Online TA Grant 9.19.22.pdf

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC)

Fiscal Year 2022 Request for Applications

Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.580

Dates

Release Date: July 7, 2022

Application Due Date: 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), October 6, 2022

Anticipated Award Date: January 2023

OMB BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0512. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 30 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Application Checklist This application checklist provides a list of the required documents; however FNS expects that applicants will read the entire RFA prior to the submission of their application.

In order to apply, at least four weeks prior to submission, you must have:

Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number;;

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

When preparing your application, ensure:

Your application format and narrative meet the requirements included in Section IV

“Application and Submission Information,” including page limits and priorities outlined in Section IV, and all necessary attachments.

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

Cost Allocation o If other programs will benefit from this project, the costs supported by the grant will only fund the SNAP aspects of the project.

Personnel o Proposal includes all key employees paid for by the grant.

o Proposal identifies employees by name, position, and title.

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

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

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

Travel o Expenses are itemized and explained in the budget narrative. For example:

origination/destination points, number and purpose of trips, number of staff traveling, mode of transportation, and cost of each trip.

o Attendee objectives and travel justifications are included in the budget narrative.

o Basis for lodging estimates are identified in the budget narrative.

Equipment o Equipment costs are justified in the budget narrative.

o Types of equipment, unit costs, and number of items are listed in the budget narrative, along with basis for cost per item.

Supplies o Types of supplies, unit costs, and number of items are listed in the budget narrative, along with basis for cost per item.

Contractual and Consultant Costs o The need for a contractor has been identified in the proposal, and the cost is justified in the budget narrative.

o Applicants that are required to issue a bid have provided a narrative explaining the requirement and provided a reasonable estimate for contractual and consultant costs.

Indirect Cost Information o Indirect cost information (either a copy of a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or if no agreement exists and the applicant has never been approved for a NICRA, they may charge up to 10% de minimis). If applicant is requesting the de minimis rate or indirect costs are not requested, please indicate this in the budget narrative.

Other o Any other costs associated with this project are itemized, explained, and reasonable.

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

SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance (fillable PDF in Grants.gov) SF-424A – Budget Information and Instruction Form (fillable PDF in Grants.gov) SF-424B – Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (fillable PDF in Grants.gov) SF-LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities FNS-906 – Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF - Upload using the “Add Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15)

When applicable, application packages are required to include the following documents:

All non-profit organizations must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SFLLL_1_2-V1.2.pdf

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

Federal Nutrition Programs SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) Cooperative Agreement Project

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.580.

DATES: Applications must be received by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST) on October 6, 2022. Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding (see Part IV, of this RFA). Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: FNS requests applications for the SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) Cooperative Agreement Project beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2023 to work with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to support retailer efforts to implement online purchasing systems, mobile pay in pilot states when selected, and any additional electronic benefit transfer (EBT) modernization initiatives, in accordance with requirements established by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This technical assistance center grant will be awarded to one grantee and may be in place for up to four Federal fiscal years (dependent upon demand).The amount available for FNS to support this program is up to $5,000,000.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Contents

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Authorizing Legislation

Background

Purpose / Key Objectives

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Type of Award

Application and Review Dates

Period of Performance

Allowable Costs

Unallowable Costs

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible applicants

Cost sharing or matching considerations

Pre-Award Costs

Pre-application Screening Requirements

Other Eligibility Criteria

Acknowledgement of USDA Support

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Application Format

Application Content

Submission Date

Electronic Submission Details

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

How to Authorize Grants.gov Roles (steps for the EBiz POC)

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Application Deadline and Proof of Timely Submission

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Evaluation Factors and Criteria

Review and Selection Process

Determination of Award Amounts

VI. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Federal Award Notice

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

FINANCIAL REPORTING

PROGRESS REPORTING

VII. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

Debriefing Requests

IX. APPENDIX

SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot Business Requirements

RFA Budget Narrative Checklist

Purpose

Organization Information

FNS-908 Performance Progress Report (PPR) – For Reference Only

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

Authorizing Legislation

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or Program), authorized under The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, (PL 88-525) as amended, is the cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition assistance safety net. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees State operations to certify low-income Americans to participate in the program and authorizes and monitors retailers to accept SNAP benefits for eligible food products. Currently, approximately 40 million low-income Americans receive SNAP benefits and more than 250,000 retailers are authorized to accept SNAP benefits.

