[Federal Register: January 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2508-2510]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja09-69]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Summer Food Service Program; 2009 Reimbursement
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the annual adjustments to
the reimbursement rates for meals served in the Summer Food Service
Program for Children. These adjustments address changes in the Consumer
Price Index, as required under the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act. The 2009 reimbursement rates are presented as a combined set
of rates to highlight simplified cost accounting procedures that are
extended nationwide by enactment of the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated
Appropriations Act. The 2009 rates are also presented individually, as
separate operating and administrative rates of reimbursement, to show
the effect of the Consumer Price Index adjustment on each rate.
DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Brewer, Head, CACFP and SFSP
Section, Policy and Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, 703-305-2590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Program is listed in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.559 and is subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372 which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local officials (7 CFR part 3015, subpart
V, and final rule-related notice published at 48 FR 29114, June 24,
1983).
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501-3518), no new recordkeeping or reporting requirements have been
included that are subject to approval from the Office of Management and
Budget.
This notice is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that
Act. Additionally, this notice has been determined to be exempt from
review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order
12866.
Definitions
The terms used in this notice have the meaning ascribed to them
under 7 CFR part 225 of the Summer Food Service Program regulations.
[[Page 2509]]
Background
This notice informs the public of the annual adjustments to the
reimbursement rates for meals served in the Summer Food Service Program
(SFSP). As required under sections 12 (42 U.S.C. 1760(f)) and 13 (42
U.S.C. 1761) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(NSLA), and SFSP regulations in 7 CFR part 225, the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces the adjustments in SFSP
payments for meals served to participating children during calendar
year 2009.
The 2009 reimbursement rates are presented as a combined set of
rates to highlight simplified cost accounting procedures. Section 738
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161,
enacted on December 26, 2007, extends these procedures to all States.
Beginning January 1, 2008, reimbursement is based solely on a ``meals
times rates'' calculation, without comparison to actual or budgeted
costs.
Sponsors receive reimbursement that is determined by the number of
reimbursable meals served multiplied by the combined rates for food
service operations and administration. However, the combined rate is
based on separate operating and administrative rates of reimbursement,
each of which is adjusted differently for inflation.
Calculation of Rates
The combined rates are constructed from individually authorized
operating and administrative reimbursements. Simplified procedures
provide flexibility, enabling sponsors to manage their reimbursements
to pay for any allowable cost, regardless of the cost category.
Although the requirement to categorize costs as ``operational'' or
``administrative'' has been eliminated, this does not diminish the
sponsors' responsibility for providing the best possible nutrition
benefit to children, while ensuring proper administration of the
Program.
The operating and administrative rates are calculated separately.
However, the calculations of adjustments for both are based on the same
set of changes in the food away from home series of the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. They represent a
4.9 percent increase in this series for the 12 month period, from
November 2007 through November 2008 (from 209.854 in November 2007 to
220.043 in November 2008).
Table of 2009 Reimbursement Rates
Presentation of the 2009 maximum per meal rates for meals served to
children in SFSP combines the results from the calculations of
operational and administrative payments, which are further explained in
this notice. The total amount of payments to State agencies for
disbursement to SFSP sponsors will be based upon these adjusted
combined rates and the number of meals of each type served. These
adjusted rates will be in effect from January 1, 2009 through December
31, 2009.
Summer Food Service Program
2009 Reimbursement Rates (Combined)
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All States except Alaska and Alaska Hawaii
Per meal rates Hawaii ---------------------------------------------------------------
in whole or --------------------------------
fractions of Rural or self- All other Rural or self- All other Rural or self- All other
U.S. dollars prep sites types of sites prep sites types of sites prep sites types of sites
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Breakfast....... 1.8150 1.7800 2.9450 2.8900 2.1225 2.0825
Lunch or Supper. 3.1825 3.1300 5.1575 5.0750 3.7225 3.6625
Snack........... 0.7525 0.7350 1.2225 1.1950 0.8750 0.8550
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Operating Rates
The portion of the SFSP rates for operating costs is based on
payment amounts set in section 13(b)(1) of the NSLA (42 U.S.C.
1761(b)(1)). They are rounded down to the nearest whole cent, as
required by section 11(a)(3)(B) of the NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1759(a)(3)(B)).
Summer Food Service Program
Operating Component of 2009 Reimbursement Rates
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Operating rates in U.S. All States
dollars, rounded down to except Alaska Alaska Hawaii
the nearest whole cent and Hawaii
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Breakfast............... 1.65 2.68 1.93
Lunch or Supper......... 2.88 4.67 3.37
Snack................... 0.67 1.09 0.78
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Administrative Rates
The administrative cost component of the reimbursement is
authorized under section 13(b)(3) of the NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(3)).
Rates are higher for sponsors of sites located in rural areas and for
``self-prep'' sponsors that prepare their own meals, at the SFSP site
or at a central facility, instead of purchasing them from vendors. The
administrative portion of SFSP rates are adjusted, either up or down,
to the nearest quarter-cent.
[[Page 2510]]
Summer Food Service Program
Administrative Component of 2009 Reimbursement Rates
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Administrative All States except Alaska and Alaska Hawaii
rates in U.S. Hawaii ---------------------------------------------------------------
dollars, --------------------------------
adjusted, up or
down, to the Rural or self- All other Rural or self- All other Rural or self- All other
nearest quarter- prep sites types of sites prep sites types of sites prep sites types of sites
cent
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Breakfast....... 0.1650 0.1300 0.2650 0.2100 0.1925 0.1525
Lunch or Supper. 0.3025 0.2500 0.4875 0.4050 0.3525 0.2925
Snack........... 0.0825 0.0650 0.1325 0.1050 0.0950 0.0750
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Authority: Sections 9, 13, and 14, Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1758, 1761, and 1762a,
respectively).
Dated: January 12, 2009.
E. Enrique Gomez,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-787 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P