FINAL - USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CFWR-22-NOFO0001179 6-3-2022.pdf

Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

(OUAIP)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Projects

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO)

USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CFWR-22-NOFO0001179

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO)

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service – NHQ – Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Pilot Project

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CFWR-22-NOFO0001179

Assistance Listing: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings on Sam.gov under 10.935, Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.

SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), under the OUAIP, is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to host a CFWR pilot project for fiscal year (FY) 2022.

For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D.2 for information about steps required before applying via Grants.gov.

Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on September 1, 2022. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.

Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

A webinar has been pre-recorded and is available at https://youtu.be/61kOKn2rzUw and the presentation and supporting information are posted in the “Related Documents” tab of this opportunity. The recorded webinar is also available on https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/coop-agreements.

The agency anticipates making selections by October 30, 2022 and expects to execute awards by February 08, 2023. These dates are estimates and are subject to change. Note that completing all steps required to apply for a federal award can take some time; the table below represents a general overview of each part of this process. These elements may take more or less time depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances.

https://sam.gov/content/home mailto:support@grants.gov https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F61kOKn2rzUw&data=05%7C01%7C%7C63d90fafbdbb4ff5d20208da455b544b%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637898556131443474%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ivhDAZpbIbF6ZfhwpioU6%2FlPWXGRD22bFmcr%2BCnj4us%3D&reserved=0 https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/coop-agreements https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/coop-agreements

Required Action Timing Obtain a Tax Identification Number/Employer Identification Number (TIN/EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Refer to the IRS website for applicable timeframes

Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number Refer to SAM.gov for applicable timeframe.

Register with SAM.gov Refer to SAM.gov for applicable timeframe.

Register with Grants.gov, add a profile and authorize an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)

Refer to Grants.gov for applicable timeframe.

Submit CFWR application in Grants.gov 9/1/2022 Applicants notified of selection or non-selection 10/30/2022 Awards executed 2/08/2023

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts The funding floor for this opportunity is $45,000, and the funding ceiling is $300,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the federal share per agreement awarded. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the federal share per agreement awarded. These numbers refer to the total federal share, not any specific budget period.

Projects will be categorized and ranked according to “Project Level” where level is determined according to the federal funding amount requested:

Level 1: $45,000 - $90,000 Level 2: $90,001 - $300,000

Federal Financial Assistance Training The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public at https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply federal financial assistance regulations to certain nonassistance awards (e.g., nonassistance cooperative agreements).

https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Legislative Authority and USDA Priorities

2. Purpose

3. Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects or Activities

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Other

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. How to Submit an Application

2. Information for New Users of Grants.gov

3. Electronic Application Package

4. Content and Form of Application Submission

5. Submission Dates and Times and Correspondence

6. Intergovernmental Review

7. Funding Restrictions

8. Indirect Costs Limitations

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process

2. Merit/Technical Criteria

3. Administrative and Risk Criteria

4. Awards Over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (if applicable)

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT

H. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX A: Application Package Checklist

APPENDIX B: Budget Narrative Guidance

APPENDIX C: Instructions for Completing SF-424

APPENDIX D: Instructions for Completing SF-424A

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Legislative Authority and USDA Priorities

The Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreement pilot program is authorized by Section 222 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, as added by Section 12302 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, 7 U.S.C. 6923. Funding was made available by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.

The Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for the administration of CFWR to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Proposals submitted under this announcement will be reviewed for alignment with executive priorities on climate, equity, and environmental justice. Applicants are encouraged to review Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support to Underserved Communities, Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, and Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, to learn more about these critical priorities. Executive orders may be located using the following link - https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders.

2. Purpose The purpose of the CFWR program is to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans. Projects can be located in all community types including rural, urban and suburban.

3. Composting and Food Waste Reduction Projects or Activities This program provides financial assistance to municipalities, school districts, counties, local governments, or tribal governments (State-designated Indian Tribes, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments) to carry out activities for one or more of the following purposes.

While applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that meet more than one of the objectives below (inclusion of multiple objectives will be considered when ranking proposals), OUAIP will accept proposals that address at least one of the following:

• Generate compost.

• Increase access to compost for agricultural producers.

