Nationwide Expansion of Summer Food Service Program Simplified Cost Accounting Procedures

The Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which was signed into law Dec. 26, 2007, extends the cost accounting procedures commonly known as the “Simplified” Summer Food Service Program. Currently, 26 states and Puerto Rico operate under the simplified procedures. This Act extends these simplified procedures to all states.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008 all SFSP sponsors will receive the maximum “meals times rates” operating and administrative reimbursements without regard to their actual costs. Sponsors may combine their reimbursements to pay for any allowable cost, whether operating or administrative.

Under these new procedures:

• Sponsors do not have to report their costs to the state agency, although they must maintain records for the state agency’s review,
• Costs do not have to be categorized as “operational” or “administrative”, and
• Reimbursement is based on “meals times rates”, without comparison to actual or budgeted costs.

Attached is additional information regarding the simplified procedures as well as questions and answers about the changes.

To help assist state agencies in implementing these new procedures, each region will be hosting a conference call early in 2008. These calls will address questions about the simplified procedures, as well as the experiences of state agencies where these procedures have already been implemented.

In the meantime, questions may be directed to FNS regional offices.

STANLEY C. GARNETT
Director
Child Nutrition Division

Attachment

• Nationwide Implementation of Summer Food Service Program Simplified Cost Accounting Procedures