FY24-WIC-WD-ETAC-RFA-MOD1-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical

Assistance Center

MODIFICATIONS: 06/06/2024 – This RFA has been modified from the original announcement.

Edits are indicated using track changes and red font so the public/potential applicants can identify the changes within the solicitation.

Edits appear on pages: 18 and 19

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 1, 2024

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $10,000,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-WICWD-010773

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.244

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.244.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, July 1, 2024 [Ref to Part I, C of this RFA]

Letter of Intent: Not Required Applicants Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice

(NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)

Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes research, education, and extension efforts will have the greatest impacts when programs are grounded in DEIA. NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or subaward recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations. NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Request for Applications (RFA) so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service.

NIFA considers comments to the extent possible when developing RFAs, and uses comments to help meet the requirements of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@usda.gov. Please use the following subject line: Response to the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center RFA.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7613%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7613)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true mailto:Policy@usda.gov

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This notice identifies the objectives for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, hereafter referred to as WIC, is administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and serves to safeguard the health of eligible women who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or breastfeeding, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests new applications for the Women, Infants, and Children Workforce Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) Cooperative Agreement. The amount available in FY2024 is approximately $10,000,000 for a Cooperative Agreement.

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will provide technical assistance and evaluation oversight to implementation projects that are funded to respond to the National WIC Workforce Strategy. For each implementation project, the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will support the development and implementation of a management and outreach plan for engaging with WIC State and local agencies, Tribal Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutes (MSIs) and/or underserved communities to include the incorporation of DEIA outcomes and activities (e.g., Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)).

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will ensure rigorous and consistent evaluation and reporting across implementation projects funded to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions to increase the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce. The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will also establish and oversee a National WIC Workforce Advisory Workgroup to help inform project components throughout the entire period of performance. Furthermore, the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will work closely with applicants, grantees, and with NIFA and FNS, as appropriate to ensure engagement, alignment, and appropriate aggregation and reporting of data. Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA, P.L. 117-2, §1106) will be used to invest in research, education, and Extension to increase the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce. This work will be one component of the WIC outreach, modernization and innovation initiative authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, P.L. 117-2. The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will also participate in the overall ARPA WIC modernization evaluation led by FNS.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/wic-national-workforce-strategy https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ2/PLAW-117publ2.pdf https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ2/PLAW-117publ2.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF TABLES

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Description

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Application Restrictions C. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Cost Sharing or Matching

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application B. Content and Form of the Application C. Funding Restrictions

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process B. Evaluation Criteria D. Organizational Management Information E. Application Disposition

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards C. Regulatory Information D. Limited English Proficiency

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF TABLES

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2: Program Key Information Table 3: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 4: Help and Resources Table 5: Key Application Instructions

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2 provided USDA with approximately $390 million to carry out WIC outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts to increase participation and benefit redemption. One aspect of WIC modernization is developing a diverse workforce that provides culturally responsive care to participants. This project, the WIC Workforce Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will be supported through an Inter- Agency Agreement between FNS and NIFA using ARPA funds.

B. Purpose and Priorities The National Workforce Strategy (assistance listing 10.244) is part of a joint agency initiative between FNS and NIFA that is expected to cultivate comprehensive and sustained solutions for WIC workforce development. The joint agency initiative aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce, with the ultimate goals of increasing: 1) WIC participation through reaching those populations that are eligible, but not enrolled; and 2) WIC participants use of benefits and services, including nutrition education and breastfeeding support.

ARPA provided FNS with $390 million to carry out WIC outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts to increase participation and benefit redemption. To determine how it would invest these funds, FNS conducted more than 30 listening sessions with WIC stakeholders from around the country. FNS used this input, along with research gathered from the US Digital Service (USDS), to establish a goal-driven investment framework to increase WIC participation and retention and reduce participation and retention disparities in program delivery.

One of the pillars of the WIC modernization investment framework focuses on developing and strengthening the WIC workforce. For decades, WIC clinics have strived to meet the comprehensive set of needs of their service community while providing culturally responsive care. During the listening sessions, stakeholders conveyed that increasing diversity and cultural competency in the WIC workforce could potentially increase WIC participation and retention, particularly among historically underrepresented communities. Indeed, recruiting, training, and retaining a WIC workforce that is representative of the WIC population is a promising approach to maximizing WIC’s full potential to support healthy development of infants and children, pregnancies, as well as postpartum recovery.

