Food Donation Programs (Food for Progress & Section 416(b)) and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

United States Department of Agriculture

Farm and Foreign

Agricultural

Services

Foreign

Agricultural

Service

1400 Independence Ave, SW

Stop 1034

Washington, DC

20250-1034

TO: FY XXXX Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Participants

FROM: Ronald Croushorn, Director

Food Assistance Division

Office of Capacity Building and Development

Foreign Agricultural Service

SUBJECT: Freight Forwarder Certification Process

The regulations for the Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition programs (7 CFR section 1499.7(c) and 7 CFR section 1599.7(c)), require that any freight forwarders used to handle freight arrangements under the programs be licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission and not have a conflict of interest in carrying out the freight forwarder duties. Participants who want to use the services of a freight forwarder under the programs need to follow the instructions below.

The participant is required to submit to the Foreign Agricultural Service a certification indicating that the freight forwarder: 1) is not engaged, and will not engage, in supplying commodities or furnishing ocean transportation or ocean transportation-related services for commodities provided under any Food for Progress or McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program agreement to which the participant is a party; and 2) is not affiliated with the participant and has not made arrangements to give or receive any payment, kickback, or illegal benefit in connection with its selection as an agent of the participant. Please use the attached format for this certification.

Please submit the freight forwarder certification to the following address:

United States Department of Agriculture

Foreign Agricultural Service

Office of Capacity Building and Development

Food Assistance Division

Transportation and Logistics Branch

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Stop 1034

Washington, D.C. 20250-1034

Attn: Amy Harding

In addition, please submit a fax copy to 202-690-3077.

Should you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Ms. Amy Harding at 202-720-3538 or via email at [email protected].

Attachments

Food for Progress

Freight Forwarder Certification

[Insert Participant Name] has selected [insert Freight Forwarder Name] to act as freight forwarder for all [insert Participant Name] FY 2010 Food for Progress Program agreements.

OR

[Insert Participant Name] has selected [insert Freight Forwarder Name] to act as freight forwarder for all [insert Participant Name] FY 2010 Food for Progress Program agreements in [insert Country Name].

[Insert Participant Name] certifies that [insert Freight Forwarder Name] is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission and:

1) is not engaged, and will not engage, in supplying commodities or furnishing ocean transportation or ocean transportation-related services for commodities provided under any Food for Progress Program agreement to which the [insert Participant Name] is a party; and

2) is not affiliated with [insert Participant Name] and has not made arrangements to give or receive any payment, kickback, or illegal benefit in connection with its selection as an agent of [insert Participant Name].

Name and Title of Participant Representative

Signature of Participant Representative

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

Freight Forwarder Certification

[Insert Participant Name] has selected [insert Freight Forwarder Name] to act as freight forwarder for all [insert Participant Name] FY 2010 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole) agreements.

OR

[Insert Participant Name] has selected [insert Freight Forwarder Name] to act as freight forwarder for all [insert Participant Name] FY 2010 McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole agreements in [insert Country Name].

[Insert Participant Name] certifies that [insert Freight Forwarder Name] is licensed by the Federal Maritime Commission and:

1) is not engaged, and will not engage, in supplying commodities or furnishing ocean transportation or ocean transportation-related services for commodities provided under any McGovern-Dole Program agreement to which the [insert Participant Name] is a party; and

2) is not affiliated with [insert Participant Name] and has not made arrangements to give agent of [insert Participant Name].

Name and Title of Participant Representative

Signature of Participant Representative