PKG00246528-instructions.pdf

Child Nutrition Grant Program

Child Nutrition Programs

Fiscal Year 2019

Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grants

Fiscal Year 2019 Request for Applications

Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.541

Dates:

Release Date: November 28, 2018

Application Due Date: 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), March 5, 2019

Anticipated Award Date: June 4, 2019

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 40 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.

NOTE: Information italicized should be addressed/completed by the Program area.

Information in black should not be changed. If additional information is required it may be added.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

On December 31, 2017, Grants.gov officially retired the legacy .PDF application package as a method to apply for a Federal grant. This changed the way many Grants.gov users completed and submitted their grant applications.

For information on Workspace application process, visit:

https://grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://communications.grants.gov/app/l/6q3KZ8jGoQl892veDQGyBvbQ/8wUMOSFAzsZ0MK9DNLgLtg/hysv8Unh3EXvtNpco6IwbQ https://communications.grants.gov/app/l/6q3KZ8jGoQl892veDQGyBvbQ/8wUMOSFAzsZ0MK9DNLgLtg/hysv8Unh3EXvtNpco6IwbQ https://grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

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:

Obtained a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;

Registered the DUNS number into 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, priorities outlined in Section X, and all necessary attachments.

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

All key staff who are paid by this grant.

The percentage of time the project director will devote to the project in full-time equivalents.

Your organization’s fringe benefit amount along with the basis for the computation.

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

Itemized travel expenses (including type of travel), travel justifications and basis for lodging estimates.

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

Information for all contracts and justification for any sole-source contracts.

Justification, description and itemized list of all consultant services.

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

(NICRA) or if no agreement exists, the basis of the indirect costs requested). If none requested, please indicate this in the budget narrative.

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

(in Appendix B) Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF - Upload using the “Add

Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15) http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SFLLL_1_2-V1.2.pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIONS

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Purpose of Grant Funding

CN Technology Innovation Grant Types

Planning Grants

Implementation Grants

Application and Review Dates

Award Periods

Allowable Costs

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants

Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

Pre-application Screening Requirements

Other Eligibility Criteria

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Accessing RFA Package

Application Format

Application Content

Special Instructions

Required Grant Application Forms

(A) Non-Construction Grant Projects Forms: SF-424 Family

(B) SF LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)

(C) Additional Required Forms and Information

Submission Date

Electronic Submission Details

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Submission Dates and Times

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

EVALUATION OF GRANT APPLICATION CRITERIA

Scoring for Planning Grant Applications:

Scoring for Implementation Grant Applications:

Selection Process

Determination of Award Amounts

Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Date

FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notice

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

FINANCIAL REPORTING

PROGRESS REPORTING

VII. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

Debriefing Requests

APPENDIX A: RFA BUDGET NARRATIVE CHECKLIST

APPENDIX B:

Purpose

Organization Information

Financial Stability and Quality of Management Systems

Audit Reports and Findings

Applicant Certification

APPENDIX C: FY 2019 CN Technology Innovation Planning Grant

APPENDIX D: FY 2019 CN Technology Innovation Implementation Grant

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIONS

The 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law 115-141 March 23, 2018, authorized funding to be used for grants to States for the purpose of developing or improving current automated information systems used to operate and manage the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approximately $15 million available in fiscal year (FY) 2019 to be used for grants under this funding. This Request for Applications (RFA) invites State agencies that administer the CNPs to apply for grant funding to implement innovative technology solutions that will improve program accountability, data accuracy, program performance measurement, and the capacity to identify and target error-prone areas (locations or program functions) within and across the CNPs at the State and Local Educational Agency (LEA) or Sponsor Organization (SO) levels.

The Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grant (CN TIG) funds will be available on a competitive basis to State agencies administering the CNPs (i.e., National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program). FNS is offering two types of CN TIGs: Planning Grants and Implementation Grants. States may apply for either a Planning Grant or an Implementation Grant, as described within this RFA, but not both under this 2019 RFA solicitation.

