FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AUTHORIZATION:
Agriculture
and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, Section 4(a) and 5, as amended,
Public Law 93-86, 7 U.S.C. 612c (note); Food and Agriculture Act
of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-113, 91 Stat. 980; Public Law
97-98, 95 Stat. 1293; Public Law 98-8, 97 Stat. 35; Public Law 98-92,
97 Stat. 611; Public Law 99-198, 99 Stat. 1590; Public Law 101-624,
104 Stat. 3806; Public Law 104-127, 110 Stat. 888.
To
improve the health and nutritional status of low-income pregnant,
postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to
age of 6, and elderly persons through the donation of supplemental
foods.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property and Goods. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Administrative
grants are made to State agencies, Indian tribes, bands, or intertribal
councils, or groups recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
U.S. Department of the Interior. These agencies distribute funds
to participating local public or private nonprofit agencies. Federal
funding for administrative costs may only be used in making these
donated foods and nutrition education available to eligible beneficiaries.
Donated foods can only be made available to eligible beneficiaries
and cannot be sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of without
prior specific approval by the Department.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Agreements are made between the
Department and the State agency, or an Indian tribe, band, or group
recognized by the Department of the Interior for the administration
of the program.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: To be certified as eligible to
receive supplemental foods, each applicant must be: (a) categorically
eligible as an infant, child up to age 6, pregnant, postpartum
or breastfeeding woman, or elderly person 60 years of age or older,
residing in an area where the program operates; (b) for women,
infants, and children, income eligible under existing Federal,
State, or local food, health, or welfare programs for low-income
persons; for elderly with income at or below 130 percent of Federal
poverty income guidelines; and (c) at State agency discretion,
at nutritional risk as determined by a competent health professional
at the local agency.
Credentials/Documentation:
Participants are provided donated foods by local agency personnel
or its designee. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB
Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Pre-application
Coordination: Application is made through submission
of a State Plan of Program Operation and Administration as required
by the Federal agency. 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: The State agency shall require
each agency that desires approval as a local agency, to submit
an application that contains sufficient information to enable
the State agency to make a determination of eligibility for that
agency. Individual participants may apply for program benefits
at an approved local agency.
Award
Procedure: Funds are awarded by the Department
to State agencies in accordance with the priorities and funding
formulas set forth in program regulations and legislation; State
agencies, in turn, distribute administrative funds to the local
level.
Deadlines:
A State plan for the next fiscal year is required by August 15.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: A determination
will be made within 30 days of submission of a completed plan.
Appeals:
Local agency appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal
procedure for a local agency adversely affected by a State agency
or local agency action. The right to appeal is granted whenever
an action would adversely affect participation. Individual participant
appeals: The State agency provides a hearing appeal procedure
for any individual who receives a State or local agency action
that results in denial of benefits under the program.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Commodities: Public
Law 93-86, as amended requires USDA to reimburse State and local
agencies for administrative expenses equal to but not to exceed
20 percent of the annual program appropriation. Public Law 93-86,
as amended, makes available up to 20 percent of CSFP food funds
carried over from the previous fiscal year to State and local agencies
for administrative expenses. There are no Federal matching requirements.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Commodities
are made available on an ongoing basis. Cash assistance is released
quarterly each fiscal year by the electronic transfer system to
the Department of the Treasury. State agencies may withdraw funds
only as needed.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Financial, Program, Inventory, and Civil Rights Reports shall be
submitted as required by FNS at a frequency prescribed by FNS.
Audits:
In accordance with the provision of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits
of State and Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations,"
State and local governments, and non-profit organization that
expend Federal financial assistance of $300,000 or more within
any fiscal year shall have either a single 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:
Each State agency shall maintain accurate and complete records
of all receipts and dispositions as detailed in 7 CFR 247.13(a).
Records must be retained for 3 years following the close of the
fiscal year or until any outstanding audit, claim or litigation
is settled.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-3507-0-1-605.
Obligations:
(Food donations) FY 01 $67,635,555; FY 02 est $81,013,849; and
FY 03 est $75,993,000 (includes free substitute commodities; which
includes bonus commodities made available). (Grants for administration)
FY 01 $22,931,278; FY 02 est $23,075,212; and FY 03 est $18,998,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: $10,631 to $4,629,473 per State in appropriated
administrative funds for fiscal year 2001.
Fiscal year 2001, average monthly participation was 83,664 women,
infants, and children, and 323,418 senior persons. The state of
Washington was added to the program in FY 2001.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR 247 and "CSFP State Plan Guidance," are available without
charge from the Department.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: See Food and Nutrition Service
regional offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Food Distribution Division, Food and
Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA 22302.
Contact: Les Johnson, Director. Telephone: (703) 305-2680.