• Reduce reliance on, and limit the use of, fertilizer.

• Improve soil quality.

• Encourage waste management and permaculture business development.

• Increase rainwater absorption.

• Reduce municipal food waste; and

• Divert residential and commercial food waste from landfills.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ https://www.google.com/search?q=Executive+Order+on+Protecting+Public+Health+and+the+Environment+and+Restoring+Science+to+Tackle+the+Climate+Crisis https://www.google.com/search?q=Executive+Order+on+Protecting+Public+Health+and+the+Environment+and+Restoring+Science+to+Tackle+the+Climate+Crisis https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders

In addition to meeting one or more of the above purposes applicants are encouraged to align their project proposals to address priorities on environmental justice, racial equity, climate, invest in disadvantaged communities and climate smart agricultural practices.

Priority will be given for each of the following elements that are included in a project:

• Anticipate or demonstrate economic benefits for the targeted community;

• Incorporate plans to make compost easily accessible to agricultural producers, including community gardeners, school gardens, and producers;

• Integrate food waste reduction strategies, including innovative food recovery efforts such as, but not limited to, food gleaning, storage, and preservation techniques; and

• Include a robust plan that describes collaboration with multiple partners.

Applicants should refer to the Merit/Technical Criteria section of this announcement for a complete description of evaluation and scoring criteria for proposals.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

a. Estimated Funding

The federal funding agency will award approximately $10,200,000 through this opportunity. However, the agency retains the discretion to award a larger or lesser amount.

b. Start Dates and Performance Periods

Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of February 08, 2023 and be two (2) years in duration. Applicants are expected to achieve project deliverables and close out activities within the grant period specified.

c. Number of Awards There is no commitment by NRCS to make a specific number of awards.

2. Type of Award

a. Type of Federal Award

This announcement plans to award cooperative agreement(s) pursuant to this opportunity.

The Agency will be substantially involved in the work performed under the agreement and may undertake activities, where applicable, as follows:

1) Authority to suspend work if specifications or work statements are not met

2) Authority to review and approve one stage of work before another may begin

3) Review and approval of substantive provisions of proposed subawards or contracts beyond existing Federal policy

4) Project monitoring to allow specified kinds of direction or redirection of the work because of interrelationships with and impacts on other projects

5) Review and approval of key personnel

6) Direct agency operational involvement or participation during the activity

NRCS will have the following responsibilities:

1) Connect pilot projects with other USDA agencies such as, but not limited to the Economic Research Service (ERS); National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA); the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE); and other Federal partners (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)) to collaborate on project activities and outcomes that contribute to the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 goal (https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/champions);

2) Coordinate and convene the CFWR pilot project team(s) to collaborate with other Federal Government, regional, institution, state, and local experts. This collaboration will focus on information dissemination and project strategy implementation of the objectives related to CFWR as characterized above in the project description; and

3) Gather project data (i.e., methods, results, and derived benefits, including data on weight of food waste diverted from landfills and compost created) for evaluation and dissemination to increase access to, and solutions for, composting and municipal food waste reduction across the United States.

b. Procurement Contracts The agency does not expect to award procurement contracts associated with this NFO.

c. Eligibility of Renewal or Supplemental Project Applications Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards. An application for renewal means an application submitted to continue an existing CFWR (formerly “Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction”, CCFWR) agreement that meets the objectives and requirements of this NFO. An application for supplementation of an existing project means an application to add components to an existing agreement so that it would meet the objectives and requirements in this NFO. Applications for renewal or supplementation cannot exceed the two-year project window required for all applications under this funding announcement. Such applications should include the most recent progress report for any existing project. Refer to section D(4) for more information about the elements required in a complete application package.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined under 7 U.S.C. 6923. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program (2 CFR 200.206(d)).

https://www.usda.gov/foodlossandwaste/champions

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:

a. City or township governments

b. County governments

c. Independent School Districts

d. State-designated Indian Tribes

e. Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

f. Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally-recognized tribal governments)

g. Special district governments

h. Municipal Governments

State designated Indian Tribes should select “Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) when completing the SF-424 block 9.

Municipal Government should select “Other” and enter “municipal government” when completing the SF-424 block 9.

