RSFI 2026 Appendix 2 Cover Sheet.pdf

This is a cover sheet for Appendix 2 of Request for Proposals (RFP) #0423 for the New York State Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program 2026 Round 4, administered by the New York State Office of General Services. The program aims to encourage the use of fresh New York State farm products in K-12 school meal preparation, reduce food insecurity, increase market opportunities for state producers, and strengthen food system resiliency. Eligible applicants must develop regional facilities such as aggregation centers, storage hubs, or commissary-type kitchens that serve multiple school districts within designated regions including the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and Capital Region. Grant funds support capital projects for construction, renovation, equipment installation, and facility improvements necessary to support the preparation and distribution of New York-focused meals for regional school infrastructure.

Applicants submitting proposals for this grant program must acknowledge and comply with New York State's vending and backhauling restrictions by signing and submitting the Vending and Backhauling Acknowledgement Form from the Office of General Services as a required component of their application. Notably, schools utilizing vended services are ineligible to receive USDA Direct Delivery or USDA Direct Diversion products due to New York State's prohibition on backhauling of USDA Foods. This requirement ensures applicants understand the operational constraints and food sourcing limitations associated with their selected service model before project implementation.