FY23 SNAP ET National Partnership Grants RFA.pdf

Information Collection: 0584-0512 Expiration date: 07/31/2025

SNAP Employment & Training National Partnership Grant

Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications (RFA) Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 10.561

Release Date: April 13, 2023

Application Due Date: 11:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), July 10, Anticipated Award Date: September, 2023

OMB BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.

The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0512. The estimated average time required to complete this information collection is 40 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Form RFA 01-23

Application Checklist

This Application Checklist provides applicants with a list of the required documents. However, FNS expects that applicants will read the entire RFA prior to the submission of their application and comply with all requirements outlined in the solicitation. The Application Checklist is for applicant use only and should not be submitted as part of the Application Package.

Complete the following at least four weeks prior to submission:

Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number;

Register the UEI number in the System for Award Management (SAM); and, Register in grants.gov.

When preparing your application, ensure:

Application format and narrative meet the requirements included in Section 4 –

Application and Submission Information. This includes page limits, priorities outlined in Section 5 – Application Review Information, and all necessary attachments.

When preparing your budget, ensure the following information is included:

All key staff proposed to be paid by this grant.

The percentage of time the Project Director will devote to the project in full-time equivalents (FTEs).

Your organization’s fringe benefit rate and amount, as well as the basis for the computation.

The type of fringe benefits to be covered with Federal funds.

Itemized travel expenses (including type of travel), travel justification, and basis for lodging estimate.

Types of equipment and supplies, justifications, and estimates, ensuring that the budget is in line with the project description.

Information for all contracts and justification for any sole-source contracts Justification, description, and an itemized list of all consultant services.

Indirect cost information (either a copy of a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

(NICRA) or if no agreement exists and the applicant has never been approved for a NICRA, they may charge up to 10% de minimis). If an applicant is requesting the de minimis rate or indirect costs are not required, please state this in the budget narrative.

When submitting your application, ensure you have submitted the following:

FNS-906 – Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF - Upload using the “Add Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15) Resumes of key staff Letters of support/commitment from key staff and partners Additional attachments as required

Table of Contents

1. Program Description and Objectives

Program Description

Key Objectives

2. Federal Award Information

Allowable Costs

Unallowable Costs

3. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

Ineligible Applicants

Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

Other Eligibility Criteria

Pre-Award Screening Requirements

Acknowledgement of USDA Support

4. Application and Submission Information

Content and Form of Application Submission

Special Instructions:

Cover Sheet

Table of Contents

Application Project Summary

Project Narrative

Activities/Indicators Tracker

Application Budget Narrative

Indirect Cost Rate

Required Grant Application Forms

Submission Date

Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

Funding Restrictions

5. Application Review Information

Review Criteria

Review and Selection Process

6. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notice

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Confidentiality of an Application

Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality of the Review Process

Administrative Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations and Other Government Requirements

Reporting Requirements

Financial Reports

Performance Progress Reports (PPR)

7. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

8. Other Information

Debriefing Requests

Appendix

RFA Budget Narrative Checklist

FNS-906 Grant Program Accounting System and Financial Capability Questionnaire

FNS-908 Performance Progress Report (PPR)

1. Program Description and Objectives

Program Description

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the nutrition assistance programs of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is the cornerstone of USDA's nutrition assistance programs. It began in its modern form in 1961 but has its origins in the Food Stamp Plan to help the needy in the 1930s. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net and provides nutrition assistance benefits via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to millions of low-income people. These benefits help supplement household food budgets so recipients can purchase more healthy food.

SNAP participants are expected to seek and accept work if they are able. Participants who are not specifically exempted by statute, such as those who are caring for a dependent child under 6 or who cannot work due to a physical or mental condition, are subject to work requirements as a condition of eligibility. General SNAP work requirements include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing work hours, taking a suitable job if offered, and participating in an employment and training program as assigned by the State agency. In addition to these general work requirements, able-bodied adults without dependents are required by statute to work or participate in a work program for at least 20 hours per week or participate in workfare to receive SNAP benefits for longer than 3 months in a 36-month period.

