Special Milk Program for Children
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To provide subsidies to schools and institutions to encourage the consumption of fluid milk by children.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Funds are made available to State agencies to encourage the consumption of fluid milk by children in public and private nonprofit schools of high school grade and under, public and private nonprofit nursery schools, child-care centers, settlement houses, summer camps, and similar nonprofit institutions devoted to the care and training of children, except Job Corps Centers, provided that these schools and institutions do not participate in another meal service program authorized under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The Child Nutrition Amendments of 1986 expanded eligibility in the program to include children in split session kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs in nonprofit schools and institutions who do not have access to the Federal meal service program operating in schools the children attend. Disbursement to States is made on the basis of the number of half pints of milk served to non-needy children, using a reimbursement rate specified by law. Milk served free to eligible needy children is reimbursed at the average cost of a half pint of milk.
Who is eligible to apply...
Any State or U.S. Territory (except territories subject to the requirements of the Compact of Free Association). Any public and nonprofit private school or child care institution of high school grade or under, except Job Corps Centers, may participate in the Special Milk Program upon request if it does not participate in another meal service program authorized under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. This generally includes nonprofit nursery schools, child-care centers, settlement houses and summer camps. Schools with split session kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs can receive subsidies for milk served to children in the split session kindergartens and pre- kindergartens who do not have access to another meal service program operating in the school. All schools and child care institutions which participate must agree to operate the program on a nonprofit basis for all children without regard to race, sex, color, National origin, age or disability.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicant organizations must furnish evidence of nonprofit status. Costs will be determined in accordance with USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (7 CFR Part 3015 or 3016 and 3019).
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Public schools in all States make application to the State educational agency unless a waiver designating an alternate agency is approved. Appropriate forms may be obtained from this agency. In most cases, nonprofit private schools and institutions also apply to the State educational agency. However, in some States, the State educational agency is prohibited by State statute from disbursing Federal funds to nonprofit private schools and institutions. In such instances, the application will be referred to the appropriate alternate State agency or the appropriate Food and Nutrition Service regional office.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
State agency or Food and Nutrition Service regional office, where applicable, reviews written application of school or child care institution and upon determination of eligibility makes written agreement with sponsor for participation in the program.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Federal/State agreement must be signed.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Agreements are effective upon approval of the State Agency or Food and Nutrition Service, where applicable.
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the State agency or Food and Nutrition Service, as applicable, must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
None. State agencies or Food and Nutrition Service regional offices, where applicable, are responsible for determining eligibility of a school or institution.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
Permanent, amended as necessary.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
All children attending schools and institutions in which the Special Milk Program is in operation may participate in the program.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For fiscal year 2001, average Federal assistance is 13.4 cents for each half-pint of milk served to children with income levels above 130 percent of poverty. State grants vary according to participation in the program. Average Federal assistance for half-pints served free is 17.0 cents.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $16,650,627; FY 03 est $16,891,000; and FY 04 est $16,449,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
12-3539-0-1-605.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Not applicable.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2001, 120.3 million half-pints of milk were served.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Not applicable.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
For the period covered by the agreement.
Formula and Matching Requirements
The reimbursement rate for each paid half pint of milk served to children with household income levels above 130 percent of the poverty line in schools and institutions that participate in the Special Milk Program during school year 2001-02 is 14.5 cents, and the reimbursement rate for each 1/2 pint of milk served free (in pricing programs with a free milk option) to children with household income levels at or below 130 percent of poverty is the average cost of 1/2 pint of milk. This rate is adjusted each school year to correspond to the change in the Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The statistical factor used for beneficiary eligibility for free milk is 130 percent of the poverty line and the source is the Federal income poverty guidelines. There is no matching guideline. The cost of milk in excess of the Federal reimbursement must be borne by sources within the States (7 CFR Part 215). Disbursement to States is based on the number of half pints served to children. This program has no maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
State agencies, schools and institutions file monthly reports on program operations to claim for reimbursement. Schools must submit final claims to the State agency no later than 60 days after the claiming month, and States must submit final program reports to Food and Nutrition Service no later than 90 days after the claiming month. For each fiscal year, States must submit final grant close out reports to the Food and Nutrition Service not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year to which they pertain.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," State and local governments, and nonprofit organizations that expended $300,000 or more under Federal awards within any fiscal year shall have either a single audit or (in certain cases) a program specific audit made for that year. Audits may be conducted less frequently under conditions specified in A-133.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
Schools and institutions must maintain full and accurate records of Special Milk Program operations. Such records shall be retained for a period of 3 years after the end of the fiscal year to which they pertain except that, if audit findings have not been resolved, the records shall be retained as long as required for their resolution. This program is subject to periodic audits.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1772 and 1779.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Regulations -- 7 CFR Part 215, "Special Milk Program for Children," and 7 CFR Part 245, "Determining Eligibility of Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools."