U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**
              
              Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
        Https**The site is secure.**
              
              The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.  *You are now leaving the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website and entering a non-government or non-military external link or a third-party site.*

*FNS provides links to other websites with additional information that may be useful or interesting and is consistent with the intended purpose of the content you are viewing on our website. FNS is providing these links for your reference. FNS is not responsible for the content, copyright, and licensing restrictions of the new site.*
  
  
    *Site LogoFood and Nutrition Service
                  U.S. Department of Agriculture*
Menu


    close

        
        
                        
        
  
          Home
      
                        
              Programs
      
                
        
  
          **Programs**
          
                        
              SNAP
      
                        
              Nutrition Education & Food Safety
      
                        
              Meals for Schools and Childcare
      
                        
              Food Distribution & Emergency Assistance
      
                        
              WIC
      
                        
              Summer Nutrition Programs
      
                        
              Assistance for Seniors & Adult Care
      
                        
              Farmers Market Programs
      
                        
              NAP Block Grants for Territories
      
                        
              Data & Research
      
                
        
  
          **Data & Research**
          
                        
              Data Visualizations
      
                        
              Research & Analysis
      
                        
              Program Data
      
                        
              Funding
      
                
        
  
          **Funding**
          
                        
              Grant Opportunities
      
                        
              Grants Management
      
                        
              Doing Business with FNS
      
                        
              Newsroom
      
                
        
  
          **Newsroom**
          
                        
              Press Releases
      
                        
              Blogs
      
                        
              Notice to Stakeholders
      
                        
              Federal Register Notices
      
                        
              Success Stories
      
                        
              Newsletters
      
                        
              USDA Press Releases
      
                        
              USDA Blogs
      
                        
              Contact FNS Press Office
      
                        
              Resources
      
                
        
  
          **Resources**
          
                        
              Factsheets
      
                        
              Federal Register
      
                        
              Infographics
      
                        
              Guidance Documents
      
                        
              Policy Memos
      
                        
              Videos/Webinars
      
                        
              All Resources
      
                        
              Our Agency
      
                
        
  
          **Our Agency**
          
                        
              Acting Under Secretary
      
                        
              Deputy Under Secretary
      
                        
              Administrator
      
                        
              Assistant Administrator
      
                        
              FNS Careers
      
                        
              Contact us
      
                        
              Civil Rights
      
                        
              Equity Action Plan
      
                        
              Partnerships
      
                        
              Freedom of Information Act
      
                        
              State Systems OfficeSearch


          
                      Contact Us
                                
                          
        
                Report Fraud
                                
                          
        
                AskUSDA
                                
                          
        
                USDA.gov Notice of Additional Funding for FY 2022 Equipment Assistance Subgrants for School Food Authorities
            Breadcrumb
    HomeFNS Document #
              SP 01-2023

          
          
          
          

  Resource type
          Policy Memos
          Grants

          
          

          Resource Materials
                                                                                                                      PDF IconPolicy Memo (211.06 KB)
                                                                                              PDF IconAttachment 1 - State Allocations (88.90 KB)
                                                                                              PDF IconAttachment 2 - Standard Terms and Conditions (297.83 KB)
                                                                                              PDF IconAttachment 3 - FNS-529 Grant Cooperative Agreement (93.64 KB)
                                                                                              PDF IconAttachment 4 - FNS-529 Instructions (150.22 KB)
                                                                                              Word IconAttachment 5 - FNS RO Checklist (42.09 KB)

          

