FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AUTHORIZATION:
Food
Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, Section 16, Public Law 95-113, 91
Stat. 958, 7 U.S.C. 2025; Public Law 99-198, Public Law 105-33,
Public Law 105-185.
To
provide Federal financial aid to State agencies for costs incurred
to operate the Food Stamp Program.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To
provide Federal funding for administrative costs incurred by State
and local agencies to operate the Food Stamp Program. Unless authorized
by Federal legislation, outlays charged to other Federal grants
or to Federal contracts may not be considered as State agency costs.
Submission of claims for payments of administrative costs shall
be in accordance with 7 CFR 277 of the Food Stamp Program Regulations.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Agreements are between USDA-FNS
and State cooperators. (U.S. Territories qualify as States for grant
purposes.)
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Agreements are between USDA-FNS
and State cooperators. (U.S. Territories qualify as States for
grant purposes.)
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87
for State and local governments, 7 CFR 277, and cost allocation
plans negotiated by a cognizant Federal agency for State government.
Pre-application
Coordination: No preapplication forms are required.
A plan of operation must be submitted by the State agency prior
to approval for funding. The standard application forms as furnished
by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, as
implemented by 7 CFR part 3016, must be used for this program. This
program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office
or official designated as the single point of contact in his or
her State for more information on the process the State requires
to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected
the program for review.
Application
Procedure: State governments may apply for
Federal financial aid in accordance with requirements outlined
in 7 CFR Parts, 271 and 277. This program is excluded from coverage
under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award
Procedure: Food and Nutrition Service funds
State cooperator operations.
Deadlines:
Budgets are due to FNS August 15.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: 30 days.
Appeals:
Not applicable.
Renewals:
Annually, as of October 1.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Federal agency funds
50 percent of State administrative costs, including the costs of
food stamp fraud investigations and prosecutions costs of developing
certain computer systems as provided for in 7 CFR 277, and the cost
incurred in the verification of alien status. States may receive
enhanced funding up to 60 percent of costs for efficient administration.
Administrative cost- sharing is authorized by Section 16 of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025). By April 1, 1987 all States
were to implement an Employment Training (E&T) Program mandated
by Public Law 99-198. States' E&T programs are funded by individual
grants requiring no State matching; should a State's costs exceed
the grant allocation, additional funding is available on a 50 percent
basis. The Federal agency shall also pay 50 percent of States' costs
of reimbursing participants' costs of dependent care as a result
of E&T participation, not to exceed the applicable local market
rate and other reimbursable participant expenses, not to exceed
$25 per month per participant, and 50 percent of costs for case
management or casework to facilitate the transition from economic
dependency to self-sufficiency through work. The Balanced Budget
Act (Public Law 105-33) provides additional funding for grants to
States (which do not require a State match) for work/training programs
generally targeted for non-working able-bodied adults without dependents.
These funds were reduced by Public Law 105-185. Nutrition education
grants (authorized by Public Law 105-33 to private nonprofit organizations
or State agencies are available with the Federal share of costs
limited to 50 percent.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Annually by
fiscal year.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Reports are submitted as required by 7 CFR Parts 272 and 277.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133,
"Audits of State Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,"
State and local government, and Nonprofit organizations that expend
Federal financial assistance of $300,000 or more within any fiscal
year shall have either a single audit or (in certain cases) a
program specific audit made for that year. Audits may be conducted
less frequently under conditions specified in A-133.
Records:
Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records,
and all records pertinent to a grant program shall be retained
for a period of 3 years. Additionally, those record retention
requirements outlined in 7 CFR 3016, apply to this program.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-3505-0-1-605.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $2,045,500,000; FY 02 est $2,042,000,000; and FY
03 est $2,098,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$2,060 to $339,167; $36.3 million in FY 01.
