FY2017 WIC Special Project Grants RFA 7-11-17.docx

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U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service

FY 2017 WIC SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS

Full and Mini Grants

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

CFDA# 10.578

RFA Release Date: July 11, 2017

Letter of Intent (Optional) is due: August 11, 2017 Application Submission Date: September 11, 2017 Anticipated Award Date: November 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 3

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 6

VII. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS 33

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION 33

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2017 WIC SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) for FULL and MINI GRANTS.

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Purpose The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the nutrition assistance programs of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The mission of FNS is to work with partners to provide food and nutrition education to people in need in a way that inspires public confidence and supports American agriculture.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides Federal grants to State agencies for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Starting in 1995 (and based on available funding), FNS has awarded Special Project Grants to support opportunities to improve the delivery of WIC services.

The purpose of the fiscal year (FY) 2017 WIC Special Project Grants is to help WIC State Agencies develop, implement, and evaluate new or innovative methods of service to meet the changing needs of WIC participants. Section 17(h)(10)(III) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, authorizes funding for the WIC Special Project Grants, which are intended to improve the delivery of program services and demonstrate national or regional significance.

In order to be considered for funding, a project must: test new and effective ideas; include a strong evaluation component with measurable results; and be designed in way that the key project activities can be replicated or transferred to other WIC Programs nationally.

Brief descriptions of previously awarded WIC Special Project Grants are located on the USDA FNS public website at the following link: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-special-project-grants. For more information about previous Special Project Grants, please visit the WIC Works Resource System Sharing Gallery that includes a list of completed projects as well as final reports and materials: https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/wicworks/Sharing_Center/gallery/special_grants.html Applicants may find this site helpful in exploring possibilities for viable use of grant funding.

FY 2017 WIC Special Project Grant Webinar Within the first few weeks of the release of this RFA, FNS will host a webinar to review the RFA, the focus area, and provide guidance on how to apply for a grant. This webinar will be most helpful to those State agencies who have not applied for a Special Project Grant in recent years. Information on the webinar will be posted to the Announcements page of the FNS Partner Web: https://www.partnerweb.usda.gov/Lists/Announcements/shortlist.aspx.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Purpose of Grant Funding USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) expects to award approximately $2,000,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2018 grant funding to WIC State agencies for WIC Special Projects Grants. These grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funding and will be awarded as cooperative agreements to allow FNS more active participation with the grantee during both project development and project execution. Should additional funding be made available, FNS will use those funds to make additional awards. FNS reserves the right to award additional grantees with no further competition in subsequent years.

Only the 90 WIC State agencies responsible for administering WIC in the States, Territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) may apply as a lead agency for the grant. However, successful grants depend on partnerships between the lead State agency and local WIC agencies, local colleges or universities, public health organizations (government or non-government), Head Start programs or other similar programs serving low income families with children under 5 years of age. Strong collaborations within States and local agencies enhance the delivery of WIC services and therefore, it is strongly recommended that State agencies reach out to their local WIC agencies for collaborative inputs in the proposal development process.

Local WIC agencies may also reach out to their State agencies with innovative ideas relevant for collaboration on proposal development for Full or Mini Grants, and they may leverage existing partnerships with academic institutions and other local organizations (government or non-government) during the proposal development process.

Regardless of the approach, State agencies are responsible to lead all Full and Mini Grant proposals and partnerships. In coordination with their State, local agencies may manage a Mini Grant project that will be based out of their location. However, State agencies will still be responsible for the submission of all Mini Grant proposals, as well all oversight activities related to implementation of the grant.

This RFA is for Full or Mini Grants ONLY Applicants must indicate if they are applying for a Full or Mini Grant.

Full Grants - FNS anticipates awarding Full Grants up to a maximum of $500,000 each, depending on the number and quality of applications received and requested budget amounts. FNS reserves the right to fund a higher amount for projects that are particularly innovative and have a budget that supports awarding additional funds. The performance period will be from the date of the award through September 30, 2020. (Note: While all major project activities must be completed by September 30, 2020, grantees will be required to present project findings to FNS in Fall 2021. See Grant Requirements for more information.)