This RFA describes:

• Types of grants available;

• Which entities are eligible to apply for grant funds;

• Requirements for submitting a successful application;

• How applications will be reviewed and selected; and

• Terms and conditions to which grantees must adhere.

FNS intends to work collaboratively with grant applicants and grantees throughout the application process and the life of grants awarded through this RFA. Within approximately three weeks of this RFA’s publication, FNS will conduct a webinar with all State agencies and FNS Regional Offices to review the RFA and address questions regarding the application process. Notification of the webinar date, time and call-in information will be communicated to State agencies via the FNS Regional Offices and the FNS PartnerWeb at https://www.partnerweb.usda.gov.

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Purpose of Grant Funding The CN-TIG FY 2019 expects to award $15 million in funding. This grant opportunity is intended to encourage State agencies that administer the CNPs to propose innovative technology solutions that improve program accountability and efficiencies at both the State https://www.partnerweb.usda.gov/ and local levels. Currently, State agencies administering the CNPs maintain automated systems at the State level that rely on operational data from the local levels including, but not limited to, program applications, eligibility certifications (including direct certification), verification (including direct verification), meal counting and claiming, menu planning, program monitoring, and program reporting. Generally, LEAs and SOs operate automated systems, manual systems or a combination thereof to capture the local program data reported to the State agency. For example, local agencies within a given State may be using 30 or more local software systems to report program data to the State agency. In addition, there are LEAs and SOs that do not use an automated method (i.e., a manual/paper system) to capture and report Program data to the State agency or to receive Program data directly from the site level. This creates duplication of effort, increases possibility of errors, and reduces visibility of program operations for monitoring purposes.

The use of paper-based method is particularly prevalent in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Program (CACFP) where funding opportunities to invest in technology solutions had been limited. The CN TIGs can be used to bridge such gaps in automation. For example, the funds could be used to create virtual statewide systems where the State agency either: 1) provides LEAs/SOs/sites access to software modules related to specific program operations within their larger State-level integrated systems; or 2) works with LEAs/SOs to develop interfaces to connect them with the State system in such a way that they perform seamlessly without duplicating effort, yet remaining as separate systems.

In developing the CN TIG applications for FY 2019, State agencies should focus on one or more of the following methods to develop uniform systems that could provide automation between State and local levels:

• web-based software;

• uniform interfaces between diverse systems;

• technology equipment and/or software; and/or

• other innovative business automation solutions to improve program operation efficiencies, accountability, monitoring and overall program integrity at the State and local levels.

For the FY 2019 CN TIG applications, FNS is particularly interested in receiving applications that seek to increase program integrity in the Summer Food Service Program. Examples of relevant proposals from the FY 2017 grant cycle include developing summer meal counting mobile and web-based applications to report real-time meal counts to the State’s claims and reimbursement system, developing web-based application and review modules for SFSP and CACFP, and incorporating the geographic information system (GIS) technology to enhance program integrity.

Brief summaries of FY 2017 grant awardees are located here:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/fy-2017-technology-innovation-grant-summaries

Additionally, the CN TIGs may be paired with the Administrative Review and Training (ART) grants which provide funding for States to be used for oversight and training of https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/fy-2017-technology-innovation-grant-summaries

LEAs. Together these grant opportunities support CN State agencies to implement technology solutions to ensure program integrity and efficiency.

CN Technology Innovation Grant Types The FY 2019 CN TIG award process involves two types of awards:

• CN Technology Innovation Planning Grants for awards up to $100,000 with grant periods of up to one year; and

• CN Technology Innovation Implementation Grants for awards up to $2,000,000 with grant periods of one to three years.

State agencies may apply for either type of grant (i.e., Planning or Implementation), but not both in a given RFA solicitation. If a State agency applies for both types of grants, neither application will be accepted. Only one grant application will be accepted from a State agency in response to this solicitation. In addition to this section, see the section on Application and Submission Information for information on the required content for a grant application submission.

