All the most current resources you need to successfully operate the Emergency Food Assistance Program are available here. TDA keeps this page updated with any new policy updates and news, including the following:
- Handbook release notices with update summaries
- Form release notices
- Brand new policy updates that haven’t yet been updated within the handbooks
- FAQs and other resources, as required
Please bookmark this page and check back periodically. Please also replace any previous versions of saved handbook sections once an update is released, as announced below.
February 15, 2026 - Updated Guidance on Repackaging and Processing Donated Wild Game
USDA has issued new guidance about the allowability of using TEFAP administrative funds and TEFAP Farm to Food Bank project funds for the repackaging and processing of donated wild game.
TEFAP regulations at 7 CFR 251.8(e)(1) allow food banks to use administrative funds to pay the direct expenses associated with the distribution of USDA Foods and foods secured from other sources to the extent that the foods are ultimately distributed by food banks. Direct expenses include the intrastate and interstate transport, storage, handling, repackaging, processing, and distribution of foods, including donated wild game.
Additionally, federal regulations at 7 CFR 251.13 establish requirements for TEFAP Farm to Food Bank Projects, which are projects to harvest, process, package, or transport foods donated by agricultural producers, processors, or distributors for use by emergency feeding organizations (EFOs). Animals and animal by-products that are originally unharvested, unprocessed, or unpackaged, and that are donated by agricultural producers, processors, or distributors, may be harvested, processed, packaged, or transported with Farm to Food Bank project funding. This would include donated wild game. For additional information on TEFAP Farm to Food Bank projects, please visit our website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/farm-to-food-bank-project-grants.
December 17. 2025 - Increase to the Micro-purchase Threshold
On October 1, the Office of Management and Budget increased the micro-purchase threshold from $10,000 to $15,000. Effective immediately, all Contracting Entities can use this higher threshold when using the micro-purchase method of procurement. All handbooks will be updated early next year to reflect this new threshold. All other procurement requirements remain unchanged.
September 29, 2025 - RELEASE: TEFAP Handbook - Multiple Sections
The following TEFAP Handbook sections have been revised and posted to the TEFAP Policy/Handbook page on SquareMeals:
- Section 2, Program Application;
- Section 3, Managing the Program;
- Section 7, Financial Management; and
- Section 9, Terms, Definitions, and Acronyms
Handbook Revision Notice 25-02, also published below, provides details about the revisions made.
You can find the complete TEFAP Handbook; individual, revised sections; and the Revision Notice at https://squaremeals.org/Programs/The-Emergency-Food-Assistance-Program/Policy-Handbook
August 29, 2025 - Increase to the Formal Procurement Threshold
On September 1, 2025, in accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1173, which raises the formal procurement threshold for school districts from $50,000 to $100,000, TDA is also raising the formal procurement threshold to $100,000 for all nutrition and household programs. As such, beginning September 1, any single transaction over $10,000 but below $100,000 will require the small purchase method, and transactions of $100,000 and over will require formal procurement. TDA is in the process of updating these thresholds in all program handbooks.