[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85138-85147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24868]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Food Distribution 
Program on Indian Reservations Participant Characteristics and Program 
Operations Study

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on this proposed information collection. This is a new information 
collection request in which FNS seeks updated information about the 
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), including 
participant characteristics, program operations, and why FDPIR 
participation has been declining. This study will also include an 
evaluation of the self-determination demonstration projects (SDDPs), 
which allow Tribes administering FDPIR to directly purchase food for 
the FDPIR food packages distributed to their Tribe.

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DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 24, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Kavitha Sankavaram, Office of Policy 
Support, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be 
submitted via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c272d3a2538242d623f2d22272d3a2d3e2d210c393f282d622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fd969c8b9489959cd38e9c93969c8b9c8f9c90bd888e999cd39a928b">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will also 
be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments electronically.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Kavitha 
Sankavaram at 703-605-4627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2018 Farm Bill authorized USDA to 
establish a demonstration project for one or more Tribal organizations 
administering FDPIR to enter into self-determination contracts, as 
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act, to purchase USDA Foods for the FDPIR food package for 
their Tribes. The goals of the demonstration project include (1) 
supporting Tribal self-governance by allowing participating Tribes to 
purchase similar foods of their choosing, supporting tribal dietary 
preferences; (2) enabling Tribes to purchase foods through commercial 
vendors of their choice; (3) supporting Tribal economies as Tribes may 
choose to contract with local, regional, and/or Tribal vendors; and (4) 
providing FNS with an opportunity to see how Tribal procurement may 
work under a food distribution program model across Region, program 
size, and food selection. To date, FNS has awarded $11.4 million to 16 
sites. Through this information collection, FNS aims to understand the 
impact, successes, and challenges of the demonstration projects to 
inform future policy goals.
    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Title: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) 
Participant Characteristics and Program Operations (PCPO) and Self-
Determination Demonstration Project (SDDP) Evaluation.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration date: Not yet determined.
    Type of request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 
(USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Food Distribution Program 
on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides USDA Foods to income-eligible 
households living on Indian reservations and to American Indian 
households residing in approved areas near reservations in Oklahoma. 
Many households participate in FDPIR as an alternative to the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because they do not 
have easy access to SNAP offices or authorized food stores. The last 
comprehensive study of FDPIR participant characteristics and program 
operations (PCPO) used data collected in 2013 and 2014. This study will 
provide current, nationally representative information on FDPIR 
participants and local program operations across the nation. The study 
will also provide FNS with a better understanding of the reasons for 
the decline in FDPIR participation and how to streamline and target 
food/nutrition education efforts, funding, and policy changes. To 
identify reasons for variable participation, FNS will collect 
information on perceptions about the program, potential access 
barriers, and participation in SNAP and other food assistance programs. 
The study also includes an evaluation of the Self-Determination 
Demonstration Project (SDDP). The SDDP, authorized in the 2018 Farm 
Bill, provides FDPIR sites with the flexibility to procure and 
distribute local, regional, and/or Tribal foods. This study is needed 
to help FNS make decisions about program administration and identify 
ways to make the program more beneficial to participants.
    The study will be conducted over a 3-year period. For the PCPO 
component of the study, data collection activities will include 
administrative data submissions, a participant survey, discussion 
groups with participants and eligible nonparticipants, and site visits 
to 26 FDPIR programs. Site visits will consist of focus groups with 
FDPIR participants and eligible nonparticipants; key informant 
interviews with FDPIR program staff, community partners, and Tribal 
leaders; and observations of program facilities. Using the 
administrative data collected from the 26 FDPIR programs, the study 
team will select a random nationally representative sample of 1,050 
participating households. This sample of participating households will 
be the basis of recruitment for the participant survey. For the SDDP 
component of the study, data collection activities will include 
administrative data submissions, key informant interviews with FDPIR 
program staff and vendors, and interviews with a convenience sample of 
FDPIR participants at the 16 SDDP sites. Clearance is requested for the 
following new data collection activities: administrative data 
collection, survey of FDPIR participants, key informant interviews, 
onsite observations of FDPIR program operations, FDPIR participants and 
eligible nonparticipant discussion groups, and FDPIR participant 
interviews.
    Affected public: (1) State, local, and Tribal agencies; (2) 
businesses; and (3) individuals. Identified respondent groups include 
the following:
    1. State, local, and Tribal agencies: FDPIR agency staff from 38 
Tribal agencies (22 PCPO-only sites, 12 SDDP-only sites, and 4 sites 
participating in both the PCPO and SDDP components).
    2. Businesses: nonprofit businesses--staff from community-based 
organizations at the 26 PCPO sites--and for-profit businesses--food 
vendor staff at the 16 SDDP sites.
    3. Individuals: 1,050 FDPIR participants and eligible 
nonparticipants who will be recruited for the PCPO participant survey 
and 316 who will be recruited for participation in discussion groups 
across the 26 PCPO sites. For the SDDP component, 400 FDPIR 
participants across the 16 SDDP sites will be recruited to complete an 
interview.
    Estimated number of respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 2,068: 182 State, local, and Tribal government staff; 69 
business (for-profit and not-for-profit) staff; and 1,817 individuals. 
Of the 2,068 contacted, 1,728 are estimated to be responsive, and 340 
are estimated to be nonresponsive. The breakout follows:
    1. State, local, and Tribal agency staff: Of the 182 FDPIR Tribal 
staff contacted, 168 are estimated to be responsive, and

