EBT Equipment In State SNAP Contracts

In addition to providing revenue directly to farmers, ranchers, and small food businesses, farmers markets have become the linchpin of some of America’s most successful nutrition and anti-hunger initiatives. However, markets cannot welcome SNAP shoppers or implement federal nutrition programs if they are unable to access the equipment necessary to complete SNAP transactions. With support from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), FMC’s Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program provided SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) equipment and three years of service funds to eligible markets and farmers. This program is now offered by a new contractor, Marketlink, and can be found at this link.

The Agricultural Act of 2014 gave the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to exempt farmers markets and direct marketing farmers from the requirement that SNAP retailers must purchase their own point-of-sale devices. This means that states must provide farmers markets with SNAP equipment, however, there is no requirement for such equipment to be wireless. In August 2016, USDA sent a letter to state SNAP administrators, strongly urging all 50 states to include no-cost, EBT-only wireless equipment into their state’s EBT contract and take advantage of a 50% federal administrative funding match. To date, nearly half of the states have some form of wireless equipment program for farmers markets.

FMC recommends that state farmers market associations contact their state’s Department of Health and urge them to include no cost EBT equipment in their state SNAP contract.

In March 2019, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) sent a letter to FNS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps encouraging further action from the federal government in encouraging states to add a free-EBT equipment option for farmers markets to their state contracts.

How does the process work?

States submit a request for proposals (RFP) and solicit bids from EBT service providers. A list of states, their current service providers, and the date of each state’s contract’s expiration can be found here. Some states have included a provision in their RFP’s for no cost EBT equipment for farmers markets. In most instances, EBT service providers charge state health departments on a per-device rate ranging from $35-$55 per month. This is comprehensive flat fee and includes the cost of equipment and service.

• State contracts that include a no-cost, wireless provision
• State contracts that do NOT include a no-cost, wireless provision

Advocacy

While some states have lept at the opportunity to offer their farmers markets no-cost EBT equipment, state health departments are sometimes unaware of the importance of this issue, and need to be reminded by their state’s farmers markets. This letter, written to the Michigan Department of Human Services by the Michigan Farmers Market Association and the Fair Food Network is an excellent template to work from.

Sample State SNAP RFP Language:

When discussing the issue with your state health department, it can be helpful to share sample RFP language from states that have already included no-cost EBT equipment into their state SNAP contact. Sample RFP language can be found below:

Mississippi

California

South Carolina

If you’re interested in learning more about including a no-cost EBT equipment option in your state’s SNAP contract, or connecting with farmers market leaders in other states working on this issue, please email ebt@farmersmarketcoalition.org.

There are several states offering Free Wireless EBT Equipment to eligible markets and farmers. *For changes to this list, or to add additional information, please email info@farmersmarketcoalition.org. If your state does not offer Free Wireless EBT equipment, Marketlink offers options nationwide to eligible farmers and markets.

2018 Minnesota Summer Bucks Sign-up is Now! (March 6, 2018)

Michigan Agrees to Provide No-Cost EBT Equipment to State’s SNAP-Approved Markets (August 10, 2017)

Legislator Introduces Bill Requiring Missouri to take part in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (April 12, 2017)