Mini Grants - FNS anticipates awarding Mini Grants up to $50,000- $100,000 each, depending on the number and quality of applications received and requested budget amounts. The performance period will be from the date of the award through September 30, 2019. (Note: While all major project activities must be completed by June 30, 2019, grantees will be required to present final project findings to FNS in Fall 2019. See Grant Requirements for more information.)

FNS reserves the right to reduce, increase, or revise proposed budgets based on the availability of funds. FNS also reserves the right to cancel this RFA in whole or in part if funds are not available. FNS also reserves the right to increase the number of grants awarded under this competition.

Important Dates

FY 2017 Project Focus Area The focus area of the FY 2017 WIC Special Project Full and Mini Grants is Optimizing WIC Service Delivery.

This is an opportunity for State agencies to examine their processes and identify opportunities for more efficient delivery of Program services. FNS suggests that State agencies focus on innovative ways to improve upon any and all aspects of: Certification, Eligibility and Coordination; Nutrition Education; and Vendor Management in their applications.

Successful applications will focus on solutions that make effective use of independent research and creativity; solutions that reveal new insight into current challenges in the WIC program and offer creative approaches to overcome those challenges.

Examples of successful projects may include, but are not limited to:

1. Collaborate with area hospitals, pediatricians, Indian Health Service Hospitals (where applicable) to certify eligible WIC participants in hospitals.

2. Collaborate with local and community programs to bring WIC services to eligible community members.

3. Deliver nutrition education through an innovative platform and/or with new entities in order to provide more efficient service delivery. Assess the efficacy of new initiatives to improve participant-centered nutrition services. An example of such a program is the Massachusetts Touching Minds and Hearts program, which trains WIC staff on emotion-based counseling in order to build rapport and assist participants’ with behavior change. For examples of other participant-centered models please visit the WIC Works Resource System at: https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/topics-z/participant-centered-services .

4. Improve participant experience in the store through the improvement of location of foods, signage, vendor staff training, etc.

5. Develop strategies to assist small stores increase their stock of, fresh fruits and vegetables.

6. Develop/improve a WIC vendor advisory group to identify and address areas that are of joint concern to the program and vendors.

The USDA FNS will consider Full and Mini Grant applications proposing to evaluate other focus areas outside of this year’s theme, as long as the projects are aimed at helping State agencies develop, implement and evaluate new or innovative methods of service delivery to meet the changing needs of WIC participants.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants FNS is seeking geographic diversity in awarding this year’s grants. Grants may be awarded to individual WIC State agencies or to a consortium of WIC State agencies, as long as one of the agencies is designated the lead agency. FNS encourages smaller State agencies and ITOs to consider collaborating with other WIC State agencies or ITOs on grant applications. Individual State agencies may submit only one application for a Full or Mini Grant per year. If a State agency submits an application as part of a consortium of agencies, it may not also submit a separate individual application.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirements There are no cost sharing or matching requirements to participate in either the Full or Mini Grants.

1. Application Screening Requirements

In reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, Federal Awarding Agencies, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.400, are required, prior to making a Federal award, to review information available through various OMB-designated repositories for eligibility qualification or financial integrity, and to have in place a framework for evaluating the risks posed by applicants before they receive Federal awards. The evaluation of the information obtained from the designated repository systems and the risk assessment may result in FNS imposing special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed. The Federal repository systems FNS will review include:

1) SAM, the System for Award Management, the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS;

2) FAPIIS, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, is a database that has been established to track contractor misconduct and performance;

3) Dun and Bradstreet, the system where applicants establish a DUNS number which is used by the Federal government to better identify related organizations that are receiving funding under grants and cooperative agreements, and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic grant application systems. The Federal government requires that all applicants for Federal grants and cooperative agreements with the exception of individuals other than sole proprietors have a DUNS number.

4) U.S. Department of Agriculture, AD-3030, Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.

Applicants must also respond to the pre-application assessment questions below to allow FNS to evaluate aspects of the applicant’s financial stability, quality of management systems, and history of performance, reports and findings from audits. A questionnaire containing these questions has been provided to facilitate the process. Applicants must answer all the pre-application questions. While answering “yes” may be an indicator of risk, the consideration and evaluation of these questions is only an indicator of potential risk and may or may not result in additional oversight requirements or special conditions be placed on an award should an award be made. Decisions regarding additional oversight requirements will take into consideration the total number of risks identified.

