Request for Information: Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects, 104513-104515 [2024-30577]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 246 / Monday, December 23, 2024 / Notices
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A 60-day comment period is provided
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[FR Doc. 2024–30497 Filed 12–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
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104513
Total Burden Hours: 77,653.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024–30622 Filed 12–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Request for Information: Child
Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot
Projects
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
AGENCY:
This is a Request for
Information to inform the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)
development of the Child Nutrition
Programs Tribal Pilot Projects, as
authorized in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024. The Act
authorized USDA to conduct pilot
projects to allow one or more Tribes or
Tribal organizations to administer one
or more Child Nutrition Programs,
assuming the roles and responsibilities
typically held by State agencies. USDA
will use comments received in response
to this Request for Information to inform
the application process, and eligibility
and selection criteria, for the Child
Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects. USDA
invites feedback from Tribes; Tribal
organizations, leaders, representatives,
and associations; State agencies that
administer the Child Nutrition
Programs; and others interested in
opportunities to promote Tribal
sovereignty in the operation of the Child
Nutrition Programs. This notice is not a
request for proposals and does not
commit the Government to issue a
solicitation, make an award, or pay any
costs associated with responding to this
announcement. All submitted
information will remain with the
Government and will not be returned.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before March 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: USDA invites the
submission of the requested information
through one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal
(preferred method): Go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Send written comments to the
Child Nutrition Programs, USDA Food
and Nutrition Service, Braddock Metro
Center II, 1320 Braddock Place,
Alexandria, VA 22314.
All comments submitted in response
to this Request for Information will be
SUMMARY:
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104514
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 246 / Monday, December 23, 2024 / Notices
included in the record and will be made
available to the public. Please be
advised that the substance of the
comments and the identity of the
individuals or entities submitting the
comments will be subject to public
disclosure. All responses will become
part of the public record and will not be
held confidential. USDA will make the
comments publicly available via https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Hopwood, School Meals Policy
Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 703–
305–2054.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Child Nutrition Programs
Administration
Federal Child Nutrition Programs are
administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) and help to ensure that
participants have access to nutritious
meals and snacks in schools, summer
programs, child and adult care centers,
family day care homes, and afterschool
programs.
Administering the Child Nutrition
Programs requires partnership at many
levels. The Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act specifies that the
Federal Government enters into
agreements with State agencies to
administer the Child Nutrition Programs
within each State.1 USDA provides
administrative funds to State agencies
that administer the Child Nutrition
Programs.2 State agencies, in turn,
establish agreements with local Program
operators, such as school districts and
community organizations, which
operate the Child Nutrition Programs
and serve meals to child and adult
participants in their communities. State
agencies establish statewide policies
and procedures for administering the
Child Nutrition Programs, consistent
with Federal requirements; provide
policy guidance, training, and technical
assistance to local Program operators;
monitor key aspects of performance by
conducting comprehensive reviews; and
report consolidated meal counts to FNS
for reimbursement funds. FNS provides
reimbursement to the State agencies,
and State agencies are responsible for
paying the Federal reimbursement to
each local Program operator, including
Tribal Program operators. In some
States, more than one State agency
1 For more information, see the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. 1756.
2 For more information about State
Administrative Expense Funds, see 7 CFR part 235,
available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/
subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-235.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:03 Dec 20, 2024
Jkt 265001
administers the Child Nutrition
Programs. For example, in a single State,
one State agency may administer the
National School Lunch Program, while
another State agency administers the
Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Nationwide, there are 70 State agencies
that administer the Child Nutrition
Programs. Under the Tribal Pilot
Projects, Tribes and/or Tribal
organizations will directly administer
one or more Child Nutrition Programs,
assuming the roles and responsibilities
typically held by State agencies.
Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects
Section 758 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024, Public Law
118–42 (‘‘The Act’’), provided $2
million for Tribal Pilot Projects that will
permit Indian Tribes and/or Tribal
organizations to administer Child
Nutrition Programs, assuming the roles
and responsibilities typically held by
State agencies.3 The Act authorized a
maximum of 10 Tribal Pilot Projects, to
operate for up to two years, with grants
ranging from $10,000–$100,000 per
school year. The Act specifies that the
following entities may operate Tribal
Pilot Projects:
• an Indian Tribe, as defined by
section 4 of the Indian SelfDetermination and Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304);
• a Tribal organization approved by
an Indian Tribe;
• a Tribal educational agency;
• a consortium of Indian Tribes; or
• a partnership between an Indian
Tribe and either:
Æ a State educational agency,
Æ a local educational agency,
Æ a Tribal educational agency, or
Æ the Bureau of Indian Education.
Grantees may administer one or more
of the following Child Nutrition
Programs:
• National School Lunch Program, as
authorized by the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1769, ‘‘NSLA’’);
• School Breakfast Program,
established by the Child Nutrition Act
of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);
• Child and Adult Care Food
Program, as established under section
17 of the NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1766); and/
or
• Summer Food Service Program, as
established under section 13 of the
NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1761).
Finally, grantees may administer
Child Nutrition Programs in the
following locations:
3 ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ has the meaning given the term
in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
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Fmt 4703
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• a school funded by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs (as defined in section
1141 of the Education Amendments of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021)); 4
• a school (as defined in section 12(d)
of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d))
that is on or near an Indian reservation;
or
• an early child care and education
facility.
Input From Tribal Communities
Tribal input is critical to ensure that
the Tribal Pilot Projects reflect the needs
of grantees and the communities they
serve. In June 2024, FNS engaged in
Nation-to-Nation consultation with
Tribal leaders to gather input on the
Tribal Pilot Projects. This input also
helped to develop this Request for
Information.5 To gather additional
input, FNS will organize meetings and
listening sessions with Tribes, groups
that represent Tribal food sovereignty,
Tribal Child Nutrition Program
operators, and State agencies that
administer Child Nutrition Programs in
States that share boundaries with
present-day reservations.
FNS will use information gathered in
response to this request to develop a
process under which eligible Tribes
and/or Tribal organizations may apply
to operate a Tribal Pilot Project. This
Request for Information will also help
FNS understand what (if any) support
eligible Tribes and Tribal organizations
may need to successfully operate a
Tribal Pilot Project, and to determine
how the Tribal Pilot Projects will be
evaluated.
Maximizing the Value of Public
Feedback
USDA invites commenters to respond
to any or all of the questions below.
Responses to the questions below will
be especially helpful to FNS as the
Agency works to implement the Child
Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects.6 FNS
4 The Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
2021) defines the term ‘‘Bureau-funded school’’ to
mean (A) a Bureau school; (B) a contract or grant
school; or (C) a school for which assistance is
provided under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act
of 1988 [25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.].
5 FNS participated in a Nation-to-Nation
Consultation with Tribal leaders on SelfDetermination in Food on June 5, 2024, at the
National Congress of American Indians’ Mid-Year
Convention in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Additional information is available at: https://
www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usdafood-self-determination-framing-paper.pdf.
6 Section 758 of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2024, Public Law 118–42 provides $2 million
for pilot projects to Tribes and/or Tribal
organizations to operate Child Nutrition Programs
as State agencies. The Act authorized a maximum
of 10 pilot projects, to operate for up to two years,
in Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools,
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 246 / Monday, December 23, 2024 / Notices
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
encourages public comment on these
questions and seeks any other
information relevant to the Child
Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects. FNS
seeks public input to ensure that the
Tribal Pilot Projects support Tribal
sovereignty and nutrition security and
best serve the communities in which
they will operate. With these general
interests in mind, FNS seeks input on
the following questions:
Questions for Commenters
1. The Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2024, identifies the entities that
may operate and implement the Tribal
Pilot Projects. What, if any, additional
criteria should be established for a Tribe
and/or Tribal organization to be
considered eligible to participate in the
pilot projects?