FNS will award these funds in the form of a cooperative agreement to allow FNS more active participation with the cooperator during both project development and project execution. Examples of FNS participation include activities such as the following:

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

• Periodic on-site and off-site technical assistance to provide evaluation and guidance on project activities and outputs as they relate to CNP objectives, including:

Evaluation of technology improvements;

Review of project plans and milestones;

Review of procurement documents for sub-grantee involvement (i.e., requests for proposals, contracts, performance work statements, and project plans); and

Other technical assistance related to project objectives; and

• Periodic collaborative meetings for multiple grantees for the purposes of technical assistance, training, problem solving and sharing successful or promising practices.

Meetings may be conducted as webinars or teleconferences. If awarded a CN TIG, in-person training events, including annual participation in the Child Nutrition Access and Accountability through Technology (CNAAT) national training, will be required. The CNAAT Training event will be a three-day event held each fall located in the Washington, D.C. area or in another city more centrally located within the contiguous United States. The cost of travel and attending events each year should be included in your application.

Planning Grants Planning Grants are intended for State agencies administering the CNPs that know they need to reduce data communication errors in LEAs/SOs, but may need to conduct additional research to identify the most effective way to decrease errors and improve program operations and data integrity. Therefore, potential uses of Planning Grant funds include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Feasibility studies and cost/benefit analyses to plan for automation projects;

• Conducting an internal review of the State’s/LEAs/SOs data processes;

• Hiring a contractor or university to conduct a study of the processes and recommend solutions; or

• Consulting with stakeholders.

State agencies that are awarded Planning Grants from this solicitation may apply for funding for an Implementation Grant at the next annual opportunity, should funds be made available, in order to carry out an implementation project in follow-up to their Planning Grant activities and outcomes. However, there is no guarantee that grant funding will be available to the State for implementation projects in future years. Therefore, FNS encourages State agencies to apply for a Planning Grant to conduct activities that would be beneficial in helping them reduce program communication errors, even if the agency may have to rely on other resources (i.e., State Administrative Expense Funds or other sources) to implement solutions identified as a result of the Planning Grant activities.

State agencies must address all of the questions in Appendix C: FY 2019 CN Technology Innovation Planning Grant, Proposal Narrative and Instructions to develop a Planning Grant application. The instructions are designed to assist State agencies in developing a fully responsive Planning Grant application for viable planning activities and to bring consistency to the proposal process for evaluation purposes. If the applicant fails to address these issues, points will be deducted from the overall score.

The maximum amount of any single Planning grant is $100,000. However, FNS retains authority to award less than the amount requested in the grant application.

Implementation Grants Implementation Grants are intended for State agencies administering the CNPs that know what they need to do to implement solutions, but lack the funds to support their implementation project. State agencies must address all of the questions in the Appendix D: FY 2019 CN Technology Innovation Implementation Grant, Proposal Template and Instructions to develop an Implementation Grant application. The instructions are designed to 1) guide applicants in thinking through all aspects of implementing proposed solutions, with particular emphasis on reducing risks associated with technology related aspects of their proposals, and 2) assist applicants in considering and capturing budget items such as, but not limited to, costs for personnel, hiring contractors, purchasing equipment, developing training, supplies and travel (including travel for State agency staff to attend the three-day annual CNAAT Training event for grantee States each year their grant is active). Following the guidance in Appendix D will assist applicants in developing fully responsive Implementation grant applications and help to bring consistency to the proposal process for evaluation purposes.

The maximum amount of any single Implementation Grant is $2,000,000. However, FNS retains authority to award less than the amount requested by an applicant. The

Implementation Grants will likely vary significantly, based on differences in project scope, the responsiveness of application packages, and clarity of demonstrated need.

