NOFO0001336 FINAL_USDA-NRCS-NHQ-UAIP-24.pdf

Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) No. USDA- NRCS-NHQ-UAIP-24-NOFO0001336

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO)

SUMMARY INFORMATION

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

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-UAIP-24-NOFO0001336

Assistance Listing: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings (previously referred to as the Catalog of Federal Financial Assistance) on Sam.gov under 10.935, Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, which can be found at:

https://sam.gov/content/home.

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

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2024. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

The primary goal of the UAIP projects is to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production. The UAIP grants being made available for application under this NFO support planning and implementation activities. Planning activities will initiate, develop, or support the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, members of tribal communities, and other stakeholders in areas where access to fresh foods are limited or unavailable. Implementation activities will accelerate existing and emerging models of urban and/or innovative agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners. Innovation may include new and emerging, as well as indigenous or non-traditional agricultural practices.

For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before applying via Grants.gov.

Key Dates https://sam.gov/content/home Jose.Berna Highlight

Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 9, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.

For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

A webinar has been pre-recorded and the presentation and supporting information, the recording can be found at this link https://youtu.be/IhLfF2b6DMg. The recorded webinar can also be found in the “Related Documents” tab of this opportunity and in the program website.

The agency anticipates making selections by June 30, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 30, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $75,000 and the estimated funding ceiling is $350,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not any specific budget period.

Federal Financial Assistance Training

The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/resources/federal-financial-assistance-training/.

It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).

mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/grants https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cfo.gov%2Fresources%2Ffederal-financial-assistance-training%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmichele.devaney%40usda.gov%7C64a8b15d44b145ca688408dbdb1db568%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638344692880554498%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gWNVqnfECl4YtvVHNgN0vY1TJ%2FJ6kDLsRzIAU7x5U4M%3D&reserved=0

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

2. Type of Award

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Other

3. Match

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Information for New Users of Grants.gov

2. Electronic Application Package

3. Content and Form of Application Submission

4. Submission Dates and Times and Correspondence

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process

2. Merit/Technical Criteria

3. Administrative and Risk Criteria

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

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. Audit Requirements

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT

H. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX A - Instructions for Completing SF424 APPENDIX B – Instructions for Completing SF424A APPENDIX C – Budget Narrative Guidance APPENDIX D – OUAIP Metrics and Indicators APPENDIX E – Application Checklist

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The authorizing statutes and regulations for this opportunity is Section 222 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, as added by Section 12302 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, 7 U.S.C. 6923.

The goals and objectives of this program include:

• to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production to any of the eligible entities.

• to improve access to local foods in areas where access to fresh, healthy food is limited or unavailable through urban and/or innovative agricultural practices, including, but not limited to, community gardens, urban farms, rooftop farms, urban agroforests, food forests, orchards, outdoor vertical production, green walls, indoor farms, controlled environment agricultural production, greenhouses, high-tech vertical technology farms, and hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic farm facilities.

• support multiple farmers or gardeners, impacting underserved areas that are lacking access to fresh, healthy foods, and promote urban and/or innovative agricultural practices with planning and implementation activities.

Planning activities support one or more of the following:

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

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

• Business planning, feasibility studies, and other strategies, such as community resource development.

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

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

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:6923%20edition:prelim)

• Ensuring safe growing conditions (e.g., soil tests, environmental assessments). More information can be found at EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalizations.

Implementation activities support one or more of the following:

• Increasing food production in small, urban, and/or controlled environment spaces which may include emerging or innovative technology such as hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, indoor, rooftop, etc.

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

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

• Educating the impacted community about food systems, nutrition, agricultural production, and environmental impacts

• Operating community gardens or nonprofit farms that offer hands-on training in farming or gardening through virtual or web-based formats.

• Providing schools (K-12) with educational resources or programs that increase student knowledge of and access to locally grown foods, emphasize the importance of consuming nutritious and locally grown foods, and train students for careers in agriculture or innovative production.

Refer to Appendix D for OUAIP Unified Metrics and Indicators.

Regarding Organizational Capacity

Priority will be given to organizations with proven capacity to carry out meaningful community-focused work in urban agriculture or innovative production. This capacity is measured by criteria factors including:

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

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

https://www.epa.gov/land-revitalization https://www.epa.gov/land-revitalization

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

• Collaboration with two or more partner organizations, including smaller farms or operations working in the same project target area to carry out the innovative or urban agricultural work described in your proposal.

