Skip to main content

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Frances N. O'Donnell, Coordinator
Date: 
Monday, February 1, 2010
Subject: 
Single Audit-Child Nutrition Cluster and Other Grants

SFAs have asked if the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Food Service Equipment Assistance Grant, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grant are included in the child nutrition cluster.

The child nutrition cluster consists of the: School Breakfast Program CFDA 10.553, National School Lunch Program CFDA 10.555, Special Milk Program CFDA 10.556 and the Summer Food Service Program CFDA 10.559.

The FFVP, which is coded CFDA 10.582, and the ARRA Food Service Equipment Assistance Grant, coded CFDA 10.579, and the NSLP-Equipment Assistance grants coded CFDA 10.579 are not part of the child nutrition cluster.

This is because clustered programs must both be closely related and share common compliance requirements. (See definition of "Cluster of programs" at 7 CFR section 3052.105.) The programs in the CN Cluster are there because they share a common business model: They exist to provide nutritious meals to eligible children; and are open-ended entitlement programs funded according to the number of eligible meals (by category and type) that they serve. The FFVP, the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant and the ARRA food service equipment assistance do not work that way. They are close-ended grants with fixed budgets.

Since these grants are separated from the child nutrition cluster, receiving funds from one and/or both of these programs may put the SFA above the $500,000 threshold which will require the SFA to conduct an organization-wide audit in accordance with OMB Circular A-133, instead of a program specific audit. Any recipient that expends $500,000 or more in Federal funds must conduct a Single Audit in accordance with A-133.

This additional audit requirement may require you to reconsider your interest in applying for or accepting these grant funds.

 

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

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 state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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:

  1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Top