Fiscal Year 2012: In FY 12, FNS awarded the $2.5 million grant for the OMB Partnership Fund to the National Accuracy Clearinghouse database pilot project.
The project entails development and evaluation of a system to provide real time data matching across five States to prevent duplicate participation in SNAP and Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP).
The five States are GA, AL, FL, LA, with MS as the lead State.
Fiscal Year 2013: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Partnership Fund will be used to (1) develop and implement a regional clearinghouse prototype in cooperation with a consortium of States and (2) fund evaluation activities to determine the efficacy of the solution and the savings from reduced improper payments across participating programs.
Funds were awarded to Mississippi, the lead State agency who will distribute the grant amongst the following States: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama.
States receiving the Partnership Funding award must establish an inter state database of program information to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) eligibility determinations by allowing States to determine whether an applicant is already receiving SNAP benefits in a different participating State.
100% of these funds are set aside for discretionary activities.
The total of the funding is $2,500,000.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Consortium of States will develop a national accuracy clearinghouse database.
This database should inform the development of a more timely, large-scale data matching mechanism.
Beneficiary Eligibility
State agencies administering the SNAP and D-SNAP programs.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A memorandum of agreement is necessary amongst the States who are receiving funds from the Partnership Fund award.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. .
Award Procedures
The State Consortium submitted a proposal to the OMB Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation for a grant to develop a National Accuracy Clearinghouse for reducing improper payments. After OMB approved the proposal for funding, FNS selected the State Consortium to receive the grant award.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Authorization
Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2010
Food & Nutrition Act of 2008, as Amended
The Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, Public Law 111-117, 7 U.S.C 272.1 - 272.8.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 7, Chapter II, Part 272.1, Subpart (c)(1)(i). 272.8(a)(2).
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds should be expended within 26 months. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
No cash reports are required.
FNS will require the State consortium to submit quarterly reports on the status of project activities.
FNS will submit an interim report to OMB within 18 months of receiving the transfer of funds
from the Partnership Fund.
The State consortium will submit quarterly financial status reports.
Ongoing review of quarterly progress and financial reports to monitor the grantee s project activities to ensure that the objectives, terms and conditions of the agreement are met;
Periodic technical assistance to provide oversight on project activities including review of project plans and milestones;
Monthly project status meetings with State agencies and representatives for the purposes of technical assistance, training, problem solving, and sharing successful ideas.
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. To Be Determined
Records
State agencies must maintain records as necessary to support the use of the SNAP Partnership Fund grant in accordance with the Grant Agreement. Such records must be retained for a period of 3 years after the date of submission of the final report for the fiscal year to which the records pertain. In the event of an audit finding the records must be maintained until audit resolution is completed or as noted above.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3505-0-1-605.
Obigations
(Salaries) FY 12 $2,500,000; FY 13 est $0; and FY 14 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The total amount of the award is $2,500,000, which was awarded March 2012, in which $2,000,000 will be used for development of interfaces for the six states and the database. $500,000 will be reserved to fund an evaluation.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
7 CFR 272.1 (c)(1)(i) and 272.8(a)(2)
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Jane C. Duffield 3101 Park Center Drive Room 818, Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Email: Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov Phone: 7036054385
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
Social entrepreneur Virginia de Villa seeks to improve the agricultural sector through her social enterprise, Real Cacao.