Section 703 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 authorizes USDA, on a competitive basis, to provide technical assistance to educate retailers on the process and technical requirements for online acceptance of SNAP benefits and to support and expedite SNAP online purchasing. The America Rescue Plan (PL-117-2) provides additional funding for SNAP issuance-related modernization efforts, which will be addressed in future contracts or grants separate from this solicitation.

In addition to online purchasing, a portion of the funding for this grant opportunity will be used to support technical assistance for SNAP retailers who will implement mobile payments under an FNS pilot in five States (currently to be determined), and to support education and training on any new issuance modernization initiatives.

Background

Online Purchasing Program. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (PL-113-79), also known as the Farm Bill, called upon the Secretary of the USDA to authorize retail food stores to accept SNAP benefit purchases via online transactions, subject to the results of a multi-retailer pilot project (pilot) conducted to test the feasibility of allowing such transactions. Beginning in 2016, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) solicited and implemented these projects in order to collect sufficient information to provide the Secretary with a recommendation on whether allowing online purchases with SNAP benefits is in the best interest of the Program. While online grocery shopping and purchasing has been a reality for many years outside of SNAP, there are requirements specific to SNAP purchasing that do not exist for other types of transactions, not least of which revolves around the requirement to utilize a secure personal identification number (PIN) for each transaction. FNS also recognized that being able to offer online purchasing provides an opportunity to address the needs of the elderly and disabled who often cannot easily go out to shop, as well as the needs of those that lack consistent access to transportation or live in areas considered to be food deserts.

Initially, seven retailers and States were selected for the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. Soon after implementation of these initial pilot projects began, the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting all Americans. Because of the need to maintain social distancing, many States and their retailers clamored to become part of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot in order to better serve their SNAP recipients concerned with in-person shopping. As a result, the pilot was opened for all States to submit plans and for any retailer in approved States capable of meeting the requirements to implement online purchasing. The current status of implementation can be found here: www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot

Initially, one limiting factor in how quickly retailers could expand had been the existence of only one Third Party Processor capable of securely processing PINs for online retailer transactions.

Unlike other commercial online debit card transactions, which are similar to SNAP EBT transactions, SNAP online transactions must have a PIN entered for each transaction and secured during the processing of the transaction. Because every interested retailer has had to work with that one provider as they developed their SNAP online purchasing system, implementation has been slower than it might have been otherwise. However, as of January 29, 2021, there are two such PIN processing providers. FNS expects this development to increase the pace at which retailers can implement. FNS also expects other PIN providers may become available as this type of SNAP shopping matures.

The other limiting factor which the Agency is looking to resolve with this SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) is the difficulty some retailers – primarily smaller retailers with limited experience or ecommerce website presence – have had to fully understand the FNS requirements for online purchasing, understand the technical choices they face in bringing up an online purchasing program, and consider the store-level resources necessary to support online purchasing (i.e., order aggregation and delivery). FNS intends for this Center to work closely with Agency staff and be a resource all interested retailers can turn to in order to obtain ongoing guidance on how they can best proceed towards satisfying the FNS requirements and implementing their system.

The kinds of confusion and challenges that the Agency has seen with retailers has been associated with, not only understanding the various requirements, but also understanding how the requirements fit together and which aspects of the system can be worked on simultaneously.

Oftentimes retailers get frustrated with the slow pace of development, not realizing that they could have been working on more than one aspect at the same time (e.g., retailer website details at the same time transaction capability development is taking place). Retailers or their eCommerce providers have also struggled to implement on their website the SNAP requirements that have long been in place in brick-and-mortar stores but also apply to the online space. These include not charging sales tax for SNAP purchases, restricting purchases to SNAP eligible items, and otherwise treating SNAP clients equally. This is sometimes the result of the stakeholder representatives working to implement the online purchasing systems being unfamiliar with the rules governing SNAP EBT.