1. Has your organization received a Federal award within the past 3 years?

Yes_____ No_____

2. Does your organization utilize accounting software to manage your financial records?

Yes_____ No_____

3. Does your accounting system identify the receipt and expenditure of program funds separately for each grant?

Yes_____ No_____

4. Does your organization have a dedicated individual responsible for monitoring organizational funds, such as an accountant or a finance manager?

Yes_____ No_____

5. Is there a separation of duties for staff handling the approval of transactions and the recording and payment of funds?

Yes_____ No_____

6. Does your organization have the ability to specifically identify and allocate employee effort to an applicable program?

Yes_____ No_____

7. Does your organization have a property/inventory management system in place to track the location and value of equipment purchased under the award?

Yes_____ No_____

8. Has your organization been audited within the last 5 fiscal years?

Yes_____ No_____

9. If the answer to question number 8 is yes, was this report issued under the Single Audit requirement? If no, a hyperlink or copy of the report will be required.

Yes_____ No_____

10. If answer to question 8 is yes, was there a “Qualified Opinion” or “Adverse Opinion”?

Yes_____ No_____

11. If answer to question 8 is yes, is there a material weakness disclosed?

Yes_____ No_____

12. If answer to question 8 is yes, is there a significant deficiency disclosed?

Yes_____ No_____

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Applicants may obtain the RFA package by downloading the application from the grants.gov site at www.grants.gov website.

Applicants may also request a paper copy of this solicitation and required forms by contacting the FNS Grants Officer at:

Kimberly Shields, Grants Officer Grants and Fiscal Policy Division U.S. Department of Agriculture, FNS 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 740 Alexandria, VA 22302 E-mail: Kimberly.Shields@fns.usda.gov

The complete application package must be uploaded to the grants.gov web portal at www.grants.gov on or before September 11, 2017 at 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Savings Time. FNS will not accept applications sent via U.S. Mail, email, fax, or those that are hand-delivered. Applications received after the deadline date and/or time will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed or considered. FNS WILL NOT consider any additions or revisions to applications once they are received. Only WIC State Agencies may submit applications and coordinate all proposal development efforts from local agencies. Collaboration with local WIC agencies is strongly recommended as well as other academic institutions, government or non-government organizations serving children under 5 years (ex: Head Start). The web site grants.gov is a government-wide web site designed for electronic submission of applications/proposals. We advise that you allow ample time to familiarize yourself with the system’s requirements. We strongly recommended that you begin the submission process sufficiently in advance of the due date to ensure your application package is received on or before the deadline in case there are problems with the government-wide website.

Applicants experiencing difficulty submitting applications to www.grants.gov should contact the grants.gov Support Center at Local Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726 or via email at support@grants.gov.

1) In order to submit your application via www.grants.gov, you must have obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and registered in both the new System for Award Management (SAM) and on grants.gov. All applicants must have current SAM status at the time of application submission and throughout the duration of a Federal Award in accordance with 2 CFR Part 25. Please visit the following websites to obtain additional information on how to obtain a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and register in SAM (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/). Additional information is contained under the section entitled “Application Format”.

2) Please be aware that the grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices; you need to be sure that you have confirmation that the application was accepted. Please send an e-mail to Kimberly Shields, the Grants Officer at Kimberly.Shields@fns.usda.gov advising that your application has been submitted through the www.grants.gov portal and that you have received a confirmation notice from www.grants.gov

3) Applications submitted without all the required supporting documents, forms, certification, and signatures will not be considered for competition. See Attachment B: Application Checklist for a list of everything that must be included in the application.

4) FNS strongly encourages eligible applicants interested in applying to this program to adhere to the following application format:

· “8 ½ by 11” page size white paper with at least 1 inch margins on the top and bottom.

· All pages should be single-spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font size (smaller font may be used in tables, charts and graphs as long as they are clearly readable).

5) The number of pages for the entire Application should be no more than 25 pages for Full Grants and 12 pages for Mini Grants, excluding appendices or attached resumes. Narrative may not be in a font size smaller than 12 point Times New Roman or Arial. There is no page limit to resumes. Other Appendices may not exceed 15 pages for Full Grants and 8 pages for Mini Grants.