States are required to operate a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program to help participants gain skills, education, training, and experience that lead to employment opportunities and greater economic self-sufficiency. USDA is committed to working with States and interested stakeholders to develop E&T programs that are data driven, more effective and efficient, and which have improved employment and earnings outcomes for program participants.

FNS has invested significant resources to help States expand and strengthen their SNAP E&T programs to help SNAP participants gain skills, obtain industry-recognized certificates and credentials, and ultimately move toward economic self-sufficiency. One area of particular focus for FNS has been increasing States’ capacity to serve SNAP E&T participants by developing new partnerships with skill-based, employer-driven training providers. FNS has encouraged States to work with training providers that are able to operate “third-party partnerships” leveraging their own non-Federal funding and utilizing SNAP E&T reimbursement funds to support employment and training services for SNAP participants.

FNS has previously done this work primarily at the State level. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) included funding to support SNAP E&T National Leadership Activities. FNS has elected to utilize this funding in part to support new SNAP E&T National Partnership Grants.

In fiscal year (FY) 2023, FNS intends to award approximately $3 million to non-profit national organizations with broad member or affiliate networks that provide direct workforce development services to low-income and low-skilled individuals, including SNAP participants. To be eligible, applicants must have at least thirty geographically diverse member or affiliate organizations in two or more FNS Regions. Applicants must refer to the Eligibility Section for instructions on how to confirm their 501(c)(3) status. Additionally, applicants must provide a clear description of how many geographically diverse members they have and where they are located, or whether they https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices have affiliate organizations in two or more FNS Regions. This information should be clearly conveyed on the first page of the proposal.

Grant funds will be used to support new organizational capacity for the grantee (i.e. the national organization) to provide member or affiliate organizations training and other technical assistance so that member or affiliate organizations may become third-party SNAP E&T providers.

Allowable activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Organizing and convening conferences or meetings with network or consortia members;

• Developing peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities or platforms;

• Developing training materials such as toolkits, checklists, and curriculum;

• Sharing best practices through webinars or site visits; and

• Providing professional development opportunities for member or affiliate staff.

Training and technical assistance to member or affiliate organizations may cover issues such as, but not limited to, guidance on:

• Policy and programmatic fundamentals about the SNAP E&T program;

• The role of State SNAP agencies in administering the SNAP E&T program;

• Information technology, administrative, fiscal, and other infrastructure needs related to becoming a SNAP E&T third-party provider;

• Organizational strengths or weaknesses of community colleges related to becoming a

SNAP E&T provider and providing SNAP E&T services;

• The provision of case management and participant reimbursements to E&T participants;

and

• Best-practices for providing employment and training services to SNAP participants and moving them toward economic self-sufficiency.

Key Objectives

Below is a list of the Program Objectives. As noted in Section 4, within the “Activities/Indicators Tracker,” proposed activities must be clearly aligned to these objectives and their associated activities and indicators. Application proposals must include all four key objectives identified below. Note that if awarded, grantees will be required to report on progress towards activities aligned with the required objectives and must use the FNS-908 Performance Progress Report.

Carefully considering proposed activities and indicators will prepare grantees for their progress reporting requirements if awarded.

# Objective 1 Expand the number of skill-based, employer-driven SNAP E&T providers that move

SNAP participants toward economic self-sufficiency.

2 Create new capacity to provide technical assistance though activities such as, but not limited to, organizing conferences and meetings; developing and supporting peer-to-peer learning networks; creating technical assistance materials such as toolkits, checklists, and curriculum; promoting best practices by hosting webinars and site visits;

and providing professional development opportunities for member or affiliate staff.

3 Provide technical assistance on SNAP E&T to member or affiliate organizations so they can become SNAP E&T third-party providers. Technical assistance should cover increasingly more complex issues over the life of the grant and/or be provided to additional member or affiliate organizations.

4 Increase expertise on SNAP E&T among member and affiliate organizations so that they can become third-party SNAP E&T providers.

