USDA Funds. Cafeteria Furniture. No RFP Required.
There's Federal Money for New Cafeteria Furniture.
Your District May Already Qualify.
Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program have access to cafeteria funds that can legally be used to replace furniture — and most Food Service Directors and Procurement Specialists don’t know it. Create Spaces holds an active Equalis Group cooperative purchasing contract that satisfies all federal competitive bidding requirements. No separate RFP. No lengthy procurement process. Just new furniture for your students.
20-Year-Old Tables and Chairs. A Fund That Could Replace Them.
For Food Service Directors
Cafeteria budgets are stretched thin. Most districts assume furniture replacement isn’t possible without a major capital outlay or bond measure. But there’s a funding pathway most Food Service Directors have never been told about — and it’s been available all along.
Federal code 7 CFR 210.21 and 2 CFR 200 permit NSLP nonprofit school food service account funds to be used for improvements to the food service — including furniture.
Procurement
For Procurement Specialists, the compliance question is straightforward: the Equalis cooperative purchasing contract satisfies competitive bidding requirements under both 7 CFR 210.21 and 2 CFR 200. Your district does not need to run a separate RFP. The contract vehicle is already in place.
The question isn’t whether this is compliant. It’s whether your district is taking advantage of it.
How the Funding Works
THE FUND
Your school’s NSLP nonprofit food service account receives federal dollars intended for the operation and improvement of your cafeteria program. Furniture qualifies as a cafeteria improvement under federal guidelines.
THE CONTRACT
Create Spaces holds Equalis Group Contract #FF-F-26-09701-2040B. Equalis satisfies competitive bidding requirements under 7 CFR 210.21 and 2 CFR 200 — your district doesn’t need to run a separate RFP.
THE APPROVAL
Your Food Service Director or Procurement Specialist submits a request to your state’s USDA governing agency for approval. Once approved, purchase directly through the Equalis contract. We guide you through every step.
From Approval to Installation in Four Steps
Identify Your Funds
Your Food Service Director or Procurement Specialist identifies available NSLP funds in your cafeteria account.
Request State Approval
Submit a request to your state’s USDA governing agency confirming that furniture qualifies as a cafeteria improvement under your program guidelines. This is a defined process — not a gray area.
Purchase Through Equalis
Once approved, purchase directly through Create Spaces using the Equalis cooperative contract. Your Procurement office issues a purchase order referencing the contract number. Done.
We Handle the Rest
Create Spaces manages product selection, delivery, and professional installation through our national network. Your students get new furniture. Your team gets a process that worked.
Why Schools Choose Create Spaces for This
KI Authorized Dealer
Commercial-grade cafeteria furniture built for the daily demands of a school environment — durable, easy to clean, and designed to last.
Equalis Contract Holder
Our cooperative purchasing contract satisfies all federal competitive bidding requirements under 7 CFR 210.21 and 2 CFR 200. No separate RFP is needed.
National Installation Network
We serve school districts coast to coast. Wherever your district is located, we can deliver and install.
Guided Process, Start to Finish
Most furniture dealers can’t explain the USDA approval process. We can — and we’ll walk your Food Service Director and Procurement team through it together.
First-Mover Advantage for Your District
This funding pathway is underutilized. Districts that move now have access to funds that won’t be available indefinitely.
Explore the Possibilities
Whether you’re a Food Service Director evaluating options or a Procurement Specialist reviewing contract compliance, we’ve put together resources to help you move forward with confidence.
Cafeteria Idea Book
Uniframe Tables and Convertible Bench Brochure
K-12 Market Ideabook
Upper Merion Area High School Case Study
Common Questions
Yes. Federal code 7 CFR 210.21 permits funds in the NSLP nonprofit school food service account to be used for the operation and improvement of the food service program. Cafeteria furniture qualifies as an improvement. Your district will need approval from your state’s USDA governing agency, which is a standard request process.
No. The Equalis cooperative purchasing contract held by Create Spaces satisfies competitive bidding requirements under 2 CFR 200 and 7 CFR 210.21. Purchasing through an Equalis contract is a federally recognized procurement method — your Procurement office simply issues a PO referencing the contract number.
USDA cafeteria fund availability varies by state and district. The best way to find out if your district has funds available is to book a free consultation with Cody — he’ll help you find out quickly.
Typically the Food Service Director, Procurement Specialist, and Finance Director all play a role. The Food Service Director has budget authority over the NSLP cafeteria account; Procurement confirms the contract vehicle; Finance processes the purchase order. We’re happy to present to all three stakeholders at once.
The contract covers cafeteria furniture, installation, and related products and services — including tables, chairs, booth seating, and other cafeteria furnishings. Download our product catalog above or book a consultation and we’ll walk you through the full offering.
Timeline varies by district and state agency. We recommend starting the conversation now so your district is positioned to move when funds and approvals are in place.
Your Students Deserve a Better Place to Eat. Let's Find Out If Your District Qualifies.
Book a free consultation with Cody Nielsen, our dedicated USDA cafeteria furniture specialist. Whether you’re a Food Service Director exploring the funding pathway or a Procurement Specialist confirming contract compliance — Cody has answers for both conversations.
*Purchases subject to state USDA governing agency approval. Referenced federal codes: 7 CFR 210.21 & 2 CFR 200.
