Request for Applications FY 23 Team Nutrition Training Grant.pdf

P a g e 1 | 46

OMB Control Number: 0584-0512 Expiration Date: July 31, 2025

FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant Supporting Nutrition Education for School-Aged Children

Fiscal Year 2023 Request for Applications (RFA) Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.574

Release Date: March 22, 2023 Grant Informational Webinar: April 5, 2023 Letter of Intent Due Date: April 24, 2023 Application Due Date: 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST): May 22, 2023 Anticipated Award Date: August 2023

OMB Burden Statement: The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-0512. The estimated average time required to complete this information collection is 60 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314 ATTN: PRA (0584-0512). Do not return the completed form to this address.

P a g e 2 | 46

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Request for Application……….………………………………………………………………………….…………….1 Application Checklist……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

1.1 Program Description

1.2 Key Objectives

1.3 Recommended Activities

1.4 Logic Model

2. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2.1 Total Amount of Funding Expected to Award

2.2 Anticipated Award Amounts

2.3 Sub-Grant Funding

2.4 Anticipated Start Dates and Period of Performance

2.5 Type of Federal Financial Assistance

2.6 Use of Grant Funds

2.7 Allowable Costs

2.7.1 Allowable Costs for Sub-grants

2.8 Unallowable Costs

3. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.1.1 Eligible Applicants

3.1.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

3.1.3 Other Eligibility Criteria

3.2 Pre-Award Screening Requirements

4. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

4.1 Content and Form of Application Submission

4.1.1 Submission Date

4.1.2 Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov

4.1.3 How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

4.1.4 Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

4.2 Funding Restrictions

5. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

5.1 Review Criteria

5.2 Evaluation Factors and Criteria

5.3 Review and Selection Process

5.3.1 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

6. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

6.1 Federal Award Notice

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.2.1 Confidentiality of an Application

6.2.2 Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality of the Review Process

P a g e 3 | 46

6.2.3 Administrative Regulations

6.2.4 Code of Federal Regulations and Other Government Requirements

6.3 Reporting Requirements

6.3.1 Financial Reports

6.3.2 Performance Progress Report (PPR)

6.3.3 Final Reports

6.3.4 Final Deliverables

7. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

7.1 Contacts

8. OTHER INFORMATION

8.1 Debriefing Requests

8.2 Data Collection and Ownership

Appendix A: RFA Budget Narrative Checklist – For Reference Only……………………………………………………………37 Appendix B: FNS-906 Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionaries – For Reference Only ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 39 Appendix C: Key Definitions………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….41 Appendix D: USDA Food and Nutrition Service Efforts to Support Children’s Consumption of Nutritious Foods and Beverages at School…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..44 Appendix E: Guidelines for Nutrition Education and Social Marketing Campaigns Provided Under the Grant……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

P a g e 4 | 46

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

This Application Checklist provides applicants with a list of the required documents. However, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) expects that applicants will read the entire Request for Applications (RFA) prior to the submission of their application and comply with all requirements outlined in the solicitation. The Application Checklist is for applicant use only and should not be submitted as part of the Application Package.

Please Note: Whether applying as a State agency or School Food Authority (SFA), application checklist remains the same. See Section 3.1: Eligible Applicants for additional details.

Complete the following at least four weeks prior to submission:

Obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI);

Register in the System for Award Management (SAM); and Register in https://www.grants.gov/.

When preparing your application, ensure:

Application format and narrative meet the requirements included in Section 4: Application and Submission

Information. This includes page limits, priorities outlined in Section 4: Application and Submission Information, and all necessary attachments.

When preparing your budget, refer to Appendix A: RFA Budget Narrative Checklist and ensure the following information is included:

All key staff proposed to be paid by this grant.

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

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

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

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

Inclusion of Objectives and travel justifications narratives.

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 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.

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 (Appendix B: Grant

Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionaries) Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF - Upload using the “Add Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15)

SFAs Only:

Letter of Support from National School Lunch Program (NSLP) State agency (Attachment E). See Section

3.1: Eligible Applicants for additional details.

https://www.grants.gov/

P a g e 5 | 46

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

1.1 Program Description

In 1995, the Team Nutrition initiative was established to support the nutritional health of school children of the United States through nutrition education and the use of Team Nutrition messages and materials based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), published under Section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341). Authorized under Public Law 111–296 and Section 6(a)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, USDA makes grants for State agencies and Local Educational Agencies (LEA) to establish Team Nutrition networks to promote nutrition education. FNS hereby offering up to $10 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Team Nutrition Grants to provide nutrition education for children, for their parents/caregivers, and for school staff that provide nutrition education or that are in a position to facilitate the selection of nutritious food choices in the school environment using MyPlate nutrition education. MyPlate nutrition education is further discussed in Appendix E: Guidelines for Nutrition Education and Appendix C: Key Definitions.

The Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health calls for expanding nutrition education for children and emphasizes the opportunity for school meals to be a setting for “engaging children around healthy food.” Providing meaningful nutrition support for children and adolescents is also a key component of USDA activities to improve nutrition security. USDA FNS Team Nutrition initiative supports nutrition security efforts by providing grants and resources to support nutrition education in the USDA FNS Child Nutrition Programs, including the NSLP, School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Together, these programs provide multiple opportunities to provide high-quality nutrition education throughout the day.

• School Meals: The SBP and NSLP are Federally assisted meal programs operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. These programs provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or no-cost meals to children each school day. Each LEA that participates in the SBP or NSLP is required to have a Local School Wellness Policy (LWP), which is a written document drafted by school stakeholders, that guides the school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn. In addition, the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards are a Federal requirement for all foods sold outside of the school meals programs in schools that participate in the NSLP and/or SBP.

• Afterschool: CACFP and NSLP are Federal programs that provide reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks for children and youth. In school-based facilities or settings, this includes meals and snacks offered through At-Risk Afterschool Care centers, Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC), and NSLP Afterschool Snack Service. CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Programs must provide enrichment activities that are open to all children in an organized, structured, and supervised environment.

Concurrently working with the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant to a similar end, the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative (HMI) aims to improve the nutritional quality of school meals through food system transformation.

Starting school year 2023-24, FNS will provide HMI Recognition Awards under a separate grant award process to celebrate SFAs that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals and engage students in the process. To supplement this objective, part of HMI’s approach is to provide technical assistance in the form of sub-grants to small and/or rural SFAs participating in the NSLP and/or SBP to assist them in overcoming staffing, training, food purchasing, and supply and equipment challenges, improving the nutritional quality of school meals and meeting HMI Recognition Award criteria. The FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grants will complement and support the goals of HMI Recognition Award criteria by helping schools introduce school meal prerequisites and requirements for future award recognition. Eligible applicants include State agencies that administer the NSLP, CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Meals Component and/or OSHCC and SFAs (only https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title7/chapter84&edition=prelim https://www.fns.usda.gov/pl-111-296 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/White-House-National-Strategy-on-Hunger-Nutrition-and-Health-FINAL.pdf https://www.usda.gov/nutrition-security https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives

P a g e 6 | 46 in cases where neither the State NSLP or State CACFP agency chose to apply). Preferred applicants are further discussed in Section 3.1: Eligibility Criteria.

There are many factors which can influence children’s eating decisions. USDA is employing a comprehensive approach to creating policies, systems, and environments that support the development of healthy eating patterns. See Appendix D: USDA Food and Nutrition Service Efforts to Support Children’s Consumption of Nutritious Foods and Beverages at School for additional details. In addition to the nutrition education activities funded under the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant, there are other USDA efforts underway including rulemaking to strengthen school meal pattern requirements, such as NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants, School Breakfast Expansion Grants for US Territories, Farm-to-School Grants, Healthy Meals Incentives Sub-Grants for Small and Rural SFAs, and school meal pattern requirement training offered through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Child Nutrition. The Team Nutrition initiative is also supporting the development of new school meal recipes and efforts to improve school meal quality through Team Nutrition Training Grants awarded in FY 2019, FY 2021, and FY 2022. The nutrition education activities to be funded under the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant will also support valuable collaboration with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) efforts, to maximize the consistency of nutrition education messaging and leverage valuable opportunities for children to apply nutrition education at meals and snacks offered through USDA Child Nutrition Programs, specifically using MyPlate focused materials, resources and curriculum.

In alignment with the Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant takes a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and/or adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. To reflect this, FNS is seeking grant applications which demonstrate that the chosen approach is intended to improve racial equity by supporting underserved communities’ access to nutrition education. Further, allowable costs under the grant include the development of culturally appropriate nutrition education resources, recipe development of traditional, indigenous, or cultural foods and the translation of nutrition education resources into languages other than English.