2. Federal Award Information The following information is intended to provide applicants with information to help make informed decisions about proposal submissions.

• Total amount of funding expected to award: Approximately $3,000,000

• Anticipated number of awards: 2-3

• Minimum award amount (award floor): No minimum

• Maximum award amount (award ceiling): $3,000,000

• Anticipated award announcement date: September 2023

• Anticipated period of performance (start and end date of the award): September 2023 –

September 2026

• Application due date: July 10, 2023

Please note:

• Grant awards are subject to the availability of funding and/or appropriations of funds.

• FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants this year or the subsequent fiscal year, should additional funds become available.

• FNS reserves the right to request information on all contractual awards and costs after the award of the grantee’s contract.

• These projects will be awarded in the form of a Federal grant.

• Procurement contracts may be awarded by grantees under this grant project.

Allowable Costs

The SNAP E&T National Partnership grants are intended to support the full range of needs organizations may have related to implementing and operationalizing the grant, but organizations should clearly state the purpose(s) for which the funds will be used in their grant application.

Funds must be used to create new organizational capacity, including staff and other infrastructure needs, to provide SNAP E&T technical assistance and training to network or consortia members.

Among other costs, budgets may include expenses related to personnel, contractors, equipment and supplies, meeting expenses, travel, and trainings.

Equipment and Supplies: Expenditures for both equipment (i.e., items of personal property having a useful life of more than one year and a cost of $5,000 or more) and supplies are allowable expenses with prior approval by FNS. While these expenditures are allowable, FNS reserves the right to approve/disapprove these expenditures based upon the needs of the Agency and the proposed project.

Unallowable Costs

Entertainment: Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs are unallowable (such as mascot costumes, promotional items, etc.) unless there is a programmatic purpose and prior approval is granted by FNS.

Direct Services: Funds from this grant shall not be used to provide direct services.

Existing Organizational Activities: Funds from this grant shall not be used to pay for existing organizational activities, or regular, on-going organizational operational costs. Funds must be used to create new organizational capacity to provide SNAP E&T technical assistance to network member or affiliate organizations.

Funds may not be used for costs outside the scope of the grant proposal or the approved budget.

All costs proposed in the budget and detailed in the budget narrative must be allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable. Refer to 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles for a detailed description of all allowable and unallowable costs.

3. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

The entities eligible to receive grants under this competition are non-profit national organizations with broad, geographically diverse member or affiliate networks that provide direct workforce development services to low-income and low-skilled individuals, including SNAP participants.

Eligible entities must have at least thirty geographically diverse member or affiliate organizations.

To be considered geographically diverse, applicants must have member or affiliate organizations in two or more FNS Regions.

All non-profit organizations must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Additionally, applicants must provide a clear description of how many geographically diverse members they have and where they are located, or whether they have affiliate organizations in two or more FNS Regions. This information should be clearly conveyed on the first page of the proposal.

Entities not meeting the eligibility definitions will be deemed ineligible and removed from competition without further consideration.

Ineligible Applicants

International (non-U.S. or non-U.S. territories) entities are not eligible to apply.

Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for this award.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices

Other Eligibility Criteria

Eligible entities must have:

• Previous experience providing technical assistance on complex policy and program areas across the organization’s member or affiliate network;

• Demonstrated expertise providing SNAP E&T services, via one or more member or affiliate organizations; and

• Demonstrated expertise moving low-income and low-skilled individuals toward economic self-sufficiency, across multiple member or affiliate organizations.

Pre-Award Screening Requirements

In reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, prior to making a Federal award, Federal awarding agencies, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.205, are required to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualifications or financial integrity information. Additionally, Federal awarding agencies are required to have a framework in place for evaluating the risks posed by applicants before they receive Federal awards. The FNS review of risk posed by applicants will be based on the following:

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

• FAPIIS, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System that has been established to track contractor misconduct and performance

• FNS Risk Assessment Questionnaire o Applicants must complete the Grant Program Accounting System & Financial

Capability Questionnaire that allows FNS to evaluate aspects of the applicant’s financial stability, quality of management systems, and history of performance, reports, and findings from audits. The questionnaire contains a number of questions that may be an indicator of potential risk.