6) Applications must clearly indicate submission of a Full or Mini WIC Special Project Grant.

All questions regarding the application should be referred to:

Kimberly Shields, Grants Officer Grants and Fiscal Policy Division U.S. Department of Agriculture, FNS 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 740 Alexandria, VA 22302 E-mail: Kimberly.Shields@fns.usda.gov

GRANT APPLICATION FORMAT AND CONTENT REQUIREMENTS

In general the grant proposals should:

1. Include a clear description of the planned project or intervention and how it would address the focus area.

2. Identify major goals, and clearly defined objectives and outcome measures of the project.

3. Explain how the project would be implemented and discuss its sustainability and transferability.

4. Include plans for an evaluation component. See Project Evaluation below for Full or Mini Grant for more information.

Application Format:

See Attachment B: Application Checklist for more information.

Additional Submission Information In order to submit your application via www.grants.gov, you must have obtained a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and registered in both the new Systems for Award Management (SAM) and on grants.gov. The applicant is strongly advised to allow ample time to initiate its grants.gov application submission. All applicants must have current CCR status at the time of application submission and throughout the duration of a Federal Award in accordance with 2 CFR Part 25. Please visit the following websites to obtain additional information on how to obtain a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and register in SAM (https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/).

What is SAM?

The System for Award Management (SAM) is combining Federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. This consolidation is being done in phases. The first phase of SAM incorporated the functionality from several systems, including the Central Contractor Registry (CCR).

For additional information regarding SAM see the following link:

https://www.acquisition.gov/SAM_Guides/Quick%20Guide%20for%20Grants%20Registrations%20v1.pdf. Below is some additional information that should assist the applicant through this process:

DUNS Number: In order to obtain a DUNS number, if your organization does not have one, or if you are unsure of your organization’s number you can contact Dun and Bradstreet via the internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling 1-888-814-1435, Monday thru Friday, 8am-9pm EST. There is no fee associated with obtaining a DUNS number. Obtaining a DUNS number may take several days to obtain.

SAM Registration: For applicant organizations that were previously registered in the CCR, relevant applicant information is already in SAM; set up a SAM account as necessary to update any information. To register in SAM, the applicant’s DUNS number, Tax ID Number (TIN), and taxpayer name (as it appears on the applicant’s last tax return) are all required. SAM verifies all information submitted by the applicant using several systems. This verification takes at least 48 hours after your registration is submitted to SAM. Applicants must have a valid SAM registration no later than 3 days prior to the application due date of this solicitation. Applicants that do not receive confirmation that SAM registration is complete and active should contact SAM at: https://www.fsd.gov/app/answers/list.

Grants.gov Registration: In order to apply for a grant, your organization must have completed the above registrations as well as register on grants.gov. The grants.gov registration process can be accessed at: www.grants.govapplicants/get_reistered.jsp. Generally, the registration process takes between 3-5 business days.

Allow your entity ample time to complete the necessary steps, for the submission of your grant application package, on grants.gov.

Please be aware that the grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices; applicants should ensure receipt of confirmation that the application was accepted. For tools and tips regarding www.grants.gov, please visit: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html.

PLEASE BE AWARE: In some instances the process to complete the migration of permissions and/or the renewal of the entity record will require 5-7 days or more. We strongly encourage grantees to begin the process at least 3 weeks before the due date of the grant solicitation.

NOTICE: Special Characters not supported All applicants MUST follow grants.gov guidance on file naming conventions. To avoid submission issues, please follow the guidance provided in the grants.gov Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Are there restrictions on file names for any attachment I include with my application package?

File attachment names longer than approximately 50 characters can cause problems processing packages. Please limit file attachment names. Also, do not use any special characters (example: &,–,*, %, /, #’, -), this includes periods (.), spacing followed by a dash in the file and for word separation, use underscore (example: Attached_File.pdf) in naming the attachments. Please note that if these guidelines are not followed, your application will be rejected. FNS will not accept any application rejected from www.grants.gov portal due to incorrect naming conventions.

Please be aware that the grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices; you need to be sure that you have confirmation that the application was accepted.