Mobile Payment Pilots and Other Modernization Opportunities. In addition to online purchasing, in fiscal year 2023, FNS expects to begin to implement mobile payment pilots in up http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot to five States, as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill. The grantee selected to manage the SEMTAC for retailers will also provide education, training, and support to retailers in pilot States that opt to engage in SNAP mobile payments.

Finally, the American Rescue Plan supports FNS exploration of SNAP issuance modernization opportunities. FNS expects to engage with stakeholders on such opportunities. This center will support any new issuance modernization initiatives that may be identified in the center’s operational timeframe.

Purpose / Key Objectives

Purpose

The primary purpose of this technical assistance grant is to establish a SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC, AKA “The Center”) that would help FNS provide information on and technical assistance with needed steps to establish an online purchasing program. The Center would serve State agencies, eligible entities, and program participants. Primarily, the Center would work with: (a) already authorized retailers who may need assistance implementing, testing and obtaining approval from FNS for their online purchasing program; and (b) not-yet-authorized retailers interesting in both obtaining authorization from FNS as well as implementing, testing and obtaining approval from FNS for their online purchasing program. In this role, the Center will be expected to work with any retailer requesting assistance.

The interest among retailers in establishing online purchasing programs is significant – particularly as retailers adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic -- and yet many retailers, particularly those who are smaller and less acquainted with online and ecommerce technology, either because they do not have an online presence or their online presence is limited, have trouble navigating what they need to accomplish to implement such a program. Congress has recognized this need and has authorized USDA to enter into a cooperative agreement or grant to respond to the need.

Online-only retailers

One type of retailer that will need close attention and particularly close coordination between the Center and FNS is the online-only retailer. These are retailers that do not have brick-and-mortar stores and exist only as website providing entities. As such, these retailers have less familiarity with the SNAP program and therefore need more technical assistance. Other than one online-only retailer that participated in the pilot, others of this type are not yet authorized by FNS for participation in SNAP and will need to be addressed on a case-by-case basis as they seek approval. Due to their operational differences from brick-and-mortar stores expanding into the online purchasing environment, policies and requirements around these establishments are still being developed, and any activity by the Center with these types of retailers will need to be handled in close coordination with FNS staff.

Other technical assistance

FNS plans to enter into a cooperative agreement with one selected awardee to work closely with the agency and establish the SEMTAC. FNS reserves the right to make more than one award, and to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants in this or the subsequent fiscal year should funding become available.

Key Objectives

In the interest of providing the best possible customer service to participants, FNS strives to foster innovation and reduce barriers to SNAP services, including ready access to using SNAP benefits for online purchases, assessment of whether mobile payments might be appropriate for the SNAP program, and the assessment of other modernization efforts. This grant announcement most directly supports SNAP by building the capacity to support the expansion of online SNAP purchasing nationwide. Increasing access to online purchasing is particularly important to rural communities, communities served by stores with limited stock of healthy foods, populations facing barriers to accessing traditional retailer grocery stores (e.g., participants with disabilities, participants without transportation), and all recipients impacted by COVID-19. And, this announcement also supports SNAP by building the capacity to support the mobile payments pilot and any other modernization efforts that may develop.

The high-level objectives for this grant announcement are as follows:

# Objectives 1 Establish a SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical

Assistance Center to work with retailers needing help developing their online purchasing programs, as well as with any involvement with mobile payment systems or other modernization efforts. The center should be prepared to address the needs of English-as-a-second-language (ESL) retailers with translation services and production of informational and training materials in multiple languages (up to ten).

