Adequacy of Food Resources and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments

The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) awarded a contract on a sole source basis to the National Academy of Sciences, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 under the authority of FAR 6.302-5. 1. Description of Services and Estimated Cost: Adequacy of Food Resources and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Allotments - SNAP benefits are intended to alleviate food insecurity, improve diet quality and generally relieve poverty by freeing up family resources to meet other basic needs. Monthly allotments are based, in part, on the cost of a minimal-cost nutritious diet (the Thrifty Food Plan). Many question the adequacy of SNAP benefits, citing food preparation requirements, cultural food preferences, food access constraints and other challenges that make current benefits insufficient and propose various increases. This project will convene a workshop, under the auspices of the National Academies, to explore the potential and feasibility of establishing an objective, evidence-based, science-driven definition of benefit adequacy. The workshop will surface issues relevant to defining benefit adequacy, identify data requirements and research approaches necessary to establish an operational definition of adequacy and to support an empirical comparison to SNAP benefit levels, and suggest strategies to meet any information needs . The estimated cost of this effort is $600,000. 2. Proposed Contractor's Unique Qualifications to Support Authority Cited: The National Academy of Sciences IOM was established to investigate, examine, or experiment upon any subject of science or art of significance to an executive agency and to report on those matters to the Congress or any agency of the Federal Government. IOM is in a unique position to explore difficult issues in nutrition policy. That position is based on three attributes: a. First, because IOM was created under the charter granted by Congress to the National Academy of Sciences in 1863, IOM has standing as a special advisor to the federal government but is not an agency of the government. It is a private, nonprofit organization, and is therefore, not biased. b. Second, IOM brings to its studies strength of expertise rooted in its national membership. It enlists distinguished and knowledgeable persons not only from the professions of medicine, health care, and biomedical sciences, but-by the terms of its charter-law, economics, statistics, and many other disciplines that bear on today's health problems. All these experts contribute their time, without compensation, to the work of IOM and also attract the participation of other talented persons from outside the membership. c. Third, IOM has no institutional self-interest in the outcome of its studies. It provides scientifically valid, impartial, and balanced advice and a neutral meeting ground for its committees. The validity of reports from IOM is further ensured by its review procedures. All reports are subject to the National Research Council report review process.