Stakeholders voiced support for workforce development initiatives such as developing educational and career pipelines for WIC staff, providing resources and training to support improved cultural competency, and strategically addressing concerns around staff retention.

Given the feedback received on this topic, FNS invested a portion of the ARPA funds into a collaborative effort that will support a diverse WIC workforce trained to provide culturally responsive services and evaluate the impact of investing in this pillar of the modernization framework. An important first step was to fuel change and address the concerns heard in the listening sessions was to develop the National WIC Workforce Strategy, which the University of Minnesota developed with funding provided by the USDA FNS under cooperative agreement with USDA NIFA. Two RFAs directly support implementation of the National WIC Workforce Strategy: 1) the WIC Workforce Implementation Projects RFA funds implementation grantees https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ2/PLAW-117publ2.pdf https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 focusing on specific aspects of the National WIC Workforce Strategy; and 2) this WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center RFA which oversees and evaluates the implementation grantees. Outcomes of this work are intended to serve as a workforce model for the broader nutrition education workforce at local, state agency, and federal levels.

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will align with the five-year National WIC Workforce Strategy carried out through implementation projects funded through the WIC Workforce Implementation Projects RFA, and shape investments in supporting the current and future WIC workforce. The National WIC Workforce Strategy focuses on cultural representation and culturally responsive care, including cultural competency to serve underserved populations participating in WIC and include strategies for State/local agencies, which include Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) and territories, to identify and meet targeted needs. Cultural competency in this context is broader than race or ethnicity and includes socioeconomic and other cultural factors that may affect the efficacy of WIC program services and territories. Implementation projects informed by the National WIC Workforce Strategy and funded by the WIC Workforce Implementation Projects RFA must take into account training and technical assistance needs and preferences of WIC State and local agencies.

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will:

a. Develop an evaluation strategy based on the National WIC Workforce Strategy and specific to the implementation projects (WIC Workforce Implementation Projects

RFA).

b. Ensure the evaluation strategy aligns with ARPA goals that supports the application of the most rigorous evaluation methods appropriate for implementation projects.

c. Assist each implementation project with the development of a project-specific evaluation plan.

d. Ensure rigorous and consistent evaluation and reporting across all implementation projects (WIC Workforce Implementation Projects RFA).

e. Offer training, technical assistance, evaluation oversight, and informational support services to implementation grantees.

f. Support the development and implementation of each implementation project’s management and outreach plan for engaging with WIC State and local agencies, Tribal Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and/or underserved communities.

g. Ensure engagement and outreach plan (e.g., Traditional Ecological Knowledge) incorporates activities and outcomes that support the strategy and result in a more diverse WIC workforce that provides culturally responsive care in a variety of different settings.

Specific to the evaluation strategy, the overall goal of the evaluation component is to establish and carry out an evaluation strategy that will ensure data is collected and analyzed to identify outcomes and impacts of ARPA funding supporting the WIC workforce strategy through the implementation grants. FNS has already awarded a contract to conduct an overarching evaluation of all ARPA-funded WIC modernization efforts, including WIC workforce development. As https://www.nifa.usda.gov/wic-national-workforce-strategy https://www.nifa.usda.gov/wic-national-workforce-strategy https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/special-supplemental-nutrition-program-women-infants-children-0 such, the Cooperator will be expected to coordinate with this larger evaluation and may be asked to participate in related FNS-sponsored surveys, interviews, and focus groups. In its application, the Cooperator shall affirm willingness to participate in any data collection activities related to the overarching evaluation. The Cooperator may also be expected to provide data collected under the scope of this RFA directly to FNS. Furthermore, the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will work closely with the implementation project grantees and with NIFA, FNS and the overall WIC ARPA evaluation contractor, as appropriate, to ensure engagement, alignment, and appropriate aggregation and reporting of data. NIFA encourages pursuing these priorities through TEK where consistent with the above goals and priorities.

The Cooperative Agreement will be between NIFA and the Cooperator. NIFA and FNS will provide additional context, content, and contacts, as needed, along with agency liaisons to address questions and help inform the process. NIFA will assign a National Program Leader (NPL) with appropriate expertise to monitor the project, make recommendations concerning planning and procedures to be followed and ensure that objectives are fulfilled. The NPL will work closely with the Cooperator to facilitate communication with FNS and others involved in the project through regular virtual meetings. The NPL will also facilitate communication between the Cooperator for this project and those involved in other parts of the joint agency initiative to facilitate synergy in accomplishing the goals of the joint agency initiative. NIFA and FNS will be directly involved in reviewing all project plans to ensure that projects meet WIC’s needs. FNS must review all surveys, questionnaires, or other research instruments that will be sent to WIC State and local agencies in advance. FNS will also review all resources developed by the Cooperator and provide guidance and technical assistance as needed. All requests for information from WIC State and local agencies are subject to FNS review and approval and must include sufficient lead times for State and local agency response, to be provided by FNS.