2 Assist retailers with the following:

a. Understanding the broad resource commitments necessary for staffing and funding ecommerce.

b. Establishing an ecommerce presence if one is not already established including understanding the breadth of ecommerce and Third Party PIN provider options and respective costs for decision making.

c. Provide guidance to retailers on what is needed to have a website that meets the requirements to operate online purchasing, including but not limited to functionality for:

• Integration of the secure online PIN-entry via the Third Party Processor

(TPP) Application Programming Interface (API).

• Error Handling – includes messaging displayed to customer as appropriate to the situation.

• Ensuring that refunds are matched back to the original purchase.

• Handling of estimated pricing for items that are variably priced based on weight.

• Having only one SNAP card provisioned to a customer account.

• Ensuring only eligible foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits.

• Not charging sales tax on SNAP purchases.

• Allowing split tender transactions for the payment of non-SNAP eligible items and delivery fees.

• Allowing the SNAP customer to specify the amount of their SNAP benefits to apply to each order.

• Meeting additional requirements found in the Online Purchasing Request for Volunteers (see https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing).

• Developing a business requirements document (BRD) (see Appendix).

d. Answer questions from retailers on any of the above as they arise.

3 Work with key FNS offices to ensure the Agency is informed on progress being made by retailers towards eventual implementation of their Online Purchasing Programs.

Track and report to FNS on what the center is learning as it works with retailers (common challenges and lessons learned).

4 Develop best practice and flow chart documents, as appropriate, for ongoing reference by retailers and other parties, and provide recommendations to FNS on how existing guidelines might be improved to assist retailers in their efforts.

5 Support the Mobile Payments Pilot and other Modernization Efforts by providing technical assistance as needed to retailers; the breadth of this assistance is expected to mirror Objectives 1,2 and 4.

While the grantee, through the SEMTAC, will be responsible for providing guidance and assistance to those retailers requesting it, it will remain the responsibility of the retailer -- and not the grantee -- to select their contractors and ultimately enter into necessary contracts or agreements to develop and implement the systems needed to implement their online purchasing program. This would include arrangements with a Third Party Processor/PIN provider and/or eCommerce Providers. The grantee will have no role in helping the retailer choose partners and/or enter into any specific agreements but would be expected to help retailers better understand what paths/options they have to achieve their goals. For example, the grantee might provide information on the specific types and levels of service provided by various ecommerce providers, along with the cost of those services, but would not consult on the retailer’s decision on selection of an ecommerce provider.

In providing technical assistance to eligible entities, the SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center shall give priority to eligible entities that are small and limited-resource retailers. In particular, these include retailers who service rural areas or areas considered food deserts.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing

Center Design

The SEMTAC must be capable of working with retailers, providing significant time and attention to smaller, less-resourced retailers, including those for whom English is a second language, to help them understand what is needed to move forward with meeting FNS requirements for online purchasing, mobile payments and other payments modernization initiatives. This requires that Center staff have a strong level of understanding with regard to FNS requirements and the technical development and implementation needed by each retailer (see Appendix), as well as an ability to convey this information simply and clearly and in multiple languages (as needed).

To fulfill this role, the Center will need to provide interested parties with website and email access. And, while there should also be a way to contact the Center by phone, there is no expectation that a call center be established. The grantee will propose the manner in which calls will be handled timely and efficiently, including arrangements that will be made available for non-English speakers.

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Type of Award

FNS will award this grant in the form of a cooperative agreement. This agreement is a legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the Federal government and the Grantee.

Cooperative agreements will allow more involvement and collaboration by FNS in the project as compared to a grant, while providing less direction of project activities than a contract. The roles and responsibilities of both the Grantee and FNS will be stated in the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement.

FNS’s involvement in this cooperative agreement will largely entail serving as subject matter experts (SMEs) who provide key input and information to the team, reviewing and providing feedback on deliverables. FNS participation will also include:

1. Evaluation of quarterly progress reports and financial reports to monitor the grantee’s project activities and ensure that the objectives, terms and conditions of the agreement are met; and

2. Periodic on-site and/or remote technical assistance to provide evaluation and guidance on Center activities and outputs as they relate to FNS objectives, including:

• Review of center plans and milestones;

• Discussion of specific retailer progress, as needed, including those associated with online-only retailers and retailers participating in the mobile payments pilots in select States.

