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Resource | Policy Using Federal Funds to Purchase Local Foods

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind schools, sponsors, and institutions participating in any USDA Child Nutrition Program, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program for Children , Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option , of the many ways they can purchase local foods to serve in program meals.

05/06/2025
Resource | Policy Buy American Accommodation Process for School Year 2025-26

This memorandum provides guidance on the Buy American accommodation process. This memorandum provides the state agency the ability to approve temporary relief for school food authorities that demonstrate they cannot meet the thresholds for non-domestic food purchases for school year 2025-26.

02/20/2025
Resource | Training and Outreach Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020-2025 DGAs – Buy American Provisions Webinar

This webinar reviewed the Buy American provision including information related to new regulations, the recently published memo, Buy American Provisions Related to the Final Rule Titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the optional Buy American Exceptions tracker.

08/28/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule - Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 DGAs

This memorandum provides a detailed explanation of the expanded geographic preference option. 

05/22/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Game and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs

Recently, FNS has received a number of questions related to buying local meat, poultry, game, and eggs; this memorandum seeks to clarify the regulatory requirements related to food safety and answer specific questions related to these products with a series of questions and answers.

11/20/2023
Resource | Training and Outreach Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs: Training Resources

A variety of trainings are available on the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs. Complete the training modules and view recorded webinars to assist in understanding and using the FBG and all its features.

09/20/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Buying Guide for child nutrition programs has all of the current information in one manual to help you and your purchasing agent buy the right amount of food and the appropriate type of food for your program(s), and determine the specific contribution each food makes toward the meal pattern requirements.

07/11/2022
Resource | Policy Memos Updates to the Federal Micro-Purchase Threshold in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)

The previous version of this memorandum contained incorrect references to state agencies throughout. FNS is correcting this memorandum to remove the incorrect references and so that it more clearly and accurately reflects the federal regulations. This memorandum notifies state agencies and child nutrition program operators of the changes made by OMB to the federal informal procurement method, micro-purchases and the micro-purchase threshold.

12/15/2021
Resource | Webinars/Videos Procurement Strategies for SY 2021-22: Webinar for School Food Authorities

This webinar discusses school meal procurement strategies and USDA school meal program flexibilities, waivers and training resources for school year 2021-22. 

08/23/2021
Resource | Webinars/Videos Procurement Strategies for SY 2021-22: Webinar for State Agencies

This webinar focuses on USDA school meal program flexibilities, waivers, and training resources to help state and school food authorities navigate supply chain issues during school year 2021-22. 

08/23/2021
Page updated: October 14, 2021