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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released SP 01-2022, CACFP 01-2022: Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Programs Emergency Procurement Due to Supply Chain Disruptions.
This memo provides clarifications on use of emergency procurements and operating federal Child Nutrition Programs during school year 2021–22. The noncompetitive procurement method in 2 CFR 200.320(c) may be used when a public exigency or emergency prevents sponsors from conducting a competitive procurement. This is an exception to full and open competition and USDA and OSPI approval is not required.
Using Noncompetitive Procurement
Use of the emergency noncompetitive procurement method is allowed only during the actual public exigency or emergency circumstance. Plan to begin the process of competitively procuring goods and services to transition back to competitively procured contracts as the emergency circumstances cease to exist.
Documentation remains key when using the noncompetitive procurement method. The following items are examples that would support the documentation requirements:
- Documentation showing that the distributor, processor, or other supplier cancelled food or supply contracts, deliveries, or orders;
- Documentation showing the distributor, processor, or other supplier is no longer able to provide food as ordered, or failed to consistently deliver goods.
Sponsors are allowed to piggyback onto existing contracts as long as the contract language includes a provision to allow “piggybacking” to avoid a material change that would require a contract amendment.
Please review the full memo for more details.
Procurement questions? Please email the CNS Procurement Inbox.
Supply chain questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released several nationwide waivers relating to the operation of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during School Year (SY) 21–22. Child Nutrition Program sponsors planning to support schools experiencing unanticipated closures, such a COVID-19 outbreak or extreme weather events, may utilize the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
Summary of Requirements:
- These waivers are only applicable when an entire school closes and no remote or hybrid learning options will be provided.
- Community Sponsors must have operated SFSP during FY 20–21.
- Community Sponsors interested in operating SFSP during an emergency school closure must submit a Meal Distribution Plan when an unanticipated closure occurs, if utilizing any of the nationwide waivers.
- If eligible, a FY 21–22 SFSP WINS application must be submitted.
A detailed reference sheet outlining requirements will be posted to the OSPI Nutrition and Meals Guidance webpage this week.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a technical correction in the Federal Register. This correction to amends Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern regulations. Corrections include updates to meal pattern tables and associated text to reflect ounce equivalents for grains served in the CACFP.
Implementation of ounce equivalents crediting began on October 1, 2021.
Note: Pre-school and infant meals served in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program also follow CACFP meal pattern requirements. Technical corrections were made to the following regulations: 7 CFR 210.10; 7 CFR 220.8; and 7 CFR 226.20.
The Federal Register publication is available online at: Federal Register: CACFP Meal Pattern Revisions Related to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; Technical Amendments and govinfo.gov documents.
The USDA will update meal pattern tables will be available online shortly. OSPI Child Nutrition Service updated meal pattern charts earlier this year.
Resources
OSPI Child Nutrition Services is partnering with the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) on a new grant opportunity!
The Farm to School Purchasing Grant is available to schools, child care centers, and summer meal program operators for the purchase and use of Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs.
Application Details
Applications will be available soon and funding will be for January 2022 – August 2022. Funding levels will be based on annual meal participation rates.
Join Us for a Webinar!
Join CNS and WSDA for information on how to apply for the grant!
Register for the How to Apply for the Farm to School Grant Webinar
Date: Wednesday, November, 3
Time: 1:30–2:30 pm PT
Questions? Visit the WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grants website for more information.
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Did you miss the CACFP’s Contingency Meal Planning Webinar? If so, no worries, the recording is now available!
View Recorded Contingency Meal Planning Webinar
During this webinar, we discuss:
- Menu planning strategies when meal components are in short supply
- How to continue meal service when centers are short staffed
- Procurement during emergency situations
- Available nationwide waivers
Resources
Did you miss the Afterschool Meals Summit hosted by United Way of King County last week? If so, no worries!
Recorded At-Risk Afterschool Meals Summit
Tune in and discover:
- More details about the At Risk After School Meals Component of CACFP
- How other program sponsors in WA provide meals to children after the school day has ended.
- Grant opportunities available through the United Way of King County, No Kid Hungry and the American Heart Association to help get your after school meals program started!
Child Nutrition Program Administrative Reviews (ARs) are scheduled to resume in fiscal year (FY) 21–22. We understand the challenges CACFP Sponsors face as they continue to operate programs or reopen institutions.
OSPI Child Nutrition Services (CNS) has considered many factors as we prepare to conduct AR’s. To ensure we are providing the best customer service we are requesting additional information prior to our on-site reviews.
Important: The vaccination status of all CNS staff is verified per the state vaccine mandate.
To help us plan for upcoming reviews, please email the following to your program specialist by Tuesday, November 30:
- Organization requirements for on-site visitors
- On-site COVID-19 safety protocols
- Additional preferences related to the public health emergency
Thank you for your patience as the details unfold over the next several months. We will update you as we hear more from OSPI and the USDA.
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) established nationwide waivers to allow program flexibility for School Year 2021–22 (SY 21–22) and Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). These waivers help support school nutrition, child care, and adult care professionals' efforts to connect children and adults with nutritious meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flexibility may be requested in circumstances where sponsors are experiencing food or labor shortages or altered facility operations due to COVID-19.
Use this checklist and submit your CACFP Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) & Waiver Request for current program operation through September 30, 2022.
Please review the 10/4 Waiver Article for more details on submitting your MDP.
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
Join the Washington Farm to ECE Community of Practice for a meeting! During this time we will discuss a new grant opportunity to support purchasing local foods through CACFP, Farm to School, and summer meals programs!
The Washington State legislature provided historic funding levels to the Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) for various food systems initiatives in the 2021 legislative session. This funding includes $5 million to expand local purchasing for child nutrition programs in Washington State.
Join Us for a Webinar!
The new grants from these funds will reimburse child nutrition programs at school districts, childcare centers, and summer meal programs to purchase Washington-grown food!
Register for the Farm to ECE Community of Practice Meeting
Date: Tuesday, October 26
Time: 3–4 pm PT
The WSDA and OSPI will talk about the upcoming grant and application, and early learning programs will share about their experiences planning and purchasing from local farms and farmers. Participants will have a chance to offer feedback on the grant application process and have their questions answered.
Questions? Please email Kendra Vandree.
USDA’s Team Nutrition is proud to release of the English and Spanish-language Toddler Nutrition web quizzes!
These 10-question nutrition quizzes can be used at trainings as a fun learning activity. Upon completion quiz takers receive a score along with a link to resources that can help expand their knowledge on the topic and build their nutrition skills. Quiz takers can also view a printable version of the questions and answers upon quiz completion.
View the quizzes on the Team Nutrition webpage.
Additional quizzes are coming this fall and winter!
Questions? Please email Team Nutrition.
Five new Team Nutrition training worksheets for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are now available in print.
Each worksheet is available in English and Spanish, with 25 worksheets per pack. Sponsoring organizations, and program operators who participate in one of USDA’s child nutrition programs may order these worksheets by visiting the links below. For bulk orders, please email USDA's Team Nutrition Inbox.
Additional Resources
For questions or more information, please contact USDA's Team Nutrition Inbox
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November 1
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August 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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November 15
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October Claim Due in WINS!
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