NOTE: Applicants for the Implementation Grant must include in their budget estimates the following FNS sponsored collaborative activities for each year of the requested grant period of performance:

• Estimated cost of travel and time for two State project staff to participate in an annual CNAAT Training event held in the fall for three full days at a location to be determined. Note: for budgeting purposes, State agencies should use Washington, DC as the location for the meeting (costs should be itemized);

• Grant personnel costs to participate in webinars (generally two per year, one hour each); and

• Personnel and contractor costs for preparation and participation in technical assistance and evaluation State site visits (approximately one per year at one full day each) and conference calls (approximately two per year at two hours each) with FNS contractors and staff.

The request for these funds should be clearly indicated in the Budget Narrative Justification, Standard Form 424, and Standard Form 424A (Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs). Sufficient funds should be budgeted in the proposal and reserved in the course of the project to meet this requirement.

Application and Review Dates The deadline for submitting Planning Grant and Implementation Grant applications may be found in the section on Application and Submission Information. FNS anticipates awarding grants within approximately 120 days from the application deadline.

Award Periods The award period for the FY 2019 Planning Grants and Implementation Grants will be as follows, beginning from the date of the award:

• Planning Grants will be awarded for up to one year; and

• Implementation Grants will be awarded for up to three 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 90 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 90 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 90 days following the end of the award period. Please see the section on Federal Award Administration Information for details on reporting requirements.

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

Equipment and Supplies: Expenditures for both equipment (i.e., items of personal property having a useful life of more than one year and a cost of $5,000 or more) and supplies are allowable expenses

Food Expenses: No more than 10 percent of the grant funds may be used for food purchases in the grant budget. Food purchases should be limited to educational purposes, including: sample tables, taste tests, or promotional use. Food costs related to conducting a test run of a new product are also deemed an appropriate use of funds.

Any food expenses should be labeled as “Food Costs” in the budget.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include all State agencies that administer CNPs, including National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program. In this instance, the term State agency means 1) the State educational agency; and 2) any other agency of the State which has been designated by the Governor or other appropriate executive or legislative authority of the State and approved by USDA to administer the above-mentioned programs. Only one grant application (planning or implementation) will be accepted from a State agency in response to this solicitation. However, in instances where there are two agencies within a State who operate FNS CNPs, separate applications are acceptable.

Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations There are no cost sharing or matching requirements to participate in either the Planning or Implementation Grant projects.

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

• SAM, the System for Award Management, the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of Central Contractor Registration (CCR),Federal Agency Registration (FedReg), Online Registrations and Certification Application (ORCA), and Excluded Parties List System (EPLS);

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

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

Applicants must also respond to the pre-application assessment questions listed below to allow FNS to evaluate aspects of the applicant’s financial stability, quality of management systems, and history of performance, reports and findings from audits. A questionnaire containing these questions has been provided to facilitate the process. (See Appendix B, Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire) Applicants must answer all the pre-application questions. The consideration and evaluation of these questions is only an indicator of potential risk and may or may not result in an additional oversight requirements or special conditions be placed on an award should an award be made. Decisions regarding additional oversight requirements will take into consideration the total number of risks identified.

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

Yes_____ No_____

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

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

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

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

Yes_____ No_____ __

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

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

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

9. If the answer to question number 8 is yes, was this report issued under the Single

Audit requirement? If no, a hyperlink or copy of the report will be required.

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

Opinion”?

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

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

Yes_____ No_____

Applications received after the deadline date (see the section on Application and Submission Information) will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed or considered. FNS will not accept mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications.

Applications submitted without the required supporting documents, forms, and certification will result in a reduced panel score (see the section on Application and Submission Information and Appendices C and D). Also, applications not submitted via the www.grants.gov portal will not be considered (see the section on Application and Submission Information).

Other Eligibility Criteria Suspended or debarred organizations are ineligible to submit applications in response to this grant solicitation. State agencies may apply for either type of grant (i.e., Planning or Implementation), but not both in a given RFA solicitation.

1. Acknowledge 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.

o 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 are asked to follow the USDA Visual Standards Guide when using the USDA logo.

