FNS Documents & Resources

The purpose of this memorandum is to amend guidance provided in SP 45-2016 Draft Tool for Local Agency Procurement Reviews for School Food Authorities in SY 2016-17 and to clarify FNS expectations for state agency oversight of school food authority procurement procedures.

This memorandum replaces SP 24-2016, Compliance with and Enforcement of the Buy American Provision in the National School Lunch Program. It provides several updates, including suggested contract language to be utilized in solicitations, and serves to reinforce the importance of the Buy American provision to our economy and its positive effects on small and local businesses.

The purpose of this memorandum is to distribute funding allocations out of the total $25 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 to state agencies to competitively award equipment assistance grants to eligible school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program.

This guide was developed to provide a framework for developing a school food defense plan. Four easy steps, along with tools, are outlined to create a viable plan. 

Washing Produce - Part of a five-video series,  available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.

Temperature Readings - Part of a five-video series,  available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.

Storage Temperatures - Part of a five-video series,  available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.

Ethylene Gas - Part of a five-video series,  available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality. 

Ready-to-eat - Part of a five-video series,  available in English and Spanish, offers “tricks of the trade” to help food service operators keep produce safe and at a high quality.

This memorandum provides general guidance on the various procurement groups FNS has identified, how to use each group in a way that complies with federal procurement standards, and supersedes SP 35-2012, Procuring Services of Purchasing Cooperatives, Group Purchasing Organizations, Group Buying Organizations, etc., dated June 12, 2012.