Welcome! This is the procedures manual for Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP). Lead Agencies and their respective Sub Agencies use this manual to help run EFAP in their regions. The policies and procedures included here are specific to EFAP only. Lead Agencies and their Sub Agencies must follow these rules with an effective start date of July 1, 2023.
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) administers Food Assistance programs pursuant to Chapter 68, Laws of 2010. The applicable Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is Title 43.23.290. If any procedure or policy is found to be in conflict with the RCW, the RCW will prevail.
Food Assistance will update information within this manual, including sections and subsections, as needed. Each section page will have a revision date and a list of recent revisions, as applicable. It is the Lead Agency's responsibility to stay current on all relevant policies and procedures that apply to them and their Sub Agencies. Please take the time to thoroughly review this manual with your staff and Sub Agencies.
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) administers Food Assistance programs pursuant to Chapter 68, Laws of 2010. The applicable Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is Title 43.23.290. If any procedure or policy is found to be in conflict with the RCW, the RCW will prevail.
Food Assistance will update information within this manual, including sections and subsections, as needed. Each section page will have a revision date and a list of recent revisions, as applicable. It is the Lead Agency's responsibility to stay current on all relevant policies and procedures that apply to them and their Sub Agencies. Please take the time to thoroughly review this manual with your staff and Sub Agencies.
| 1.1 | About Food Assistance: Overview |
| 1.2 | Food Assistance Contact Information |
| 2.1 | Definitions |
| 2.2 | Program History |
| 2.3 | EFAP Process and Allocations |
| 2.4 | Interested Parties |
| 3.1 | Preparing for EFAP Biennial Meetings |
| 3.2 | Conducting EFAP Biennial Meetings |
| 3.3 | After the EFAP Biennial Meeting |
| 4.1 | Biennial Applications |
| 4.2 | Contracting Process for Agreements Between Food Assistance and the Lead Agency |
| 4.3 | Contracting Process for Sub Agreements Between Lead Agencies and Sub Agencies |
| 4.4 | Sub Agency Agreements and Fiscal Sponsorship |
| 5.1 | Lead Agency Eligibility Criteria |
| 5.2 | Food Bank Sub Agency Eligibility Criteria |
| 5.3 | Food Pantry Sub Agency Eligibility Criteria |
| 5.4 | Food Assistance Program Management |
| 6.1 | Qualifying Eligible Clients |
| 6.2 | Written Client Confidentiality Policies |
| 6.3 | Informational Resources for Clients |
| 7.1 | Allowable Activities and Expenses |
| 7.2 | Allowable Capital Asset Purchases and Repairs |
| 7.3 | Invoicing and Administration |
| 7.4 | Required Invoicing and Data Reports |
| 8.1 | Inventory Tracking |
| 8.2 | Property Management and Inventory |
| 9.1 | Food Safety and Sanitation Requirements |
| 9.2 | Food Procurement Priority System |
| 10.1 | Administrative Due Dates |
| 10.2 | Lead Agency Compliance Management |
| 10.3 | Food Assistance Compliance Management |
| 10.4 | Dispute Policy |
| 10.5 | Food Assistance Dispute Policy |