference for procurement in the Child Nutrition Programs.