FEDERAL
AGENCY:
FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AUTHORIZATION:
Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, Title 1, Section
116; Public Law 97-35; Public Law 97-253; Public Law 98-204; Public
Law 99-114; Public Law 99-157; Public Law 99-182; Public Law 99-198;
Public Law 101-624; Public Law 103-66; Public Law 104-127; Public
Law 106-387.
A
cash grant alternative to the Food Stamp Program to improve diets
of needy persons residing in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use.
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USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Households
receive money to purchase food.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
alone is eligible.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Low-income individuals and families
are eligible for benefits as determined by the Commonwealth.
Credentials/Documentation:
The Commonwealth is required to document the classes of households
that receive benefits and the level of those benefits. Costs will
be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State
and local governments.
APPLICATION
AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: 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 the Commonwealth for more information
on the process the Commonwealth requires to be followed in applying
for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102.
Application
Procedure: The Commonwealth is required to
submit a plan of operation to the Food and Nutrition Service for
approval. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular
No. A-110.
Award
Procedure: The Secretary of Agriculture designates
the Commonwealth agency or agencies to operate the program upon
submission of the request.
Deadlines:
July 1 for plan submission.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Program continues once approved unless there is a substantial
failure to comply with regulations or withdrawal on the part of
the Commonwealth.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: The Department of
Agriculture pays 100 percent of the cost of benefits and 50 percent
of administrative costs.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Assistance
is available for one fiscal year at a time. Assistance is provided
through the electronic transfer system, consistent with Treasury
Fiscal Requirement Manual, Volume I, Part 6, Section 2030.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
The content and frequency of reports is specified by the Commonwealth's
plan of operation.
Audits:
The Commonwealth is required to conduct an audit of expenditures
at least once every two years, and is subject to audit by the
Office of Inspector General, USDA. In accordance with the provisions
of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of State and Local Governments,"
State and local governments, that expend 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:
The content and maintenance of records is specified by the Commonwealth's
plan of operation.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 12-3505-0-1-605.
Obligations:
(Formula Grants) FY 01 $1,295,896,000; FY 02 est $1,350,518,000;
and FY 03 est $1,377,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable;
program is available to Puerto Rico only.
PROGRAM
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Monthly data for fiscal year 2001: Persons receiving benefits, 1.07
million; benefits per person $94. Total benefits were $1,250 billion
and the administrative costs totaled $42 million.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR 285.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Regional Administrator, Mid-Atlantic
Regional Office, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture,
Trenton, NJ 08691-1598. Contact: Christopher Martin. Telephone:
(609) 259-5025, FTS: (609) 348-5025.
Headquarters
Office: Deputy Administrator, Food Stamp Program,
Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture, Alexandria,
VA 22302. Contact: Bonny O'Neil, Acting Deputy Administrator,
Food Stamp Program. Telephone: (703) 305-2026.
Web
Site Address: http://www.fns.usda.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Not applicable.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Not applicable.