Applicants located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) are eligible.

2. Other Any award made pursuant to this NFO will be made to a single entity. Applicants that apply as “partnerships” or other similar groupings must clearly describe the relationship between the applicant and the partner entities. In all but exceptional cases, it must be reflected in the award as an awardee/sub awardee relationship.

An applicant organization may submit more than one application as long as each proposal is for a different project or is proposing different approaches. In the case of applications submitted as revisions or corrections to a previously submitted application under this NFO, the agency will consider the last application submitted prior to the established deadline.

Awards made pursuant to this NFO are not Farm Bill incentive contracts; therefore, agricultural producers receiving a payment through participation in a project awarded under this NFO are not subject to Farm Bill eligibility requirements such as 7 CFR Part 12 and 7 CFR Part 1400.

RESEARCH PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR CONSIDERED. “Research” is defined as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied. A “research proposal” is one where the primary objective is such study and variables are unknown.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching This NFO requires applicants to provide a minimum cost share of 25 percent of the federal share awarded. Applications that do not include the required level of cost-sharing will be ineligible for award. Cost sharing may be achieved with contributions of cash, services, materials, equipment, or other in-kind contributions, which may be provided by the applicant or a third party. The following are examples of the appropriate level of cost-share for a given federal award amount.

Federal Share Requested

Cost Share Min (25%) Total Project Cost

$ 45,000.00 $ 11,250.00 $ 56,250.00 $ 300,000.00 $ 75,000.00 $ 375,000.00

Refer to Section D of this NFO for information about any required submittals related to cost share or match requirements. While the pace of cost-sharing may vary throughout the award period, the agency will actively monitor cost-sharing levels as it receives payment requests to ensure the total cost sharing requirement is met by the award’s period of performance end date. Additional details about cost sharing or contributions are located at 2 CFR 200.306.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. How to Submit an Application Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (see Section D.2. of this opportunity). Submissions must be received by the time and date due referenced under “Key Dates” in this document. Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered. The agency will rely on the Grants.gov system-generated date and time of submission receipt documentation to determine if the application was submitted prior to the established deadline.

2. Information for New Users of Grants.gov

a. Overview

While a Grants.gov account is not required to download a NFO and related documents, it is required to submit an application. If your organization has never submitted an application via Grants.gov, please be aware that there are several steps you must take to register your organization before you can submit an application. Completing those steps can take a significant amount of time, so please plan accordingly.

For information about the Grants.gov pre-award phase of the grant lifecycle see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html.

b. Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Carefully review the registration steps and gather information requested prior to beginning the registration process to avoid last-minute searches for required information.

For assistance with the registration process, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1- 800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Organizations must complete all steps to register (steps c.i. through c.v. below).

Complete organization instructions are included on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

Although creating a Grants.gov account online can take only minutes, SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, organizations should begin the process early to ensure they have sufficient time to complete registration and meet required application submission deadlines.

Individuals are not subject to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)/DUNS or SAM requirement and may begin with step iii., Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below.

(Note: Individuals are not eligible for all opportunities.)

c. Steps to Register:

i. Obtain a DUNS Number or UEI: All entities applying for funding must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) or a UEI issued by SAM.gov. Applicants must enter the DUNS Number/UEI in the data entry field labeled "UEI" on the SF-424 form.

ii. Register with SAM: (Note: this process may take two to three weeks) All organizations must register with System for Award Management (SAM) to apply online through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Part of the SAM registration process includes designating an Electronic Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC). The EBiz POC plays an integral part in the organization’s Grants.gov registration and application process. The individual in that role must authorize all other roles in Grants.gov. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

iii. Create a Grants.gov Account: From the Grants.gov webpage (https://www.grants.gov/), click “Register” in the top right-hand corner and follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

iv. Add an Organization Applicant Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number/UEI for the organization in the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) field while adding a profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

v. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, you must establish roles for individuals in the organization. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role is critical; it gives an individual permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. (Please be aware that the EBiz POC and the person with AOR Role cannot be the same individual; they must be different people.) Without this role, the organization cannot submit any applications. The request for role assignment will be https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html routed to the organization’s EBiz POC for approval. Once approved, the AOR can submit an application online. For more detailed instructions about creating a EBiz POC authorized profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html For instructions about tracking your role request, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

d. Electronic Signature When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. Please be aware that the EBiz POC and the person with AOR Role cannot be the same individual; they must be different people. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role. This step (see step c.v. above) is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

e. Workspace Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each NFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace. An applicant can start an application in Workspace and return to work on it later within Workspace.

