2015directcert-appb.docx

APPENDIX B

FY 2015-2016 Direct Certification Improvement Grant Tier 1 Limited-Scope Grant Proposal Template & Instructions

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

TIER 1 APPLICATION SUBMISSION

· Applications must be submitted to www.grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET, on one of the deadline dates-- July 15, 2015; September 15, 2015; January 15, 2016; April 15, 2016; July 15, 2016. Applications submitted after a deadline will be held for processing until the next deadline. Applications received after July 15, 2016 will not be considered for funding.

· When submitted successfully, applicants must notify the FNS Grant Officer by email at Carla.Garcia@fns.usda.gov that the application has been accepted by the Grants.gov system.

· Electronic or paper applications sent via any other method will not be accepted.

· FNS encourages State agencies to apply early, as the Request for Applications (RFA) may be closed at any application deadline when sufficient applications are received to exhaust available funds.

· All questions regarding the application and notifications regarding electronic submission should be referred to the FNS Grant Officer Carla Garcia via email at Carla.Garcia@fns.usda.gov.

What to Include in a Tier 1 Grant Application Packet The Tier 1 grant application packet must include:

1. Fully completed Appendix B proposal template (or other format), including cover page and questions 1 through 6f.

2. All required Federal forms: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF-LLL (links to forms can be accessed at www.grants.gov or at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/grants.htm)

3. Signed copy of the applicant agency’s most current approved indirect cost rate agreement with a Federal agency, if indirect costs are included in budget estimates; and

4. Clear justification for any sole source contracts to be funded under the grant, including references/copies of applicable State statutes, regulations, and policies.

Proposal Narrative: For a Tier 1 grant proposal to be considered complete, applicants must structure and develop proposals by answering all questions and addressing all items listed in this Appendix B template. If using some other format, applicants still must address all questions in the order they are listed in the template. The template and instructions are intended to simplify both the narrative development for applicants and the evaluation process for reviewers.

Timeline: Tier 1 grants may be awarded for up to one year.

Be sure that the project timeline described in the narrative responses matches the proposed project start and end dates in Section 17 of the SF-424 application form.

Budget: Applicants may request funding up to $150,000 under Tier 1 grants.

Be sure that all budget estimates contained in the Appendix B responses match the budget estimates entered on the Budget Information Form SF-424A, and the total grant funding requested in Section 18 on the Application for Federal Assistance Form SF-424. Remember that a Tier 1 grant budget for planning activities cannot exceed $75,000. If your Tier 1 proposal contains both planning and implementation activities, the planning costs alone still cannot exceed $75,000. See the Budget Narrative Checklist in the RFA for additional budget guidance.

Tier 1 Grant Proposal Cover Page A State Agency may apply for only ONE grant under this RFA. A State Agency that Applies for a Tier 1 grant may not apply for a Tier 2 grant, and vice versa.

July 15, 2015 September 15, 2015 January 15, 2016 April 15, 2016 July 15, 2016

Enter Applicant Contact Information

State Agency Name & Address:

Agency Administrator Name, Title & Contact Information:

(Telephone, Email, Fax)

Application Contact Name, Title & Contact Information:

(Telephone, Email, Fax)

PROJECT ABSTRACT

PROJECT ABSTRACT: Enter brief abstract (250 word limit) describing your proposed project to improve direct certification rates under the grant award. (Note: If your application is approved, this abstract will be posted on the FNS website to inform other States about your project).

TIER 1: LIMITED-SCOPE GRANT PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

DIRECT CERTIFICATION IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

Expand Table as Needed to Give Complete Answers for Each Question

1. Project Goals and Objectives. Briefly explain what you want to accomplish with this grant and what direct certification processes/systems you will address?

Enter Response to #1

2. Grant Activities. Briefly describe the activities that you plan to carry out with the grant funding to meet the goals and objectives in #1. Explain how each activity will help you improve direct certification performance.

Enter Response to #2

3. Project Management. Briefly describe how you will track and manage the project to ensure that activities are completed on time, within budget, and with quality results?

Enter Response to #3

4. Project Timeline. Provide your proposed schedule for carrying out grant activities. Identify significant project milestones, the major project activities to accomplish the milestone, and the planned start and end dates for each activity. Show when all milestones and grant activities will end. Remember that Tier 1 grants can be awarded for up to one year.

Enter Project Timeline. Expand as needed to include all major milestones and activities.

Milestone

Project Activities to Accomplish Milestone Planned Start Date Planned End Date

Enter Activity 2 for Milestone 1

Enter Activity 2 for Milestone 2

Comments:

5. Staffing. Identify the personnel proposed to manage or play a key role on the grant project. Indicate whether the staff person is an employee or contractor. Provide a brief description of the role and responsibilities, percent of time to be dedicated to the project and source of funding for the position (i.e., whether time dedicated to the project will be charged to the grant, SAE, or some other funding source).

