As shared in previous CNS newsletters and weekly webinars, September 22 was the last day for sponsors to provide student information for families that were incorrectly denied P-EBT benefits.
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is no longer able to address these issues and will no longer accept student lists from OSPI in order to close out this benefits program.
If you continue to receive calls and emails from families regarding their P-EBT benefits, please let families know that the opportunity to participate in P-EBT, issued as a result of last year’s school closure, has officially closed. We will let sponsors know if any additional P-EBT benefits become available in our state.
Thank You!
We appreciate all the work school districts have done to address issues of incorrect P-EBT benefit denials that arose through this process. Because of you, so many more families received this essential benefit.
The federal government outlines when and how purchasing by noncompetitive proposals is allowable. These requirements apply to Child Nutrition Programs receiving federal funds.
Per 2 CFR 200.320(f), organizations may purchase from a single source and not go out to bid if one or more of the following applies:
- The item is available only from a single source;
- There's a public emergency and sponsors do not have time to complete a full bid process;
- This must be for a limited time until a full bid process can be completed
- The Federal awarding agency (OSPI) authorizes noncompetitive proposals after written request is submitted; or
- Not enough competition after soliciting from multiple sources.
Please review 2 CFR 200.320(f) for more details.
How to Ensure Procurement Compliance
- Document all actions and decisions regarding any non-competitive procurement.
- Retain all supporting documents. Documentation must be available for auditors or reviewers. This includes:
- Phone calls
- Emails
- Sole source justification, etc.
Have Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Procurement Specialists, Barbara Krogstad or Stacie Boyd.
Verification Process
Verification is the process of confirming free and reduced-price meal eligibility based on an application. The verification process begins each year on October 1 and concludes November 15. Results of the verification process (Verification Summary Report) must be submitted to Child Nutrition Services by February 1, 2021.
Public school districts, private schools, and residential child care institutions that determine eligibility for meals using meal applications must conduct verification. Local education agencies with a 20% or greater non-response rate from verification in school year 2019-20 must use the 3% Focused method.
Sponsors Operating NSLP and SBP
Sponsors currently operating the NSLP and SBP who determine eligibility for meals using meal applications should move forward with the annual verification process for SY 20-21. We are waiting for further guidance from USDA on sponsors operating Summer feeding programs through December 31, 2020.
Please review last week's Verification update for more resources and details about completing this process.
Questions about the verification process? Please contact your program specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released COVID-19: Child Nutrition Response #58 - Nationwide Waiver of Area Eligibility in the CACFP At Risk Afterschool Care Component. This waiver:
- Allows schools and afterschool care centers, regardless of their location to serve at-risk afterschool meals and snacks to students after the regular school day.
- Is effective immediately through December 31, 2020.
- Washington will participate in this waiver.
- Reminder: At-Risk sponsors must provide organized regularly scheduled education or enrichment activities.
Things to Consider
- Staff must be trained on At-Risk program requirements.
- Pre-approval visits must be conducted at new sites.
- A monitoring visit must be done within the 1st four weeks of operation.
- Site would need a fire or health inspection if not located in a school building or licensed daycare center.
- Serving Meals
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Sponsoring organizations that operate the CACFP At-Risk must serve meals after the end of the instructional day if students are physically in care.
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If students are not in care physically (i.e. remote/virtual)
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At-Risk sponsors may continue to distribute meals for multiple days at a time, however meals must be marked/labeled to indicate that they are an afterschool snack or supper.
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This type of meal distribution may occur at any time in the day.
Renewal Reminders
Sponsors interested in operating At Risk Afterschool Meals have important steps to take for this fall. Last week, we sent out important reminders regarding the operation of this program.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
We have two online trainings scheduled for the remainder of the year!
OSPI and PrimeroEdge are working together to offer Menu Planning Nutrient Analysis (MPNA) software and training at no cost to districts.
Join us for either 2-day session:
- October 20 & 21
- November 19 & 20
Visit our PrimeroEdge MPNA software website to request a demo to sign up for training.
This software is USDA-approved for nutrient analysis to meet the school meal program requirements and will help you manage ingredients, create recipes, create cycle menus, and more!