2. Are there any specific criteria that
should be prioritized in the selection
process? For example, should FNS give
priority to a Tribe or Tribal organization
with experience operating a Child
Nutrition Program, or other FNS
nutrition assistance program, or to a
pilot project that is implemented by a
group of Tribes or Tribal organizations?
3. A Tribe or Tribal organization may
partner with a State educational agency,
a local educational agency, a tribal
educational agency, or the Bureau of
Indian Education to administer Child
Nutrition Programs.
a. How might Tribes or Tribal
organizations partner with each of these
entities?
b. Should FNS consider any criteria or
parameters regarding partnerships?
4. Considering the State agency roles
and responsibilities referenced in the
Child Nutrition Programs
Administration section of this Request
for Information, what support (if any)
might Tribes and Tribal organizations
need to implement the Tribal Pilot
Projects and administer one or more
Child Nutrition Programs?
5. Given the amount of funding
available and timeframe for
implementation, should FNS:
a. Limit grantees to administering
only one Child Nutrition Program?
b. Permit grantees to administer only
part of a Child Nutrition Program? If
yes, what opportunities or challenges
might partial administration present?
6. How can FNS best ensure that
Tribes or Tribal organizations have
access to staff, technology, and financial
support needed to successfully
administer Child Nutrition Programs?
7. Should FNS fund as many pilot
projects as possible (up to 10) in the first
schools on or near Indian reservations, or in early
child care and education facilities. Grants from
$10,000–$100,000 per school year are authorized.
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17:03 Dec 20, 2024
Jkt 265001
year? Or should FNS fund a limited
number of projects in the first year, with
future projects funded in subsequent
years, to incorporate best practices and
lessons learned as pilot projects evolve?
8. What outcomes should FNS
measure to evaluate the Tribal Pilot
Projects? How should FNS measure
sustainability or feasibility of long-term
implementation?
9. Is there anything else FNS should
consider when implementing the Tribal
Pilot Projects?
Disclaimers: This is a Request for
Information. This is not a Request for
Proposals or a Request for Applications
and is not to be construed as a
commitment by the U.S. Government to
issue any solicitation or Notice of
Funding Opportunity, or ultimately
award a contract or assistance
agreement based on this Request for
Information, or to pay for any
information voluntarily submitted as a
result of this request. The USDA posts
its competitive business opportunities
on www.grants.gov. It is the potential
offeror’s/applicant’s responsibility to
monitor these sites for announcements
of new opportunities. Please note that
responding to this Request for
Information will not give any advantage
to any organization or individual in any
subsequent competition. Responses may
be used by USDA without restriction or
limitation, therefore proprietary
information should not be sent.
Collection of Information
Requirements: This document does not
impose information collection
requirements, that is, reporting,
recordkeeping or third-party disclosure
requirements. However, this document
does contain a general solicitation of
comments in the form of a Request for
Information. In accordance with
implementing regulations of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
specifically 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4), this
general solicitation is exempt from the
Paperwork Reduction Act. Facts or
opinions submitted in response to
general solicitations of comments from
the public, published in the Federal
Register or other publications,
regardless of the form or format thereof,
provided that no person is required to
supply specific information pertaining
to the commenter other than that
necessary for self-identification, as a
condition of the Agency’s full
consideration, are not generally
considered information.
Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–30577 Filed 12–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
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104515
CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meetings
U.S. Commission on the Social
Status of Black Men and Boys
(CSSBMB), U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights (USCCR).
ACTION: Notice of CSSBMB public
business meeting.
AGENCY:
Friday, December 20 11 a.m.–
12:30 p.m. EDT.