Application Content For Full Grants, FNS requires applicants to partner with academic universities or research institutions/entities which bring specific expertise in developing grant applications and conducting research projects. This partnership does not need to be fully executed by the time the application is submitted in order to receive project funding, but must be in place – and documentation to that effect provided to FNS – by 3 months post award in order for the grant award and funding to be continued.

FNS encourages, to the extent appropriate, but does not require collaboration with outside entities for Mini Grant applications Applicants must respond to all of the sections described below. Please use this organizational format as it will make it easier for grant reviewers to locate the requested information and to evaluate each application. If this format is not used it may result in reviewers’ being unable to locate the requested information within the application. Included in this RFA is Attachment B Application Checklist to assist applicants.

I. Introductory Material

A. Cover Letter

B. Title Page with:

· Project Summary: A one-paragraph description of your project covering both the planned intervention and its evaluation. This paragraph will provide the basis for any short summaries of the proposed grant that FNS prepares during the procurement process.

· Single Point of Contact: Designate a single point of contact for your application.

Provide the individual’s name, title, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and email address.

C. Table of Contents

II. Abstract

Provide a summary of your project that includes:(1) a description of how your project meets the focus area*; (2) a description of your planned intervention that specifies the nature of the intervention, the targeted audience (e.g., WIC staff, all WIC participants, WIC participants meeting specified criteria), and how the intervention will be implemented; (3) goals and objectives of the intervention; (4) project environment; (5) project evaluation, including its basic research questions, research design, and planned data collection (required for Full Grants only), and (6) key personnel.

*The Focus Area for the FY 2017 WIC Special Projects Grants is Optimizing WIC Service Delivery. For both Full and Mini Grants, FNS will consider grant applications proposing to evaluate other focus area(s) as long as the projects are aimed at helping State agencies develop, implement and evaluate new or innovative methods of service delivery to meet the changing needs of WIC participants. See General Information for more information.

III. Project Design and Implementation

Provide a description of the following:

A. Need for Project: Discuss the problem that the proposed project addresses and how the expected results of the project can be used to improve program services in your State and at either the regional or national level. A post award Needs Assessment with input from WIC local agencies is recommended to refine the project design and implementation plans.

B. Goals: List and discuss each goal of the project design and implementation.

C. Objectives: For each of the goals, list and discuss the associated objective(s). Objective(s) should be specific, measurable, and realistic (e.g. increase participation of children ages 1-4 by 25%; increase parents’ servings of whole grain foods by one serving per day; reduce no-show rates of child recertification appointments by 30%).

D. Tasks: Discuss tasks that will be undertaken during both project design and implementation (e.g., design a nutrition education intervention, select participants for the intervention, train staff to perform the intervention, modify or develop training materials) and evaluation (e.g., assign or recruit local offices to intervention and comparison groups, develop and test data collection instruments, collect data, analyze data, and report evaluation findings). Planned tasks must be necessary to meet the project’s stated goals and objectives.

E. Environment: Depending on the structure of your project, respond to one and only one of the following. Choose the one that is most appropriate for your particular project.

· For projects that are intended to operate solely at the State agency level (e.g., analysis of data from participation reports), provide a State-level description of relevant characteristics that impact the operation of the project (e.g., participant characteristics, equipment, space, staffing, program operations, etc.). Provide a justification for operating the project at the State agency level.

· For interventions that will be implemented only within selected local WIC clinics and/or partner agencies, provide a local level description of relevant characteristics that impact the operation of the project (e.g., participant characteristics, equipment, space, staffing, and program operations, etc.). Provide a justification for your proposed choice of local clinics and/or partner agencies.

· For interventions that will be implemented only within selected local WIC clinics and/or partner agencies in which clinics or agencies have not yet been selected, provide a description of how you intend to select appropriate clinics or agencies. Provide a justification for your selection criteria.

Note that FNS does not recommend interventions that will be implemented State-wide in every local WIC clinic or agency. Without a control or comparison group (e.g., local WIC clinics or agencies in which the intervention has not been implemented), it is very difficult to develop a research design that can adequately evaluate the impacts of an intervention.

F. Letters of Support: If applicable, provide documentation of agreements or Memoranda of Understanding with local WIC clinics and/or partner agencies in an appendix to the proposal that does not exceed 15 pages in length (does not count toward the 25-page limit on proposal length).