RESEARCH PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR CONSIDERED.

Travel Funds for conferences, educational events, networking, and/or partnership opportunities are available and highly encouraged that are directly related to project objectives. Organizations may build in costs within their proposal for travel expenses that could support their project’s capacity or advance shared technical knowledge and skills. See Appendix C for guidance on how to properly add travel funds within the proposal’s budget narrative. All requested cost must be supported to show a direct benefit to the project.

1. Definitions Research is defined as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied. Research consists of systematic observations, measurement, and experimentation undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles, where variables are unknown and are subject to manipulation.

Equity is defined as the consistent and systematic treatment of all individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including individuals who belong to communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island persons and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; women and girls;

LGBTQI+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas;

persons who live in United States Territories; persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and individuals who belong to multiple such communities (Executive Order 14091).

Underserved Communities are defined as those populations, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied the opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as exemplified by the preceding definition of “equity” (Executive Order 14091).

Innovative production is a diverse and dynamic area of agriculture, including indoor controlled environment agriculture, rooftop farms, outdoor vertical production, green walls, high-tech vertical farms, greenhouses, and hydroponic, aeroponic, or aquaponic farms. These operations are creating new and better https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/22/2023-03779/further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/22/2023-03779/further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/innovative-production markets, enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops, and creating economic opportunities for the next generation of agricultural producers. They also support climate resilient food systems by extending the growing season, conserving water, and providing local and regional food options.

Urban agriculture includes the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas. Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production, are all examples of urban agriculture. Tribal communities and small towns may also be included.

Historically underserved producers are defined as the following:

Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who has direct or indirect gross farm sales not more than the current indexed value in each of the previous two years (adjusted for inflation using Prices Paid by Farmer Index as compiled by National Agricultural Statistical Service), and who:

• has a total household income at or below the national poverty level for a family of four in each of the previous two years; or

• has a total household income less than 50 percent of county median household income in each of the previous two years.

• A legal entity or joint operation may qualify as limited resource if all individual members independently qualify under the definition.

A Self-Determination Tool is available to the public and may be completed on-line or printed and completed hardcopy at: https://lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/

Beginning Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years, and who will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.

• In the case of a contract with an individual, individually or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county or State where the farm is located.

• In the case of a contract with an entity or joint operation, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.

Material and substantial participation requires that each of the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if each of the members did not https://www.usda.gov/topics/urban https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/underserved-farmers-ranchers https://lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/ provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of one or more of the following groups whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities, 7 U.S.C. § 2279(a). Groups include, but are not limited to, groups whose members identify as:

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Black or African American

• Native Hawaiian or another Pacific Islander

• Hispanic or Latino

For an entity, at least 50-percent ownership in the business entity must be held by socially disadvantaged individuals.

Veteran Farmer or Rancher (VFR) is a farmer or rancher who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, and who:

• has not operated a farm or ranch, or has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years; or

• is a veteran who has first obtained status as a veteran during the most recent 10-year period.

Proposed projects must be performed within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

2. Available Funding

a. Estimated Funding

The Federal funding agency expects to award approximately $6,100,000 through this opportunity. However, the agency retains the discretion to award a larger or lesser amount.

This NFO is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for current fiscal year. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. Estimated project start date modification: Page 10

b. Start Dates and Performance Periods Projects must be 36 months in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of September 30, 2024.

All projects are expected to complete project deliverables and close out activities within 120 days of the end period of performance specified in the award.

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

3. Type of Award

a. Type of Federal Award

The agency plans to award a grant agreement pursuant to this opportunity.

There is no substantial involvement by the Government. See 31 U.S.C. 6302- 6305.31.

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

c. Eligibility of Supplemental Project Applications Applications for supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards. An application for supplementation of an existing project means an application to add components to an existing agreement so that it would meet the objectives and requirements in this NFO.

Supplemental applications can only be requested one time during the period of performance of the initial award and are limited to 2 years in duration, not to exceed a total of 5 years for any single award.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program (2 CFR 200.206(d)). For profit organizations, private institutions of higher education, Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education, foreign entities, individuals, small https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section6302&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section6302&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 businesses (for-profit), and state governments are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.

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

a. City or township governments

b. County governments

c. Independent school districts

d. Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

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

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

g. Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

h. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

i. Special district governments

2. Other Any award made pursuant to this NFO will be made to a single entity.

Applicants that apply as “partnerships” or other similar groupings must clearly describe the relationship between the applicant and the “partner” parties. In all but exceptional cases, it must be reflected in the award as an awardee/sub awardee relationship.

