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Since the late 1970's, each legal entity that received funds from the U.S. Government was required to have a unique identifier called a DUNS number. On April 4, 2022, the federal government moved away from the DUNS Number as its official entity identifier and toward the new Unique Entity ID (SAM), which will be generated in SAM.gov.
All Child Nutrition Sponsors should already have their DUNS number registered at SAM.gov. If you do not know your SAM ID or have never registered for one, you can go to www.sam.gov to register for a new account and request your unique SAM ID in a few minutes.
Communication from CNS
If you received a survey link from OSPI titled “Needed Fiscal Information-SAM ID”, we were not able to find your SAM ID in the database at www.sam.gov. It is important that you obtain a SAM ID and complete this survey as soon as possible. We need to add a SAM ID for all Sponsors in WINS prior to our next federal reporting deadline.
Questions? Contact the Summer Meals team.
Monthly claims are due by the 15th of each month following the claim period. All claims entered in WINS and in OK to Pay status will process for payment at the end of the month. Here are some important reminders about claiming in the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS):
Best Practices for Submitting Claims
- Submit your claim by the 10th of the month. This will ensure your claim is in “OK to Pay” status prior to 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
- Review the Claiming Error Messages in WINS Information Sheet for more details on possible errors.
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Common Errors
- Total Attendance is entered with the claim and is the sum of children in attendance each day during the month. Meals claimed in excess of Total Attendance will result in a claim error.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- When you are experiencing issues with submitting your claim or when your claim is in error status, please contact your CACFP Specialist to assist you. Your Specialist will help to troubleshoot what the issue(s) may be. Do not reach out to CNS’s Fiscal Department or the WINS team directly.
General Claim Reminders
- Monthly claim data must be in "OK to Pay" status by 5:00 pm PT on the 15th.
- WINS will automatically log all users out of the system on the 15th of each month at 5pm PT.
- Ensure to give yourself enough time to input all claiming data so the claim is in “OK to Pay” status.
- Once WINS closes down the claiming option users are not allowed to input claim data until after the monthly claim reconciliation process is complete. This can take up to two business days.
- Didn't submit your claim by the 15th? That's okay! File your monthly claim by the 60-day deadline.
- Example: The February 60-day claim deadline is April 29, 2022.
- Claim reimbursements that are not entered into WINS or not in OK to pay status will NOT process for payment by the end of the month.
- The 21–22 Claim Processing Dates Information Sheet takes weekends and holidays into consideration for the 60-day deadlines. You may want to print or bookmark this information.
- Refer to the Claims Reference Sheet for details on what to do if you don't submit your claims by the 60-day claim deadline.
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Administrative Expenses
Sponsors may elect to use CACFP reimbursement to cover administrative expenses in their Food Service Budgets this fiscal year. Please review our 11/8 Entering Administrative Expenses article.
- Errors must be resolved for claims to be paid. WINS has multiple edit checks to help resolve issues before your claim is submitted.
- Common Errors
- Total Attendance is entered with the claim and is the sum of children in attendance each day during the month. Meals claimed in excess of Total Attendance will result in a claim error.
- WINS edit checks the number of approved operating days for each site to the number of operating days entered in the site claim. If these numbers don’t match, the claim will go into error status.
- Pro-Tip: Always select “Preview Errors” at the bottom of each site claim once information is entered.
Claiming Resources
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released SP 08-2022, CACFP 07-2022, SFSP 03-2022: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022: Effect on Child Nutrition Programs. (Need Link once available)
This memo provides guidance to Child Nutrition Program operators regarding Sections 740, 751, and 752 of Division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 which:
- Allows the substitution of vegetables, including starchy vegetables, for fruits without including vegetables from other subgroups in weekly menus under the School Breakfast Program (SBP) in SY 2021-22 and SY 2022-23
- Prohibits funds from being used to procure raw or processed poultry products from the People’s Republic of China in Child Nutrition Programs through September 30, 2022
- Provides guidance related to pricing of paid lunches for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), during school year SY 2022-23
The Appropriations Act of 2022 did not extend the flexibility to offer low-fat (1%), flavored milk in the NSLP and SBP. To continue serving low-fat, flavored milk for the remainder of SY 2021-22, the Meal Pattern Flexibility Waiver must be requested. Please update the SY 21-22 Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) with additional waiver requests.
