FNS Documents & Resources

This memorandum provides information on the updated template Local Agency Procurement Review Tool for State agencies to use, modify, or develop in school year (SY) 2019-2020.  While the concepts of the original tool remain the same, the updated tool is now streamlined to reduce burden, consolidate questions, clarify instructions, and improve functionality for school food authorities (SFAs) and state agencies.

This memorandum addresses information in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 regarding the Buy American requirements in the national school meal programs. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (Section 12(n), 42 USC 1760(n)), requires school food authorities to purchase, to the maximum extent practicable, domestic commodities or products. This provision supports the mission of the child nutrition programs, which is to serve children nutritious meals and support American agriculture. 

This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payments, the amount of money the Federal Government provides States for lunches, afterschool snacks, and breakfasts served to children participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs; to the maximum reimbursement rates, the maximum per lunch rate from Federal funds that a State can provide a school food authority for lunches served to children participating in the National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program for Children.

The FNS is consolidating certain programmatic and financial data reporting requirements that are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget, under the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), an electronic reporting system. The purpose is to give States and ITO agencies one portal for the various reporting required for the programs that the States and ITOs operate. The data collected is used for a variety of purposes; mainly program evaluation, planning, audits, funding, research, regulatory compliance and general statistics.

On Dec. 20, 2018, Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334, 2018 Farm Bill). The purpose of this memorandum is to notify Child Nutrition Program operators of the 2018 Farm Bill’s expansion of the provision stating that certain groups are not liable in civil cases regarding the donation and service of traditional foods. This provision only applies to food service programs at public and nonprofit facilities that primarily serve Indians, including those operated by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.

On July 29, 2016, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service published the final rule “National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” (81 FR 50194). This memorandum reminds state and local program operators about a provision in the final rule effective on July 1, 2019, relating to free and reduced price eligibility for students transferring between LEAs during the school year.

This memorandum, SP20 CACFP07 SFSP06-2019, notifies all child nutrition program state agencies and program operators of guidance the Food and Nutrition Service received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OMB M-18-18, authorizing increases to the value of the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds. The changes apply to all child nutrition programs and implement an approval process for certain state agencies and program operators that want to request micro-purchase thresholds higher than $10,000.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting tempeh in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Tempeh is a highly nutritious fermented soybean cake traditionally made from whole soybeans. Although mature beans have traditionally been credited as a meat alternate in the CNPs, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has not previously issued guidance on crediting tempeh. Based on stakeholder feedback, FNS is updating CNP food crediting guidance to explain how to credit tempeh as a meat alternate.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting surimi seafood in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Surimi seafood is a pasteurized, ready-to-eat, restructured seafood usually made from pollock (fish). Previously, surimi seafood did not meet the requirement for any component in the meal patterns, but could be served as an “extra” food. Based on stakeholder feedback, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is updating food-crediting guidance to allow surimi seafood to credit as a meat/meat alternate in the CNPs.

This memorandum provides guidance on crediting coconut, hominy, corn masa, corn flour, and cornmeal in the child nutrition programs (CNPs), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Previously, coconut and hominy did not meet the requirement for any component in the meal patterns, but could be served as an “extra” food. Based on stakeholder feedback, and to meet the growing and diverse cultural needs of our program participants, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is updating food-crediting guidance to allow coconut and hominy to credit in the CNPs. Additionally, FNS is updating the guidance on corn masa, corn flour, and cornmeal to simplify menu planning. 

With the issuance of this memorandum, FNS is rescinding SP02-2013:Corn Masa (Dough) for Use in Tortilla Chips, Taco Shells, and Tamales, October 3, 2012.