Comment Request - Food Programs Reporting System

Summary

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this revision of a currently approved information collection. This is a collection for the electronic submission of programmatic and financial data through the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS). The data is currently collected on approved Office of Management and Budget (OMB) forms.

Abstract

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is the federal agency responsible for managing the domestic nutrition assistance programs. Its mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. The domestic nutrition assistance programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the child nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch (NSLP) and School Breakfast Programs (SBP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). Currently, the nutrition assistance programs managed by FNS touch the lives of 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year.

Federal nutrition assistance programs operate as partnerships between FNS, state, Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), and local organizations that interact directly with program participants. States and ITOs voluntarily enter into agreements with the federal government to operate programs according to federal standards in exchange for program funds that cover all benefit costs, and a significant portion of administrative expenses. Under these agreements, FNS is responsible for implementing statutory requirements that set national program standards for eligibility and benefits, providing federal funding to states, ITOs and local partners, and monitoring and evaluation to make sure that program structures and policies are properly implemented and effective in meeting program missions. States, ITOs and local organizations are responsible for delivering benefits efficiently, effectively, and in a manner consistent with national requirements. States and ITOs may operate all or some of the 15 different domestic nutrition assistance programs.

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 (FPRS), an electronic 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.