ADDRESSES: Meeting to take place
virtually and is open to the public via
livestream on United States Commission
on Civil Rights’ official YouTube
channel.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diamond Newman, 202–339–2371,
dnewman@usccr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with Public Law 116–156,
1134 Stat. 700 (2020), the U.S.
Commission on the Social Status of
Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB) will
hold its first quarter business meeting
and briefing to discuss CSSBMB
business and 2025 goals and objectives,
theme highlights on Black male
education and disrupting the school-toprison pipeline, disproportionate
suspensions of Black male students, and
the mental health crisis affecting Black
men and boys. The meeting is open to
the public via livestream on United
States Commission on Civil Rights’
official YouTube channel. (Streaming
information subject to change.) Public
participation is available for the event
with view access, along with an audio
option for listening. Computer assisted
real-time transcription (CART) will be
provided. The web link to access CART
(in English) on December 20 is https://
youtube.com/live/WaF2uln4h14. Please
note that CART is text-only translation
that occurs in real time during the
meeting and is not an exact transcript.
* Date and meeting details are subject
to change. For more information on the
CSSBMB or the upcoming public
briefing, please visit CSSBMB.gov and
CSSBMB’s Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Agenda
* Welcome and Call to Order (11:00
a.m.–11:03 a.m.)
* Chair’s Opening Remarks and
Acknowledgment of
Commissioners’ Service (11:03
a.m.–11:10 a.m.)
* The Chair will thank
Commissioners for their dedication
and service.
* Business Meeting (11:10 a.m.–11:35
a.m.)
* Quorum Confirmation (11:10 a.m.–
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 246 (Monday, December 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104513-104515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30577]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Request for Information: Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot
Projects
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This is a Request for Information to inform the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) development of the Child Nutrition
Programs Tribal Pilot Projects, as authorized in the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024. The Act authorized USDA to conduct pilot
projects to allow one or more Tribes or Tribal organizations to
administer one or more Child Nutrition Programs, assuming the roles and
responsibilities typically held by State agencies. USDA will use
comments received in response to this Request for Information to inform
the application process, and eligibility and selection criteria, for
the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects. USDA invites feedback from
Tribes; Tribal organizations, leaders, representatives, and
associations; State agencies that administer the Child Nutrition
Programs; and others interested in opportunities to promote Tribal
sovereignty in the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs. This
notice is not a request for proposals and does not commit the
Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs
associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted
information will remain with the Government and will not be returned.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: USDA invites the submission of the requested information
through one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal (preferred method): Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for
submitting comments.
Mail: Send written comments to the Child Nutrition
Programs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Braddock Metro Center II,
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
All comments submitted in response to this Request for Information
will be
[[Page 104514]]
included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please
be advised that the substance of the comments and the identity of the
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to
public disclosure. All responses will become part of the public record
and will not be held confidential. USDA will make the comments publicly
available via https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Hopwood, School Meals Policy
Division, Child Nutrition Programs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service,
703-305-2054.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Child Nutrition Programs Administration
Federal Child Nutrition Programs are administered by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and
help to ensure that participants have access to nutritious meals and
snacks in schools, summer programs, child and adult care centers,
family day care homes, and afterschool programs.
Administering the Child Nutrition Programs requires partnership at
many levels. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act specifies
that the Federal Government enters into agreements with State agencies
to administer the Child Nutrition Programs within each State.\1\ USDA
provides administrative funds to State agencies that administer the
Child Nutrition Programs.\2\ State agencies, in turn, establish
agreements with local Program operators, such as school districts and
community organizations, which operate the Child Nutrition Programs and
serve meals to child and adult participants in their communities. State
agencies establish statewide policies and procedures for administering
the Child Nutrition Programs, consistent with Federal requirements;
provide policy guidance, training, and technical assistance to local
Program operators; monitor key aspects of performance by conducting
comprehensive reviews; and report consolidated meal counts to FNS for
reimbursement funds. FNS provides reimbursement to the State agencies,
and State agencies are responsible for paying the Federal reimbursement
to each local Program operator, including Tribal Program operators. In
some States, more than one State agency administers the Child Nutrition
Programs. For example, in a single State, one State agency may
administer the National School Lunch Program, while another State
agency administers the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Nationwide,
there are 70 State agencies that administer the Child Nutrition
Programs. Under the Tribal Pilot Projects, Tribes and/or Tribal
organizations will directly administer one or more Child Nutrition
Programs, assuming the roles and responsibilities typically held by
State agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For more information, see the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act, 42 U.S.C. 1756.