Enter staffing information in response to #5

BUDGET ESTIMATES

6. Budget (totals to be entered on SF-424A Budget Form). Provide a proposed budget estimating costs for all activities and purchases to be charged to the grant funding. ENTER ONLY THE SECTIONS THAT APPLY TO YOUR PROPOSAL AND MARK OTHERS “NA”. For example, if you are not proposing travel costs, leave section 6c blank.

Proposed costs must be reasonable, necessary, allowable and applicable to the grant purpose described in the RFA and the project activities described in #2above. Be sure that your budget includes narrative explaining how you arrived at each cost estimation and how calculations were made for each line item.

Please review OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards located at 2 CFR 200 which addresses allowable costs. Provide any additional explanation, as needed, in the Comments Sections.

6a & 6b. State Agency Personnel & Fringe Costs (SF-424A, Section B, Lines 6a & 6b). Enter information for State agency personnel assigned to project. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for employee staff assigned to project.

6a & 6b Sample Level of Effort Table

Cost to be charged to grant Fringe Benefit List % of salary or actual cost by individual

(1 year on project at 25% time)

6c. Travel Costs (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6c). Enter estimated travel costs required for project staff, such as travel to training sites or project meetings. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for travel.

Important: Travel costs for contractors should be included in their Contract for Services and entered in the Contractual costs section (question #6f) of Appendix B. Do not report contractor travel costs in this section.

Sample Travel Cost Breakdown

6d. Equipment Costs. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6d). Provide estimated costs for all hardware and other equipment items costing $5,000 or more. (Equipment items costing less than $5,000 should be listed as supplies in 6e or as Other in 6h). Costs reported as equipment should be consistent with OMB, State and local policies for capital costs. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for equipment.

Sample Hardware/Software/Equipment Cost Breakdown

6e. Costs for Supplies. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6e). Provide the estimated cost for all supplies. Costs reported as supplies should be consistent with OMB, State and local policies. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for supplies.

Sample Supply Cost Breakdown

6f. Contractual Costs. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6f). Identify all grant work that will be outsourced via contract or interagency agreement for completion. List each contract/agreement, what services will be provided under each contract/agreement, and describe the procurement process the State agency will follow to acquire the listed services. Be sure that all procurement processes are accounted for in the project timeline and milestones. If contractual costs are included in budget estimates and the contractor is (or will be) acquired without competition, the applicant must provide justification for a sole source contract (e.g., State statute or policy references describing circumstances under which competition is not required). You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for Contracts.

Sample Contractual Cost Breakdown

Total for Contractual Costs

$55,000

Enter Total on Form SF-424A as noted

Section B. Line 6f

6h. Other Costs. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6h). Provide estimates for all Other costs. Include all incidental/other costs to be charged to the grant that do not belong in another budget category. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for Other costs.

Sample Other Cost Breakdown

6j. Indirect Costs. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6j). If indirect costs are included in the SA’s cost estimates, applicants must submit a copy of their agency’s current approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (ICRA) with a Federal agency. Only indirect costs that comply with the ICRA will be allowed. Explain what rate was used and to what direct costs it was applied. Show your calculations. Note: be sure all indirect charges included are consistent with the State agency’s ICRA, including applicability to sub awards and other contracts. Only charge indirect costs to allowable items per the ICRA. You may erase sample information and expand, as needed, to enter your project estimates for Indirect costs.

Sample Indirect Cost Breakdown

Indirect Cost Rate

10%

6k. Total Estimated Grant Project Costs. (SF-424A, Section B, Line 6k). Total all estimated direct costs plus total indirect costs to arrive at budget total for the proposed Tier 1 grant activities. If project includes both planning and implementation costs, as described in the RFA, explain clearly what portion of costs are for the planning activities. Remember that planning costs cannot be approved for more than $75,000.

Sample Total Estimated Grant Budget

Comments: Sample explanation for planning budget: Project proposal includes both planning and implementation costs, so planning costs must be explained separately to show that they are under $75,000, as follows:

(Sample) Planning Costs include:

1. Contract #2 with Expert Consultant to analyze direct cert process & develop recommendations = $30,000

2. Project Manager – 60 of the total 520 hours will be used to manage planning contract = $1,800 Salary plus $630 Fringe

3. Total costs that indirect is applied to equals $25,000 in contract costs plus personnel and fringe for project management. = $25,000+$1,800+$630=$27,430 x 10% = $2,743

4. Total Planning cost = $32,430+$2,743 = $35,173 which is under $75,000.

6c. Travel

6d. Equipment

6e. Supplies

6h. Other