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

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

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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

Applicants may request a 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

3101 Park Center Drive Room 740 Alexandria, VA 22302

E-mail: carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov

Application Format FNS strongly encourages eligible applicants interested in applying to this program to adhere to the following applicant format:

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

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

• The project description with relevant information (not including the cover sheet, table of contents, resumes, letter of commitment(s), endorsement letter(s), budget narrative(s), appendices, and required forms) should be captured on no more than:

o 10-page maximum length for CN Technology Innovation Planning Grant narrative response to Appendix C;

o 35-page maximum length for CN Technology Innovation Implementation Grant narrative response to Appendix D; and o All pages, excluding the form pages, must be sequentially numbered.

Application Content To be considered complete, the CN TIG application must include all the required documents and information listed in the Table 1 below for the specific type of grant (i.e., Planning or Implementation Grant). Applications that include all OMB approved forms, listed on Grants.gov we be considered for an award. However, if other required information is not included in the submission this will be result in a lower panel score.

mailto:carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov

Special Instructions

• Late application submission will not be considered in this competition. FNS will not consider additions or revisions to applications once they are received.

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

• 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.

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

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

• There are no cost sharing or matching requirements to participate in either the

Planning or Implementation grant projects.

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

• Applicant’s name and mailing address

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

• Grant program title and subprogram title (if applicable)

Table of Content Include relevant topic page number

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

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

Activities/Indicators Tracker Proposed Activities and indicators measuring success must be mapped to Program Objectives (as described in Section II – Federal Award Information) in the below format (note that additional Activities/Indicators can be added as needed). Note: Indicators are defined as any metric you anticipate will be able to be tracked during the period of performance of the grant.

Objective #1:

Proposed Activity 1:

Indicator 1:

Indicator 2:

Proposed Activity 2:

Objective #2

Proposed Activity 1:

Proposed Activity 2:

Application Budget Narrative The budget narrative should correspond with the proposed project narrative and application budget. The narrative must justify and support the bona fide needs of the budget’s direct cost. If the budget includes indirect costs, the applicant must provide a copy of its most recently approved Federal indirect cost rate agreement. All non-profit organizations must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All funding requests must be in whole dollars.

Indirect Cost Rate: If available, the current indirect cost rate, negotiated with a Federal negotiating agency, should be used. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate. If a negotiated rate is used, the percentage and base should be indicated. If no rate has been established the applicant may indicate "None—will negotiate" and a reasonable dollar amount for indirect costs may be requested, which will be subject to approval by USDA. In the latter case, if a proposal is recommended for funding, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted prior to award to support the amount of indirect costs requested. USDA will request an indirect cost rate proposal and provide instructions, as necessary. An applicant may elect not to charge indirect costs and, instead, use all grant funds for direct costs. If indirect costs are not charged, the phrase "None requested" should be stated in the budget narrative.

Required Grant Application Forms The required grants.gov forms are located at:

http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aforms_repository_information.jsp:

(A) Non-Construction Grant Projects Forms: SF-424 Family

• Application and Instruction for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

• Budget Information and Instruction (SF-424A)

• Assurance-Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

(B) SF LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities)

• Indicate on the form whether your organization intends to conduct lobbying activities. If your organization does not intend to lobby, write “Not Applicable.”

(C) Additional Required Forms and Information

• DUNS number. Please see below for further information.

• SAM registration. Please see below for further information

Submission Date Complete grant applications must be uploaded to www.grants.gov by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), on March 5, 2019.

• Late applications will not be considered.

• FNS will not consider additions or revisions to applications once they are submitted.

• Applications must be submitted via the Grants.gov web portal. Mailed, e-mailed or hand-delivered application packages will not be accepted.

• 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 or subsequent fiscal years should additional funds become available.