\2\ For more information about State Administrative Expense
Funds, see 7 CFR part 235, available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-II/subchapter-A/part-235.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects
Section 758 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, Public
Law 118-42 (``The Act''), provided $2 million for Tribal Pilot Projects
that will permit Indian Tribes and/or Tribal organizations to
administer Child Nutrition Programs, assuming the roles and
responsibilities typically held by State agencies.\3\ The Act
authorized a maximum of 10 Tribal Pilot Projects, to operate for up to
two years, with grants ranging from $10,000-$100,000 per school year.
The Act specifies that the following entities may operate Tribal Pilot
Projects:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ``Indian Tribe'' has the meaning given the term in section 4
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
an Indian Tribe, as defined by section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304);
a Tribal organization approved by an Indian Tribe;
a Tribal educational agency;
a consortium of Indian Tribes; or
a partnership between an Indian Tribe and either:
[cir] a State educational agency,
[cir] a local educational agency,
[cir] a Tribal educational agency, or
[cir] the Bureau of Indian Education.
Grantees may administer one or more of the following Child
Nutrition Programs:
National School Lunch Program, as authorized by the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769,
``NSLA'');
School Breakfast Program, established by the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);
Child and Adult Care Food Program, as established under
section 17 of the NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1766); and/or
Summer Food Service Program, as established under section
13 of the NSLA (42 U.S.C. 1761).
Finally, grantees may administer Child Nutrition Programs in the
following locations:
a school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (as
defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
2021)); \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021) defines
the term ``Bureau-funded school'' to mean (A) a Bureau school; (B) a
contract or grant school; or (C) a school for which assistance is
provided under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 [25
U.S.C. 2501 et seq.].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a school (as defined in section 12(d) of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)) that is on or
near an Indian reservation; or
an early child care and education facility.
Input From Tribal Communities
Tribal input is critical to ensure that the Tribal Pilot Projects
reflect the needs of grantees and the communities they serve. In June
2024, FNS engaged in Nation-to-Nation consultation with Tribal leaders
to gather input on the Tribal Pilot Projects. This input also helped to
develop this Request for Information.\5\ To gather additional input,
FNS will organize meetings and listening sessions with Tribes, groups
that represent Tribal food sovereignty, Tribal Child Nutrition Program
operators, and State agencies that administer Child Nutrition Programs
in States that share boundaries with present-day reservations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ FNS participated in a Nation-to-Nation Consultation with
Tribal leaders on Self-Determination in Food on June 5, 2024, at the
National Congress of American Indians' Mid-Year Convention in
Cherokee, North Carolina. Additional information is available at:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-food-self-determination-framing-paper.pdf.
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FNS will use information gathered in response to this request to
develop a process under which eligible Tribes and/or Tribal
organizations may apply to operate a Tribal Pilot Project. This Request
for Information will also help FNS understand what (if any) support
eligible Tribes and Tribal organizations may need to successfully
operate a Tribal Pilot Project, and to determine how the Tribal Pilot
Projects will be evaluated.
