Nutrition Services Vision Statement
Nutrition Services provides leadership that inspires service of nutritious meals to children, students and adults.
Nutrition Services References
Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) Funds
The USDA has approved federal funding for supply chain assistance for operators of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) in response to the unprecedented challenges in purchasing and receiving food. These resources will be referred to as Supply Chain Assistance (SCA) funds. SCA funds can be used exclusively to purchase unprocessed or minimally processed domestic food products to help SFAs deal with challenges, such as unanticipated cancellation of food and supply contracts, reduced availability of certain foods, unexpected substitution of certain products, unpredictable increases in food and supply prices, and other obstacles related to pricing and/or availability that have been reported to or identified by state agencies administering the Child Nutrition Programs. As these challenges are both extensive and widespread, the SCA funds are targeted to provide a rapid and direct response to affected school districts.
- Recorded SCA Webinar- February 23, 2022 https://youtu.be/ddwwHYz3Jmc
- SCA Webinar Slides
- SCA Frequently Asked Questions
Nebraska Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (PL 116-159), provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve state agency plans to administer P-EBT. Based on updated USDA guidance, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have teamed up to simplify the administration and distribution of P-EBT funds.
USDA has provided final approval for Nebraska’s 2021-2022 P-EBT plan. The eligibility requirements include each school building needing to individually qualify for 21-22 P-EBT benefits. For a school to qualify, at least one enrolled student must experience a five consecutive day COVID-related physical absence from the school building at any point during the 21-22 school year.
Once the school building has qualified, students enrolled at that school will qualify for benefits if they meet two requirements:
- Qualify for free or reduced-priced meals by the submission of an income application or direct certification during the 21-22 school year; AND
- Experience a COVID-related absence for any period even if less than five days.
Three benefit levels have been established for P-EBT benefit issuance based on the duration of the eligible student’s COVID-related absence*. Students will continue to be issued benefits on a monthly basis and will receive one of three amounts based on their number of absence days within that month.
The benefit levels are as follows:
- Students with 0.1 – 5.99 COVID-related absence days* will receive $21 for that month.
- Students with 6 – 15.99 COVID-related absence days* will receive $71 for that month.
- Students with 16+ COVID-related absence days* will receive $121 for that month.
*A COVID-Related absence can be school-directed or parent-directed. Eligible students that are not physically present in the classroom can still qualify for P-EBT benefits even if they are remote learners.
| Benefit Months | Date Schools Provide Data to NDE | Date NDE Provides Data to DHHS | Issuance Dates |
| Corrected 2021 Summer P-EBT | February 11, 2022 | February 15, 2022 | March 11, 2022 |
| August, September and October | March 18, 2022 | March 23, 2022 | April 20, 2022 |
| November, December and January | April 15, 2022 | April 21, 2022 | May 19, 2022 |
| February and March | May 16, 2022 | May 23, 2022 | June 16, 2022 |
| April and May | July 18, 2022 | July 25, 2022 | August 16, 2022 |
Students that qualify for 21-22 P-EBT benefits will continue to be uploaded into the NDE portal for benefit issuance under the P-EBT Data Collection. School food authorities will need to indicate in this data how many covid-related absences each qualifying student had within the month of upload. Please find instructions for uploading student data into the portal for P-EBT benefit issuance in the 2021-2022 Resources section.
COVID-19 Program Specific Documents
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
- SP 23-2021, CACFP 18-2021.CN Emergency Procurement: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to CN Programs use of emergency procurements due to supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 and details further instructions and administrative procedures for utilizing the noncompetitive procurement method found in 2 CFR 200.320(c). The guidance applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.
- Policy Memo SP 02-2022, CACFP 03-2021, SFSP 01-2021: Updates to the Federal Micro-Purchase Threshold in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1): The purpose of this guidance is to make State agencies and Program operators aware of regulatory changes made by OMB which they may utilize at their discretion. These changes may be helpful to Program operators experiencing challenges related to supply chain disruptions.
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations during School Year 2020-2021 Q&As #3: This memorandum provides clarification on additional questions related to the operation of National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program during school year 2020-2021.