  Related Content
          FY 2022 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants for School Food Authorities
    **DATE:**October 11, 2022**POLICY MEMO:**SP 01-2023**SUBJECT:**Notice of Additional Funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Subgrants for School Food Authorities**TO:**Regional DirectorsSpecial Nutrition ProgramsAll RegionsRegional DirectorsGrants Management and Administrative ServicesAll RegionsState DirectorsChild Nutrition ProgramsAll StatesThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to recognize the challenges facing schools nationwide. Higher food prices and supply chain disruptions have played a role in postponing other important food service purchases. To further mitigate these challenges and support schools, the USDA is pleased to announce an additional $50 million in Equipment Assistance Grant funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (PL 117-2) under section §1001 (b)(4). The additional funding will support school food authorities (SFAs) in providing healthy and appealing meals by meeting vital food service equipment needs.This funding reflects USDA’s financial commitment to supporting SFAs in a successful return to normal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) operations. The grant funding will work in concert with our other financial support assisting schools in navigating the current challenges – including the additional reimbursement funds for school meals, and supply chain allocation funds to purchase domestic food for meal programs.Schools can use this funding to purchase equipment for a variety of important improvements for the food service such as purchasing tools that support scratch cooking, storing fresh food from local producers, and receiving food deliveries in a more efficient manner. These improvements will be used to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by increasing the efficiency of SFA procurement, for example by enabling a wider variety of food purchases through scratch cooking. In addition, timely award of these Equipment Assistance Grants will benefit recipient SFAs by enabling them to meet equipment needs associated with a return to standard operating procedures. SFAs are encouraged, as part of their equipment purchases, to take advantage of the training offered by the companies on how to use their specific equipment.The $50 million dollars in ARPA funding is in addition to the $30 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, (PL 117-103). This ARPA funding is being made available to state agencies in addition to the previously announced $30 million to competitively award Equipment Assistance subgrants to eligible SFAs participating in the NSLP. This memorandum and attachments provide guidance on the specific terms and conditions, funding goals, period of performance, and associated timelines for these subgrants.Subgrant AwardsState agencies must competitively award subgrants to SFAs and schools to purchase equipment, with a value of greater than $1,000, needed to serve healthier meals, support scratch cooking, improve food safety, store fresh food, upgrade equipment, and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the SBP. State agencies are encouraged to support as many SFAs with equipment needs as possible with this funding. Equipment must be purchased, used, managed and disposed of in accordance with the governing 2 CFR requirements.State agencies may consider any SFA participating in the NSLP eligible to receive a subgrant award.When making awards, state agencies have discretion to use selection criteria in the Request for Application (RFA) they develop that best meets the needs of the SFAs within their state. Selection criteria factors that state agencies may consider include, but are not limited to, the following:Age of food service equipment or lack of appropriate items;Ability of food service equipment to increase the efficiency of SFA procurement, food storage, and distribution/service;The availability of existing state and local funding for equipment purchases;Strategies for adopting lunchroom changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student; and,Opportunities to realize meaningful impacts on nutrition and quality of meals.State agencies must submit a copy of the RFA they will use in connection with the SFA award process, to their respective Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regional program office for prior approval. The RFA must include all applicable terms and conditions both at the federal and state level (government-wide and USDA requirements).FundingFor the funding available in FY 2022, FNS used the State Administrative Expense (SAE) allocation formula to issue the available $80 million to state agencies. The state agency funding allocation attachment details the original $30 million allocation and the additional $50 million, as well as the total amount the state agency will receive. A new FNS-529, Grant Award, will be provided to the state agencies reflecting their new allocation. Separate accounting will be required for the two funding streams however expenditures will be reported on a combined SF-425.A state agency may not use more than five percent of its allocation for administrative costs associated with awarding grants to eligible SFAs.Funding GoalsAs with all federal grant funds, procurement regulations at 7 CFR Part 210.21 and 2 CFR Part 200.317-326 apply, and equipment competitively procured using these grant funds must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable. State agencies’ NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant announcements to SFAs must highlight the requirement to follow all federal, state, and local procurement laws when purchasing equipment with these grant awards.SFAs awarded grant funds are encouraged to purchase equipment made domestically.Period of PerformanceThe effective dates of these subgrants will vary; however, the performance period for all such subgrants from states to SFAs must end Sept. 30, 2024 (i.e., the termination date). While the performance period remains unchanged from SP 14-2022, FNS understands substantial increases in funding and supply chain disruptions may impact state and schools’ ability to spend these funds. FNS will monitor obligation of these funds and will consider all requests from the state to extend the period of performance, as needed.Award/Award TimelineState agencies will need to complete a new FNS-5291 for the additional funding. The state agencies must also agree to the Standard Terms and Conditions. Once approved by the FNS regional office, the state agency will distribute subgrant materials, review application submissions from SFAs, award subgrants, and conduct monitoring activities. State agencies are expected to maintain all appropriate purchase records and make them available and ready for review upon request.FNS recommends that states complete the initial subaward process by Sept. 30, 2023, including the states’ solicitation and obligation of funds to their respective subgrantees.SFAs that are unable to fully expend their grant amounts must return any unobligated and unliquidated funds to the state agency, unless FNS has granted an extension. If these funds are returned to the state agency, the state agency may reallocate available funds (the returned funds and any funds not previously obligated to SFAs) to award the next applicant for an equipment grant that had not received funds during the initial competitive grant application process.Funds returned to the state agency after Sept. 30, 2024, must be returned to FNS, unless a performance period extension is approved by FNS. State agencies must follow all standard policies and procedures to award these grants to the SFAs.AdministrationState agencies are required to electronically enter the quarterly and final financial status report (SF-4252) into the Food Program Reporting System (FPRS) for the “National School Lunch Program Equipment Grant, version 5” (CN-NSLPE-v5). This report must be entered within 30 days after the close of each quarter. The Final Financial Report must be entered into FPRS within 120 days of the expiration of the grant agreement. This report must also be certified by the Recipient’s chief fiscal officer or an officer of comparable rank. State agency staff that do not already have access to the “CN-NSLPE-v5” program in FPRS, must submit an FNS-674 to their regional office point-of-contact. The FNS-674 can be found on the FPRS welcome page.Questions regarding this memo should be directed to the appropriate regional office. Regional office questions should be directed to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division.Jessica SaracinoDirectorProgram Monitoring andOperational Support DivisionChild Nutrition ProgramLynn Rodgers-KupermanDirectorGrants and Fiscal Policy DivisionFinancial ManagementAttachmentsFY 2022 NSLP Equipment Assistance Funds: State AllocationsFNS Standard Terms and ConditionsFNS-529: Grant Cooperative/AgreementFNS-529 Standard Terms and Conditions InstructionsRegional Office Checklist for Reviewing State Agency NSLP Equipment Grant Proposals1 The burden associated with this requirement is captured under OMB #0584-0512 Uniform Grant Application for Non-Entitlement Discretionary Grants – 07/31/2022.2 The burden associated with this requirement is captured under OMB #0584-0594 Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) – 07/31/2023.Page updated: December 18, 2023 Return to top

      Home
                              
              Programs
                              
              Data & Research
                              
              Funding
                              
              Newsroom
                              
              Resources
                              
              Our AgencyUSDA
                              WhiteHouse.gov
                              FNS PartnerWeb.gov
                              No Fear Act
                              Privacy Policy
                              Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
                              Non-Discrimination Statement
                              Civil Rights
                              Accessibility
                              FOIA
                              Information Quality
                              Peer Review
  Sign up for Updates
      Your Email Address:
  
      *Site LogoFood and Nutrition Service
                  U.S. Department of Agriculture*
Menu
Twitter Facebook Gov Delivery Instagram Flickr YouTube RSS Feeds