f. Apply for an Opportunity Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

i. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete an application online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

ii. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the status of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

• Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

• Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

• Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and DUNS Number/UEI. Once it is completed, the information will transfer (i.e., prepopulate) to the other forms.

iii. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the “Sign and Submit” button on the “Manage Workspace” page, under the “Forms” tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

iv. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the “Confirmation” page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the “Track My Application” page under the “Applicants” tab or the “Details” tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

3. Electronic Application Package Applicants interested in applying in response to this NFO must submit it via Grants.gov; the agency will not accept applications submitted via email or any other method. Applicants are urged to submit early to the Grants.gov system.

For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518- 4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.

Address to Request Application Package All information necessary to apply for this opportunity is included in the Grants.gov opportunity announcement.

4. Content and Form of Application Submission The agency may choose not to consider applications that fail to comply with the required content, format, and page limits, or those that are incomplete.

Formatting requirements are as follows:

• Each page must be numbered and have one-inch margins.

• The text must be single spaced and typed in a standard typeface (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Courier) with no smaller than 12-point font.

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain all documents in a-g below.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/

a. Project Abstract (1-page maximum) Provide a descriptive title for your project. Then, present a statement of need or assessment of the problem. Define the target audience and end users of this project. Define the composting and food waste reduction goals in the targeted area. Describe how this project will initiate or build upon or expand related work or programs. The summary should also include the relevance of the project to the purpose (see section A.) and priorities of CFWR.

b. Project Narrative (15-page maximum) The Project Narrative must cover all activities proposed to be carried out with both the federal and non-federal matching funds.

Project Narratives must contain headings 1 through 6 in the order listed below and must respond to each of the points included under each heading.

1. Introduction: Describe the applicant organization in terms of its location, demographics, and community served. Describe past and current involvement with developing and testing strategies for planning and implementing municipal food waste reduction and compost plans. Present a statement of need or assessment of the problem in the targeted community. Describe your approach to solving existing problems and concerns related to reducing food waste and increasing community compost.

2. Goals and Objectives: Describe the over-arching goal of your project and list any supporting objectives that may accomplish this goal. Describe the anticipated impact of this project on Executive Priorities including climate, equity, and environmental justice. This element may include, but is not limited to: participation by historically underserved groups or groups serving historically underserved or vulnerable communities; activities with the potential to mitigate the impacts caused by climate change.

3. Procedures and Work Plan: Discuss planned procedures and activities for achieving project goals and objectives, and provide project deliverables, milestones, and timelines for completion of those activities and collection and evaluation of data and reporting of outcomes. Describe the food waste reduction strategies and methods to be utilized, including food loss prevention strategies and recovery efforts. Identify what segments of the food chain the project will address (consumers, food purchasing, preparation, storage, preservation) and any barriers (economic, social, logistical, etc.) that must be overcome. Describe how the plan will make compost easily accessible to agricultural producers and community gardeners. Describe also how the plan will assist these agricultural producers, community gardeners, and other community members (such as residential gardeners) to reduce their reliance on or use of fertilizers, improve soil quality, encourage waste management and permaculture business development, increase rainwater absorption, reduce municipal food waste, and divert food waste from landfills. Include how your project will impact any existing food waste reduction, recovery and disposal by commercial, marketing, or business relationships in your area. For each task identify key personnel involved, including a description of those individuals’ experience and qualifications.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/outreach/slbfr/ https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/outreach/slbfr/

4. Collaborators: List partner institutions including contact names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses (if applicable). Identify why the partner was chosen, how its activities will contribute to the success of the project, and the partnership arrangement. Where possible, project collaborators should represent a variety of disciplines and experiences directly related to the deliverables proposed and complementary to the qualifications of the core project team. Please note that collaboration with partner institutions is considered instrumental to the success of a CFWR project, and lack of such collaboration will be reflected in the proposal’s evaluation for funding.

