Emergency Food Assistance Program (Administrative Costs) (10.568)

Program

10.568 Emergency Food Assistance Program (Administrative Costs)

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: Food and Nutrition Service

Authorization

Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, Section 204, Public Law 98-8, 97 Stat. 35, 7 U.S.C 7508; Federal Supplemental Compensation Act of 1982 Amendments, Section 2, as amended, Public Law 98-92, 97 Stat. 608; Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, Section 1569, Public Law 99-198, 99 Stat. 1354; Public Law 100-77, 101 Stat. 536; Public Law 100-435, 102 Stat. 1647; Public Law 101-624, 104 Stat. 3359; Public Law 104-193, 110 Stat. 2105; Public Law 104-127, 110 Stat. 1029; Public Law 107-171, 116 Stat. 330.

Program Number

10.568

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To help supplement the diets of low-income persons by making funds available to States for processing, storage and distribution costs incurred by State agencies and local organizations in providing food assistance to needy persons.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Administrative funds are provided to State agencies to cover administrative costs incurred at the State and local level in the operation of the program. Funds may only be used for approved administrative expenses, and the State agency is required to pass-through at least 40% of the funds to emergency feeding organizations.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State agencies that are designated as distributing agencies by the Governor, legislature or other authority may receive these administrative funds to support the distribution of commodities to the needy.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Public or private non-profit organizations which provide food assistance to the needy, such as food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens.

Credentials/Documentation

State agencies and local organizations are required to document their use of the administrative funds, and only those administrative costs permitted under OMB Circular No. A-87, as implemented at 2 CFR Part 225, for State and local governments will be allowed. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure

Administrative funds are allocated among the States on the basis of a legislatively-mandated formula that takes into account each State's relative share of the National number of persons with income below the poverty level (60%) and of unemployed persons (40%). At a minimum, States must make at least 40% of the administrative grant available to emergency feeding organizations, or expend such funds on their behalf. In addition, the States must match, either in cash or inkind, the amount of administrative funds not passed-through to emergency feeding organizations.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Federal/State agreements are ongoing and amended as necessary. Local organizations receiving administrative funds must have an agreement with the State agency or with another local organization participating in the program. Such agreements are ongoing and amended as necessary.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Title Agriculture, Chapter 7, Part 251.3.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 100.%. States are required to pass-through to emergency feeding organizations at least 40 percent of the administrative funds allocated to the State. States are required to match, either as cash or in-kind, 100 percent of the administrative funds not passed-through to emergency feeding organizations.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are provided through the electronic transfer system as they are needed for actual expenditures on a fiscal year basis. Any funds which are made available through the initial allocation or a subsequent reallocation that are not used are turned back to the Federal government, and reallocated according to the legislatively mandated formula. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. Quarterly and annual financial reports are made on FNS-667. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Normal records accounting for receipts and dispersals; retention required for 3 years following the close of the fiscal year or until any outstanding audit, claim, or litigation is settled.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Provide funds to State agencies and local organizations to process, store, and distribute USDA and privately-donated food to needy persons and to organizations for use in preparing meals at congregate meal sites. Fiscal Year 2009: Provide funds to State agencies and local organizations to process, store, and distribute USDA and privately-donated food to needy persons and to organizations for use in preparing meals at congregate meal sites. Fiscal Year 2010: Provide funds to State agencies and local organizations to process, store, and distribute USDA and privately-donated food to needy persons and to organizations for use in preparing meals at congregate meal sites.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-3507-0-1-605.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $49,650,000; FY 09 est $49,500,000; FY 10 est $49,500,000. (Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $50,000,000; FY 10 est $0 - $25,000,000 was made available to States in Fiscal Year 2009; the remaining $25,000,000 will be made available to States in Fiscal Year 2010.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In Fiscal Year 2009, the range for assistance was from $8,110 to $6,159,182; the average amount of assistance was $900,000. For American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding, the range for assistance was $4,096 to $3,110,696; the average amount of assistance was $454,545.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

7 CFR Part 251; refer to 7 CFR Part 250 for applicable provisions on commodity handling.

Related Programs

10.551 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; 10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; 10.569 Emergency Food Assistance Program (Food Commodities)

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Cathie McCullough USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Food Distribution Division
Room 500, Park Office Center
3101 Park Center Dr. , Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Email: cathie.mccullough@fns.usda.gov Phone: 7033052680 Fax: 7033052964

Web Site Address

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.