FINAL USDA-NRCS-NHQ-UAIP-22-NOFO0001178 6-3-22.pdf

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Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

(OUAIP)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) No. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-UAIP-22-NOFO0001178

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: Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-UAIP-22-NOFO0001178

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 entities to host the UAIP Competitive Grants pilot project. Eligible entities for this opportunity are limited to the following: nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; units of local government; a Tribal Government; and schools serving grades kindergarten through grade 12 (see section C. Eligibility Information).

The primary goal of the UAIP pilot project is to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production. The two types of UAIP grants being made available for application under this NFO are Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Planning Projects are for supporting the development of projects that will either initiate, build upon, or expand the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, members of tribal communities, and other stakeholders in areas where access to fresh foods are limited or unavailable.

Implementation Projects are for accelerating existing and emerging models of urban and/or innovative agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners. Innovation may include new and emerging, as well as traditional or indigenous, agricultural practices.

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

Key Dates

Applicants must submit their applications through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on August 2, 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.

https://sam.gov/content/home mailto:support@grants.gov

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/hgVgYgU9SU0 and the presentation and supporting information are posted in the “Related Documents” tab of this opportunity. The recorded webinar is also available on http://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/grants.

The agency anticipates making selections by September 30, 2022 and expects to execute awards by January 30, 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.

Required Action Timing Obtain a Tax Identification Number/Employer Identification

Number (TIN/EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service Refer to 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 timeline

Submit UAIP application in Grants.gov 08/02/2022 Applicants notified of selection or non-selection 9/30/2022 Awards executed 1/30/2023

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts:

(1) Planning Projects (PP): The funding floor for PP is $50,000 and the funding ceiling is $300,000.

(2) Implementation Projects (IP): The funding floor for IP is $50,000 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.

Federal Financial Assistance Training https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FhgVgYgU9SU0&data=05%7C01%7C%7C94d7bacc2c74437dd5cd08da455a1ce0%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637898550757202244%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CId1nqdthM%2BppPHRIlZtCmM1goQkAbE6N7qo0ZU1igQ%3D&reserved=0 http://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/grants

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).

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Legislative Authority and Executive Priorities

2. Purpose

3. UAIP Projects or Activities

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

2. Type of Award

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 Executive Priorities The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants 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 UAIP 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 UAIP grants support projects designed to improve access to local foods in areas where access to fresh, healthy food is limited or unavailable through urban and/or innovative agricultural practices, including, but not limited to, community gardens, urban farms, rooftop farms, urban agroforest, food forests, orchards, outdoor vertical production, green walls, indoor farms, greenhouses, high-tech vertical technology farms, and hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic farm facilities.

3. UAIP Projects or Activities UAIP grants fund Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Proposals for both types of projects must be designed to support multiple farmers or gardeners, target areas lacking access to fresh, healthy foods, and promote urban and/or innovative agricultural practices. 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.

Planning Projects support one or more of the following:

• Assessments of community needs within the local food system to identify how food is grown, distributed, or marketed and what existing needs related to food access, nutrition education, conservation, and economic development can be addressed by urban and/or innovative agriculture.

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

• Planning activities and community partnerships to improve how food is grown, distributed, or marketed in the target area using urban and/or innovative agriculture.

• Business planning, feasibility studies, and other strategies, such as community resource development, that support new and beginning farmers, particularly within socially disadvantaged and underserved communities. USDA defines beginning farmers and ranchers as those who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less either as a sole operator or with others who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less.

• Policy development to make municipal policies and zoning laws in the target area more supportive of the needs of urban and/or innovative agriculture.

• Creating educational materials and programs that will increase knowledge about food and agriculture and encourage careers in agriculture and innovative production in the target community; example topics include nutrition, crop and biology science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Implementation Projects support one or more of the following:

• Increasing food production in small, urban, and indoor spaces, including through the use of emerging technology.

• Promoting agricultural businesses through job training and providing resources to help communities access land and equipment, mentoring, and other assistance to new and beginning farmers in the local community.

• Implementation of activities to address food access, zoning, compost, land access, soil health, emerging technologies, infrastructure needs (such as access to water and utilities) at the State, local, municipal, or school level to meet the needs of target community and local agricultural producers.

• Educating the target community about food systems, nutrition, agricultural production, and environmental impacts by:

o Operating community gardens or nonprofit farms that offer training in farming or gardening through hands-on, virtual, or web-based formats o Providing K-12 schools with educational resources or programs that increase student knowledge of and access to locally grown foods, emphasize the importance of consuming nutritious and locally grown foods, and train students for careers in agriculture or innovative production.

Planning Projects Implementation Projects Project phase:

Funds are used as an early-stage investment in new, startup projects

Project phase:

Funds are used to accelerate or expand the work of an existing project

Funding range available:

$50,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling)

Funding range available:

$50,000 (floor) to $300,000 (ceiling)

Activities may include:

• Surveys

• Assessments

• Development of technology

• Design and planning

• Developing recommendations and strategies

• Creating business plans

• Feasibility studies

• Municipal planning regarding policies and zoning

• Produce educational material

NO IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT ACTIVITES

Activities may include:

• Job training

• Mentoring

• Business development assistance

• Increasing food production

• Training students for careers in agriculture

• Expand operations of community gardens or nonprofit farms

NO PLANNING PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Note Regarding Organizational Capacity

Special emphasis will be placed on your organization’s capacity to carry out meaningful community-focused work in urban agriculture. This capacity is measured by criteria factors (see Section E) including:

• Experience in agriculture or innovative production for 3 years or more or in serving communities where access to fresh foods is limited or unavailable;

• Demonstrated ability to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation;

• Demonstrated willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results; and

• Collaborated with one or more partner organizations working in the project target area to carry out the innovative/urban agricultural work described in your proposal.

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. Research consists of systematic observations, measurement, and experimentation undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles, where variables are unknown and subject to manipulation.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

a. Estimated Funding

The federal funding agency expects to award approximately $14,200,000 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 January 30, 2023.

All projects are expected to be completed within 12 to 36 months (1 to 3 years).

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

The agency plans to award grant agreements pursuant to this opportunity.

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 UAIP projects are eligible to compete with applications for new federal awards. An application for renewal means an application submitted to continue an existing 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 of existing projects should be accompanied by a summary of progress to date on the current project. This summary should be included as a supplementary attachment using the “Other Attachments” form in Grants.gov. 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 by the implementing program statute. 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)).

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

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

• A unit of local government, including:

o City, township, or county governments o School districts o Soil and Water Conservation districts

• A Tribal Government, including o Native American Tribal Governments (federally recognized) o Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally-recognized tribal governments)

• A school serving grades Kindergarten through grade 12

State-designated Indian tribes should select “Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)” 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-subawardee relationship.

Each applicant organization is limited to one application per project as determined by NRCS.

This includes differing approaches for the same project. In the case of applications submitted as revisions or corrections to a previously submitted application under this NFO, the agency will only consider the last application submitted before the established deadline. In the case of duplicate or substantially similar proposals for the same project, the agency will consider the last submission of the “revised” and final copy for review purposes.

Awards made pursuant to this NFO are not Farm Bill incentive contracts; therefore, the awards in and of themselves are not limited by the payment limitation in 16 U.S.C. Chapter

58. However, any agricultural producers receiving a payment through participation in a project awarded under this NFO must meet the eligibility requirements of 7 CFR Part 12 and 7 CFR Part 1400 and have control of the land involved for the term of the proposed award period.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. There is no competitive advantage to applicants who voluntarily provide a match.

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 due date referenced under “Key Dates” in this document. Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered. The agency https://www.grants.gov/ 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 an NFO and related documents, it is required to submit an application. If your organization has never submitted an application through 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, go to 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 before 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 (see steps i. through v. below).

Complete organization registration instructions are included on Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

Although creating a Grants.gov account online can take only minutes, SAM registration 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.

c. Steps to Register

i. Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number or Unique Entity

Identifier (UEI): All entities applying for funding must have a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet or a UEI issued by SAM.gov. Applicants must enter the DUNS number or UEI in the data entry field labeled "UEI" on the SF-424 form.

ii. Register with System for Award Management (SAM): All organizations must register with 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, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html 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 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

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 see 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” 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 the 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 routed to the organization’s EBiz POC for approval. Once approved, the AOR can submit an application online. For more detailed instructions about creating an 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 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, go 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 drives, 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

• Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will see 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 before 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, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

3. Electronic Application Package Applicants interested in submitting an application in response to this NFO must submit it through Grants.gov; the agency will not accept applications submitted by 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 that are incomplete. Page limits are noted in parentheses after each item. The text of the project narrative 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 the documents and information requested in a-g below.

a. Project Abstract (1 page maximum) Provide a descriptive title of your project. Then, present a statement of need or assessment of the problem. Define the target audience and end users of this project.

Describe your approach to determining the critical elements and needs of the local food economy or food system of the area or community to be served. Describe how this project will initiate, build upon, or expand related work or programs. The summary should also include the relevance of the project to the purpose and priorities of UAIP as outlined in section A.2.

b. Project Narrative (15 page maximum) The project narrative must cover all activities proposed to be carried out with federal funds.

