

September Announcements
NSLP/SBP

NSLP/SBP Updates
FSMC New RFP/Contract and Renewal Contract Timeline
SFAs (School Food Authorities) looking to begin a contract with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) or renew an existing FSMC contract must adhere to TDA timelines. Click the headline to access the timelines.
Direct Certification in TX-ELMS
All school food authorities (SFAs) regardless of their size or if they are operating a special provision (CEP and/or Provision 2), must use the direct certification (DC) component in TX-ELMS each month to identify students who are directly certified without application to receive free meals.
Excess Net Cash Resource Threshold
- Food service accounts cannot exceed six months’ average expenditures (expanded from three months).
- School Nutrition Program (SNP) operators only but can apply to an SFA’s CACFP or SFSP operations when using a single account for all programs.
- SFAs with an already submitted spend-down plan for an excess of 3 months (based on FY 2023 end balance or self-identified) must adhere to the 3-month plan.
- Balances exceeding 3 months but under 6 months at the end of FY 2024 do not need to submit a spend-down plan.
Attachment B Upload
The Attachment B Upload module is found under the "Applications" tab in TX-UNPS. To complete the Attachment B Upload, the SFA must:
- Indicate whether they are using the TDA template school meal application,
- Upload the school meal application used by the SFA during School Year 24-25
- Upload the instructions to the school meal application
- Certify the Attachment B Upload module in TX-UNPS
- Submit the Attachment B Upload module.
Attachment B: Meal Counting and Collection Procedure
School Food Authorities (SFA) must update their Attachment B in TX-UNPS if their meal counting and claiming procedures have changed. If the SFA selected "yes" in Question 24 on the CE Application, the SFA must revise their Attachment B and submit to TDA for approval.
Summer Cost Report Requirement
How is the summer cost report completed and submitted? The summer cost report is submitted through TX-UNPS by accessing the School Nutrition Programs module. From the Applications screen, click on Summer Nutrition Program Costs link, and select the 2023-2024 school year. Additional information can be accessed at Texas Summer Mandate on www.squaremeals.org.
Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards
USDA and Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) are collaborating to offer Recognition Awards to celebrate School Food Authorities (SFA) that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals.
These awards will spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools have used to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Awardees will receive:
- National and Local Recognition
- Digital Toolkit
- Travel Stipend to attend a National Healthy Meals Summit
Important Dates
June 30, 2023 – Applications Open
June 30, 2025 – Applications Close
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis
Equipment Grant Application
Equipment Grant Application Process:
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will competitively award kitchen equipment assistance grants to eligible School Food Authorities who are National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) participants. These kitchen equipment assistance grants will allow School Food Authorities (SFAs) to purchase nonexpendable, tangible kitchen equipment with a useful life of more than one year. The 2023 grant minimum equipment acquisition cost per item is $1,000. TDA will use a competitive award process to distribute $3,745,223 in reimbursement grants among the SFA sites that best fit USDA selection factors detailed at 2023 Equipment Grant Processing Methodology.
The application period is September 3, 2024 – October 3, 2024. All applications must be submitted through the application web portal. Applications will not be accepted past the deadline. TDA will evaluate the applications and plans to announce awards in October of 2024.
Eligible school food authorities must participate in the NSLP, SBP, or SSO and be in good standing. CEs that did not receive an award from a previous NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant will be given priority in the 2023 NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant selection process.
Scoring will consider:
- Percentage of free and reduced/CEP – priced meals
- Access to other financial resources to acquire equipment.
- Age of food service equipment being replaced.
- The proposed equipment’s potential meaningful impact on nutrition and quality of meals
- Improving food safety
- Equipment that provides more convenience and appeal to the student population in highlighting healthier choices
See the scoring criteria here. If you have any questions about the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant, send an email to: NSLPEquipmentGrants@TexasAgriculture.gov.
SFAs must follow all Federal, State, and Local procurement laws when purchasing equipment with these grant awards.
As 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.
Though not required, SFAs awarded grant funds are encouraged to purchase equipment made domestically.
Deadline for submission is October 3, 2024 at 11:59pm. You will need your CE ID and Password to sign in. If you do not have your password credentials, you can contact your ESC for assistance.
National School Lunch Week October 14-18, 2024
Ahoy! Set Sail for National School Lunch Week 2024
Get ready for National School Lunch Week 2024 as we celebrate with the theme “School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure”! Visit the SquareMeals page to explore our digital resources such as a 1-Day Themed Menu, Morning Announcements, Activity Booklet, Digital Images, and more! We also want to hear about your NSLW celebration plans and know if you are interested in a friendly TDA visit during NSLW – Let us know here!