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14 will be nonresponsive. For the PCPO component, 145 Tribal staff will 
be contacted, and 131 are estimated to be responsive and 14 will be 
nonresponsive. For the SDDP component, 37 Tribal staff will be 
contacted, and all are estimated to be responsive.
    2. Business (for-profit and not-for-profit) staff: Of the 53 non-
profit business staff contacted, all are estimated to be responsive. Of 
the 16 for-profit business staff contacted, all are estimated to be 
responsive.
    3. Individuals: Of the 1,817 individuals contacted, 1,491 are 
estimated to be responsive, and 326 will be nonresponsive.
    <bullet> For the PCPO study, 1,050 FDPIR participants will be 
contacted to complete the PCPO survey, and 871 will complete the survey 
and receive a thank-you email; 179 will be nonresponsive. A total of 
316 participants will be recruited for the PCPO discussion groups; 252 
will participate in the discussion, and 64 will be nonresponsive.
    <bullet> Twenty-six Tribal leaders at FDPIR sites will be asked to 
participate in a key informant interview; 23 will participate in the 
interview, and 3 will be nonresponsive.
    <bullet> For the SDDP study, 400 participants will be contacted to 
complete the SDDP interview, and 320 will complete the interview and 
receive a thank-you email; 80 will be nonresponsive.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 3.375--based on 6,979 
total annual responses (6,460 responsive and 519 nonresponsive) made by 
the 2,068 respondents (1,728 responsive and 340 nonresponsive). See 
table 1 for the estimated number of responses per respondent for each 
type of respondent. The breakout follows:
    1. State, local, and Tribal agencies (182):
    <bullet> Twenty-nine FDPIR directors will receive recruitment 
emails from FNS; 26 will be responsive, and 3 will be nonresponsive. 
Twenty-six FDPIR directors will receive an introductory email from the 
study team, participate in a phone call to discuss the data request, 
and facilitate the execution of a data use agreement. They will also 
receive materials from the study team about key informant interview 
scheduling and participate in the PCPO key informant interviews. 
Sixteen FDPIR directors will respond to scheduling and participate in 
the SDDP interviews; the same 16 FDPIR directors will also participate 
in a phone call to discuss the SDDP data request, and facilitate the 
execution of a data use agreement.
    <bullet> Seventeen FDPIR directors will complete the electronic 
PCPO administrative data submission. One FDPIR director will pretest 
the PCPO administrative data request. Sixteen FDPIR directors will 
complete the SDDP administrative data submission; one of these 16 
directors will pretest the SDDP administrative data request.
    <bullet> Fifty-two FDPIR frontline staff will receive recruitment 
information, and 45 will respond to scheduling and participate in the 
PCPO key informant interviews; 7 will be nonresponsive. Twenty-six 
frontline staff will also participate in the observation. Sixteen 
frontline staff will respond to scheduling and participate in the SDDP 
interviews. One frontline staff member will pretest the key informant 
interview protocol. One frontline staff member will pretest the 
observation guide.
    <bullet> Twenty-six distribution staff will receive recruitment 
information, and 24 will respond to scheduling and participate in the 
observation; 2 will be nonresponsive. One distribution staff member 
will pretest the observation guide.
    <bullet> Twenty-six warehouse staff will receive recruitment 
information, and 24 will respond to scheduling and participate in the 
observation; 2 will be nonresponsive.
    <bullet> Nine administrative staff will provide onsite support for 
the administrative data abstraction.
    <bullet> Five SDDP coordinators will receive recruitment 
information and will respond to scheduling and participate in the SDDP 
interviews.
    2. Business (for-profit and not-for-profit) vendor and community 
organization staff (69):
    <bullet> Sixteen food vendor staff will respond to scheduling and 
participate in the SDDP interviews.
    <bullet> Fifty-two community organization staff will respond to 
scheduling and participate in the PCPO key informant interviews. One 
community organization staff member will pretest the key informant 
interview guide.
    3. Individuals (1,817):
    <bullet> A total of 1,050 individuals will be recruited, and 871 
will complete the PCPO participant survey. A total of 316 individuals 
will be recruited, and 252 will participate in the PCPO focus groups. A 
total of 400 individuals will be recruited, and 320 will complete the 
SDDP participant survey.
    <bullet> Twenty-six Tribal leaders will receive scheduling 
information, and 23 will respond to scheduling and participate in the 
PCPO key informant interviews. One Tribal leader will pretest the key 
informant interview guide.
    <bullet> Nine individuals will be recruited and pretest the SDDP 
participant survey. Nine individuals will be recruited and pretest the 
PCPO participant survey. Six individuals will be recruited and pretest 
the PCPO discussion group guide.
    Estimated total annual responses: 6,979 (6,460 annual responses for 
responsive participants and 519 annual responses for nonresponsive 
participants).
    Estimated time per response: 0.304 hours (0.33 hours for responsive 
participants and 0.02 hours for nonresponsive participants). Among 
respondents, the estimated time of response varies from 0.03 hours to 
2.00 hours depending on the respondent group and activity, as table 1 
shows.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents and nonrespondents: 
2,124.09 hours (2,116.85 hours for responsive participants and 9.55 
hours for nonresponsive participants). See table 1 for the estimated 
total annual burden for each type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-24868 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C


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