IV. Project Evaluation:

Project Evaluation for Full Grants: The evaluation component of the grant is essential. State agencies applying for funding for a Full Grant should include a staff person with experience in designing, developing, implementing and evaluating social or public health research projects. This person could be a social scientist or someone with a public health nutrition or public health research background from a university, consulting firm, institute, or government agency. The following publications are available for assistance in developing the evaluation component:

· WIC Evaluation Resource Guide, available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic-evaluation-resource-guide

· Nutrition Education: Principles of Sound Impact Evaluation, available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/nutrition-education-principles-sound-impact-evaluation

A. Type of Evaluation (Full Grants):

There are three types of evaluations commonly used to assess WIC and other social programs. Process or implementation evaluations provide detailed descriptive information on the way a program operates or an intervention is implemented. Outcome assessments or impact evaluations are usually more quantitative in nature and are designed to rigorously estimate actual project outcomes or impacts. The third type of evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, compares the estimated cost of a project with its estimated benefits. Mixed-method evaluations are acceptable.

Indicate the type(s) of evaluation methods you are planning to use.

B. Research Design (Full Grants):

Note: For Full Grants FNS requires applicants to partner with academic universities or research institutions/entities which bring specific expertise in developing grant applications and conducting research projects. This partnership does not need to be fully executed by the time the application is submitted in order to receive project funding, but must be in place - and documentation to that effect provided to FNS - by 3 months post award in order for the grant award and funding to be continued.

1. Research Questions: For each of the objectives of the project design and implementation, list and discuss specific research questions that will be answered during the evaluation (e.g., Does the proposed intervention improve the Nutrition Education process, if so, by how much? Do the results of the intervention differ by participant characteristics such as ethnicity and age of participant?).

2. Measures: For each research question, discuss specific measures that you will use (e.g., participation reports by age and other demographics, surveys of participants and /or staff, etc.). Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed measures.

3. Research Methods: Discuss the methods that will be used to answer the research questions, including:

· Sampling plan(s) and expected sample size(s).

· Data collection methods (how, by whom, how often, when).

· Data analysis methods (how and by whom).

· Strengths and weaknesses of the research methods.

Project Evaluation for Mini Grants: For project evaluation purposes, please describe the data elements you will collect and submit to FNS how often the data will be collected. For example, you may describe how Program participation data is collected from your existing Management Information System and how you will share this data with FNS as part of the quarterly progress reports (see Grant Requirements for more information about reporting requirements). Please also identify and define your baseline participation.

V. Sustainability and Transferability:

Full Grant: Approximately 2 pages Mini Grant: One page

A. Sustainability: Confirm that the planned intervention meets all WIC regulations and guidance. Discuss how your project and its results will be sustained financially and administratively once the grant ends. If the project is a one-time project designed only to be performed during the grant period, discuss why it is sufficient as a one-time project and how the results will be used in the future.

B. Transferability: Discuss how your project and its results might inform other WIC State agencies and the feasibility (both financial and administrative) of implementing it in other states. Discuss plans for preparing and disseminating a final report, resources and materials developed as a result of the project, including how and with whom the report and materials will be shared (e.g., FNS, National WIC Association, conferences, universities, and journals). Extensive dissemination of project results, resources and materials is expected so that other State agencies will have the opportunity to replicate the project and/or learn from its results. (Note: FNS reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish or otherwise use, and to authorize others to use, for Federal Government purposes any work developed under a grant. For more information see 40 CFR Part 31.34 in Attachment C, Terms and Conditions). For an application to be successful, it is essential that the project results be used to improve WIC Program services, and that they are applicable at the State and/or local agency level. FNS is especially interested in projects that utilize the WIC Works Resource System to disseminate information/resources. Information about this system may be found at https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/ VI. Key Personnel:

Full Grant: Approximately 3-4 pages.

Mini Grant: One page.

A. Applicants are responsible for identifying the individuals in their applications who qualify as key personnel. Key personnel can include individuals receiving funding through this grant, individuals who are making an in-kind contribution, and contractors/sub-contractors. Key personnel generally are identified as those individuals who:

· Have a direct bearing on the outcome of the project by their participation.

