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Resource | FAQs/Q&As Supporting Kosher and Halal Communities Through TEFAP FAQs

Answers to some of the frequently asked questions about how TEFAP can support cultural and religious practices around food, particularly those serving kosher and halal observant communities.

06/15/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance | FNS-GD-2020-0095 What is Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)?

Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased. EBT is in use in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

05/24/2023
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 | Technical Assistance & Guidance Training and Presentations

The FNS State Systems team has produced a series of training presentations designed to help state agencies understand and comply with the FNS approval process. These eight on-line presentations correspond to FNS Handbook 901, with information on the key documents or phases in the process.

01/26/2023
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2022 State Management Evaluation Target Areas

FNS is targeting the areas of program operation listed, for state SNAP Agency Management Evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year. State SNAP agencies are required to conduct MEs for the target areas in the upcoming fiscal year.  

07/02/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2021-0036 Data Requests from Infant Formula Manufacturers

The purpose of this memorandum is to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the federal regulatory requirements related to the disclosure of confidential WIC vendor and participant information.

WIC Policy Memorandum #2021-6
04/07/2021
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0104 FY 2021 State Management Evaluation Target Areas

FNS is targeting the areas of program operation listed, for state SNAP Agency Management Evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year. State SNAP agencies are required to conduct MEs for the target areas in the upcoming fiscal year.  

06/29/2020
Resource | Policy Memos | FNS-GD-2020-0007 Revised Guidance for Use of Vendor/Private Staff in Call Centers: 2020 Update

Building on best practices to date and consistent with USDA’s efforts to improve customer service and increase state flexibility within the bounds of the law, while continuing to encourage states as laboratories of innovation, FNS is once again expanding allowable activities for states seeking to use vendor/private staff in call centers

02/06/2020
Resource | Report EBT Status Report by State

The attached chart lists states that have issued a request for proposals. These states remain on the chart until either a new contract with the incumbent processor is in place, or until they convert to a new vendor.

07/02/2019
Resource | Guidance Documents | FNS-GD-2019-0024 Shipment and Receipt of USDA Foods

This instruction establishes the general standards and procedures that the state distributing agency, Indian Tribal Organization, or other consignee must follow in receiving shipments of USDA Foods, and conveys established responsibilities for other entities such as USDA Foods vendors and carriers.

FNS Instruction 709-5
03/13/2019
Page updated: October 14, 2021