5. Evaluation: Provide a plan for evaluating accomplishments and outcomes that match project deliverables. Include a timeline of activities with milestones and verifiable indicators to demonstrate how progress will be measured and achieved.

Gather project data (i.e., methods, results, and derived benefits, including data on weight of food waste diverted from landfills and compost created) for evaluation and dissemination to increase access to, and solutions for, composting and municipal food waste reduction across the United States. Provide how you will convey results measured by weight (e.g., pounds/tons food waste diverted and/or composted created), which is required though will differ due to project scope. Include any anticipated or demonstrated economic benefits. Discuss if the project’s strategy to reduce food waste and increase community compost has the potential to be replicated in other areas.

6. Self-Sustainability: Describe which aspects or components of the project will continue beyond the end of the project period. Discuss how a one-time infusion of Federal funds will be enough for the proposed pilot project to advance CFWR goals and achieve sustainability. Projects should identify actual or potential funding sources for continuation of the project after Federal funding has ended.

If your proposal will include information collection from non-Federal sources, ensure the collection meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. Surveys of individuals or entities are generally prohibited without prior approval from the Office of Management and Budget. For additional guidance about allowable and unallowable activities, visit the following website: https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/.

The following documents do not count toward the above stated page limit.

c. Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance See Instructions for Completing SF 424 located in Appendix C.

d. Standard Form (SF) 424A, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs Fill in all spaces as appropriate. Section B, Item 6, Column 1 should reflect the agency funds, and Column 2 should reflect the applicant’s matching funds. This form is the summary budget for the project and should include the full project totals on pages one and two. See “Instructions for Completing SF 424A” located in Appendix D. Refer to Section D of this opportunity for information regarding indirect costs.

e. Budget Narrative

i. In a separate document titled “Budget Narrative,” explain and justify all requested https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/ budget items/costs. (Refer to the budget narrative guidance located at the end of this document.) Detail how the totals on the SF-424A were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the agency’s approval and estimate its cost. The pages included as the budget narrative do not count toward the page limit.

Cost sharing/matching must be committed at the time of application submission.

The budget narrative must show the amounts and sources of match or cost share (including both cash and in-kind contributions). Budget guidance can be found in Appendix B of this NFO.

Applicants should take care to support any proposed equipment purchase with a detailed narrative and substantial documentation that includes how it will help accomplish the project deliverables; a lease vs. purchase comparison; how it will be inventoried, stored, and maintained during the project; and what will be done with it when the project is over. Be specific about why any included equipment is needed to meet the objectives of the project. See “Equipment” in the Budget Guidance appendix for a more thorough discussion of how to construct your budget narrative.

ii. For third-party contributions, a letter is required for each contribution, signed by the authorized organizational representative of the contributing organization and the applicant organization, which must include: (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the contributor, (2) the name of the applicant organization, (3) the title of the project for which the contribution is made, (4) the dollar amount of the contribution, and (5) a statement that the contributor will pay the contribution no later than the end of the award period. The agency may conduct reference checks to ensure that organizations identified are supportive and involved with the project.

Cost sharing/match letters should be addressed to the Federal Awarding Agency Contact in Section G of this NFO and uploaded under Other Attachments (listed separately under Optional Forms) in Grants.gov

iii. Any non-Federal entity (except State and local governments that receive more than $35 million per year in Federal funding) that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. No documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate. As described in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

iv. Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward more than $25,000. Other items may https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.403 only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

v. As required in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F Audit Requirements, all U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System.

f. Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 2 CFR Part 418, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying, you must also complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities located at 2 CFR 418, Appendix B. See 2 CFR

418.110 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

g. Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest Applicants must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the performance of its employees in the selection, award, and administration of Federal awards. No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest.

Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties referenced, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from an applicant considered for a Federal award. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees, or agents of the applicant.

