This memorandum includes questions and answers on flexibilities available to Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies on the operations of FDPIR. These flexibilities may assist ITOs and state agencies that administer FDPIR in continuing to provide food to people in need during the novel COVID-19 public health emergency.
Consistent with the CARES Act, USDA will be allocating the $50 million for facility improvements and equipment upgrades to Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies that administer FDPIR for program costs allowable under the law.
With the recent passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to assist with the novel coronavirus public health emergency, WIC received an increase in funding for the program as well as increased ability to provide states with the flexibilities they need to support mothers, infants and children that rely on WIC.
FNS is cancelling Policy Memoranda FD-010, FD-027, FD-028, FD-029, FD-032, FD-053, FD-055, FD-071, FD-073, FD-074, FD-083, FD-086, FD-087, FD-090, FD-105, and FD-115. The guidance provided by these memoranda are either outdated, obsolete, or otherwise captured in more current memoranda.
This is a Request for Information to help the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture develop the additional criteria, as authorized in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, for a self-determination demonstration project related to the purchase of agricultural commodities for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. USDA requests feedback from Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies that administer FDPIR, Tribal leaders and representatives, and Tribal associations.
Through this rulemaking, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service is codifying new and revised statutory requirements included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 . First, the Department is revising the minimum Federal share of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) administrative costs and State agency/Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) mandatory administrative match requirement amounts. Second, the Department is revising its administrative match waiver requirements by allowing State agencies and ITOs to qualify for a waiver if the required match share would be a substantial burden. Third, the Department is limiting the reduction of any FDPIR benefits or services to State agencies and ITOs that are granted a full or partial administrative match waiver. Last, the Department is allowing for other Federal funds, if such use is otherwise consistent with both the purpose of the other Federal funds and with the purpose of FDPIR administrative funds, to be used to meet the State agency/ITO administrative match requirement.
The FNS is consolidating certain programmatic and financial data reporting requirements that are currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget, under the Food Programs Reporting System. The purpose is to give states and ITO agencies one portal for the various reporting required for the programs that the states and ITOs operate. The data collected is used for a variety of purposes; mainly program evaluation, planning, audits, funding, research, regulatory compliance and general statistics.
This notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. This collection allows for Food Distribution Programs, such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), to run effectively.
This memorandum provides information on the new provision in Section 4(b)(7) of the Food and Nutrition Act that requires FDPIR administrative funds to remain available for obligation at the Indian Tribal Organization and state agency level for a period of two federal fiscal years.
This memorandum is meant to provide clarification and guidance on policies and procedures for donated food storage and distribution as they relate to product dating.