The evaluation of the information obtained from the designated systems and the risk assessment questionnaire may result in FNS imposing special conditions or additional oversight requirements that correspond to the degree of risk assessed.

Acknowledgement of USDA Support

As outlined in 2 CFR 415.2, grant recipients shall include acknowledgement of USDA Food and Nutrition Service support on any publications written or published with grant support and, if feasible, on any publication reporting the results of, or describing, a grant-supported activity.

Recipients shall include acknowledgement of USDA Food and Nutrition Service support on any audiovisual which is produced with grant support, and which has a direct production cost of over $5,000.

• When acknowledging USDA support, use the following language: "This material is based upon work that is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Grantees should follow the USDA Visual Standards Guide when using the USDA logo.

• Grant recipients may be asked to host USDA officials for a site visit during the course of their grant award. All costs associated with the site visit will be paid for by USDA and are not expected to be included in grant budgets.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/visual-standards-guide-january-2013.pdf

4. Application and Submission Information

Content and Form of Application Submission

FNS strongly encourages eligible applicants interested in applying to this program to adhere to the following applicant format. The proposed project plan should be presented on 8 ½” x 11” white paper with at least 1-inch margins on the top and bottom. All pages should be single-spaced in 12-point font. The project description with relevant information should be capture on no more than 10 pages, not including the cover sheet, table of content, resumes, letter(s) of commitment, endorsement letter(s), budget narrative(s), appendices, and required forms. All pages, excluding form pages must be numbered.

Special Instructions:

• Late application submission will not be considered in this competition. FNS will not consider additions or revisions to applications unless they are submitted via Grants.gov by the deadline. No additions or revisions will be accepted after the deadline.

• Letters of support must be submitted with the application through grants.gov. Letters submitted via email will not be considered.

• Applications submitted without the required supporting documents, forms, certification will not be considered.

• Applications missing a written proposal or budget narrative will not be considered and deemed nonresponsive.

• FNS reserves the right to request clarification on any application submitted in response to this solicitation.

• Applications not submitted via Grants.gov will not be considered.

• If multiple application packages are submitted through Grants.gov by the same applicant in response to this solicitation, FNS will accept the latest application package successfully submitted. All other packages submitted by the applicant will be removed from this competition.

Letter(s) of Commitment: A letter(s) of commitment is required if an applicant is proposing to work in partnership with another organization(s). The letter(s) should be submitted as part of the application package. The letter(s) of commitment from the partner(s) must describe:

• The organization’s role in the project;

• The amount of time it intends to commit to the project;

• An attestation that it will cooperate with the grant applicant in implementing the project;

and

• The letter must be provided on the respective organization’s letterhead and be signed by an authorizing individual.

If an applicant proposes to work in a partnership with another organization and does not include the required letter(s) of commitment in their application package, the application will be removed from competition without further consideration.

Cover Sheet The cover page should include, at a minimum:

• Applicant’s name and mailing address

• Primary contact’s name, job title, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address

• Grant program title

Table of Contents The Table of Contents should include relevant sections, subsections, and associated page numbers.

Application Project Summary The application should clearly describe the proposed project activities and anticipated outcomes that would result if the proposal were to be funded.

Project Narrative The project narrative should clearly identify what the applicant is proposing and how it will address a solution, the expected results and/or benefits once the solution is achieved, and how it will meet the RFA program scope and objectives. The proposed project methodology should describe the project design, address program specific methodology needs, procedures, timetables, monitoring/oversight, and the organization’s project staffing.

Applicants must include in the project narrative and will be judged on how well they describe the:

1) Soundness or Merit of Project Design, 2) Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency, 3) Organizational Experience, Staff Capability and Management, and 4) Implementation and Evaluation. The detailed description of this criteria is found in Section 5 – Application Review Information.