The project narrative must not exceed 15 pages, 10 pages of written text, and up to 5 additional pages for figures and tables. This page limitation applies to the project narrative only and does not include the project abstract described in section a. Each page must be numbered and have 1-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.

All project narratives must contain at least headings 1 through 4 below, in order, and respond to each of the points included under each heading.

1. Project Overview: Community and the Needs to be Addressed

• Present a statement of need or assessment of the problem and a high level explanation of how funds requested will address the problem. What is the http://www.grants.gov/ situation that is causing concern? Why is it happening? How will funds address the issue?

• Describe the target area and how you determined the need there, including at least one source of data supporting that access to fresh local food is an issue in the target area.

• Describe the target community, explaining the needs of the local community or food system, and provide at least one source of supporting data, such as demographics, income, and geographic characteristics of the area or community. Describe how limited access to fresh, heathy, and affordable food is an issue in this community. Proposals should, to the extent possible, describe limiters of fresh food access using data available in the USDA Food Access Research Atlas. (https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/food-access-research-atlas).

• Explain how the project is aligned with the purpose and priorities of this program and will make a difference in the targeted community(ies).

• Describe how this project will initiate, build upon, or expand related work or programs.

• 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.

2. Project Goals and Intended Outcomes

• Concisely state the goals and objectives of the proposed project.

• Describe the project goals, including who will benefit from the project and what community needs it will address.

• Describe project objectives that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound.

• Describe measurable project outcomes, including what will be accomplished, who will benefit (e.g., residents, students, participants), and how many people will benefit.

• Describe the involvement of stakeholders and the number of partners that will be involved in developing project objectives and implementing results.

3. The Organizations and Partners Involved

• Explain your organization’s experience in the field of urban agriculture or innovative production, serving communities lacking access to fresh foods, and providing outreach in target area or community.

• List your organization’s leadership and key personnel for this project. For everyone listed, describe: their role in project and qualifications to carry out project, including experience and expertise in agriculture and innovative production and working with target communities and related food systems (which will be considered as important as academic or professional credentials).

• List one or more partner organizations for this project and include their contact information, relevant experience, community connections, and specific responsibilities for achieving the project goals.

https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/food-access-research-atlas https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/outreach/slbfr/

• Explain plans to coordinate work with partner organizations and to leverage existing resources.

4. Workplan and Activities to Achieve the Goals

FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS:

• Summarize the work to be performed in nontechnical terms for each goal and project objectives.

• Explain why the applicant and its partners selected the activities proposed in the application.

• Include a timeline of activities with milestones and verifiable indicators to demonstrate how progress will be achieved. Include the specific tasks to complete each activity and identify the responsible party to complete the task.

• Describe plan to ensure financial accountability, including accounting and purchasing policies. Include the specific tasks to complete each activity and identify the responsible party to complete the task.

FOR IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS ONLY:

• Describe how you will evaluate outcomes and whether objectives were met.

• Provide a plan for how the project will continue beyond end of the award period, how it will become self-sustainable, and potential funding sources for continuation of the project after federal funding ends. Discuss how a one-time infusion of federal funds will be enough for the proposed Implementation Project to advance UAIP goals and achieve sustainability.

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, please go to 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. SF-424A, “Budget Information for 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.

i. In a separate document titled “Budget Narrative,” explain and justify all requested budget items and 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.

https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/

For personnel salary costs, include the baseline 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.

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. 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 Section 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.

iii. 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 in excess of $25,000. Other items may 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.

iv. As required in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F, “Audit Requirements,” all U.S. States, local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, and nonprofit 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.

e. Letters of Support A letter of support from partner organizations indicating their intention to participate and their responsibilities on the proposed project may be included in the application. For implementation projects, a letter of financial support may also be submitted. Letters of support are not required but may be added as an attachment to the Other Attachment form.

f. Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.403

Under 31 U.S.C. 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 in 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 or your organization has made or agree 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 Part 418, Appendix B. See 2 CFR Section

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 there is a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any immediate family members, 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 or 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. Supplementary Attachment on Prior Project Progress, if applicable If your application is intended to renew or supplement an existing UAIP projects, provide a summary of progress to date on the current project. This summary should be included as a supplementary attachment using the “Other Attachments” form in Grants.gov. See section B.2.c. of this announcement for additional guidance on renewal/supplementary applications.

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 through Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on August 2, 2022. An application submitted or resubmitted after the deadline is late (an application is considered on time at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, but it is late at 12:00 a.m. 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 and time stamp (this stamp is used to determine if the application was received prior to the deadline) and 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 project amendments.

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

e. Compensation for injuries to persons or for 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 Section 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 considered to be 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.