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

Awards made pursuant to this NFO are not Farm Bill incentive contracts;

therefore, the awards in and of themselves are not limited by the payment limitation in 16 USC Chapter 58. However, any agricultural producers receiving a payment through participation in a project awarded under this NFO must meet the eligibility requirements of 7 CFR Part 12 and 7 CFR Part 1400 and have control of the land involved for the term of the proposed award period.

3. Match

There is no match requirement for this opportunity. There is no competitive advantage to applicants who voluntarily provide a match, therefore any cost sharing or matching should not be included in your application, if included, it will not be considered.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title16/chapter58&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-A/part-12 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/subchapter-A/part-1400 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/subchapter-A/part-1400 Jose.Berna Highlight

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Information for New Users of Grants.gov

a. Overview

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

b. Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process.

Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

For assistance with the registration process, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support, available 24/7, at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

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

below). Complete organization instructions are included on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/

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

Individuals (those submitting on their own behalf) are not subject to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) or SAM requirement and may begin with step iii., Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below. (Note: Individuals are not eligible for all opportunities.)

c. Steps to Register

i. Obtain a UEI: All entities applying for funding must have a UEI issued by

SAM.gov. Applicants must enter the UEI in the data entry field labeled "UEI" on the SF-424 form.

ii. Register with SAM: All organizations (entities) must register with System for Award Management (SAM) to apply online through Grants.gov. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Part of the SAM https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/ registration process includes designating an Electronic Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC). The EBiz POC plays an integral part in the organization’s Grants.gov registration and application process. The individual in that role must authorize all other roles in Grants.gov. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/

iii. Create a Grants.gov Account: From the Grants.gov webpage (https://www.grants.gov/), click “Register” in the top right-hand corner and follow the on-screen instructions.

iv. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant submitting on their own behalf. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations, you can have a profile for each organization under one Grants.gov account. In such cases you can log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant profiles. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI for the organization in the UEI field. If you are an individual applicant submitting on your own behalf, you do not need a UEI to add the profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/add-profile

v. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, you must establish roles for individuals in the organization. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role is critical; it gives an individual permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. Without this role, the organization cannot submit any applications. The request for role assignment will be routed to the organization’s EBiz POC for approval. Once approved, the AOR can submit an application online. For more detailed instructions about creating a EBiz POC authorized profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/ebiz-poc-authorizes-profile-roles

Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/track-profile-role-status

d. Electronic Signature

When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/track-profile-role-status https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration/track-profile-role-status the AOR role. This step (step c.v. above) is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

e. Workspace

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

Applicants using unreliable internet connections should be aware that the process of completing the Workspace can take some time. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time to prepare and submit the application before the package closing date.

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

If the Apply button in the opportunity is not active (greyed out), the user does not have the appropriate permissions or has an incomplete applicant registration. For additional information, refer to https://grantsgovprod.wordpress.com/2023/06/08/unlock-the-mystery-of-the-gray-apply-button-four-scenarios/#:~:text=The%20Apply%20button%20will%20be,to%20view%2 0the%20close%20date.

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

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

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

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview/ https://grantsgovprod.wordpress.com/2023/06/08/unlock-the-mystery-of-the-gray-apply-button-four-scenarios/#:%7E:text=The%20Apply%20button%20will%20be,to%20view%20the%20close%20date https://grantsgovprod.wordpress.com/2023/06/08/unlock-the-mystery-of-the-gray-apply-button-four-scenarios/#:%7E:text=The%20Apply%20button%20will%20be,to%20view%20the%20close%20date https://grantsgovprod.wordpress.com/2023/06/08/unlock-the-mystery-of-the-gray-apply-button-four-scenarios/#:%7E:text=The%20Apply%20button%20will%20be,to%20view%20the%20close%20date https://grantsgovprod.wordpress.com/2023/06/08/unlock-the-mystery-of-the-gray-apply-button-four-scenarios/#:%7E:text=The%20Apply%20button%20will%20be,to%20view%20the%20close%20date https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility

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

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

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

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

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

2. Electronic Application Package Applicants interested in submitting an application in response to this NFO must submit it via Grants.gov; the agency will not accept applications submitted via email or any other method. No exceptions will be made for applicants experiencing issues with Grants.gov unless a known system wide Grants.gov issue is identified, in which case the deadline will be extended for all applicants, as appropriate. Applicants are urged to submit early to the Grants.gov system.