Consistent with USDA’s priorities and Executive Order 13985, FNS is committed to promoting equity1 in and through the SNAP E&T program. Throughout the United States, systemic barriers for historically underserved communities have led to significant barriers to education, training, and full participation in the labor market. SNAP E&T programs can play an important role in promoting equitable (i.e., race, gender, disability, geographic, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) access to good jobs and sustained family-supporting wages in high-demand career fields for those from historically underserved groups; as measured by educational attainment, households that participate in the SNAP program are the least well-off in the labor market. FNS strongly encourages applicants to include an equity lens in their projects that is clearly reflected in the project narrative.

Examples of guiding questions that might be reflected in the project narrative include, but are not limited to:

1. How are your organization’s view on equity and inclusion incorporated in this proposal?

2. What forms of diversity (racial, gender, disability, cultural, citizenship status, linguistic, etc.) does this project seek to focus on? Does your organization’s leadership and/or project management team reflect this diversity?

1 The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

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/

3. How will your project recognize and address intersecting forms of historically underserved identities (i.e., individuals that identify or fall into more than one historically underserved category)?

4. How do you propose to draw upon diverse perspectives in the community or field that the proposed work will serve? Did your project design include consultation with members of the group your project intends to serve? What type of consultation?

5. Has your organization had prior success in improving program participation for an underserved community? If so, how can lessons learned be applied to this proposal?

6. What racial equity and inclusion challenges does your organization face?

7. What policies or technologies are in place that may be barriers to meeting the needs of underserved populations in your project area?

8. How will you measure the impact of your proposal on promoting equity in specific communities? What data collection methodologies will be used? Are the data collection methodologies sensitive to the needs of the community they intend to serve?

9. How will the project reduce racial/ethnic disparities in participation and outcomes of SNAP E&T programming? How will the project promote equity?

10. How will racial equity and inclusion efforts extend beyond the project’s period of performance?

Activities/Indicators Tracker Proposed Activities and indicators measuring success must be mapped to all of the Program Objectives (as described in Section 1 – Program Description) in the below format (note that additional Activities/Indicators can be added as needed).

Note: Indicators are defined as any metric you anticipate will be able to be tracked during the period of performance of the grant. Common examples include Number of People Attended, Number of People Impacted, Number of Conferences Delivered, Number of Materials Created, Number of Trainings, Number of People Trained.

Example

Objective # 1. Expand the number of skill-based, employer-driven SNAP E&T providers that move SNAP participants toward economic self-sufficiency.

Activity Provide intensive technical assistance and training to member of affiliate cohort

Indicator(s) Number of cohort members trained Activity Assist cohort members in becoming third-party SNAP E&T providers in one or more States Indicator(s) Number of contracts executed to provide SNAP E&T services

Objective # Activity Indicator(s)

Objective # Activity Indicator(s)

Application Budget Narrative The budget narrative, formatted as a table, should correspond with the proposed project narrative and application budget. The narrative must justify and support the bona fide needs of the budget’s direct cost. The budget and budget narrative must be in line with the proposed project description. If the budget includes indirect costs, the applicant must provide a copy of its most recently approved Federal indirect cost rate agreement. Budget categories in this table must match those listed on the SF-424A form. If the budget table is created in a spreadsheet, it must be formatted to fit on an 8.5 x 11-inch page, with a font no smaller than 11-point Times New Roman. All funding requests must be in whole dollars.

Indirect Cost Rate A current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), negotiated with a cognizant Federal agency, should be used to charge indirect costs. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate. If a NICRA is used, the percentage and base should be indicated. If the applicant does not have, and has never been approved for, a NICRA, they may charge up to 10% de minimis. In this instance, the applicant must indicate they are requesting the de minimis rate. An applicant may elect not to charge indirect costs and instead use all grant funds for direct costs. If indirect costs are not charged, the phrase “none requested” should be stated in the budget narrative. For questions related to the indirect cost rate, please work with the Grant Officer as noted in Section 7 of this RFA.