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Programs and use of emergency procurements due to supply chain disruptions. This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to CN Programs use of emergency procurements due to supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 and details further instructions and administrative procedures for utilizing the noncompetitive procurement method found in 2 CFR 200.320(c). The guidance applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program.
- Questions and Answers for Child Nutrition Program Reporting in School Year 2021-2022 (SP 21-2021): This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to Child Nutrition Program reporting for SY 2021-2022, including meals and snacks served using waivers for the Seamless Summer Option and Afterschool Snack through NSLP.
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations during School Year 2020-2021 Q&As #3: This memorandum provides clarification on additional questions related to the operation of National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program during school year 2020-2021.
- Questions and Answers Relating to the Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through School Year 2020-2021: This EXTENSION memorandum provides clarification on question relation to the operation of National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Questions and Answers Relating to the nationwide Wavier to Allow Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option Operations through December 2020 : This memorandum provides clarification on question relation to the operation of National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Seamless Summer Option, Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Questions and Answers for the Child Nutrition Programs During School Year 2020-2021 #5: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to Child Nutrition Program operations during school year (SY) 2020- 2021.
- Questions and Answers related to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers: This memorandum provides clarification to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring Nationwide Waivers #7 through #12 available to all States, SFAs and sponsoring organizations during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the Nationwide waivers issued by FNS in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks- Questions and Answers #3: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Extension Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to COVID-19: Child Nutrition Responses #21, Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring Nationwide Waivers #14 through #17 available to all States, SFAs and sponsoring organizations during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOPs)
- COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Response School Closures Standard Operating Procedure
- COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Response
- COVID 19 Viral Pandemic Non-School Meals Distribution Sites
- COVID 19 Employee/Visitor/Customer Positive Test Result Protocols
- DHHS Food Safety Inspectors Areas and Contact Information
- Nebraska Local Health Departments Map
NATIONWIDE WAIVERS
- Policy Memo SP 02-2022, CACFP 03-2021, SFSP 01-2021: Updates to the Federal Micro-Purchase Threshold in 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1): The purpose of this guidance is to make State agencies and Program operators aware of regulatory changes made by OMB which they may utilize at their discretion. These changes may be helpful to Program operators experiencing challenges related to supply chain disruptions.
- Questions and Answers for the Child Nutrition Programs During School Year 2020-2021 #5: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to Child Nutrition Program operations during school year (SY) 2020- 2021.
- Questions and Answers related to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring and Reporting Nationwide Waivers: This memorandum provides clarification to the Child Nutrition Program Monitoring Nationwide Waivers #7 through #12 available to all States, SFAs and sponsoring organizations during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the Nationwide waivers issued by FNS in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks- Questions and Answers #3: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Child Nutrition Program Nationwide Waivers- Extension Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to COVID-19: Child Nutrition Responses #21, Nationwide Waiver to Extend Unanticipated School Closure Operations through June 30, 2020 during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
CACFP MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES
- Request to waive the on-site monitoring requirements for sponsors of family day care homes during pandemic situations.
SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS
- USDA CACFP Flexibilities During COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions: (1) This memorandum provides guidance on current meal pattern flexibilities in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and opportunities for State agency and sponsoring organization discretion while monitoring meal pattern compliance during COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (2) This memorandum applies to State agencies and sponsoring organizations administering the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
NATIONWIDE WAIVERS
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Waiver Memo 19-2021 Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2021-22 during COVID-19
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2020-21 during COVID-19: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the operation of FFVP during school building closures and alternative operations.
- Child Nutrition Program State Waiver Request for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent or Guardian Pick Up: Public notice regarding the proposed Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Parent or Guardian Pick Up waiver
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Guidance during COVID19: This memorandum includes questions and answers intended to provide clarification on the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program During COVID19- Questions and Answers: This memorandum provides clarification on questions related to the administration of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during school closures in all States and school food authorities during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Operations for SY 2020-2021 During COVID-19: This memorandum provides clarification on question related to the operation of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) during school business closures in all States and school food authorities during the the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
