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Simplified Geographic Preference Procurement

September 30, 2026

Simplified Geographic Preference Procurement CACFP 05-2026 SFSP 05-2026 (1)

On September 9, 2026, the USDA published the final rule, Simplified Geographic Preference Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs (91 FR 57245). The rule will go into effect on November 9, 2026.

The rule does not change policy or implementation of the geographic preference option. The rule simply clarifies existing requirements to make the geographic preference option easier to understand and use across Child Nutrition Programs.

Why It Matters

For CACFP operators looking to purchase locally grown, raised, or caught foods, this guidance outlines the minor changes made by the final rule and provides an overview of geographic preference options. USDA stated that through these updates, they aim to encourage more operators to take advantage of geographic preference options and increase access to unprocessed foods in child nutrition programs.

USDA Guidance

Purpose of the Rule

This rule supports USDA’s Harvest to Hallways Initiative to improve school meals and strengthen the connection between American agriculture and America’s children. FNA encourages CNP operators, including State agencies purchasing on their behalf, to purchase agricultural products for the CNPs that are unprocessed and locally grown, raised, and caught. The geographic preference option is a key tool for CNP operators to expand the market for America’s farmers and producers while also serving nutritious, local foods in CNP meals.

FNA expects that clearer regulations will help CNP operators use the geographic preference option more frequently, resulting in increased procurement of local, unprocessed agricultural products in CNP meals and snacks. The rule clarifies the existing strategies available through the geographic preference option, including affirming that CNP operators have maximum flexibility to adopt their own definitions of “local” and that the regulations do not prescribe a Federal definition for the purpose of procuring local foods for CNPs. The changes are customer-focused and intended to simplify program regulations and make them easier to understand. Changes do not alter the meaning of the regulations nor their implementation.

Changes Made by the Rule

In summary, the rule:

  • Replaces “procurement specification” with “product specification” to align with industry terminology.
  • Replaces “selection criteria” with “defined scoring advantage” to align with FNA policy guidance.
  • Affirms that CNP operators have the flexibility to prescribe the way that a defined scoring advantage is applied and the amount of preference given to a product that meets their definition of local.
  • Reformats the regulatory text to make it easier to read and reference.
  • Incorporates implementation guidance to clearly describe how geographic preference strategies may be applied during the procurement process as a local product specification, a defined scoring advantage during bid evaluation, or a mix of both strategies.
  • Clarifies that CNP operators may use, but are not limited to, the phrases “local,” “locally grown,” “locally raised,” and “locally caught” in their solicitations.
  • Removes the undefined term “minimally processed” since all allowable food handling and preservation techniques are specified in the definition of “unprocessed agricultural products.”
  • For SBP, SMP, CACFP, and SFSP, revises regulations to refer to NSLP geographic preference option regulations for consistency.

Geographic Preference Option Overview

FNA’s geographic preference option regulations at 7 CFR parts 210.21(g), 215.14a(e), 220.16(f), 225.17(e), and 226.22(c) provide flexibilities that CNP operators may use to purchase unprocessed foods that are locally grown, raised, or caught.

The geographic preference option allows CNP operators to:

  • Use a “local product specification” that identifies the local area from which the unprocessed agricultural product must originate for a bid to be considered responsive; and/or
  • Use a “defined scoring advantage,” a preference that gives additional credits or points for unprocessed agricultural products from a specified local area during bid evaluations. CNP operators have the discretion to determine the method for applying a defined scoring advantage and to determine the amount of preference to give to products that meet their definition of local.

For more information on how to apply the geographic preference option to procure more local, unprocessed agricultural products for CNP meals and snacks, please see SP 222024, CACFP 08-2024, SFSP 13-2024, Geographic Preference Expansion Related to the Final Rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and SP 24-2024, CACFP 10-2024, SFSP 142024, Geographic Preference Option Questions & Answers.

 

Read the full guidance: Simplified Geographic Preference Procurement in Child Nutrition Programs (CACFP-05-2026, SFSP-05-2026).