If the applicant has a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a state, local government, or Indian tribe, the applicant must also maintain written standards of conduct covering organizational conflicts of interest. Organizational conflict of interest means that because of the relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, the applicant is unable or appears to be unable to be impartial in conducting a Federal award action involving a related organization.

h. Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) if applicable

If charging indirect costs (including for cost share), upload the NICRA under Other Attachments (listed as an Optional Form) in the Grants.gov Opportunity Application Package. See Section D for information regarding indirect costs.

i. Progress Report for Existing CFWR Agreement, if applicable If this application is for a renewal or supplementation of an existing CFWR agreement, include the most recent progress report for that agreement as an attachment. As part of the report, include progress to date on any proposed milestones.

j. Unique entity identifier (UEI)/DUNS and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application;

and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the agency is ready to make an award, it may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

Entities must obtain a DUNS or UEI and register in SAM prior to registering with Grants.gov. A description of each is below. Entities are strongly encouraged to apply early for their SAM registration.

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: To register, go to:

https://www.sam.gov. The Federal Service Desk is available for registration assistance and can be contacted via the Help tab at the website listed above.

Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding DUNS/UEI or SAM issues.

The Government intends to replace the D-U-N-S® number with a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID. See Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms for UEI updates.

5. Submission Dates and Times and Correspondence Applicants must submit applications via Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on September 1, 2022. An application submitted or resubmitted after the deadline is late (an application is considered on time at 11:59.59 pm ET, but it is late at 12:00 am ET). Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered.

Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process; be patient and give the system time to process the application.

If you have trouble submitting an application to Grants.gov, you should FIRST contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to resolve any issues. Keep a record of any such correspondence. See Section D. 2. for Grants.gov contact information.

For applications successfully transmitted to Grants.gov before the deadline: The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive:

• an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov

• an email with the official date/time stamp (this stamp is used to determine if the application was received prior to the deadline) from Grants.gov

When the agency successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will also provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the applicant.

6. Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

7. Funding Restrictions Funds may not be used to pay any of the following costs unless otherwise permitted by law and approved in writing by the agency in advance of incurring such costs:

a. Costs above the amount of funds authorized for the project.

b. Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the award, including time spent applying for this opportunity.

c. Costs which lie outside the scope of the approved project and amendments thereto.

d. Entertainment costs, regardless of their apparent relationship to project objectives.

e. Compensation for injuries to persons, or damage to property arising out of project activities.

f. Consulting services performed by a Federal employee during official duty hours when such consulting services result in the payment of additional compensation to the employee.

g. Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, buildings, and land and for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life. See 2 CFR 200.439 for additional information.

h. Management fees and profit. Any funds awarded to for-profit entities must be used for reimbursement of award related direct and indirect costs only.

i. Meals may be charged to an award only if they are necessary for the performance of the project. For instance, meals (normally only lunch) that are a necessary part of the costs of meetings and conferences (i.e., required attendance and continuity of a meeting), the primary purpose of which is the dissemination of information, are allowable, as are costs of transportation, rental of facilities, speakers’ fees, and other items incidental to such meetings or conferences. Note: Meals consumed while in official travel status do not fall in this category. They are per diem expenses and should be reimbursed in accordance with the organization’s established travel policies subject to statutory limitations or in accordance with Federal travel policies.

j. Costs normally charged as indirect costs may not be charged as direct costs without proper justification and agency approval. Proper justification includes documentation that the costs meet the criteria for allowability (see 2 CFR 200.403).

Examples of such costs include rent, utilities, depreciation on buildings and equipment, the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, and general administration and general expenses, such as the salaries and expenses of executive officers, personnel administration, and accounting.

k. Salaries that are not an allowable expense. All costs must be reasonable to be allowable (2 CFR 200.403), and 2 CFR 200.404 defines a reasonable cost as one if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost.

This list is not exhaustive. For additional information please refer to 2 CFR Part 200, subpart E, Cost Principles.

8. Indirect Costs Limitations

a. To be eligible to recover any indirect cost under a federal award, recipients must either

1) have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) with a federal agency that has not expired; or 2) qualify for use of the de minimis rate authorized by 2 CFR 200.414(f). A State, local, or tribal governmental department or agency unit that receives more than $35 million in direct Federal funding is not eligible for the de minimis rate.

b. Applicants not subject to a statutory limitation, which have a current…