1.2 Key Objectives

The goal of the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant is to facilitate the adoption of healthy eating patterns by school-aged children (grades Pre-K through 12) and their families through the coordination and implementation of MyPlate nutrition education connected to the nutritious meals and snacks offered through USDA Child Nutrition Programs.

# Objectives 1 Increase the consumption of nutritious foods and beverages offered through the National School Lunch

Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool Meals and Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC) via high-quality MyPlate nutrition education.

2 Increase awareness of the MyPlate symbol and accompanying MyPlate nutrition education tools, resources, and messages. Increase awareness of the nutritional contributions of meals and snacks offered to students from parents/caregivers, school coaches and athletic trainers, school nurses, afterschool program operators, and Pre-K-12 teachers.

3 Improve equity by increasing the number of students from historically underserved and marginalized populations who are reached by nutrition education resources, including resources and recipes that are culturally appropriate and/or in the preferred language of the students and their families.

4 Increase school community engagement in the development, implementation, and assessment of the Local School Wellness Policy (LWP).

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/snap-ed https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/

P a g e 7 | 46

1.3 Recommended Grant Activities

State agencies or SFAs applicants must include activities that support all four of the key objectives in their Project Work Plan (Attachment A). Examples of recommended activities are specified below, but applicants are free to propose others relevant to the specified objectives. Applicants may only submit one application.

Applicants must carefully read the entire RFA before applying, including the Evaluation Criteria specified in Section 5.2: Evaluation Factors and Criteria, which indicates how FNS plans to score applications.

Objective 1 Increase the consumption of nutritious foods and beverages offered through the National School Lunch

Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At- Risk Afterschool Meals and Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC) via high-quality MyPlate nutrition education.

Examples of Activities:

a. Facilitate connections between nutrition education activities for school-aged children and school meals and meals/snacks offered through afterschool settings participating in Child Nutrition Programs.

b. Establish and/or maintain a statewide and/or regional coalition of all entities providing nutrition education for school-aged children, develop a plan for coordinating MyPlate nutrition messages, and measure outcomes in school and afterschool settings. Convene the coalition quarterly.

c. Participate in State Nutrition Action Councils (SNAC), where available.

d. Engage students in developing strategies to increase the consumption of nutritious foods at school meals and decrease food waste, such as through student competitions and challenges, student ambassador programs, and taste-test events.

e. Collaborate with school nutrition services, students, and nutrition experts on ways to implement behavioral focused strategies in the cafeteria to promote the selection of nutritious food choices.

f. Identify opportunities to coordinate with other grant programs (e.g., Farm-to-School, SNAP-Ed) and initiatives to maximize nutrition education message delivery without duplicating efforts.

g. Collaborate with Farm to School efforts to promote the use of MyPlate nutrition education messages and the sharing of information about the nutritional quality of school meals.

h. Collaborate grant activities with other school interventions offered under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, a framework for addressing health in schools.

2 Increase awareness of the MyPlate symbol and accompanying MyPlate nutrition education tools, resources and messages and awareness of the nutritional contributions of meals and snacks offered to students among parents/caregivers, school coaches and athletic trainers, school nurses, afterschool program operators, and Pre-K-12 teachers.

a. Develop, implement, and assess a social marketing campaign to increase awareness of the nutritional quality of school meals. Use formative research to inform the development of the campaign.

P a g e 8 | 46

b. In collaboration with the School Nutrition Director, offer educational sessions and resources for parents/caregivers, school coaches, teachers, and other applicable stakeholders about the nutritional quality of school meals offered as part of the SBP, NSLP, and CACFP At-risk afterschool meals, OSHCC, and afterschool care snack service.

c. Host school-based events and activities to increase awareness of the nutritional quality of school meals, such as National School Lunch Week and School Breakfast Week celebrations.

d. Collaborate with secondary school athletic programs to provide student-athletes and their parents/caregivers with information about the availability and nutritional quality of meals and snacks offered through the SBP, NSLP, and CACFP At-risk afterschool meals, OSHCC, and afterschool care snack service.

e. Provide training for school and afterschool staff on the use of Team Nutrition’s MyPlate nutrition education resources. See Appendix E: Guidelines for Nutrition Education and Social Marketing Campaigns Provided Under the Grant for additional details.

f. Display nutrition education posters and signs in school and afterschool settings in places where foods are offered, including signs highlighting local agricultural products offered as part of school meals.

