The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost, differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods. Another basis of the Food Plans is that all meals and snacks are prepared at home. For specific foods and quantities of foods in the Food Plans, see Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 (2007) and The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007 (2007). All four Food Plans are based on 2001-02 data and updated to current dollars by using the Consumer Price Index for specific food items.
Questions have arisen regarding the eligibility for reimbursement of meals served to children who are placed by a public school district in special schools or institutions which are either not eligible to participate or choose not to participate in the NSLP and/or SBP.
This Instruction establishes policy for charging allowable costs associated with the administration of TEFAP, and for assigning such costs to states and eligible recipient agencies (ERAs). Such classification of costs is necessary in order to demonstrate compliance with the statutory and regulatory requirements described in section II, of this document.
This memorandum encourages those state agencies that have not already done so to consider seriously adopting provisions currently available to simplify operations and improve program access for households with earnings.
It has come to our attention that there is still some question regarding the ability of state agencies and sponsoring organizations to use “stop payments” (suspension of all program reimbursement to institutions or providers) as a tool to enforce an institution or a provider’s compliance with program requirements.
This Instruction provides clarification of the appropriateness of using program funds for child care standards compliance. Section 226.4(a) of program regulations provides that "FNS shall make funds available to each state agency to reimburse Institutions for their costs in connection with food service operations, including administrative expenses .... "It is Incumbent upon Institutions to use program payments only for costs Incurred In operating and administering the program.
This instruction will clarify (1) program eligibility requirements for outside-school-hours care centers (OSHCCs) and (2) the prohibition against program coverage of extracurricular activities in schools operating as OSHCCs.
This instruction is intended to clarify our policy concerning the participation of proprietary Title XX centers as stipulated in the Child Care Food Program regulations.
Applications of sponsors who are currently under investigation or audit or which have outstanding obligations related to their prior participation in the Summer Food Service Program should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
This instruction will outline the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) policy regarding the legitimacy of sub-sites (i.e., meals transported from approved sites to feeding locations for which site applications have not been submitted).