For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support, available 24/7, at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.

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

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

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training http://www.grants.gov/

Do not submit video files or files larger than 10MB. File names of attachments must be limited to 50 characters, may not include special characters (e.g., &,–,*,%,/,#), periods (.), blank spaces or accent marks, and must be unique (i.e., no other attachment may have the same file name). An underscore (example: my_Attached_File.pdf) may be used to separate a file name. Attachments must NOT be password protected.

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

a. Application Form

(Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance) See Instructions for Completing SF 424 located in the appendices section.

b. Project Narrative Each page must be numbered and have one-inch margins. The text of the project narrative must be single spaced and typed in a standard typeface (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial, Courier) with no smaller than 12-point font. The project narrative must not exceed 15 pages. This page limitation applies to the project narrative only.

I. Project abstract (1 page limit) Identify whether this request is for a new project or a supplemental request to an existing UAIP award. Provide a descriptive title and summary of your project - the title should include the location of your project. Present a statement of need or assessment of the problem. Define the intended beneficiaries of this project and include the zip codes of the area impacted by your project activities. State whether the communities being served are rural, suburban, or urban. Identify any underserved groups in your communities and describe the approach to determining critical elements, needs of the local food economy and food system to be served. Describe how this project will initiate, build upon, or expand related work or programs. The summary should include the relevance of the project to the purpose and priorities of UAIP (see sec. A)

II. Project Narrative. (15 pages limit)

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

1. Project Purpose: Introduction, reasons for the project, over-arching goals, and relation to NRCS goals. Describe beneficiaries and who will benefit from project activities.

• Present a statement of need or assessment of the problem. What is the situation that is causing concern? Why is it happening?

• Describe the areas or communities being served and provide the zip codes for the areas being served. Detail how you determined the need there, with at least one source of data supporting that access to fresh local food is an issue in the area or communities. to the extent possible, describe limiters of fresh food access using data available in the USDA Food Access Research Atlas.

• Describe the intended underserved group explaining the needs of the local community or food system, and provide at least one source of supporting data, such as demographics, income, and geographic characteristics of the area or community. Describe how limited access to fresh, heathy, and affordable food is an issue in this community.

• Explain how the project is aligned with the purpose and priorities of this program and how it will make a difference with the intended beneficiaries.

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

• Describe the anticipated impact of this project on executive order priorities including climate change, equity, and environmental justice. This element may include but is not limited to participation by underserved groups or groups serving underserved or vulnerable communities; activities with the potential to mitigate the impacts caused by climate change.

2. Project Objectives: Identify key strategies and project design, alignment of resources and activities, strategic resources with clear goals, and objectives.

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

• Describe the project goals, using metrics and indicators that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound.

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

• Describe the involvement of partners and stakeholders in developing project objectives and implementing results.

3. The Organizations and Partners Involved

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

• List two or more partner organizations for this project and include their contact information, relevant experience, community connections, and specific responsibilities for achieving the project goals. For projects that will be operating in a city or state other than where the applicant is headquartered, at least one partner should be located where the project will be served.

• List your organization’s leadership and key personnel for this project.

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

• Explain the identified partners roles in the activities proposed in the application.

• Detail specific roles of partners and stakeholders in developing project https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/food-access-research-atlas activities.

4. Expected Accomplishments, Deliverables, and Timeline: List each deliverable and subtask. Describe what will be done, when it will be done, and how it will be measured. See Appendix D for a list of indicators.

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

• Include a timeline of activities (i.e., annually, quarterly, monthly) milestones and clear, tangible, measurable indicators to demonstrate how progress will be achieved. Include the specific tasks to complete each activity and identify the responsible official to complete the task.

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

• Describe project evaluation of outcomes and indicator reporting. This description will illustrate whether objectives were met.

