[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7750-7752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02231]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Summer Food Service Program; 2013 Reimbursement Rates

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 2013 reimbursement rates are presented as a combined set 
of rates to highlight simplified cost accounting procedures. The 2013 
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, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Namian, Section Head, Policy and 
Program Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and 
Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Suite 1206, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, 703-305-2590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 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. (See 7 CFR Part 3015, 
Subpart V, and final rule-related

[[Page 7751]]

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 
formal 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 SFSP regulations.

Background

    This notice informs the public of the annual adjustments to the 
reimbursement rates for meals served in SFSP. In accordance with 
sections 12(f) and 13, 42 U.S.C. 1760(f) and 1761, of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) and SFSP regulations under 7 
CFR Part 225, the United States Department of Agriculture announces the 
adjustments in SFSP payments for meals served to participating children 
during calendar year 2013.
    The 2013 reimbursement rates are presented as a combined set of 
rates to highlight simplified cost accounting procedures. 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. 
Sponsors remain responsible, however, for ensuring proper 
administration of the Program, while providing the best possible 
nutrition benefit to children.
    The operating and administrative rates are calculated separately. 
However, the calculations of adjustments for both cost categories 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 2.56 percent increase in this series for the 12 month 
period, from November 2011 through November 2012 (from 234.046 in 
November 2011 to 240.038 in November 2012).

Table of 2013 Reimbursement Rates

    Presentation of the 2013 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, 2013 through December 
31, 2013.

                         Summer Food Service Program 2013 Reimbursement Rates (Combined)
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                                    All States except Alaska           Alaska                    Hawaii
                                           and Hawaii        ---------------------------------------------------
    Per meal rates in whole or     --------------------------
     fractions of U.S. dollars        Rural or    All other     Rural or    All other     Rural or    All other
                                     self-prep     types of    self-prep     types of    self-prep     types of
                                       sites        sites        sites        sites        sites        sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast.........................       1.9800       1.9425       3.2100       3.1500       2.3200       2.2750
Lunch or Supper...................       3.4700       3.4125       5.6325       5.5425       4.0650       4.0000
Snack.............................       0.8200       0.8000       1.3350       1.3050       0.9650       0.9425
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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. 1759a(a)(3)(B).

                   Summer Food Service Program Operating Component of 2013 Reimbursement Rates
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                                                                    All states
  Operating rates in U.S. dollars, rounded down to the nearest     except Alaska      Alaska          Hawaii
                           whole cent                               and Hawaii
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Breakfast.......................................................            1.80            2.92            2.11
Lunch or Supper.................................................            3.14            5.10            3.68
Snack...........................................................            0.73            1.19            0.86
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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 7752]]



                Summer Food Service Program Administrative Component of 2013 Reimbursement Rates
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                                    All states except Alaska           Alaska                    Hawaii
                                           and Hawaii        ---------------------------------------------------
   Administrative rates in U.S.    --------------------------
 dollars, adjusted, up or down, to    Rural or    All other     Rural or    All other     Rural or    All other
     the nearest quarter-cent        self-prep     types of    self-prep     types of    self-prep     types of
                                       sites        sites        sites        sites        sites        sites
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast.........................       0.1800       0.1425       0.2900       0.2300       0.2100       0.1650
Lunch or Supper...................       0.3300       0.2725       0.5325       0.4425       0.3850       0.3200
Snack.............................       0.0900       0.0700       0.1450       0.1150       0.1050       0.0825
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    Authority:  Sections 9, 13, and 14, Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. 1758, 1761, and 1762a, respectively.

    Dated: January 29, 2013.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-02231 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P