g. Provide MyPlate nutrition education for school-aged children in school and afterschool settings.

h. Assist SFAs in applying for Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards, by providing technical assistance and resources.

i. Encourage school and afterschool sites to sign up as MyPlate Ambassadors.

j. Apply findings from evaluations of MyPlate nutrition education grant activities to improve the effectiveness and quality of nutrition education.

a. Together with school nutrition services, collaborate with students, families, and the community to develop and implement meal patterns and recipes that reflect traditional, indigenous, or cultural foods while meeting meal pattern requirements.

b. Provide nutrition education for students, families, and school staff on menu offerings related to specific cultures, such as Halal or Kosher, and plant-based options that meet meal pattern requirements.

c. Conduct formative research to inform the development of culturally appropriate nutrition education.

d. Identify translations services for preferred languages of the students and their families in all activities.

3 Improve equity by increasing the number of students from historically underserved and marginalized populations who are reached by nutrition education resources, including resources and recipes that are culturally appropriate and/or in the preferred language of the students and their families.

Objective 4 Increase school community engagement in the development, implementation, and assessment of the

Local School Wellness Policy (LWP).

P a g e 9 | 46

In collaboration with LWP Coordinators:

a. Engage the school community in LWP efforts by inviting school administrators, students, parents/caregivers, school nutrition staff, teachers, coaches, nurses, and community members to be a part of the SFA’s Local Wellness Committee.

b. Spread the word using a variety of communication tools to engage school staff and parents/caregivers in school wellness, using examples from Team Nutrition’s Local School Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit.

c. Strengthen LWPs by comparing them to a model policy and/or reviewing findings from recent wellness policy assessments, such as a triennial (3-year) assessment, if applicable.

d. Propose policy updates to school administration and seek approval.

e. Enhance implementation of LWPs by assigning roles and responsibilities for putting the policy into action; educating school administration, staff, and families about the policy; and building excitement by sharing examples of how SFAs are engaging students, families, staff, and principals in school wellness activities.

f. Plan for and conduct the required triennial assessment of the LWP and share the results.

1.4 Logic Model

The below Logic Model is a graphic depiction that presents the shared relationship among the key objectives and example grant activities and their intended performance measures, short- and medium-term outcomes, and long-term impacts to meet the goal of the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant Supporting Nutrition Education for School-Aged Children listed in Section 1.3: Recommended Grant Activities. Applicants are required to use the Logic Model below to complete the Activities and Performances Measure Tracker in their Project Work Plan (Attachment A) to map proposed grant activities with corresponding performance measures. As mentioned in Section 1.3: Recommended Grant Activities, applicants must include activities to support all four of the key objectives. At minimum, applicants must include at least one activity for each objective.

Logic Model: Team Nutrition Grants Supporting Nutrition Education for School-Aged Children

Inputs Grant Objective Activities Performance Measures

Short-to-Medium Term Outcomes

Long-Term Impacts

Team Nutrition Coordinator(s)

Project Director

Funding for nutrition education activities and social marketing campaign

Evidence-based nutrition education strategies and resources

Objective #1:

Increase the consumption of nutritious foods and beverages offered through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) At-Risk Afterschool Meals and Outside School Hours Care Centers (OSHCC) via high-quality MyPlate nutrition education.

Classroom-based nutrition education lessons and activities.

Student engagement activities related to school meals (taste-test events, ambassador programs, advisory boards, etc.).

CACFP At-risk afterschool meals, OSHCC and afterschool care snack nutrition education activities.

1.1: Number of schools enrolled in schools implementing FY 2023 Team Nutrition grant.

1.2: Number of students reached through nutrition education activities (unduplicated counts).

1.3: Number of nutrition education activities offered.

1.4: Total hours of nutrition education offered.

1.5: Number of new, expanded/updated afterschool enrichment nutrition education activities.

Exposure to social marketing campaign.

Recognition of MyPlate.

Knowledge of school meal components.

Improved perceptions of the nutritional quality of school meals among parents/caregivers, school staff, and students.

Awareness of the benefits of nutritious food and beverage choices for child and

Decreased school meal food waste.

Improved nutrient consumption of students consuming school meals.

