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.
To
improve the diets of needy persons in households on or near Indian
reservations through the distribution of commodities.
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:
From $79,031 to $4,937,577 in administrative funds
for fiscal year 2001.
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 Food and Nutrition Service
Regional Offices listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Les Johnson, Director, Food Distribution
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Telephone: (703) 305-2680.