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

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

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

• Declaration of previous projects and Past Performance

If the applicant has previously received an award (either at the National or State levels), list the following for each award and give a short summary of the completed project’s outcomes. If the project is ongoing, provide the anticipated outcomes. Each description should be no more than a half page:

• Project title

• Agreement number (Federal Award Identifying Number)

• Award funding amount

• Year of award expiration

c. Standard Form (SF) 424A, Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

Fill in all spaces as appropriate. Section B, Item 6, Column 1 should reflect the agency funds, and Column 2 should reflect the applicant’s matching funds. This form is the summary budget for the project and should include the full project https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance totals on pages one and two. See Instructions for Completing SF 424A located in the appendices section. Refer to Section D of this opportunity for information regarding indirect costs. Errors in the SF-424A regarding classifying costs may be negotiated after selection.

d. Budget Narrative

In a separate document titled “Budget Narrative,” explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. (Refer to the budget narrative guidance located in the appendices section.) Detail how the totals on the SF-424A were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the agency’s approval and estimate its cost. The pages included as the budget narrative to not count toward the page limit. Errors in the budget narrative regarding classifying costs may be negotiated after selection. Refer to the Budget Narrative Guidance located at the end of this document regarding procurement standards when including contracts for goods or services. Sole-source contracting is prohibited without proper justification.

See Procurement Standards located at 2 CFR 200.317-327.

i. Build America, Buy American. “Buy America” preference applies to Federal financial assistance awards that include construction components, even if it is funded by both Federal and non-Federal funds under the award.

Subawards should conform to the terms and conditions of the Federal award from which they flow. A Buy America preference only applies to articles, materials, and supplies that are consumed in, incorporated into, or affixed to a construction project. Refer to the General Terms and Conditions for additional information:

https://www.fpacbc.usda.gov/about/grants-and-agreements/award-terms-and-conditions/index.html

ii. Indirect Costs Recovery. If requesting indirect costs, provide the calculation specifying the amounts used in applying the base (the base specified in the applicable rate agreement) by the applicable rate. The calculation can be displayed in different formats but must capture the components (i.e., amounts used in determining the base and the rate applied to the base).

A. To be eligible to recover any indirect costs under a Federal award, recipients must either 1) have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) with a Federal agency that has not expired; or 2) qualify for use of the de minimis rate authorized by 2 CFR 200.414(f) and described below.

For-profit entities (if eligible to apply) must obtain a NICRA from their cognizant agency. USDA will not accept an indirect cost agreement that is https://www.fpacbc.usda.gov/about/grants-and-agreements/award-terms-and-conditions/index.html not a NICRA, for example, those negotiated or approved by the Defense Contract Audit Agency or the Defense Contract Management Agency.

A copy of the applicant’s current NICRA must be provided with the application (see section D(3)(i)). Indirect costs may not be recovered under an expired NICRA. For applicants negotiating a NICRA, provide a copy of the indirect cost rate proposal submitted to the cognizant agency. See section D(3)(h) below for how to submit a NICRA as part of the application.

B. Any non-Federal entity (except State and local governments that receive more than $35 million per year in Federal funding) that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. No documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate, simply indicate in your budget narrative that the recipient elects to use the de minimis rate. Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

C. As described in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

D. A recipient may voluntarily reduce or waive recovery of indirect costs at its sole discretion and must not be encouraged or coerced in any way to do so by the agency.

iii. Indirect Costs Limitations.

a) In accordance with USDA’s annual appropriations act, indirect costs will be limited to no more than 10 percent of total direct costs for non-profit organizations or institutions of higher education that receive a cooperative or contribution agreement. Other types of entities are not subject to this statutory limitation. An applicant subject to the statutory limitation with a current NICRA, must calculate indirect costs as follows. First, multiply the NICRA rate by the base stated in the NICRA to arrive at Amount A. Next, multiply the statutory limit of 10 percent by the total of all direct costs to arrive at Amount B. The https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.403 lower of Amount A and B is the amount of indirect cost to include on the budget.

b) Applicants not subject to a statutory limitation, which have a current NICRA must calculate indirect costs using the rate and base specified in their NICRA.

c) Recipients are prohibited from shifting unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

d) Applicants who are individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization they may operate are not eligible to charge indirect costs to their award. If you are an individual applying for funding, do not include any indirect costs in your proposed budget.

e. Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 2 CFR Part 418, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying.

f. Applicant Contact Information Provide contact information for the roles identified in the Applicant Contact Information template, located in the Related Documents tab of the opportunity.

Upload the contact information under Other Attachments (listed as an Optional Form) in the Grants.gov Opportunity Application Package.

g. SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, must be submitted only if you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying. See 2 CFR 418.110 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

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

If charging indirect costs using a NICRA (including for match), upload the NICRA under Other Attachments (listed as an Optional Form) in the Grants.gov Opportunity Application Package.

i. Letters of Support Letters of support are not required and should not be submitted.

j. Letters of Intent Letters of intent are not required and should not be submitted.

k. Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest In accordance with 2 CFR 400.2, applicants must…