Increased school meal participation.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy-outreach-toolkit https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy-outreach-toolkit https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take-action/schools/wellness-topics/policy-environment/local-school-wellness-policy

P a g e 10 | 46

Local School Wellness Policy Assessments and Evaluations

USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards Program

MyPlate Ambassador Program

Behavioral focused strategies in school cafeteria.

Cross-collaboration of concurrent nutrition education opportunities.

1.6: Number of new or expanded collaborations with Farm-to-School or SNAP-Ed, and/or others.

adolescent growth, health, and academic performance.

Awareness of how school meals contribute towards an overall healthy diet in school-aged children, including student athletes.

Support for changes to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.

Best practices for engaging students in nutrition education connected to school meals.

Increased implementation of LWPs at the school level.

Increased strength of LWPs as measured by the Well-Sat or other assessment tool.

Connection of nutrition education to meals and snacks provided through the Child Nutrition Programs.

Increased collaboration between school nutrition services and afterschool nutrition education efforts.

Objective #2:

Increase awareness of the MyPlate symbol and accompanying MyPlate nutrition education tools, resources and messages and awareness of the nutritional contributions of meals and snacks offered to students among parents/caregivers, school coaches and athletic trainers, school nurses, afterschool program operators, and Pre-K-12 teachers.

Stakeholder (parents/caregivers, school staff) nutrition education activities.

School nutrition education observances and events (e.g., National School Lunch Week, MyPlate’s Birthday).

Evaluation of MyPlate Nutrition Education efforts for effectiveness and quality.

Nutrition visual management activities (e.g., signage, posters, etc.).

Social marketing campaigns.

Stakeholder trainings, awareness and collaboration activities focused on nutrition education.

2.1: Number of parents/caregivers and/or school staff reached through nutrition education activities (unduplicated counts).

2.2: Number of nutrition education activities offered.

2.3: Total hours of nutrition education offered.

2.4: Number of social marketing campaign messages disseminated.

2.5: Number of SFAs that apply for at least one Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Innovation Award.

2.6: Number of schools and/or afterschool programs enrolled as MyPlate Ambassadors.

2.7: Number of new or expanded pieces of school meal signage.

Objective #3:

Improve equity by increasing the number of students from historically underserved and marginalized populations who are reached by nutrition education resources, including resources and recipes that are culturally appropriate and/or in the preferred language of the students and their families.

Formative research to determine social marketing approach and to inform the development of culturally appropriate.

Development of culturally appropriate nutrition education and social marketing resources in English and other languages as identified by need.

Recipe and menu development of traditional, indigenous, or cultural foods.

3.1: Number of students reached through nutrition education activities.

3.2: Number of new, expanded, or refreshed nutrition education materials.

3.3: Number of new or expanded, recipes or meal items reflecting cultural sensitivities.

3.4: Number of language translations offered.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives https://www.myplate.gov/professionals/partner-us/myplate-ambassadors https://www.myplate.gov/professionals/partner-us/myplate-ambassadors https://www.myplate.gov/professionals/partner-us/myplate-ambassadors

P a g e 11 | 46

Objective #4:

Increase school community engagement in the development, implementation, and assessment of the Local School Wellness Policy

(LWP).

Local School Wellness Policy development, implementation, and assessment.

State, Regional, and local coalition involvement to coordinate nutrition education messages for school-aged children.

Plan and complete tri-annual assessments with result dissemination.

4.1: Number of SFAs reporting new-modified Local School Wellness Policies.

4.2: Number of SFAs that apply for at least one Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Innovation Award.

4.3: Number of wellness policy nutrition education activities.

4.4: Number of new, expanded, or existing partnerships for nutrition education.

2. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

2.1 Total Amount of Funding Expected to Award

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

• Total amount of funding expected to award: $10,000,000.00

• Anticipated number of awards: 5-10

• Minimum award amount (award floor): $500,000.00

• Maximum award amount (award ceiling): $1,000,000.00

• Anticipated award announcement date: August 2023

• Anticipated period of performance (start and end date) of the award: 3 year(s), September 15, 2023-September 30, 2026

• Application due date: May 22, 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.

2.2 Anticipated Award Amounts

FNS anticipates awarding between 5 and 10 awards but, reserves the right to make greater or fewer grant awards based upon the level of funding requested, the quality of applications received, or other Agency priorities. The submission of an application does not guarantee funding. FNS reserves the right to reduce, increase, or revise proposed budgets based on the availability of funds. FNS reserves the right to grant follow-on funds for projects beyond 3 year(s) if the grantee demonstrates success in the final year of their period of performance. Follow-on funds will be awarded on a competitive basis, using past performance, proposed plan for sustainment, and established collaboration infrastructure.

