Frequency of ME Reviews
The State Department shall conduct an ME review of all SNAP operations: A. At least once annually on each large project area containing more than twenty-five thousand and one (25,001) participating households; B. At least once every two (2) years on each medium project area containing five thousand (5,000) to twenty-five thousand (25,000) participating households; and, C. At least once every three (3) years on each small project area containing four thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine (4,999) or fewer participating households. The State Department may conduct ME reviews on an alternative schedule with the written approval of the USDA, FNS. The State Department may also perform reviews of specific local offices or program elements. The USDA, FNS, or the State Department, may identify the need for a special review, or the local office may request a special review. Reviews will generally include all aspects of program administration in the large project areas. The reviews may be more limited in scope in the medium and small project areas. The USDA, FNS, generally identifies target program areas that it requires for review each fiscal year. The State Department will complete the ME report for all counties that are reviewed and will be responsible for monitoring the county responses to any findings. The county shall be responsible for submitting any factual corrections to the ME review within twenty (20) state working days and shall submit a final plan to correct all other cited deficiencies within twenty (20) state working days of receiving the review. The response shall include specific actions, persons responsible for implementation, and the date for completion. When the review identifies ongoing problems in critical areas, the county response shall also include a method for monitoring implementation of the plan and reporting progress to the state department on at least a quarterly basis.