FNS must review at least 2 drafts and final deliverables for all materials that will be disseminated to State and local agencies and all materials that will be posted/made available publicly. This includes, but is not limited to, any presentation materials, website content, training and technical assistance resources, and deliverables in narrative/report form, including annual and final reports. Additionally, the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will also participate in the overall ARPA WIC modernization evaluation led by FNS. Additional details will be noted in the Cooperative Agreement, once finalized.

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center is aligned with the following:

USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 goals:

1. Goal 4: Make Safe, Nutritious Food Available to All Americans and

2. Goal 6: Attract, Inspire, and Retain an Engaged and Motivated Workforce that’s Proud to

Represent USDA USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023–2026 priorities:

1. Priority 3: Bolstering Nutrition Security & Health

2. Priority 5: Translating Research into Action https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-research-strategy.pdf

For a program informational webinar please visit the NIFA calendar for dates, event registration, and link. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of the informational webinars listed, please contact the event host listed no later than 10 days prior to the event.

Table 2: Program Key Information

Title Description Program Code: WETAC

Program Code Name: WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center

ALN: 10.244

Grant Type: Cooperative Agreement

Application Deadline July 1, 2024 Grant Duration: 60 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 1 Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000

C. Program Area Description In alignment with the National WIC Workforce Strategy, the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center must provide services related to technical assistance, evaluation, and informational support services to the implementation projects.

Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will design and carry out an overarching evaluation of the work carried out by the WIC workforce implementation project grantees. The evaluation strategy must also align with FNS’s overall ARPA evaluation strategy (see below).

The evaluation plan will include an assessment of the impact of all recommendations and strategies implemented based on the National WIC Workforce Strategy. In alignment with the National WIC Workforce Strategy, it is expected that taken together the implementation projects will result in:

1. A WIC program that is innovative in meeting the changing needs of families

2. A supported WIC Workforce

3. The ability to hire and retain the best talent

4. Improved reach to populations that are eligible for WIC, but not yet enrolled

5. Enhanced likelihood that WIC participants adopt nutrition education and breastfeeding support recommendations

The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center will also work with each WIC Workforce implementation project grantees to develop an evaluation and reporting plan and metrics. The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center must establish an evaluation strategy to support data collection, evaluation, and reporting within and across the implementation projects.

All data generated by the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center must be made publicly available and conform with best practices for data safety and accessibility, including ensuring it does not implicitly or explicitly release Personally Identifying Information (PII). Data assets must be made publicly accessible and/or any exemptions to the public access policy described in approved data management plans.

https://nifa.usda.gov/calendar

Technical assistance is encouraged to include the following components, but is not limited to using these approaches:

a) Supporting each implementation project grantee in developing and implementing a project-specific evaluation plan, including compiling project data from each implementation project grantee and providing additional statistical expertise to evaluate project performance that complements individual project evaluation teams;

b) Providing guidance to each of the implementation project grantees on protections for human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation, which includes working with tribal communities; and

c) Providing guidance to each of the implementation project grantees on intellectual property protections for TEK.

About FNS’s Overall ARPA Evaluation Strategy In September 2023, FNS awarded a contract to the research firm Mathematica® for a comprehensive evaluation of ARPA-funded WIC and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) modernization projects being implemented between 2022 and 2029. This work will tap into and build upon project-specific evaluation activities to help us understand the cumulative impact of all the efforts to modernize the programs. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the ARPA evaluation are 1) enrollment, 2) participation, 3) retention, 4) benefit redemption, and

5) participant experience.

The evaluation will include both process evaluation and outcome evaluation.

a. The process evaluation will involve tracking project implementation to understand reach, dose, waiver use, and the different technical or programmatic approaches being used.

b. The outcome evaluation will assess whether the modernization projects are associated with increases in enrollment, participation, retention, and benefit redemption; improvements to the participant experience; and/or reductions in disparities in program delivery in WIC and FMNP.