With this software you’ll be able to:
- Manage ingredients and link to stock items
- Create recipes and add them to your menus
- Create custom menus and cycle menus
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Renewal Application Deadline Extended Until 10/31!
Last month, we released a CNS Update detailing important information regarding NSLP renewal for SY20-21.
Important Reminders
- You must submit your WINS application AND Meal Distribution Plan for your renewal application to be considered complete. We recommend to utilize the NSLP/SBP MDP Sponsor Checklist to help you meet each step.
- Review the applicable bulletins and addendum released for detailed renewal information.
- Application due dates:
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Sponsors Who Contract Meals
Questions? Please contact your program specialist.
Districts offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) this fall are encouraged to join us for weekly webinars.
Register Here Date: Wednesdays through November 4, 2020 Time: 2 - 3 pm PT
Please hold a space on your calendar. A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent 1 hour before the session starts.
Weekly follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend. We will not be posting recordings to the CNS webpages due to rapidly changing information .
Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox please check your SPAM box.
Miss last week? You can review last week's recording at this link.
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The USDA has released several waivers that extend through the summer, as well as some extending through September 2021.
Please visit the OSPI Nutrition & Meals Guidance webpage, under the Important Updates header, to review any of these waivers.
Sharing your farm to school story is an important strategy for growing awareness and building support for the farm to school movement. Include farm to school messages in a variety of communications - social media, newsletter, website, blog, school meal menus, school mobile apps, etc. - so everyone in your community can learn about farm to school.
Resources
The Farm to School Month Webpage has tools to help you celebrate all month long! Check out the webpage for:
- #F2SMonth Celebration Toolkit
- Celebration ideas
- Social Media post examples
- Customizable newsletter article
- Media Pitches best practices
- Farm to School Month Fact Sheet
- Posters
- Logos to share on social media
- Postcards, stickers, coloring pages, and more!
Share With Us!
We look forward to seeing your celebrations! Use #OSPIChildNutrition and #F2SMonth or #farmtoschool on all your social media posts and join the conversation!
Want to be featured in a CNS Highlight? Send pictures and stories of your celebrations to Samantha Brueske!
What’s in the Bag or Box from Washington?
Taste Washington Day is going to look a bit different this year! But it will still be a fun day to serve and highlight fresh, locally grown foods in your school meals, and promote your meal program to the community and encourage participation. On October 7, schools will celebrate farm to school and agriculture by distributing school meals with fresh, local ingredients, and help students learn about growing food and farming. Taste Washington Day 2020 will also recognize school nutrition heroes, school gardeners, teachers, and farmers for their important, frontline work keeping students fed during the pandemic.
The event theme this year is “What’s in the Bag or Box from Washington?”. Feature that one Washington grown vegetable, fruit, milk, dairy, grain, protein or other ingredient going into your bagged and boxed meals! You can also do a “Washington Apple Crunch” at noon on Oct. 7 with teachers and students.
Sign up, read more, and find resources below:
Possible Shift in Delivery Days for October
Due to recent delays with distributors accepting USDA foods, your delivery time period will shift to October 6 - 27. Please be aware this may effect on which day you receive your USDA Foods.
Please continue to confirm appointment times with your carrier.
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New ordering minimum for DoD Fresh starting October 18, 2020
The new minimum order amount is $150.00 per order for all sponsors in WA.
Questions? Please email Sarah Davis.
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Confirmation of USDA Foods should be received and confirmed monthly.
If you’re scheduled to receive a USDA Foods Delivery, you should receive an appointment confirmation from the carrier. Please remember to reply to the carrier confirming receipt of appointment.
If you are the delivery contact and are not receiving these confirmations, please email Trisha Santee to confirm your contact information.
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September 30
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SY20-21 Food Service Operations for NSLP and SFSP Sponsors Weekly Webinar - Register Here
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September 30
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Due Date for SY19-20 SFSP/ SSO Revisions
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October 1
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SFSP/ SSO Meal Distribution Plan Due
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October 15
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September claims due in WINS
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October 31
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Due Date for SY20-21 SFSP/ SSO Applications
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October 31
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NSLP/SBP Public/ Private Schools Renewal Applications Due! Make sure to complete all the required steps!
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