Note: Each organization is assigned to a single federal agency (by the Office of Management and Budget) that acts on behalf of all federal agencies in indirect cost rate negotiations and is referred to as the “cognizant agency.”

Required Grant Application Forms The required grants.gov forms are located at grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html.

• Non-Construction Grant Projects Forms: SF-424 Family o Application and Instruction for Federal Assistance (SF-424) o Budget Information and Instructions (SF-424A) o Assurance-Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

• SF LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) o Indicate on your form whether your organization intends to conduct lobbying activities. If you organization does not intend to lobby, write “Not Applicable” in boxes required to be completed.

• Additional Required Forms and Information o Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Please see below for further information o SAM registration. Please see below for further information.

Submission Date

Complete grant applications must be uploaded to grants.gov by 11:59 PM EDT on July 10, 2023.

• Applications must be submitted via grants.gov. Mailed, emailed, or hand-delivered application packages will not be accepted. For further instructions, see the “Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov” below.

• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

• FNS will not consider additions or revisions to applications unless they are submitted via grants.gov by the deadline. No additions or revisions will be accepted after the deadline.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html

• If multiple application packages are submitted through grants.gov by the same applicant in response to this solicitation, FNS will accept the latest application package successfully submitted. All other packages submitted by the applicant will be removed from this competition.

FNS strongly encourages applicants to begin the registration process at least four weeks before the due date and to submit applications to grants.gov at least one week before the deadline to allow time to troubleshoot any issues should they arise. Please note that upon submission, grants.gov may send multiple confirmation notices. Applicants should ensure receipt of confirmation that the application was accepted.

FNS will not accept applications outside of grants.gov. Applicants experiencing difficulty submitting applications through grants.gov should contact applicant support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. This service is available 24/7.

Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov

Applicants must register with grants.gov and SAM.gov in order to submit an application to FNS via grants.gov as required.

To submit an application, you must:

1. Obtain a UEI number

What is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)?

A UEI is a unique number assigned to all entities (public and private companies, individuals, institutions, or organizations) who register to do business with the federal government. For more information, visit the U.S. General Services Administration website.

Where do I go to learn more about the UEI?

The U.S. General Services Administration Unique Entity Identifier Update page contains the most up-to-date information about the UEI.

Note: After April 4, 2022, entities can register in SAM.gov and will be assigned their “SAM UEI.” They will no longer obtain or use a “DUNS UEI” for entity registration or reporting.

For additional information on the UEI process, please visit SAM.gov.

2. Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)

• On April 4, 2022, the UEI used across the federal government changed from the DUNS number to the UEI (generated by SAM.gov).

• SAM combines federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one system. Visit SAM.gov for additional information.

• To register, you must have your organization’s UEI, the organization’s Tax ID Number (TIN), and taxpayer name (as it appears on the last tax return). It may take up to 5 to 7 business days or more to register and/or complete the migration of permissions and/or the renewal of an entity record.

• 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.

mailto:support@grants.gov https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update?gsaredirect=entityid https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update?gsaredirect=entityid https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home

• FNS strongly encourages applicants to begin this process at least 3 weeks before the due date of the grant solicitation.

3. Create a Grants.gov Account

The next step in the registration process is to create an account with grants.gov.

Applicants must know their organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to complete this process. For more detailed instruction about creating a profile on grants.gov, visit grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different web forms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement or RFA, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, visit grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800- 518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to contact grants.gov support and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the Center with tracking your issue.

For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, please contact the Grant Officer noted in Section 7 – Federal Awarding Agency Contacts of this RFA.

NOTICE: Special Characters and Naming Conventions All applicants must follow grants.gov guidance on file naming conventions. To avoid submission issues, please follow the guidance provided by grants.gov (per the grants.gov Frequently Asked Questions or 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 (e.g., ! @ # $ % ^ & * - ‘). This includes periods (.) and spacing followed by a dash in the file. To separate words in naming a file, use underscore (_). For example, Attached_File.pdf.

