Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Resource | Policy Memos Implementation Guidance for the Rural Non-congregate Option Provisions of the Interim Final Rule, Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs

This memorandum includes key information on the new regulatory requirements for non-congregate summer meal service in rural areas.

SFSP 03-2024, SP 05-2024
01/17/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Clarification of Allowable Flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs Experiencing Milk Supply Shortages

FNS is aware that schools in multiple states are experiencing milk supply chain challenges related to packaging issues. This memorandum provides state agencies with information about existing authority related to schools and other child nutrition program operators experiencing inadequate milk supply. FNS encourages state agencies to use this authority when needed to support program operators impacted by the current milk packaging challenges. 

SP 01-2024, CACFP 01-2024, SFSP 01-2024
10/26/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Summer Food Service Program Questions and Answers - Revised

This guidance updates previously issued Questions and Answers to clarify SFSP requirements. It supersedes SFSP 05-2017, Summer Food Service Program Questions and Answers, Dec. 1, 2016.

SFSP 05-2017
09/28/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Initial Site Visits in the Summer Food Service Program

This guidance memo addresses sponsors’ monitoring requirements of its sites and food service operations in the SFSP. This guidance applies to sponsors’ management responsibilities of conducting initial site visits and full reviews of food service, including visits of non-congregate rural meal sites.

SFSP 10-2023
05/30/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Guidance on Site Selection Criteria during Reviews in the SFSP

Guidance for state agencies to develop criteria for site selection for monitoring reviews in the Summer Food Service Program.

SFSP 08-2023
05/25/2023
Resource | Policy Revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals

This memorandum provides information on the revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals. USDA updated the prototype application to improve the user experience for applicants by adjusting the reading level, streamlining the application instructions, and by adding clarity to the mailing instructions to reduce the number of applications sent to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

SP16-2023
05/11/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FD-152: Discontinuance of the High Security Seal Requirement for USDA Foods Deliveries

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023. 

04/05/2023
Resource | Policy Memos Non-Congregate Meal Service in Rural Areas: Q&As #2

This memorandum is the second set of questions and answers on the rural non-congregate summer meals option established through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and codified through the interim final rulemaking, Implementing Provisions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs.

SFSP 08-2024, SP 15-2024
03/27/2023
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0106 FD-151: TEFAP Questions and Answers about Farm to Food Bank Projects

This document is addressed to TEFAP state agencies and provides answers to common questions about TEFAP Farm to Food Bank projects, as authorized by The Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983.

10/01/2021
Resource | Policy Memos Return of FY 2021 Administrative Funds for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

This document is addressed to TEFAP state agencies and provides guidance that the FY 2022 reallocation process for TEFAP administrative funds will be suspended and state agencies will receive any unused regularly appropriated FY 2021 TEFAP administrative funds for use in FY 2022.

07/13/2021
Page updated: October 14, 2021