· Bear a substantive responsibility for developing, modifying and achieving the objectives of the project.

· Are responsible for managing, administering, conducting or providing oversight for a significant component of the project.

B. Please provide the following information for all identified key personnel:

· Indicate the individual’s current position and what their title will be on the proposed project.

· Describe the individual’s specific role and duties on the project. Where possible, make reference to the project design/ implementation or project evaluation narrative (i.e., Jane Doe will be responsible for developing the training curriculum described on page 10 of the application).

· Identify time commitment for each key staff with percentages of FTE or total work hours per month for each of the three years of the project.

For Full Grant applications only, please provide the following additional information for all identified key personnel:

· Describe prior relevant experience and how it relates to project duties.

· In an appendix, provide a current resume or curriculum vitae for the individual.

· In an appendix, provide a letter of commitment from the individual’s supervisor indicating the individual’s time commitment to the project.

· For key project positions that are currently vacant that must be filled in the course of the project, provide the following information: 1) the position title; 2) in an appendix, a detailed position description with required qualifications, skills, and knowledge; 3) a description of specific roles and duties on the project, making reference back to the project or evaluation narrative; 4) an anticipated date of hire; and 5) what arrangements will be made if the position is not filled in a timely manner.

· Identify all other projects, job positions (governmental and/or contractual), and other work-related commitments that each key staff member will be scheduled to work on during the Full grant time-frame.

C. For key personnel (and especially evaluation personnel or organizations), please identify any potential conflicts of interest (actual or perceived) that might prevent an independent and objective assessment of the implementation, impacts, or benefits of the proposed intervention (e.g., having a contractor both develop and assess an intervention). If any conflicts are identified, provide a discussion of what steps the State agency will take to ensure an objective and complete evaluation.

VII. Management and Budget Plan: (Approximately 3-5 pages) Full Grant: Approximately 3-5 pages.

Mini Grant: Approximately 2-3 pages.

A. Management Plans

1. Chain of Command and Responsibilities: Provide an organizational chart that indicates who has authority over whom, with a written description. Discuss how task leaders will be held accountable to keep the project on time and within budget. Describe how and by whom quarterly performance reports to FNS will be prepared.

2. Contingency Plans: Discuss contingency plans for ensuring that the project is not unduly disrupted by problems in development of intervention materials, development or clearance of data collection instruments, recruitment of sites or participants, availability of key personnel, or other unforeseen factors. With regard to key personnel, identify specific individuals who will be able to take over project tasks if proposed staff is not available during the project, and indicate their qualifications to do so. Otherwise, discuss the process you will use to select qualified replacements.

3. Outside Personnel: Discuss how and by whom relationships with all personnel outside of the primary grantee agency will be managed (e.g., personnel from local WIC clinics or partner agencies, personnel from other State agencies, university personnel, consultants, and contractors).

4. Task Table: Present a table which includes, in chronological order, every distinct task involved in both the project design and implementation and the project evaluation (e.g., implementation of new procedures pertinent to the project, survey development, training activities, data collection, data analysis, report writing), the beginning and ending date of each task, and the key staff person(s) responsible for overseeing/working on the task. The sample task table below, though neither comprehensive nor complete, demonstrates the first few project design, implementation and evaluation tasks of a sample project.

Sample Task Table

B. Budget and Justification:

1. Budget: Provide line item detail and calculations for each budget object class identified in Section B, Budget Categories (a-j), of SF 424A. Details of calculation(s) must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar detail sufficient for it to be duplicated. Budget details must be provided for both Federal and non-Federal resources.

The budget narrative should provide enough detail for reviewers to easily understand how costs were determined and how they relate to the goals and objectives of the project. (Please see Attachment D, Budget Narrative Checklist and Forms).

For purposes of preparing the budget, “Federal resources” refers only to the requested WIC Special Project Grant funds. Non-Federal resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources, including in-kind contributions. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, Federal resources; next column, non-Federal resources; and last column, total budget. A separate budget page is required for each budget year requested as well as a total across all years. As part of your budget, please assume the following:

· Full Grant: One meeting per year for four years (including the final meeting and presentation of results to occur within 9 months of completion of the project) at FNS headquarters. Project expenditures through the final meeting must be included in the budget and expended prior to the grant expiration date. The annual meetings will be scheduled for 2 days (travel may be necessary the day before and/or after a meeting). Each State agency should plan to send up to two participants. It is required that one participant be from the WIC State agency, and is strongly recommended that one participant be an evaluator.