If these guidelines for file names are not followed, your application will be rejected. FNS will not accept any application rejected from the grants.gov portal due to incorrect naming conventions.

Additional information can be found at grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#attachments.

Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All applications must be received by 11:59 PM EST <<or EDT>> on the due date listed on the cover page, as detailed in Section 4 – Submission Date. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov application is successfully received by grants.gov. The applicant AOR will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (e.g., GRANTXXXXXXXX) from grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicant AORs will also receive the official date/time stamp and a grants.gov tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When FNS successfully retrieves the application from grants.gov and acknowledges the download of submissions, grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgement of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that grants.gov receives your application.

Applications received by grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for FNS funding.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission could take some time before grants.gov receives your application. Again, grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role. The grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

Funding Restrictions

Grant funds shall not be used for:

• Provision of direct services.

• Existing organizational activities, or regular, on-going organizational operational costs.

• Construction costs.

• Pre-award costs will not be awarded for this grant project. Projects predicated on waiving

SNAP regulations are not allowable and will not be considered for funding. However, if during the grant period, a State agency determines a waiver is needed, the State may apply for one, but there are no guarantees that FNS will approve the waiver.

5. Application Review Information

Review Criteria

FNS will pre-screen all applications to ensure the applicants are eligible entities and are in compliance with all Program regulations. FNS will not approve any waivers from Program regulations for any projects submitted in response to this solicitation.

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

1. Soundness or Merit of Project Design (35 points + 8 bonus points)

Program Design: The proposal clearly describes how the applicant will create new organizational capacity to provide SNAP E&T technical assistance to network members or affiliates. The proposal clearly describes how the applicant will provide technical assistance to network members or affiliates, including how the technical assistance will cover increasingly more complex issues and/or be provided to additional network members or affiliates over the lifetime of the grant. The proposal should include quantifiable metrics of progress and success, including the number of new third-party SNAP E&T providers the applicant expects to result from the technical assistance provided.

Impact: The proposal demonstrates a direct impact on the:

• Capacity of the applicant to provide SNAP E&T technical assistance to its member or affiliate network;

• Improved expertise on SNAP E&T for the applicant and its member or affiliate network;

• Quality and quantity of SNAP E&T technical assistance provided to member or affiliate networks; and

• Number of network members or affiliates providing SNAP E&T services.

The proposal shows a clear progression from idea to practice, and a clear progression in the complexity of technical assistance provided and/or the number of network members or affiliates receiving technical assistance over the lifetime of the grant.

If the project is not network-wide, the proposal demonstrates how the project will impact, interact with, or otherwise inform the work of the applicant’s entire network as it relates to SNAP E&T.

Quality: The proposal shows thoughtfulness, critical analysis, clarity, and the use of relevant facts and knowledge.

Sustainability: Applicants should ensure that the work begun under the grant can be continued after grant funds have been expended.

Letters of Commitment: If the project design involves partnering with another organization(s), the application includes a letter(s) of commitment following the guidelines found on page 9. If letter(s) of commitment are not included in the application package, it will be removed from competition without further consideration.

Feasibility: The application proposes projects that are capable of being accomplished and likely to be implemented in a timely fashion.

Equity: Consistent with USDA’s priorities and Executive Order 13985, FNS is committed to promoting equity in and through the SNAP E&T program. Please see page 9 of this RFA for examples of guiding questions on equity that might be reflected in the project narrative, although applicants’ efforts to address equity in their program design are not limited to these questions.

Applications that explicitly address equity issues as part of their program design can earn up to eight (8) bonus points.

2. Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency (20 points)

Budget: The proposal includes:

• A line-item budget. See Application Checklist (pg. 2) to assure each category is addressed in the budget.

• A narrative that demonstrates how funds will be spent, by whom and for what purpose.

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/

• The 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. There should be adequate justification for budget costs based on current industry costs/standards. Information on costs should be obtained from applicable organizations or from online sources.

• Additionally, a copy of the approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement must be attached if indirect costs are shown as a budget expense to the project.