The contractor will collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data from a variety of sources including:

1. Project-level documentation;

2. Surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with participants, vendors, and State and local agency staff;

3. Site visits;

4. State Management Information Systems (MIS) and Electronic Benefits Transfer

(EBT) data, levering existing data collection efforts to minimize burden on State agencies;

5. And other WIC administrative data, as needed to support the evaluation.

FNS will coordinate all communication/collaboration between Mathematica® and the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center cooperator. All requests for data available from FNS must be requested directly from FNS in writing.

Program Training and Technical Assistance The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center Cooperator is responsible for training and technical assistance for implementation grantees that should include but that are not limited to the following key components:

a) Providing direct technical assistance to implementation grantees related to WIC program requirements, needs, and operational practices, as needed, at any point during the implementation project;

b) Ensuring that each implementation project grantee has a consistent understanding of WIC and delivers information in a manner that demonstrates appropriate understanding of WIC State and local agency operations;

c) Collecting and providing information on best practices for implementation project grantees;

d) Disseminating information and assisting with collaboration among the implementation project grantees and WIC State and Local agency operations;

e) Coordinating communication between the WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center, implementation project grantees and WIC Local, State, National, and Tribal agencies;

f) Developing and implementing national, regional, state, and local trainings in alignment with the National WIC Workforce Strategy and identified needs of the implementation project grantees, in partnership with WIC Local, State, National, and Tribal agencies as appropriate;

g) Building capacity and sustainability through development and dissemination of resources in a variety of formats as appropriate to the strategy and implementation projects, including but not limited to webinars, toolkits, service blueprints, journey maps, etc. of WIC Local, State, National, and Tribal agencies to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce. Practical tools and resources that are easily accessible and practical for State and local agencies to use, in addition to formal reports, are encouraged; and

h) Development of all technical assistance tools and resources, including surveys, must include a human-centered design approach. Requests to reach out to WIC State and local agencies for participation and development and design of technical assistance must go through FNS and must include appropriate response time frames for State and local agencies (a minimum of 2 weeks, ideally 3 weeks or longer).

Requirements for National WIC Workforce Advisory Workgroup The WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center must also establish and oversee a National WIC Workforce Advisory Workgroup to help inform project components throughout the entire period of performance. The Workgroup should be comprised of representative stakeholders and project implementors, current and potential workforce stakeholders (e.g., peer educators, paraprofessionals, Registered Dietitians, students, etc.), and local, state, national and tribal stakeholders who possess some WIC experience/knowledge. NIFA and FNS staff members should be included (e.g., champion, liaison, ex officio, and active members). Members from stakeholder organizations should also be considered (e.g., National WIC Association (NWA), National Indian and Native American WIC Coalition (NINAWC), and Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN), etc.).

The subject matter knowledge of each member of the Workgroup should reflect one or more of the following areas:

1. Development and execution of workforce development programs in similar fields to those included in WIC Competent Professional Authority (CPA) requirements (e.g., federal nutrition programs, public health, or maternal and child health).

2. Development and execution of workforce development programs among culturally diverse populations and communities of color.

3. Development and execution of SNAP ED and EFNEP workforce development programs to train individuals for customer service positions.

4. Development and implementation of similar strategies through Land-grant and Tribal colleges and universities.

5. Development and execution of cultural competency training in related fields.

6. Development and implementation of staffing patterns/efficiencies.

The Workgroup will be charged with providing input into the evaluation and reporting plan and metrics, addressing technical assistance needs of implementation project grantees, trainings, and soliciting feedback from others in the WIC community, as needed. A primary goal of the Workgroup is to ensure that all efforts align within any applicable WIC program requirements, needs, and operational practices, are feasible, and enhance sustainability of the implementation of the National WIC Workforce Strategy for WIC Local, State, National, and Tribal agencies to improve workforce retention, cultural engagement, and participant enrollment based on review of implementation project results and models developed.

Applicants must also describe and demonstrate in their application that:

a) The project team has experience conducting high-quality evaluations of similar scope and scale in partnership with WIC, similar public health programs, or federally funded programs (as evidenced by reports, publications, and/or other materials), and the team has capacity to design and carry out the required evaluation activities;

b) The project team demonstrates prior WIC experience and expertise;

c) Plans or strategies to strengthen or further develop partnerships with WIC Local, State, National, and Tribal agencies will be implemented as needed to sufficiently oversee implementation of the National WIC Workforce Strategy,

d) They will ensure training is culturally competent and centered on DEIA principles; and

e) They will engage in ongoing consultation with FNS and NIFA Leadership, which may include: 1) Monthly or bi-monthly dialogues; and 2) Project Director focused national meetings (2–3-day focused events).

