The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is inviting Tribes to apply for a second round of Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Self-Determination Demonstration Projects (FDPIR). According to the Federal Register Notice, FDPIR “provides a food package of 100 percent domestically grown foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations and to American Indian households residing in approved areas near reservations or in Oklahoma.” In the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress established a demonstration project for Tribal Organizations within FDPIR to enter into self-determination contracts “for them to purchase foods for their Indian Tribe, instead of USDA, for inclusion in the FDPIR food package.”
Last year, USDA through the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded $3.5 million in self-determination contracts to eight Tribal Organizations (all those who applied). In June, FNS awarded another $2.2 million to six of those eight organizations for modifications and extensions of those contracts. USDA is now soliciting a second round of proposals for those who are not currently participating the self-governance demonstration program for FDPIR.
In order to participate a Tribal Organization “must administer FDPIR at the time a proposal is due;” may not already be participating in a FDPIR self-governance program; must have a resolution from the Tribal Council authorizing the Tribal Organization to participate in the demonstration project; and the “Tribal Organization’s FDIPR program director must attest to their support for the demonstration project.” The Tribal Organization must provide a budget proposal and narrative. Total costs must not exceed $1.5 million.
Proposals are due to FDPIR-RC@usda.gov by January 31, 2023 at 11:59 ET. More information is available here.
