November 2009
Dear Summer Food Service Program Year-round Sponsor:
The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that the claims submission process in the Child Nutrition Payment and Information System (CNIPS) will be up and running soon. The contractor developing the claims system is now completing the testing process for claim procedures in the CNIPS.
The CNIPS Claims component allows sponsors to submit monthly online reimbursement claim requests to the CDE. To approve a claim, you must clear all errors on the claim and submit it for acceptance in the CNIPS.
When the system is up and running, your organization will submit a reimbursement claim for every month in which one or more sites participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Starting the first of every month, you can begin the claim submission process by entering sponsor and site information into the monthly claim form.
Organizations have 60 days from the last day of the claim month/year to submit an original claim. Claims cannot be created for a month if there is no application in effect for that period (if you cannot access claims, be sure your application packet has been submitted without error and approved by the State).
The CDE will notify SFSP year-round sponsors as soon as the claim process is up and running. We are excited about completing the initial SFSP module in the CNIPS and look forward to enjoying the ease of operation that this new Web based system allows.
If you have any questions, please contact Dennis Arena, SFSP Specialist, Nutrition Services Division, at 916-327-2220 or by e-mail at darena@cde.ca.gov. You may also contact Melissa Garza, SFSP Specialist, at 916-322-5885 or by e-mail at mgarza@cde.ca.gov.Sincerely,
Phyllis Bramson-Paul, Director
Nutrition Services Division
PBP:da
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814