Emergency Food Assistance Program (Food Commodities)

 

To help supplement the diets of low-income persons by making USDA Foods available to the State agencies that are responsible for the distribution of USDA Foods within the States.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
10.569
Federal Agency/Office
Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Authorization
Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, Public Law 98-8, 7 U.S.C. 7501, Statute 97,35
Hunger Prevention Act of 1988, 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; Public Law 110-246, 122 Stat. 1882; American Recovery Act and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Title I, Public Law 116-136
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Title IV,, Public Law 117-103
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334, Section 4018(b)
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, Public Law 88-525
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Title IV, Public Law 117-328
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Title IV, Public Law 117-103
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
State agencies that are designated as distributing agencies by the Governor or other appropriate State executive authority may receive and distribute USDA Foods. States can distribute these foods to eligible recipient agencies, such as food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other eligible agencies, including faith-based organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Low-income and needy individuals, including persons that are homeless, unemployed, underemployed, or receiving public assistance. The State agency must establish income-based eligibility criteria to ensure USDA Foods are provided to the needy. Persons interested in receiving TEFAP should contact their State agency (http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/SdaContacts.htm) for more information on how to access the program.
Credentials/Documentation
Low-income individuals receiving USDA Foods for home consumption must establish eligibility to participate in the program on the basis of State eligibility standards. All individuals seeking food assistance at sites which serve prepared meals are presumed to be eligible to receive meals.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. All States are eligible to participate; the State does not need to complete an application.
Award Procedure
USDA Foods 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 percent) and of unemployed persons (40 percent).
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
USDA Foods can only be used to provide food assistance to needy persons. USDA Foods may be provided for household consumption or for congregate feeding.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503
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.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title Agriculture Chapter 7 Part 251 Agriculture

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
USDA Foods are made available on an ongoing basis. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Letter.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Polly Fairfield
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
polly.fairfield@usda.gov
Phone: 7033052746
Website Address
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program-tefap
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3505-0-1-605
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 22$746,042,952.00; FY 23 est $444,780,418.00; FY 24 est $468,752,000.00; FY 21$604,825,751.00; FY 20$897,648,604.00; FY 19$256,324,465.00; FY 18$353,073,267.00; FY 17$291,339,820.00; FY 16$292,068,571.00; - In FY 2022 State agencies again had the opportunity to convert up to 20% of their regularly appropriated TEFAP food funds to administrative funds, and State agencies elected to convert $49,426,525 to administrative funds. In FY 2022 State agencies also received supplemental food funding through USDA?s Build Back Better initiative. Of the $500 million in supplemental food funding State agencies could convert $100 million to administrative funds of which State agencies converted $99,734,761. In FY 2023, again State agencies had the opportunity to convert up to 20% of their regularly appropriated food to administrative funds, of which State agencies converted $61,922,010. State agencies also elected to convert $305,000 of administrative funding to food funding. Lastly, FY 20243 TEFAP food funds estimate is $468,752,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In Fiscal Year 2023, the range of awards was from $375,130 to $55,821,054 after conversions and carryover; the average award was $8,236,674.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
7 CFR Part 251; refer to 7 CFR Part 250 for applicable provisions on USDA Foods handling.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.

 


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