FNS Documents & Resources

During the public health emergency due to COVID-19, FNS waives, for all states, requirements that limit the use of Offer versus Serve (OVS) to school food authorities and require sponsors to apply OVS under the rules followed for the National School Lunch Program.

FNS waives the requirement that SFSP sponsors are required to visit each of their sites at least once during the first week of operation. This waiver applies to state agencies administering and local organizations that have operated the SFSP successfully in the previous year, and SFSP sponsors in good standing that have successfully participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program or the National School Lunch Program.  

FNS waives  food service management company contracts duration requirements for all state agencies, school food authorities, and Summer Food Service Program sponsors. Contracts that may expire by or around June 30, 2020 may be extended through school year 2020-2021.

FNS is targeting the SNAP Management Evaluations for Fiscal Year 2021.

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support schools unable to complete a triennial assessment of the local school wellness policies by June 30, 2020, due to school closures as a result of COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies that have local educational agencies administering the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

FNS is targeting the SNAP Management Evaluations for Fiscal Year 2021.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides the USDA statutory and regulatory waiver authorities necessary in a public health emergency such as COVID-19 to encourage social distancing and reduce visits to WIC clinics. To date, FNS has approved requests from all WIC state agencies to waive select statutory and regulatory requirements through June 30, 2020.

Pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and based on the exceptional circumstances of this public health emergency, FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19) for school year 2020-2021. 

This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Service Time Flexibility in National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Food Program. The extension was granted on May 14 and expires on August 31, 2020.

This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs – EXTENSION 3, granted on June 8, 2020, that expires July 31, 2020. This waiver extension applies to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for school year (SY) 2020-2021. As provided for in the June 8 extension, the waiver for the Summer Food Service Program remains in effect until July 31, 2020.