Beginning July 1, 2022, low-fat, flavored milk may be offered under the transitional meal pattern standards in NSLP and SBP, as well as the Child & Adult Care Food Program and the Special Milk Program to children over age 6.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
Please save the date for this upcoming webinar where we will discuss several important upcoming Program changes. These changes will affect all Sponsors operating CACFP.
Register for the What's New in CACFP Webinar
Date: Wednesday, May 4
Time: 1:30–2:30 pm PT
During this webinar we will discuss:
- Study month for Fiscal Year (FY) 23
- Renewal closing date for FY22
- Infant meal pattern requirements for all centers with enrolled infants
- Budget Reporting
- Waiver usage
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
To support school nutrition, child care, and adult care professionals' efforts to connect children and adults with nutritious meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 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).
Allowances may be requested in circumstances where sponsors are experiencing food or labor shortages or altered facility operations due to COVID-19.
The CACFP Meal Distribution Plan (MDP) & Waiver Request Survey may be submitted for current program operation through September 30, 2022. Use this Checklist prior to beginning the survey. If you exit the survey before it is submitted, your progress will be lost.
The MDP Survey must be submitted to request the following flexibilities:
- Grab-and-Go Meal Service
- Off-site Monitoring
- Meal Pattern Flexibilities
Additional information or follow up documentation may be requested by your Program Specialist to support approval of waiver requests.
More MDP Information
- Your MDP must be submitted and approved prior to utilizing available waivers granted by the USDA. Approval may be made retroactive in emergency circumstances when prior approval cannot be made.
- FNS expects schools and child care providers to use the flexibilities for only the duration and extent that they are needed.
- Waiver use will be approved on a case-by-case basis and only for a limited duration of time.
- Once you submit the MDP you will receive a confirmation email.
- Your program specialist will contact you regarding approval status of your organization's plan and waiver request(s).
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To request use of additional waivers or extensions for approved waivers, program operators should notify their program specialist and submit an additional MDP for approval.
Resources
Questions? Please contact your CACFP Specialist.
Do you believe in the power of good nutrition? Are you interested in assisting school districts and other institutions in providing children with healthy and nutritious meals? CNS is seeking skilled candidates for several positions. Does this sound like you? Apply to join the CNS team today!
Current Recruitments
Upcoming Recruitments
- Business Analyst
- Fiscal Analyst
USDA’s Team Nutrition initiative will present a CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar on “Serving Adult Participants in the CACFP.”
About this Webinar
This upcoming webinar will highlight how the CACFP meal pattern for adults provides flexibilities to allow program operators to plan meals that best meet the needs of their adult participants as well as meal service options, dietary needs of this population, and meal modifications. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions and check their knowledge through interactive polling questions.
Serving Adult Participants in the CACFP webinar (English)
Date: Thursday, May 5
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 am PT
Serving Adult Participants in the CACFP webinar (Spanish)
Date: Thursday, May 5
Time: 12:00 – 12:30 pm PT
Additional Information
- Both webinars will be recorded and made available at a later date. All who register for the webinar will receive an email once the recording is available.
- Team Nutrition will provide certificates of participation to individuals who attend the entire thirty-minute webinar.
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Do you need an alternative format or accessibility tools to help you participate in this event? Participants who require a different accessibility tool to participate in this webinar, please email Sheila Kopczynski by April 20 for assistance.
Interested in watching recorded Team Nutrition trainings on other CACFP Topics? Visit the CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webpage.
Join the Farm to ECE Community of Practice call to learn how early learning programs can bring gardening into their programming.
Register for the April Farm to ECE Community of Practice Call
Date: Tuesday, April 26
Time: 3–4 pm PT
This call will include information on:
- Community gardens
- On-site gardens
- Classroom gardening activities
- Technical assistance organizations in your area to identify funding opportunities
- Questions/Answers
- Feedback request- What can we do to help you start a successful garden.
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April 15
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March Claims Due in WINS
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April 29
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February 60-day Claiming Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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