Maximizing the Value of Public Feedback
USDA invites commenters to respond to any or all of the questions
below. Responses to the questions below will be especially helpful to
FNS as the Agency works to implement the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot
Projects.\6\ FNS
[[Page 104515]]
encourages public comment on these questions and seeks any other
information relevant to the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects. FNS
seeks public input to ensure that the Tribal Pilot Projects support
Tribal sovereignty and nutrition security and best serve the
communities in which they will operate. With these general interests in
mind, FNS seeks input on the following questions:
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\6\ Section 758 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,
Public Law 118-42 provides $2 million for pilot projects to Tribes
and/or Tribal organizations to operate Child Nutrition Programs as
State agencies. The Act authorized a maximum of 10 pilot projects,
to operate for up to two years, in Bureau of Indian Education-funded
schools, schools on or near Indian reservations, or in early child
care and education facilities. Grants from $10,000-$100,000 per
school year are authorized.
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Questions for Commenters
1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, identifies the
entities that may operate and implement the Tribal Pilot Projects.
What, if any, additional criteria should be established for a Tribe
and/or Tribal organization to be considered eligible to participate in
the pilot projects?
2. Are there any specific criteria that should be prioritized in
the selection process? For example, should FNS give priority to a Tribe
or Tribal organization with experience operating a Child Nutrition
Program, or other FNS nutrition assistance program, or to a pilot
project that is implemented by a group of Tribes or Tribal
organizations?
3. A Tribe or Tribal organization may partner with a State
educational agency, a local educational agency, a tribal educational
agency, or the Bureau of Indian Education to administer Child Nutrition
Programs.
a. How might Tribes or Tribal organizations partner with each of
these entities?
b. Should FNS consider any criteria or parameters regarding
partnerships?
4. Considering the State agency roles and responsibilities
referenced in the Child Nutrition Programs Administration section of
this Request for Information, what support (if any) might Tribes and
Tribal organizations need to implement the Tribal Pilot Projects and
administer one or more Child Nutrition Programs?
5. Given the amount of funding available and timeframe for
implementation, should FNS:
a. Limit grantees to administering only one Child Nutrition
Program?
b. Permit grantees to administer only part of a Child Nutrition
Program? If yes, what opportunities or challenges might partial
administration present?
6. How can FNS best ensure that Tribes or Tribal organizations have
access to staff, technology, and financial support needed to
successfully administer Child Nutrition Programs?
7. Should FNS fund as many pilot projects as possible (up to 10) in
the first year? Or should FNS fund a limited number of projects in the
first year, with future projects funded in subsequent years, to
incorporate best practices and lessons learned as pilot projects
evolve?
8. What outcomes should FNS measure to evaluate the Tribal Pilot
Projects? How should FNS measure sustainability or feasibility of long-
term implementation?
9. Is there anything else FNS should consider when implementing the
Tribal Pilot Projects?
Disclaimers: This is a Request for Information. This is not a
Request for Proposals or a Request for Applications and is not to be
construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any
solicitation or Notice of Funding Opportunity, or ultimately award a
contract or assistance agreement based on this Request for Information,
or to pay for any information voluntarily submitted as a result of this
request. The USDA posts its competitive business opportunities on
www.grants.gov. It is the potential offeror's/applicant's
responsibility to monitor these sites for announcements of new
opportunities. Please note that responding to this Request for
Information will not give any advantage to any organization or
individual in any subsequent competition. Responses may be used by USDA
without restriction or limitation, therefore proprietary information
should not be sent.
Collection of Information Requirements: This document does not
impose information collection requirements, that is, reporting,
recordkeeping or third-party disclosure requirements. However, this
document does contain a general solicitation of comments in the form of
a Request for Information. In accordance with implementing regulations
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, specifically 5 CFR
1320.3(h)(4), this general solicitation is exempt from the Paperwork
Reduction Act. Facts or opinions submitted in response to general
solicitations of comments from the public, published in the Federal
Register or other publications, regardless of the form or format
thereof, provided that no person is required to supply specific
information pertaining to the commenter other than that necessary for
self-identification, as a condition of the Agency's full consideration,
are not generally considered information.
Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30577 Filed 12-20-24; 8:45 am]
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