The Texas Department of Agriculture is continuing to administer federal child nutrition programs uninterrupted during the federal government shutdown. A statement by Commissioner Sid Miller was published on 10/29/25.

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All requests pertaining to Information for Bid (IFB) and Contract for Purchased Meals should be emailed to: ifb.Bops@texasagriculture.gov

Click here to view the updated versions of the 2025-2026 school year Special Provisions Carryover Reports. 

Verification reporting for the school year has begun! All reports must be submitted no later than November 21, 2025.

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Division is pleased to announce the availability of funding through the FY26 Farm Fresh Student Engagement Grant. We invite eligible applicants to submit proposals that will engage students in Farm to School initiatives in Texas schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

Applications are open now and must be submitted by November 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM CT through TDA GO. You can find detailed eligibility requirements, funding parameters, and application instructions in the official Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) here  or on SquareMeals.

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November’s important USDA Foods updates for schools includes use of Department of Defense funds in FFAVORS; maintaining active status in WBSCM; the cancellation of turkey roasts; and more.  

Click here to see the USDA Foods Ordering Updates for November

Visit USDA for more information on the Final Rule and upcoming changes. Let us know what kind of resources would best support you in implementing these new meal standards – Click here!

Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 13 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (CST)!

TANS Talk is an office hours session that will allow Organizations (formally known as CEs) to review TANS related updates. We are excited to share all of the new updates about this platform and answer any questions.

How to Participate in TANS Talk:
Use this TANS Talk Feedback Form to submit any TANS questions you would like to see reviewed during the call. We will cover questions received at least 48 hours prior to the call, allowing our team time to prepare for the meeting. Visit the TANS homepage and Resources page for access to past TANS Talks, updates, trainings, and more.

Apply today for an opportunity to attend weeklong Farm Fresh Culinary workshops at the Culinary Institute of America campus in San Antonio! Click here to apply or learn more about these workshops.

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Tracking for Buy American has two parts: 
1. Completing the Buy American checklist to document the exception for purchasing a non-domestic product. 

There are two exceptions that CEs have to purchase non-domestic (unless food item is on FAR list at 48 CFR 25.104): 
a) the product is not manufactured domestically or does not come in a significant quantity or quality.
b) The cost of the domestic product is significantly higher than the non-domestic product.

2. Tracking non-domestic purchases for compliance with 10% cap. 

All non-domestic commercial food purchases must be tracked for compliance with the 10% cap on total commercial food purchases. The SFA must develop a methodology to track the non-domestic commercial food items and costs, ensuring that non-domestic commercial food purchases do not exceed 10% of total commercial food purchases. USDA developed a tracking tool, but this specific tool is not required.