• If desired, a tiered budget and narrative that describes adjustments the applicant would make if it were awarded funding at different levels (only the primary budget will be analyzed against this criterion).

Efficiency: The proposal is cost effective. It demonstrates that the anticipated results are commensurate with the cost of the project.

Contractual and Consultant Costs: Proposals that include hiring of a consultant(s) or contract must provide the following information:

• Consultant’s name and description of service;

• Estimated itemized list of all direct costs and fees;

• Anticipated salaries must have the number of personnel including the position title;

• Specialty and specialized qualifications as appropriate to the salary;

• Number of estimated hours times hourly wage; and

• All expenses and fees directly related to the proposed services to be rendered to the project.

Applicants that are required to issue a bid should provide a narrative explaining the requirement and provide a reasonable estimate of Contractual and Consultant Costs.

NOTE: Proposal submissions which omit the required budget forms, budget narratives and/or line-item descriptions will not receive the full point value for this criterion. Therefore, applicants should recognize that a well-written budget narrative which justifies the proposed project expenditures assists the reviewers during the review process.

NOTE: If a discrepancy exists between the total funding request (submitted on SF-424, SF-424A, and budget or budget narrative) within the application package in response to this solicitation, FNS will only consider and evaluate the estimated funding request contained on SF-424.

3. Organizational Experience, Staff Capability and Management (30 points)

Credibility: The proposal establishes the applying organization’s credibility and capabilities. The proposal must demonstrate that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for the grant.

Oversight: The proposal demonstrates that effective and consistent oversight by a qualified project manager(s) will be implemented throughout the project. The proposal must include a dedicated project manager and detail the roles and responsibilities of the project manager.

Communication: The proposal demonstrates that effective communication will exist within the organization and, if applicable, with partnering organizations. The proposal includes an organizational chart of the proposed project.

Staff: The proposal identifies the project director or manager and other key staff. The proposal includes resumes that demonstrate that the proposed staff has the appropriate technical and experiential backgrounds for their proposed roles. If the applicant is unable to identify the project director or manager and key staff, it must include with the application package job descriptions for positions that must be advertised. Applicants should address their contingency or back-up plans in the event of key staff departures.

Time Commitment: The proposal outlines the amount of time and effort the project director or manager, key staff, and, if applicable, partnering organizations, will contribute to the project.

4. Implementation and Evaluation (15 points)

Timeline: The proposal includes a project timeline that outlines proposed tasks and major milestones and demonstrates that sufficient time is allotted for each activity.

Evaluation: The proposal describes a well-thought-out, organized review and evaluation process that will measure whether the goals of the project have been met. The evaluation should focus on measuring the impact of the project. Please be sure to include information on who will measure the goals of the project, how the goals will be measured, when the goals will be measured and what the organization will measure.

Total Points Available: 100 + 8 bonus points

Review and Selection Process

Following the initial screening process, FNS will assemble a panel group to review and determine the technical merits of each application. The panel will evaluate the proposals based on how well they address the required application components and array the applications from highest to lowest score. The panel members will recommend applications for consideration for a grant award based on the evaluation scoring. The Selecting Official reserves the right to accept the panel’s recommendation or to select an application for funding out of order to meet agency priorities, program balance, geographical representation, or project diversity. FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants in the next fiscal year should additional funds be made available.

6. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notice

The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this RFA. Unless an applicant receives a signed award document with terms and conditions, any contact from a FNS Grants or Program Officer should not be considered as a notice of a grant award. No pre-award or pre-agreement costs incurred prior to the effective start date are allowed unless approved and stated on FNS’ signed award document (FNS-529). Only the recognized FNS authorized signature can bind the USDA, Food and Nutrition Service to the expenditure of funds related to an award’s approved budget.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Confidentiality of an Application When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of the record of FNS transactions, available to the public upon specific request. Information that the Secretary determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to have considered as confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within the application. Any application that does not result in an award will be not released to the public. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to the final action thereon.

Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, or biometric records, and any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-122, Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable information, April 2010).

Applicants…