• Assessment of online purchasing expansion efforts as well as technical assistance support to date; and

• Other technical assistance related to project objectives.

• Periodic collaborative meetings.

To the extent practicable, FNS is available to provide policy and technical consultation to the Grantee on an as needed basis, preferably through a series of pre-planned feedback sessions and/or standing meetings/calls.

FNS will provide funding for an approved grant through the Grant Award/Letter of Credit process, upon receipt of a properly executed Cooperative Agreement and subject to the availability of funds.

FNS anticipates providing a grant project in the amount of up to $5 million in funding to one 501 (c) (3) non-profit entity.

• Anticipated number of awards: It is anticipated that only one award will be made.

• Expected amounts of individual Federal award: Up to $5 million.

• Anticipated start dates and period of performance: January 2023 – January 2027

• Anticipated amounts and/or numbers of individual awards: One award for up to $5 million

• Estimated funding per award: Up to $5 million

• Application due date: October 6, 2022; 11:59 pm

• Anticipated award announcement date: January 2023

Please note:

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

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

Application and Review Dates

The deadline for submitting applications may be found in Section IV. Application and Submission Information. FNS anticipates awarding the grant no later than January, 2023.

Period of Performance

FNS anticipates awarding the grant for up to 4 years. All grant funds must be obligated and all program activities under the grant (other than activities relating to the close out of the grant) must be completed by the end of the award period. The close-out of the grant must occur no later than 120 days following the termination date of the agreement, and all obligations incurred under the grant must be liquidated by this date. Any funds that are not liquidated within 120 days following the end of the award period must be returned to FNS. In addition, the final progress reports are due to FNS no later than 120 days following the end of the award period. Please see the section on Federal Award Administration Information for details on reporting requirements.

A total of up to $5 million in Federal funding is available for the Grant.

FNS anticipates awarding the grant through a competitive process in January, 2023, subject to the availability of federal funds. Grantees may use budgeted grant funds for each milestone deliverable for the duration of the project period. The period of performance begins on January, 2023, and will not exceed four (4) years from the start date. FNS intends to fund one (1) cooperative agreement under this RFA. However, the number of grants awarded will be dependent on the quality and nature of the applications received.

FNS may elect to fund an application in its entirety, may limit funding to specific items of the proposals contained in an application, and/or may negotiate with proposed applicants to stay within available funding. The Grantee will be responsible for utilizing their awarded amount to establish and operate the Technical Assistance Center.

Program Specific Requirements

Applicants must provide a plan that demonstrates they meet the following requirements.

Applicants need to provide specific detailed information as to how and when they gained this experience:

1. Experience in designing and managing a technical assistance center.

2. Experience in providing technical assistance.

3. Knowledge of or capacity to quickly learn about SNAP EBT and SNAP retailer needs.

4. Experience with and/or capacity for working with a diverse portfolio of retailers on a national scale.

5. Experience with and/or capacity for helping implement technological innovations.

6. Experience developing guides, FAQs, best practice documents and doing so in multiple languages. All documents or products generated by efforts funded through this Cooperative Agreement are subject to review and approval by FNS before release and are considered the property of FNS.

The Grantee shall:

1. Develop the Technical Assistance Center and staff it with properly credentialed personnel;

2. Establish phone, website, and email methods of contact so retailers have ways to raise questions and obtain assistance;

3. Inform interested retailers of the technical assistance services;

4. Keep FNS informed on progress made by retailers obtaining assistance through regular reports as directed by FNS;

5. Progress reports should include data that shows types of assistance requested/provided to retailers, common questions that would show the areas that retailers need assistance with, and lessons learned.