· Mini Grant: One meeting at the end of the project period (tentatively Fall 2019) at FNS Headquarters in Alexandria, VA. Project expenditures through the meeting date must be included in the budget and expended prior to the grant expiration date. The meeting will be scheduled for two days (travel may be necessary the day before and/or after a meeting). Each State agency should plan to send one participant.

A sample budget table is provided for illustrative purposes on the next page. It is not comprehensive, and the unit costs and rates of pay are not necessarily intended to represent standard or reasonable costs.

2. Budget Justification: For each part of Section B, Budget Categories, applicants must submit a written justification for each budget category. The written justification should: 1) describe how the categorical costs were derived (i.e., price comparisons, standard government cost, estimates by proposed local vendor, prior experience with similar projects, etc.); 2) discuss the necessity, reasonableness and allocability of proposed costs; and 3) when possible, link expenditures to specific project activities/tasks. For any contractual costs, please also provide a justification for the proposed selection method (i.e., competitive or sole source).

3. Indirect cost rate agreements (ICRA): Applicants claiming indirect costs must provide a copy (in an appendix) of an approved ICRA for all indirect costs and a written explanation for how the indirect costs were applied to the budget. If indirect costs are not being claimed, then please indicate such.

4. Procurement: Grantees will comply with the procurement requirements listed at 2 CFR part 200.317.

VIII. Required Grant Application Forms The following forms must be included:

· Standard Form 424 – Application and Instruction for Federal Assistance

· Standard Form 424A – Budget Information and Instruction

· Standard Form 424B – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs

· Standard Form LLL–Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

· Certification Regarding Lobbying (See Attachment D)

These forms are at the USDA Forms site: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/policy-directives-records-forms/forms-management/approved-computer-generated-forms.

IX. Appendices

Full Grant: Not to exceed 15 pages for items B-E below.

Mini Grant: Not to exceed 8 pages for items B-E below.

Each of the following sections may be included as a separate appendix:

· Resumes and curriculum vitae for key personnel (No page limit).

· Letters of commitment from supervisors of key personnel.

· Job descriptions for key personnel that must be hired.

· Copies of agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, letters of intent with local WIC clinics and/or partner agencies. (For Full Grants, the partnership with academic universities or research institutions/entities does not need to be fully executed by the time the application is submitted in order to receive project funding, but must be in place – and documentation to that effect provided to FNS - by 3 months post award in order for the grant award and funding to be continued.)

· Any other supporting documentation.

Sample Budget Table (Year 1)

$20,000

Suzy Que, Nutritionist

$5,000

$4,000

Suzy Que, Nutritionist

$1,000

$2,356

$1780

$576

$2,000

$2,000

$150

$50

$100

$50,000

$50,000

$0

$1400

$900

$100

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Evaluation Factors and Criteria

All applications will undergo an initial screening to verify completeness and adherence to proposal preparation instructions (see Grant Application Format and Content Requirements and Attachment C, Terms and Conditions of Award). Applications that do not meet this initial screen will not be evaluated further.

FNS reserves the right to select, rank, and order applicants. FNS will prioritize applications based on geographic diversity and those that meet agency priorities.

The following selection criteria will be used to evaluate applications for this RFA:

Project Design and Implementation (25 points)

The significance of the problem to be addressed is demonstrated, and specific gaps or weaknesses in regional or national services have been identified and will be addressed through the proposed project.

A Needs Assessment (to include WIC local agency input) process is included in the project design.

Project goals, objectives, and outcome measures are clearly identified and appropriate.

Project design and implementation tasks follow directly from project goals and objectives and the necessity of the tasks are adequately explained.

The environment in which the project will operate is appropriate and compatible with project goals and objectives, and proper justifications for the choice of the environment are provided. If applicable, letters of support or Memoranda of Understanding are included in the application.

Project design maximizes engagement with partners and helps uncover the most effective delivery models that include cost effectiveness, practicality, and creativity.

Proposal offers innovative ideas that make effective use of independent research and creativity;…