FEDERAL AGENCY:

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AUTHORIZATION:

Agricultural Act of 1949, Section 416, as amended, Section 32, Public Law 74-320, as amended; Food and Agriculture Act of 1963, Section 709, as amended; Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, Section 4(a), as amended; Food Stamp Act of 1977, Section 4, as amended, Section 1336, Public Law 97-98, as amended; Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193.

OBJECTIVES:

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) is a nutrition assistance program that may be operated, at the request of a Tribe or Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) on an Indian reservation, approved areas near a reservation, or approved service areas in Oklahoma. Income eligible households receive a supplemental monthly food package and nutrition education. Households may not participate in FDPIR and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the same time. In FY 2015, five States and 100 ITOs administered the program on 276 Indian reservations, pueblos, rancherias, and Alaska Native Villages. Nutrition assistance was provided to an average of 88.6 thousand persons per month. All participating ITOs receive administrative funding for costs incurred in the operation of the program; a portion of these administrative funds can be used for nutrition education activities. Additionally, Food Distribution Program Nutrition Education (FDPNE) grants are awarded competitively to participating FDPIR ITOs for culturally relevant nutrition education activities that promote healthy choices through the use of USDA Foods and physical activity among FDPIR participants. CFDA 10.594 FDPIR Nutrition Education Grants.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property and Goods. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Indian Tribal Organizations and State Distributing Agencies make food available for distribution to qualifying households. Households may not be charged. Donated foods may not be sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of (authorized distribution excepted) without prior, specific approval of the Department. FNS administrative funds must be expended to meet expenses incurred in operating the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. These funds may not be used to purchase real property (land or buildings).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Authorized Indian Tribal Organizations and State agencies designated by the Governor, legislature, or other authority may receive and distribute donated foods. State agencies that administer the program are eligible to receive Federal cash assistance (administrative funds) to assist in meeting operating expenses incurred in administering the program. Indian Tribal Organizations may be their own State agency for the administration of the program on reservations if determined capable by FNS.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Households must be living on an Indian reservation, or be Indian households living in a designated area near an Indian reservation or in Indian country for Oklahoma and must be certified by local authorities as having inadequate income and resources. Upper limits of allowable income vary with family size. Household resources for all household sizes are set by FNS.

Credentials/Documentation:   Households are individually certified by local administering offices based upon Federal eligibility standards. Administrative costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for administering agencies.

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 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 agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations that want to administer the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations must submit a completed Form SF-424 (application) to the appropriate FNS regional office in their area. 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 excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Cash assistance is provided by the Department to State agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations for use in administering the program.

Deadlines:   State agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations applying to administer the program must begin program operation within 120 days of FNS' determination that they are capable of administering the program. Extensions to this time frame may be granted if there is compelling justification.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   FNS must determine within 30 days of the receipt of a completed application if a State agency is capable of administering the program.

Appeals:   Heads of households may appeal adverse or delayed decisions as the regulations provide.

Renewals:   Program continues for the assigned certification period, unless withdrawal is requested or required because of program irregularities. Households are recertified periodically, depending on household circumstances. Household certification periods may not exceed one year.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable to food donations. Administrative expense funds are allocated on basis of need for funds. There is a 25 percent matching requirement except with compelling justification.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Food donations continuous; cash assistance released quarterly by the electronic transfer system to the Department of Treasury. Funds may be withdrawn as needed.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Financial, inventory, and participant data must be submitted in accordance with requirements established by the Department.

Audits:   In accordance with the provision of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States and Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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 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:   Each State agency and Indian Tribal Organization shall maintain accurate and complete records of all receipts and dispositions. 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:   12-3505-0-1-605.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $22,557,000; FY 02 est $22,557,000; and FY 03 est $26,121,000. (Food donations) FY 01 $56,943,000; FY 02 est $53,243,000; and FY 03 est $55,710,000. Bonus commodities may also be available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   In FY 2015, the monthly per person food package was approximately $77.28. Federal administrative funding to the ITOs and State agencies varies based on number of persons served in each program and the unique operational needs of each program.

The average monthly participation of needy persons in low-income households was 113,248 for fiscal year 2001; 96 Indian Tribal Organizations and six States administer the program for 235 Indian tribes. As of fiscal year 2001, 86 Indian Tribal organizations are approved for participation in the Fresh produce Program, by which participants may select fresh fruits and vegetables in lieu of canned fruits and vegetables. Additional sites are expected to join the project as they become capable. Prior to the pilot, only foods with a minimum shelf life of 6 months were available to participating households. In addition, FNS made changes to the food package that it provides to recipients in order to make it more nutritious and responsive to recipient needs.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

7 CFR 253; 7 CFR 254; 7 CFR 250.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices. See Food and Nutrition Service Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. The following Food and Nutrition Service Regional Offices have FDPIR programs within their regional area: Mountain Plains, Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and Western.

Headquarters Office:  

Dana Rasmussen Food and Nutrition Service
Food Distribution Division
3101 Park Center Dr., 5th Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22302
Email: Dana.Rasmussen@fns.usda.gov Phone: 703-305-2662

Web Site Address:  
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdpir/food-distribution-program-indian-reservations-fdpir

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.