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The amount available for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) in FY2024 is approximately $10,000,000. USDA is not committed to fund any application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this RFA.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA. Application for FY2024 is limited to the following application types:

1. New application: New applications will be evaluated using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA and are subject to the due dates herein (see Appendix III for definition).

C. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 2 CFR Part 422, institutions that conduct USDA-funded extramural research must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct, and maintain and effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an application to NIFA results in an award, the Authorized Representative (AR) assures, through acceptance of the award that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Award recipients must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and documentation to support the conduct of the training. See Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.

https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Eligible institutions include:

a. State Agricultural Experiment Station;

b. colleges and universities, including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges, 1994 Land- Grant Institutions, Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (HSACUs, see NIFA's Hispanic Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities page);

c. university research foundations;

d. other research institutions and organizations;

e. non-profit organizations;

f. Federal agencies;

g. Governmental agencies;

h. Tribal organizations;

i. national laboratories;

j. private organizations or corporations;

k. individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; or

l. any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through j).

Eligible institutions do not include foreign or international organizations.

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC Workforce – Education and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center) has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://nifa.usda.gov/hispanic-serving-agricultural-colleges-and-universities-hsacu https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically; no other method or response is accepted. The electronic application for this RFA and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101. Table 3 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. The NIFA Grants Application Guide is contained in the specific funding opportunity package or a sample of the guide can be found here. When applying for a NIFA award, it is important to reference the version of the guide that is included in the specific funding opportunity application package.

Table 3. Steps to Obtain Application Materials Steps Action

Step One: Register New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application (Register Here).

Step Two:

Download Adobe

Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility for basic system requirements).

Step Three: Find Application

Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-WICWD-010773, search for application here: Opportunity Package.

Step Four: Assess Readiness

Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

Table 4: Help and Resources

Grants.gov Support NIFA Support Grants.gov Online Support Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll- Free or 606-545-5035 Email support: support@grants.gov Self-service customer-based support:

Grants.gov iPortal Key Information: Customer service business Hours 24/7, except federal holidays.

Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays

B. Content and Form of the Application The NIFA Grants Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this RFA. The RFA overrides the NIFA Grants Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. Applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this RFA. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 5 outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/register https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide

Table 5: Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the NIFA Grants Application Guide)

Attachments must be in a portable document format (PDF) format.

Part IV

Check the manifest of submitted files to verify attachments are in the correct format.

Part IV

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part IV

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R.

Part V

Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence.

N/A

Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an application within 30 days of the application deadline.

N/A

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.

SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Workforce - Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center (WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center). See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.

2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed 20 1.5 spaced pages of written text, figures, and tables with 1-inch margins. The font size for text should be no smaller than 12 points, Times New Roman (the font size for figures and tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman). The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition. PNs that exceed the page limits will not be reviewed.

Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project.

Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit.

https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide

The PN must include all the following:

a. Introduction. The introduction must include a clear statement of the long-term goal(s) of the proposed WIC Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center. Show evidence of direct experience providing training, technical assistance, evaluation, and informational support services. Cite relevant previous accomplishments related to WIC as well as past accomplishments of similar work.

b. Project goals and intended outcomes. Concisely present the goals, associated objectives, and expected outputs and outcomes of the project necessary to address the long-term goal(s) outlined in the introduction and to achieve the deliverables outlined in the RFA. Outcomes should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely; and should describe specific changes in knowledge, actions, or conditions that will occur because of the project.

c. Personnel, organizations, and resources involved. Describe in detail the relevant experience and qualifications of the project team serving WIC State and local agency operations, other Federal nutrition programs (e.g., EFNEP), Extension, underserved communities, or other similar audiences. The capacity to provide training and technical assistance should be clearly identified. Describe the method of selection and membership of the National WIC Advisory Workgroup, roles, and responsibilities. Describe ongoing or recently completed significant activities related to the proposed center, and their impacts. The information may include: the years and locations of prior activities; number of training and technical assistance activities provided along with evaluation activities carried out; the success rate of the training and technical assistance provided and the types of evaluation outcomes and impacts.