USDA Foods Updates
WBSCM Security Updates and Reminders
As part of security management, Food & Nutrition is issuing reminders for all Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) users including User Administrators. Click HERE for more information about the following reminders:
• Deactivation of WBSCM account
• Maximum of two (2) User Administrators (UA) per entity.
• WBSCM account for Food Service Management Company
• Keep User Information Updated
Processing LBS
At this time, most if not all processing accounts should be updated and ready for SY24-25 orders and draw-down in the ProcessorLink and K12. If you are experiencing an issue in the amount of LBS available to your school district, please first reach out to your ESC contact for guidance. Then, if the problem is not resolved, reach out to your contact at the specific processor where the error is occurring. This line of communication should resolve any and all problems as we go into the new school year.
NSLP-USDA Foods Inventory and Contract Management
*The SY23-24 NSLP USDA Foods Private Storage and Delivery Fees Report has been posted on SquareMeals. Review your report for your respective region. If you have any inquiries, please submit a Jotform Inquiry Form located on the SquareMeals instructions. Submissions are due by September 9, 2024.**
Visit this link to access the SY23-24 NSLP USDA Foods Private Storage and Delivery Fees Reports.
**If your Procurement/Purchasing Department has requested a copy of the awarded contract for SY25, they will need to submit an open records request.** Visit this link for further instructions
USDA Foods Ordering Updates
School Year 2024-2025
DoD Fresh FFV Program Participants:
• Please remember to complete receipts in FFAVORS for each delivery within 7 calendar days from the date of delivery.
• TDA monitors monthly utilization of DoD funds in FFAVORS
All ordering is complete for SY25. RAs can validate with a Requisition Status Report in WBSCM and checking "Requisition Status" is “Approved by SDA”.
• Sales Orders that are in "Order Received" status are available at your contracted warehouse and must be placed on a delivery schedule as soon as possible.
• Processors have received allocations of state account pounds. Schools can validate cancelled or reduced requisitions based on the final amount loaded into tracking systems.
• Gold Star Foods offers surplus cases through on-going “Advertisements” in their system. For questions, contact the NSLP coordinator at Gold Star.
TX-UNPS Weekly Commodity Bulletin will no longer track entitlement allocations and balances for SY25. RAs must utilize a combination of reporting from WBSCM, FFAVORS and distributor systems.
School Year 2025-2026
• In October the DoD Opt-In form will be published on squaremeals. The deadline will be from October 1st – 31st. A yes response is required to be eligible to participate and have a portion of planned assistance level set aside for the SY26 DoD FFAV program.
• In October TDA will post the USDA Foods Feedback survey. The deadline will be from October 1st – 31st.
Upcoming Meetings with USDA Foods:
TDA will be holding Zoom Meetings with schools serviced by each contracted warehouse region in September. THIS IS INTENDED FOR THOSE THAT FORECAST, MENU PLAN, AND SUBMIT ORDERS IN WBSCM.
We will discuss ordering trends from SY25 to help schools prepare for planning and forecasting for round 1 direct delivery starting in January.
RAs will be shown what they requested, vs what was ordered. Including an in-depth dive into entitlement availability for the region, and how larger RAs drive demand coming into warehouses for direct delivery.
Gold Star Regions – 9/24/24 10am-11am CST
US Foods Region – 9/25/24 10am-11am CST
El Pasoans Region – 9/26/24 10am-11am CST
San Antonio Region – 9/27/24 10am-11am CST
TANS Updates
September 2024 TANS Update
As announced at MegaCon 2024, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is happy to share we will all transition from the Texas Unified Nutrition Program System (TXUNPS) to the Texas Automated Nutrition System (TANS) in Program Year 2026! For more than a decade, TXUNPS has served TDA’s nutrition programs as a single integrated web-based application, but the time has come to upgrade. System users from the state, Education Service Centers (ESCs), and sponsoring organizations will soon begin using TANS to support the same nutrition programs through application processes, claims, compliance, and more.
You may be asking, “Why do we need to change systems?” Well, the main reason for the change is that TXUNPS is a highly customized system managed by a vendor that runs on older technology. That has limited our ability to adjust or enhance the system and the changes that can be made are completed very slowly. These obstacles do not support operational efficiency or effective administration of the programs, so TDA decided to find an alternative to TXUNPS.
Through a search that began in 2022, TDA staff determined Washington, D.C.'s Orchard system provided the best foundation for starting fresh. TDA is using Orchard as the baseline and building on it to create a TDA-managed system known as TANS. TANS will provide a web-based platform adapted to meet our state's child nutrition program needs and will allow our division to adapt to regulatory changes more quickly, better manage the system, and more efficiently address bugs and implement enhancements. Plus, users will find it easier to navigate thanks to its modern technology.