6. Submit timely progress reports in accordance with a schedule agreed upon with FNS.

7. Meet all objectives and provide deliverables as outlined in this solicitation.

Regular Conference Calls:

Monthly conference calls with FNS shall provide an overview of the activities conducted during the previous month, an overview of progress made with particular retailers and significant challenges particular retailers may be facing. It would also address any particular document developments requested of the grantee, including major accomplishments with completion dates and budget, and cover major planned activities for the next month. Any deviations from the proposed plan, difficulties encountered, solutions developed to overcome difficulties, and assistance needed from FNS on technical issues would be addressed as well.

Should a major issue arise between calls, the Grantee must contact the FNS Grant Management Operation Branch or the designated Program Office immediately. During the early stages in the grant or at other key stages in the project, such as developments with the mobile purchasing pilots or other modernization efforts, conference calls with FNS may occur weekly.

The Grantee shall provide FNS with an agenda 3 business days prior to each call. The Grantee shall also prepare minutes for each call and distribute to FNS no later than 5 business days after the call.

Allowable Costs

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

Funds from this RFA are not intended to replicate existing projects.

Equipment and Supplies: Expenditures for both equipment (i.e., items of personal property having a useful life of more than one year and a cost of $5,000 or more) and supplies are allowable expenses, with prior approval. Prior approval can be obtained through the budget approval process. For purposes of this grant, equipment does not include any retailer equipment supporting online transactions at particular retailers. Retailers will be responsible for whatever equipment is needed to support their online transactions system.

Procurement Contracts: Grantees may use grant funds to procure contracts for goods and services.

Unallowable Costs

Retailer costs: Grant funds may not be used to subsidize retailer costs associated with online purchasing, mobile payments or other modernization efforts.

Pre-award costs will not be awarded for these grant projects.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit entities only. A nonprofit entity is any organization or institution with IRS 501(c) (3) status or accredited institutions of higher education, where no part of the net earnings benefit any private shareholder or individual. All applicant organizations must be domestic entities and shall be owned, operated, and located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands.

Non-profit entities are defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization which: (1) Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest; (2) Is not organized primarily for profit; and (3) Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations. For the purposes of this grant program, non-profit entities are required to have 501(c)(3) status.

Cost sharing or matching considerations

There are no cost sharing or matching requirements.

Pre-Award Costs

FNS will not approve pre-award costs.

Pre-Award Screening Requirements

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

o SAM.gov, the System for Award Management, the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS o FAPIIS, the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System that has been established to track contractor misconduct and performance o FNS Risk Assessment Questionnaire

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

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

Applications received after the deadline date will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed or considered. FNS will not accept mailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications. Applications not submitted via the www.grants.gov portal will not be considered. Applications submitted without the required supporting documents, forms, and certification will result in a reduced panel score.

Other Eligibility Criteria

Each eligible applicant may only submit one (1) application in response to this grant solicitation.

Suspended or debarred organizations are ineligible to submit applications in response to this grant solicitation.

Acknowledgement of USDA Support

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

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

•When acknowledging USDA support, use the following language: "This material is based upon work that is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.”

Grantees should follow the USDA Visual Standards Guide when using the USDA logo.

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

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

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

Carla Garcia, Grant Officer

Grants and Fiscal Policy Division U.S. Department of Agriculture, FNS

E-mail:Carla.garcia@usda.gov

Application Format

FNS strongly encourages eligible applicants interested in applying to this program to adhere to the following applicant format. The proposed project plan should be presented on 8 ½” x 11” white paper with at least 1-inch margins on the top and bottom. All pages should be single-spaced, in 12-point font. The project description with relevant information should be captured on no more than 30 pages, not including the cover sheet, table of contents, resumes, letter of commitment(s), endorsement letter(s), budget narrative(s), appendices, and required forms. All pages, excluding the form pages, must be numbered.

Application Content

To be considered complete, the grant application must include all the required documents and information listed.

Special Instructions:

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

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

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

• Applicants should submit letters of support/commitment from entities that the applicant proposes to be working with as part of this grant.

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

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

http://www.grants.gov/

• FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants in future fiscal years should additional funds be made available.

