Direct Delivery and Processing Orders

Each year, school food authorities (SFAs) that participate in the USDA's school nutrition programs receive a Planned Assistance Level (PAL), which is based on the number of reimbursable lunches served in the previous school year multiplied by the federal meal rate. The federal meal rate changes annually.

Each SFA decides how to use their PAL budget, and places orders in the USDA’s Web Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM). The resources and guidance below assist SFAs with placing their annual USDA Foods Direct Delivery and Processing Orders.

Direct Delivery USDA Foods  |   Processing  |   WBSCM

Direct Delivery USDA Foods

• Ideas for Using Excess USDA Foods Inventory (CSDE)
• Recipes Using USDA Foods (CSDE)
• School Year 2024-25 Schedule of Direct Delivery USDA Foods (CSDE)
• Vendor Contact Information (CSDE)

Processing

• ACDA Resource Guide: Processing (ACDA)
• CSDE Operational Memorandum No. 02-19: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foods – Processing of USDA Foods
• Business Partner Identification Numbers (BPID) for Approved Food Processors for the Connecticut FDP (CSDE)  
• Recipient Agency Business Partners Identification Numbers (BPID) (CSDE)
• State Participation Agreement (CSDE) (for processors only): Contact the CSDE's FDP staff for more information.
• USDA Foods Further Processing (CSDE)
• USDA Foods Hold/Recall Contact Information (CSDE FDP Staff)
• USDA Foods Transfer Request Form (CSDE)

Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM)

• Orders for School Year 2025-26
  • Instructions for Ordering USDA Foods for School Year 2025-26 (CSDE)
  • USDA Foods Ordering Worksheets for School Year 2025-26: Direct Delivery (Brown Box) and Processing (CSDE) 
• WBSCM Contact Information
  • Phone: 1-877-WBSCM-4U
  • Email: WBSCM.servicedesk@caci.com
• WBSCM Training Guide (CSDE)
• WBSCM (USDA website)