Capital Expenditure Approved List

For more information on the purchase of equipment and instructions for submitting a request for equipment not on this list, please see Management Bulletin SNP-38-2014 at USDA Capital Expenditure List and Equip. Purchases web page. Note: Equipment provided in this list has state agency pre-approval for purchases that support the operation and improvement of School Nutrition Programs only.

1. Refrigerator and Freezer - Excluding Walk-in Units
   1. Blast Chiller
   2. Camchiller
   3. Combo
   4. Glass Door
   5. Ice Chest
   6. Ice Machine
   7. Milk Cooler
   8. Mobile
   9. Reach-in
   10. Roll-in
   11. Undercounter
   12. Work-top
2. Gas or Electric Oven/Range/Stove/Steamer
   1. Combi
   2. Convection
   3. Conventional
   4. Conveyor
   5. Countertop
   6. Double Stack
   7. Griddle
   8. Heat-n-Hold
   9. Holding Unit
   10. Induction Cooktop
   11. Range Top
   12. Reel
   13. Rotating Rack
3. Hot or Cold Cart/Cabinet
   1. Beverage Service
   2. Buffet
   3. Holding
   4. Mobile
   5. Proofing
   6. Retherm
   7. Rolling
   8. Self Serve
   9. Serving
   10. Warming
4. Hood
   1. Exhaust
   2. Fire Suppression Hood
   3. Condensate
5. Mixer
   1. Countertop
   2. Floor
6. Kitchen Sink
   1. Compartment
   2. Hand
   3. Utility
7. Individual Equipment Items
   1. Air Fryer
   2. Barbeque (allowable when serving reimbursable meals)
   3. Bagging Machine
   4. Braising Pan
   5. Breathe Guards/Sneeze Guards
   6. Broiler
   7. Cafeteria Tables and Chairs (exclusive for food service use)
   8. Cold Pan Serving Counter
   9. Commercial Juicer
   10. Cook/Chill System
   11. Depositor and Filling Machine
   12. Dishwasher
   13. Dough Divider
   14. Drawer Warmer
   15. Floor Scrubber
   16. Food Display (Hot or Cold)
   17. Food Processor
   18. Food Slicer, Chopper, Dicer, etc.
   19. Generator
   20. Griddle
   21. Hot Well Transport System
   22. Kiosks
   23. Meal/Food Packing Machine
   24. Menu Boards (Kitchen/Serving Area)
   25. Microwave
   26. Milk Dispensers
   27. Pizza Oven
   28. Plate/Tray Dispenser
   29. Point of Sale (POS) System and Licensing Renewal
   30. Prep Tables
   31. Produce Washers
   32. Salad Bar
   33. Serving Equipment
   34. Serving Counters
   35. Serving Line System (Hot or Cold)
   36. Shrink Wrapper Machine
   37. Smoothie Blender
   38. Speed Line (Hot or Cold)
   39. Stainless Steel Work Tables
   40. Steam Jacket Kettle (Gas or Electric)
   41. Steam Table
   42. Styrofoam Recycling Machine
   43. Tilt Skillet
   44. Tray Sealer Machine

• Per title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 200.439: "Capital expenditures for special purpose equipment are allowable as direct costs, provided that items with a unit cost of $10,000 or more have the prior written approval of the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity."
  
  
• Per USDA Policy Memorandum SP 31-2014, school food authorities purchasing equipment from this list are not required to receive prior approval from the California Department of Education (CDE).
  
  
• Note: equipment approvals assume existing utility connections are adequate and within the area where the equipment will be installed per manufacturer requirements. Service systems--new or upgrades are allowable expenses using nonprofit school food service funds with prior approval from CDE. E.g., air conditioners, heating systems, ventilation systems, intercommunication systems, sanitary systems, sewer systems, telephone, and computer lines. The California School Accounting Manual Procedure 770 provides criteria for identifying service systems. For additional guidance on allowable costs and the process to submit a request for prior approval, please refer to the CDE Allowable Costs web page.
  
  
• Per USDA Policy Memorandum SP 39-2016, SFSP 13-2016, CACFP 11-2016, only school districts operating the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and/or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in conjunction with the School Nutrition Program (SNP) are not required to receive prior approval from the CDE before purchasing equipment appearing on this list; however, school districts on either program must account for the expense in the program budget to which the cost pertains.

The effective date of the USDA Capital Expenditure Approved List for SNPs is July 17, 2025.