d. Approach. The activities proposed to meet the project requirements and deliverables must be clearly stated. Discuss how the proposed outcomes will be realized by providing a systematic description and timeline for how the most important steps or milestones will be accomplished and the level and types of involvement of key stakeholders and partners at WIC State and local agencies, including ITOs and territories. Attention should be given to DEIA principles, cultural responsiveness, and competency to serve underserved populations and others participating in WIC. Cultural competency in this context is broader than race or ethnicity and includes socioeconomic and other cultural factors that may affect the efficacy of program services. Include a description of any proposed innovative product development. Subawardees: Include details of the roles and responsibilities of subawardees. Include time commitments, goals, and objectives of each subawardee. In addition to these descriptions, it is recommended that a table be provided with implementation details for these activities, including: (a) specific steps and achievements; (b) timetables for milestones, and (c) entities involved at each step. These should align with the logic model that is also required.

g. Cooperation and institutional/organizational involvement. Provide a statement of commitment to communicating regularly with NIFA as per the Cooperative Agreement, FNS, the WIC Workforce implementation project grantees, and others who are part of the joint agency initiative where appropriate. Briefly indicate the commitment of other involved entities and organizations for the completion of this project. Letters of commitment must be included in the Appendices. A sampling of letters of commitment from members of the proposed National WIC Workforce Advisory Workgroup must be provided.

h. Logic Model. A logic model is required and is limited to one-page. Title the attachment as ‘Logic Model’ in the document header and save file as ‘LogicModel’. This logic model must align with what is proposed in this application.

i. Data Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is required for this program.

Applicants should clearly articulate how the project director (PD) and co-PDs plan to manage and disseminate the data generated by the project. Describe how data assets will be made publicly accessible and/or describe any exemptions to the public access policy. The DMP will be considered during the merit review process (see Part V, B of this RFA, NIFA’s Data Management Plan).

3. Field 12. Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded). See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for profile requirements, details about the biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.

R&R Personal Data. This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide).

R&R Budget. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Indirect costs (IDC) – See Part IV, C of this RFA for funding restrictions regarding IDC, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.

Supplemental Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the program name “WIC

Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center” and the program code “WETAC”. Accurate entry is critical.

2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

C. Funding Restrictions Fully Negotiated Rate. Applicants must use the current negotiated Indirect Cost (IDC) rate established by its cognizant Federal agency (the agency that provides the most funds). If awarded, the applicant will be required to produce a negotiated IDC rate agreement from the cognizant agency to recover IDC.

If the applicant does not have a negotiated rate and NIFA is the cognizant agency, the applicant may request an IDC rate. Applicants are not required to complete the IDC package during the application process and need only to calculate a rate to serve as a basis for requesting IDC. If awarded, the applicant will be required to submit a complete IDC proposal package to obtain a negotiated rate.

Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the de minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414(f)). Currently the Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total indirect costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. OMB has updated the 2 CFR allowing an indirect cost de minimis rate increase https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/data-management-plan-nifa-funded-research-projects https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) from 10 to 15 percent effective October 1, 2024. Budgets for indirect costs will be increased accordingly if the recipient selects the de minimis indirect cost recovery option. As described above and in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If elected, this methodology must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time.

See NIFA Indirect Costs for information including additional resources and NIFA Indirect Cost Guidance Chart

Legislative mandated Indirect Cost (IDC). Section 704 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, limits IDC for Cooperative Agreements with nonprofit institutions, including colleges and universities, to 10% of total federal funds awarded. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants that are nonprofit institutions must limit their requests for recovery of IDC to 10 percent of the total funds requested.

If the applicant does not have a negotiated rate and NIFA is the cognizant agency, the applicant may request an IDC rate. Applicants are not required to complete the IDC package during the application process and need only to calculate a rate to serve as a basis for requesting IDC. If awarded, the applicant will be required to submit a complete IDC proposal package to obtain a negotiated rate.

Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the de minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414(f)). Currently the Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total indirect costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. OMB has updated the 2 CFR allowing an indirect cost de minimis rate increase from 10 to 15 percent effective October 1, 2024. Budgets for indirect costs will be increased accordingly if the recipient selects the de minimis indirect cost recovery option. As described above and in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If elected, this methodology must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time.

See NIFA Indirect Costs for information including additional resources and NIFA Indirect Cost Guidance Chart.

Sub-award Restriction. The applicant is expected to perform a substantive portion of the project and no more than 33 percent, as determined by budget expenditures, may be sub-awarded. NIFA will allow applicants to indicate in their proposal if they intend to sub-award more than 33% of the total award. This deviation will require NIFA pre-approval. If pre-approval is desired, contact the National Program Leader that oversees this program (see Appendix I: Agency Contact).

Projects may divide their budget allocations between partners as it fits their work plan. (For additional knowledge or expertise that is not available within the applicant organization, funds for expert consultation may be…