Programs > National School Lunch Program > National School Lunch Program Compliance
National School Lunch Program Compliance
Updated NSLP/SBP Infant and Preschool Meal Pattern EXPIRATION of Transition Period Notification
   

About the Administrative Review
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, requires the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to conduct an Administrative Review (AR) of School Nutrition Programs (SNP) at least once every three years. As a new federal requirement, the AR is designed to conduct specified parts of the review off-site and others on-site. TDA will evaluate compliance with the following program requirements in the Critical and General Areas of Review which include: Meal Access and Reimbursement, Meal Pattern & Nutritional Quality, Resource Management, General Program Compliance and the operation of any other applicable SNP federal programs.

CE Staff involved in the operation of SNP will be heavily involved the review process (off-site and on-site) to respond to questions and provide documentation regarding the operation of SNP. The AR begins approximately 12 weeks prior to TDA doing an on-site review of program operations with the off-site portion of the review. The review is risk based, gathering information and documentation samples during the off-site review and then conducting a more targeted review on-site. CE Staff will be asked to utilize the Texas Unified Nutrition Programs System (TX-UNPS) when providing written responses to questions and uploading requested documentation.  


2020-2021 School Operations Plans

Administrative Review (AR) Plan

TDA will conduct Administrative Reviews (ARs) on a four-year cycle. The contracting entities (CEs) that will be receiving an AR in the 2020-2021 school year are posted on this page under When is My Review? below.

Procurement Review (PR) Plan

TDA will conduct procurement reviews (PRs) from years 1 (SY 19-20) and 2 (SY 20-21) in the current review cycle. All CE’s with Food Service Management Contracts (FSMC) should expect a procurement review in the 20-21 or 21-22 school year.

Compliance Plan

TDA has been approved for a Four-Year Administrative Review Cycle. The first year of the new four-year cycle was School Year 2019-2020. A list of CEs and the year of their new regularly scheduled AR and PR is currently under review. Please note that some CEs may a more frequent review than four years or additional reviews that are not reflected in this list.

Coming soon: TDA will be conducting and posting a webinar for each school year so the CEs understand the direction at the state level.



When Is My Review?

The AR and PR Announcement Letter is addressed to the CEs Superintendent and sent via postal mail and/or email. The Superintendent, in addition to the Business Manager or Chief Financial Officer, Claim Preparer, Child Nutrition Director and respective Education Service Center Specialist will receive the Announcement Letter.  Please note: If a CE contracts with a FSMC, TDA must communicate with the CE employee overseeing the FSMC contract. TDA strongly suggests all CE contact information is kept up-to-date in your School Year 2020-2021 Application Packet within TXUNPS.  If you are scheduled for an AR you will also be required to complete a PR in the same school year.

2020-2021 Administrative Review List

2020-2021 Procurement Review List

Important Note: Administrative, Procurement and Financial Reviews schedules are subject to change.


Procurement Review
  1. Procurement Review TX-UNPS Training - This training can be utilized to explain the process of how to fill out the procurement table in TX-UNPS.
  2. PR Process Flowchart for CE  - This workflow details how the CE can expect their procurement review process to flow.
  3. Procurement Review Documents – This is a list of required documents that will be requested for the PR. Additional documents may be requested as needed.

The Procurement Review (PR) will determine how a CE complies with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services program procurement standards as outlined in 2 CFR 200.319(a) (OMB Uniform Guidance) as well as state and local procurement regulations.  The PR will be conducted in TX-UNPS. 

Overview of the Procurement Review (PR):

  1. The CE will upload required documents and complete the procurement table by specified due date.
  2. The Administrative Review Specialist (ARS) or Administrative Financial Review Specialist (AFRS) will review the completed documents and the procurement table and select a sample of procurement contracts for review.
  3. The ARS or AFRS will send notification on selected sample with due date.
  4. The ARS or AFRS will conduct the PR and assess compliance with procurement regulations.
  5. The ARS or AFRS will communicate any findings, technical assistance and require the CE to complete any corrective action, as applicable.
  6. Once the corrective action has been approved, the ARS or AFRS will close the review and will send notification to the CE.


TDA and USDA Guidance

TDA provides additional information on the AR process in the Administrator's Reference Manual, Section 31, Administrative and Other Compliance Reviews, which is available at SquareMeals.org/Publications/Handbooks.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes its AR Guidance Manual, AR categories and questions, and fiscal action worksheets which are available on the USDA website.


Administrative Review Reports

TDA makes three types of Administrative Review reports available to the public -- Summary Results for Reviews, Detailed Results for Reviews with Findings and Seamless Summer Option Summary Results for Reviews with Findings. The following reports are for Administrative Reviews in School Year 2020-2021.

Summary Results for SY 2019-2020 Administrative Reviews: A list of CEs that have received their Administrative Review reports from TDA. The summary also provides the following information about the Contracting Entity:

  • Types of school nutrition programs operated
  • Special provision programs utilized
  • Whether or not there were findings

Summary Results for SY 2020-2021 Administrative Reviews: Coming Soon A list of CEs that have received their Administrative Review reports from TDA. The summary also provides the following information about the Contracting Entity:

  • Types of school nutrition programs operated
  • Special provision programs utilized
  • Whether or not there were findings


Detailed Results for SY 2020-2021 Administrative Reviews with Findings: Coming Soon A list of CEs that had findings as a result of their Administrative Review from TDA along with the following additional information:

  • List of findings
  • Type of findings
  • Corresponding administrative review question

Seamless Summer Option Summary Results for Review with Findings: A list of CEs that had findings as a result of their Administrative Review from TDA along with the following additional information:

  • List of findings
  • Type of findings
  • Corresponding administrative review question


Forms and Information

Administrative Review Areas: An outline of the different areas of the School Nutrition Programs reviewed during an Administrative Review.

Contracting Entity Checklists: Coming Soon. CEs can download these templates to determine which documents will need to be provided during the off-site review. Specific due dates have not been included in the templates. At the beginning of the off-site review, the AR Specialist will provide each CE with the checklist that includes specific due dates for the documents the CE should upload into TX-UNPS. 

Resource Management Summary: Coming Soon. CEs will complete the Resource Management Summary during the Off-site review.  AR Specialists will evaluate responses to determine risk factor levels.  Risk factors include the size of the CE, previous audit and review results, the Non-Profit School Food Service Account, Paid Lunch Equity, Non-program Foods, and Indirect Costs.  If this information is not provided at least four (4) weeks prior to the On-site review or if the information provided indicates high risk, a Resource Management Comprehensive Review will be required.


TX-UNPS Administrative Review User Guide: A detailed step-by-step user guide to help CEs navigate the Compliance Module in TX-UNPS while completing the Off-site portion of the Administrative Review.
The Administrative Review - Webinar
The Reinvented Administrative Review Process
This webinar provides an overview of the new administrative review process. Information provided includes how the review has changed, what the review covers, general timelines, required documentation and specific processes for before, during and after the on-site review. (Revised June 18, 2015)

The Reinvented Administrative Review Process PDF

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Texas Department of Agriculture

Commissioner Sid Miller