USDA strongly encourages applicants to begin the process at least four weeks before the due date and to submit applications to Grants.gov at least one week before the deadline to allow time to troubleshoot any issues, should they arise. The grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices; applicants should ensure receipt of confirmation that the application was accepted. Applicants experiencing difficulty submitting an application to www.grants.gov should contact the grant support team listed in Section VII: Agency Contacts.

Electronic Submission Details Please be aware that the grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices;

http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aforms_repository_information.jsp applicants should ensure receipt of confirmation that the application was accepted.

Applicants experiencing difficulty submitting applications to www.grants.gov should contact the grant support team noted in Section VII: Agency Contacts.

In order to submit an application, you must:

1. Obtain a DUNS number

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

• It may take 2-3 business days to obtain a DUNS number.

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

• SAM combines Federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. For additional information regarding SAM, see the following link: https://beta.sam.gov

• Must have organization’s DUNS, entity’s Tax ID Number (TIN), and taxpayer name (as it appears on last tax return). It may take 3-5 business days to register in SAM, however in some instances the SAM process to complete the migration of permissions and/or the renewal of the entity record will require 5-7 days or more.

• All applicants must have current SAM status at the time of application submission and throughout the duration of a Federal Award in accordance with 2 CFR Part 25.

• We strongly encourage applicants to begin the process at least 3 weeks before the due date of the grant solicitation.

3. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step in the registration process is to create an account with Grants.gov. Applicants must know their organization's DUNS number to complete this process. Completing this process automatically triggers an email request for applicant roles to the organization's E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) for review. The EBiz POC is a representative from your organization who is the contact listed for SAM. To apply for grants on behalf of your organization, you will need the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html

4. Authorize Grants.gov Roles: After creating an account on Grants.gov, the EBiz POC receives an email notifying them of your registration and request for roles. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online anytime after you have been approved as an AOR.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://beta.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-3-username-password.html

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-4-aor-authorization.html

5. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-5-track-aor-status.html

b. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization's AOR that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

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

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace, complete all the required forms, and check for errors before submission.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace so that they will appear similar to other Standard forms. 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/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

b. 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.

c. 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 DUNS number. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-4-aor-authorization.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-4-aor-authorization.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-5-track-aor-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-5-track-aor-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

424 information first. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

2) 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.

3) Track a Workspace: After successfully submitting a workspace package, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the package. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the Center with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

4) Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by March 5, 2019 11:59pm Eastern time on the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant AOR will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicant AORs will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When the Food and Nutrition Service successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by the Food and Nutrition Service.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov

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

Additional Information on Grants.gov and the Registration Process:

NOTICE: Special Characters not Supported

All applicants MUST follow grants.gov guidance on file naming conventions. To avoid submission issues, please follow the guidance provided in the grants.gov Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

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

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

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

Please be aware that the grants.gov system provides several confirmation notices; you need to be sure that you have confirmation that the application was accepted. For tools and tips regarding www.grants.gov, please visit:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html.

Additional information and applicant resources is available at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

Submission Dates and Times

APPLICATION DUE DATE

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp http://www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

The complete application must be uploaded on www.grants.gov by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time on March 5, 2019. Applications received after the deadline date will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed or considered. FNS will not consider any additions or revisions to an application once it is received through the grants.gov web portal. FNS will not accept mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications.

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

1. Intergovernmental Review

This funding opportunity is subject to the requirements of EO 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs”. This Executive Order was issued with the desire to foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by relying on State and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The Order allows each State to designate an entity to perform this function.

If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency.

For a list of State agency contacts, please visit the Office of Management website at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf

2. Funding Restrictions

Pre-award costs will not be awarded for this grant project.

3. Other Submission Requirements

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

Additional submission information and instructions is available at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/grantors/grantor-standard-language.html

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review Criteria

FNS will evaluate the applications in accordance with the criteria outlined in this section to select applications for awards. The actual number of awards will http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/grantors/grantor-standard-language.html depend on the quality of the applications and the availability of funds.