• Grant awards are contingent upon the availability of Federal funds.

Additionally, the review committee will evaluate proposals against the criteria below. The project narrative sections include a point value to indicate the importance of each section;

however, reviewers will be evaluating proposals based on all sections regardless of whether point values are provided. FNS has provided a checklist at the beginning of this document to assist applicants in meeting the necessary requirements. Proposals will be scored on the basis of points and can receive up to 110 points. Every proposal must include the following sections: Cover Sheet, Table of Contents, Executive Summary, Project Narrative (including Project Design;

Organizational Experience, Staff Capability, and Management; Evaluation; and Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency), and the Activities/Indicator Tracker. Details on requirements for each section are described below.

Cover Sheet

The cover page should include the following:

1. Grant program title;

2. Applicant’s name and mailing address;

3. Project title;

4. Project summary (a one to two sentence description of project); and

5. Primary contact’s name, job title, phone number, and e-mail address.

Table of Contents

Include relevant sections and subsections, as well as associated page numbers.

Application Project/Executive Summary

1. The specific problem that prompted the applicant to submit a Grant application;

2. How exactly the project proposed in this grant application solves the problem identified;

3. Identify the State agency and/or eligible entities involved in the project;

4. Amount of funding requested;

5. Which priority area(s)/objective(s) the proposal addresses and whether the submission includes the focus area;

6. The proposed activities and anticipated outcomes that would result from the project; and

7. Which SNAP processes will be improved by the project.

Note: The executive summary should not exceed one page.

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

In preparing the project narrative, provide the information requested below, in the order presented below.

1. Project Design

2. Organizational Experience, Staff Capability, and Management

3. Evaluation (Implementation & Monitoring)

4. Other Sections (If applicable)

5. Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency

6. Bonus Points

• Introduction: Provide background information on the proposed team’s experience providing technical assistance, focusing on retailer systems and needs, and with online purchasing, mobile payments, and other modernization efforts, as appropriate. Please note any successes, lessons learned, or challenges from previous efforts.

• Background: The Background will both describe what is known and highlight what is not known about this project.

• Objectives, Activities, and Timeline: Clearly state project objectives, use descriptive statements that specifically discuss what you hope to accomplish, include specific activities you will perform to accomplish the project objectives, as stated in the Purpose of Cooperative Agreement section, and include deadlines. All objectives should lead to a clearly stated goal relevant to this RFA. Your project timeline should start on the award date and end 48 months later. For planning purposes, use the date of award as planned and include dates for any important project milestones and deadlines, and include dates for items described in the Purpose of Cooperative Agreement and Program Specific Requirements section.

• Administration Plan: Describe the team’s plan to administer a Technical Assistance Center, including staffing, as well as any physical, online, and phone presence.

• Dissemination Plan: Describe your plan for establishing awareness of the Center’s existence among the retailer community as well as to share any best practices with the community.

• Technical Assistance Plan: The Technical Assistance (TA) Plan should indicate the process, frequency, and mode by which the Grantee will interact with those wanting assistance, including how stakeholders (retailers) will be able to request assistance and how requests for assistance will be managed. The plan should describe the personnel that will perform this function, as well as a process to document and track each technical assistance experience. The purpose of technical assistance is to support expansion of the online purchasing project and to support needs that arise from the mobile payments pilot and/or other modernization efforts. Applicants should articulate a clear plan to communicate with stakeholders and provide technical assistance.

• Management Plan: Provide a clear description of the activities to be undertaken to manage the Technical Assistance Center to ensure that project activities are completed on time, within budget, and with quality results. Applicant should describe its organizational structure and identify the staff and/or contractors who will manage the project. Describe roles and responsibilities of these employees or contractors, as well as relevant qualifications and experience, and a level of effort specified for specific staff proposed.

Note any relevant experience in managing similar activities. Explain contingency plans for staff turnover. Describe how quality assurance, recordkeeping, and accounting activities will be executed. Provide a clear description of how funds will be administered.