Development on TANS is already underway, so you can expect a training schedule and more information very soon. Bookmark, subscribe, and stay tuned to make sure you’re ready to dive into the exciting new system!
Join the Challenges!
2024 Turnip the Beet - Deadline Extended!!
Thank you for serving nutritious summer meals to children across the Lone Star State and participating in Turnip the Beet to gain national recognition of your programs! We have extended the submission deadline to September 17, 2024. Please submit 2024 applications to Nutrition@TexasAgriculture.gov as soon as possible! Visit our SquareMeals page for more information.
It's Farm Fresh Challenge Time!
October is coming fast and the time to pledge to join TDA for the Farm Fresh Challenge is now. All National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program operators are encouraged to serve local foods, teach about local agriculture, and share their efforts on social media. We have new resources to help you achieve whichever tier you decide to strive for this year. Find the Success Guide, Word Games, new flashcards, and a tracking tool on Resources tab on SquareMeals. The pledge form will be open until October 30, but remember to pledge by September 13 to receive promotional materials like "We Serve Local" buttons for staff, "Locally Grown" clings for your serving line, or "I Tried Local" stickers for your students. Let's make 2024 the most successful Farm Fresh Challenge year ever! Pledge now!
TDA Launches 2nd Annual USDA Foods Challenge!
The Texas Department of Agriculture will launch the 2nd Annual USDA Foods Challenge! All schools who receive USDA Foods entitlement dollars will be automatically registered.
What is the USDA Foods Challenge?
The 2024 USDA Foods Challenge recognizes school nutrition teams for maximizing their USDA Foods entitlement. Schools utilizing at least 95% of their allocated entitlement will earn special TDA recognition. TDA is holding this challenge to recognize your commitment to achieving excellence in school nutrition.
Important Dates
- Challenge Start Date: September 1, 2024
- Challenge End Date: August 31, 2025
- Winner Announcement: MegaCon 2026
For more information, visit SquareMeals or contact us at nutrition@texasagriculture.gov.
Training Opportunities
School Year 2024-25 Paid Lunch Equity Tool Walk-Through Recorded Webinar
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has released a recorded webinar regarding the Paid Lunch Equity Tool. This webinar is a walk-through and demonstration of the School Year 24-25 Paid Lunch Equity Tool.
This webinar includes a brief introduction on what the Paid Lunch Equity requirement is and how to complete the tool based on the method the school food authority chooses to use to meet the Paid Lunch Equity requirement. This webinar is a great resource for individuals who have not worked with the tool before or would like a refresher given recent updates to the tool.
To access the link to view the video, go to: School Year 2024-2025 Paid Lunch Equity Tool Walk-Through.
To access the existing Paid Lunch Equity memo, please go to: SP 14-2024 Paid Lunch Equity: Guidance for School Year 2024-25.
Local Food for Texas Schools
Next LFS Office Hours: September 18th,2024, 3 – 4pm CST
Join us for the September LFS office hours meeting. To view recorded sessions and slides from previous office hours, please visit the LFS webpage. If you are participating in the LFS grant and are not receiving communications, contact localfoodgrant@texasagriculture.gov .
Resources
Revised Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet Series in English
The Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs Tip Sheet series has been revised to reflect the changes with the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Crediting in the Child Nutrition Programs tip sheet series consists of seven tip sheets covering the five meal components: fruits, vegetables, meats/meat alternates, fluid milk, and grains (three separate tip sheets). The revised versions introduce the menu-planning flexibilities beginning July 1, 2024 and changes that will implemented in the coming school years in a quick-reference format. Access the entire tip sheet series today in English! The Spanish series will be available online in September and print copies of both the Spanish and English tip sheets will be available at a later date!
New Resource! Reducing Added Sugars at School Breakfast
FSMC Friday Q&A Sessions
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will host monthly Contracting with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) Q & A Sessions. The webinars will cover topics related to contracting with an FSMC and CE representatives will be able to get answers to FSMC-contract questions. Invitations will be sent to Superintendents and Contracting Managers overseeing the FSMC contracts. Please ensure applications in TX-UNPS are up to date.
Back to School Toolkit!
Explore USDA’s Back to School Toolkit that features Social Media Content, Flyers, Fact Sheets, videos and more! Use these items to raise awareness in your school and community on school nutrition programs.
Cindy Scott
CN Program Specialist
936-435-8234
Sheridan Quick
CN Program Administrative Assistant
936-435-8352
3332 Montgomery Rd
Huntsville, TX 77340
This guidance is not considered all inclusive.
Please see www.squaremeals.org for further guidance.
Note: If TDA makes changes to the website, direct links in this announcement may become void.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. This program is funded by USDA.