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(877) TEX-MEAL (Se habla Español)
Getting Started With SFSP Main Page
Promote Summer Meals in Your Community
Host A
Summer Meals Site
Become A Summer Meals Contracting Entity
Programs > Summer Meal Programs > New Applicants
New SFSP Applicants
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Download the
Quick Reference for SFSP for more information!
SFSP Quick Reference
Read the three ways to participate and then use the menu options above to select the option appropriate for you!
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was created to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.

The program reimburses organizations who serve approved meals to qualifying children. All meals are served free to eligible children.

1. Promote Summer Meals in your Community

    • Use TDA resources to increase awareness of the Summer Meals Program in your community. TDA offers a variety of downloadable outreach materials, including social media images, web banners, posters and more at SummerFood.org/OutreachTools.
    • Contact TDA: (877) 839-6325. (There is a fast busy signal when calling.)

2. Host a Summer Meal Site
    • Community organizations partner with a Contracting Entity (CE) to serve meals in a group setting at schools, parks, community centers, health clinics, hospitals, apartment complexes, churches or migrant centers.
    • The CE provides the meals to the site and ensures all financial and administrative responsibilities are met. Site supervisors receive training from the CE. The CE may require the site to sign an agreement that outlines the site’s responsibilities.

3. Become a Summer Meals Contracting Entity (CE)

    • A CE contracts directly with TDA to operate one or more approved meal sites. CEs, who are also called sponsors, exercise administrative oversight for meal sites and must conduct a nonprofit food service. An organization is eligible to apply to be a CE if it is a governmental entity, a public or private nonprofit school, a public or private nonprofit residential camp, or a private nonprofit organization.
    • Recommendation for prospective CEs: TDA recommends organizations operate as a meal site under an experienced CE for at least a year before applying to become a CE. This has been shown to provide a foundation for long-term success as a program operator.

SFSP Review Process for New Applicants

Step 1 Eligibility (typical time of completion: 7 to 10 days)
1. Complete the Intake Form located on www.Squaremeals.org.
2. Intake Form is received by TDA. 
3. TDA conducts the eligibility check on the organization and the contact individual within five  (5) business days (excluding TDA and federal holidays. 

The organization eligibility check comprises:

  • Verification of standing with the Secretary of State (SOS) *If an organization is required to be registered with the SOS.
  • Verification of standing with the State Comptroller’s Office
  • Verification of standing with IRS *If an organization is a non-profit organization with a 501c3 tax-exempt status.
  • That the organization does not appear on the National Disqualification List (NDL).
  • That the organization does not appear on the Texas Excluded List (TEXSL).
  • That the organization does not have any ongoing adverse actions with TDA.


The contact individual eligibility check comprises:

  • Background check to ensure the individual has not been convicted of financial integrity crimes within the last seven years.
  • That the individual does not appear on the National Disqualification List (NDL).
  • That the individual does not appear on the Texas Excluded List (TEXSL)

That the individual does not have any ongoing adverse actions with TDA.
 

Step 2 Viability (typical time of completion: 30 to 45 days)
1. Upon a successful Eligibility check, the organization is sent a link to upload the proof of SFSP training and the organization’s financial documentation. 


Only funds from non-food program sources will be considered for the Financial Viability Review.

Organizations MUST provide a minimum of ONE YEAR of bank statements that illustrate business operations.

  • Financial documentation submitted to TDA from organizations that have received Program funds must ensure it reflects only non-Program income and expenses. 
  • To demonstrate financial viability and financial management, the CE must document it has adequate financial resources to operate the Program daily, has adequate sources of funds to continue to pay employees and suppliers during possible periods of temporary interruptions in Program payments, and/or can pay debts when fiscal claims have been assessed against it. 
  • The financial viability review is conducted to ensure that an organization has an adequate financial position by assessing the organization’s financial documentation. An organization’s financial position must demonstrate that it can cover the expense of temporary interruptions in program payments for at least three months for CACFP and/or one month for SFSP using non-Program funds.
 

2. Once the organization has been determined to be financially viable, the organization will be provided a form to request access to the online application system. Upon receipt of the completed form, TDA will process the form, and the applicant will receive login credentials to the online application system. 

Step 3 Capability and Accountability (typical time of completion: 45 to 90 days)
This phase of the review comprises the online application review in TX-UNPS. With access to the online system, the organization must complete the application and submit all required supporting documentation. The organization is encouraged to seek the support of their local Education Service Center for assistance in completing the application. The application review is conducted in two phases:

 

  • First, the application will be reviewed for completeness. Once the application is submitted to TDA, it will be assessed to determine that all information is complete and all required supporting documentation has been submitted. Any missing items noted will require the application to be returned to request the missing items. 
  • Once the application has been determined to be complete, the second phase will be the review for accuracy. Once the application is determined to be complete, approval or denial must be determined within 30 calendar days. If the review is still ongoing during this 30-day period, the application may be withdrawn. However, the review may resume upon the applicant's request. Once the application has been determined to be complete and correct, the final phase of the review will be conducted. 

Step 4 Visit Prior to Approval (VPA) (typical time of completion: 10 to 14 days)
The Program Eligibility Support (PES) group, commonly known as the applications group, will conduct the first three steps of the review. Once those steps have been successfully completed, PES will reassign the application to the Community Operations (ComOps) group. ComOps will conduct an onsite review to determine that all VCA requirements reviewed during the application phase are accurate and that the applicant is VCA compliant to operate the program. Upon completion of this phase of the review, the final approval of the application will take place. 
. 

                                   

Assistance available in English and Spanish. Please call 877-TEX-MEAL (877-839-6325) for help. Additional translations services available as well.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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