• Exit and Early Termination Plan: Provide a clear description on how the Grantee would transition any parties receiving assistance as well as any developed tools being used back to FNS at the end of the project duration. This can take place either as planned after the full term of the project (48 months) or upon early termination, if determined by the Agency to be appropriate. As provided by 2 CFR 200.340, FNS can terminate its agreement with the Grantee with or without cause.

Reports and Documents Review

All documents generated by efforts funded through this cooperative agreement are subject to review by FNS before release. While the grantee can use whatever tracking mechanism they deem appropriate, progress reports tracking mechanisms. The grantee would also be expected to provide ad hoc reports on State activity, as needed.

Activities/Indicators Tracker

In the first quarter of Year 1, at a minimum, the Grantee will have identified and oriented team members, set up avenues for reaching the center, and fully established TA Center operations. By the end of first quarter, the center will have identified the kinds of materials that would help retailers navigate their online purchasing alternatives.

In the second quarter of Year 1, materials will be drafted and following review by FNS, finalized.

No later than the third quarter of Year 1, materials are translated into up to 10 languages identified by FNS and confirmed by the grantee, and made available on a website.

By the end of Year 1, any retailers seeking assistance in navigating online purchasing alternatives will have received assistance with zero complaints regarding responsiveness.

Throughout the year, and for each following years in which the SEMTAC operates, the grantee will track all retailer technical assistance requests and contacts. At the end of Year 1, and at the end of each year in which the SEMTAC operates, the grantee will provide a summary report of specific retailer assistance provided. FNS is expecting applications to include budget breakouts for each of these activities. Continued funding for SEMTAC beyond year one will be based on an FNS review the level of activities to determine if there is a need to continue SEMTAC operations.

Objective 1: Establish a SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC) to work with retailers needing help developing their online purchasing programs, as well as with any involvement with mobile payment systems or other modernization efforts.

Proposed Activity 1: Establish a quality team to provide technical assistance

Indicator 1: Quality of staff to provide the necessary technical assistance.

Members of such a team would include persons with experience providing hands-on technical assistance to members of the retailer community. This includes retailers of all types and sizes, and those for whom English is a second language. Experience is defined as three or more years working with the retailer community to navigate matters of a technical nature.

Proposed Activity 2: Establish means for interested parties to reach the Center, including website information, phone number, email, etc.

Indicator 1: Quality of plan that has been developed, including sufficiency of details.

Indicator 2: Completeness of plan, as determined by all appropriate stakeholders being included and all costs/other considerations being addressed appropriately.

Proposed Activity 3: Establish means for notifying interested parties of Center’s existence and offerings

Indicator 1: Final documentation for distribution and/or sharing on website accepted by FNS to inform retailers of what the Center can offer (as well as what it does not offer)

Objective 2: Provide assistance to retailers developing an Online Purchasing Program

Proposed Activity 1: Develop plan of how Center will provide assistance to retailers with the online purchasing program, including FAQs to address more routine and/or easier questions as well as one-on-one offerings for more challenging questions.

Indicator 1: Final plan accepted by FNS

Proposed Activity 2: Develop materials and information to assist retailers in navigating online purchasing alternatives. This may include a series of FAQs, videos, and other means identified by the TA Center as most effective in communicating alternatives.

Indicator 1: Thoroughness of FAQs, as determined by presentation and acceptance by FNS

Indicator 2: Provided in multiple languages as identified by FNS and the Center.

Proposed Activity 3: Develop a process for assisting retailers or their ecommerce providers in completing the Business Requirements Document (BRD) outlining the manner in which they will accept and process online SNAP transactions – for reference, see Appendix.

Indicator 1: Process establishes timeframes for review and feedback of BRDs.

Indicator 2: BRD’s submitted to FNS are clear and concise and require minimal feedback prior to approval.

Objective 3: Provide assistance to retailers working with the Mobile Payments Pilot or other Modernization Efforts

Proposed Activity 1: Develop plan of how Center will provide assistance to retailers with the Mobile Payments…