This is a request for information from state agencies administering child nutrition programs and state distributing agencies to learn about the successes, challenges, and needs for the State Administrative Expense (hereafter referred to as “SAE”) allocation formula. It is not a request for proposal and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted information shall remain with the Government and will not be returned. All responses will become part of the public record and will not be held confidential.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking information on the SAE allocation formula for the Department's oversight and management of Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), specifically the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Special Milk Program (SMP) and the Food Distribution Program for schools (FDP). To better understand the availability and use of SAE funds, FNS is requesting information from CNP state administering agencies, state distributing agencies, and CNP affiliate associations about SAE allocation, reallocation, fund uses, and fund restrictions at the state level.
The objectives of this request for information are to:
- Identify ways that the formula meets or fails to meet state spending needs.
- Identify if additional flexibilities in SAE funding levels and rules could improve program administration.
FNS will use the comments in response to this Request for Information to inform a larger study on the SAE formula entitled, Assessing the Child Nutrition State Administrative Expense (SAE) Allocation Formula. This study will assess the effectiveness of the current formula used for SAE allocations, identify and examine factors that influence state spending, and develop and test a range of possible alternatives to improve the SAE allocation formula.