2.3 Sub-Grant Funding

Sub-grants are not a required part of the FY 2023 Team Nutrition Grant. However, the grantee may issue sub-grants to the following entities for purposes of meeting the objectives under this grant:

P a g e 12 | 46

• SFAs

• CACFP Sponsoring Organizations of At-risk afterschool meals or OSHCC

• Land-grant colleges and universities

• Tribal organizations

• Non-profit organizations with expertise in MyPlate nutrition education for children

Mandatory Oversight:

• All sub-grants must follow allowable costs as outlined in Section 2.7.1: Allowable Costs for Sub-grants.

• State agencies must have oversight of sub-grant recipients, by either Project Director or Team Nutrition Coordinator, to ensure that expenditures authorized are allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

• State agencies must ensure that all expenditures are consistent with all local, State, and Federal policies, regulations, and procedures.

All potential sub-grants must be described in the Project Work Plan (Attachment A) in Section 4.1: Content and Form of Application Submission.

2.4 Anticipated Start Dates and Period of Performance

Through a competitive grants process, the anticipated grant period of performance is September 15, 2023, through September 30, 2026 (a thirty-six-month period of performance).

2.5 Type of Federal Financial Assistance

Funding for approved Team Nutrition Grant Supporting Nutrition Education for School-Aged Children will be provided through the Grant Award/Letter of Credit process, upon receipt of an executed grant agreement between USDA/FNS and the grantee. These awards are subject to the availability and apportionment of Federal funds. All Team Nutrition Grant funds must be obligated, and all activities must be completed by September 30, 2026.

2.6 Use of Grant Funds

All requested costs must be allowable, allocable, necessary, and reasonable in accordance with the OMB Code of Federal Regulations Cost Principles as follows:

• 2 CFR Part 200: “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.”

• 2 CFR Part 400: “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.”

2.7 Allowable Costs

Food Team Nutrition Grant funds may be used to pay for food if the food is part of a specific nutrition education activity that is solely intended for targeted populations and/or used in development of new school menu items or recipes. All food used to sample or taste test portions must be ⅓ of a serving. This may include activities during afterschool hours, that are open to all students. Grant funds must NOT be used to purchase food for meals. No more than 10 percent of the grant funds may be used for necessary food purchases in the grant budget regardless of funding source.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400

P a g e 13 | 46

Professional Allowances Memberships and professional activities are allowable expenses (2 CFR 200.454). Costs of institutional memberships in technical and professional organizations necessary to effectively implement activities as approved under this grant are allowable (e.g., Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, School Nutrition Association, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior) during the grant period of performance. Costs of individual professional memberships in such organizations for personnel that work in school nutrition or dietetics are not allowable. Professional registration or license fees paid by individuals are unallowable costs because the fees would be considered personal expenses, not institutional expenses.

Personnel Costs and Benefits Salaries and benefits of personnel involved in nutrition education and administrative support of activities under this grant are allowable expenses. All staff wages, salaries, and benefits must be computed on a reasonable hourly basis commensurate with duties being performed, or the Federal minimum hourly wages established by the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The wages and salaries shall be commensurate to the task an individual is performing under this grant, as opposed to reflecting other positions for which he/she is credentialed (e.g., if a physician is teaching a nutrition education lesson as a Nutrition Classroom Educator, pay will be commensurate with the activity of nutrition education in a classroom rather than that of a physician).

Property Usage Cost of leasing a space to rent to complete administrative, professional, or other nutrition education activities is an allowable expense in accordance with 2 CFR 200.465. This cost includes depreciation based on the building’s original acquisition cost, and such building-related costs as maintenance and utilities; must not include costs of maintenance, utilities, etc. directly if they are already charged as indirect costs.

Nutrition Education Reinforcement Materials Nutrition education reinforcement materials refer to products given to students or that convey nutrition messages, such as stickers, buttons, and refrigerator magnets. These items are an allowable expense as long as they have a direct relationship to the nutrition education program under the grant. Any material given out as a prize for involvement, participation, or winning of a nutrition education activity, must follow the requirements below. Terms used to describe these items include enhancement items, home reinforcements, incentives, and educational extenders. Such items are allowable costs only if they are reasonable and necessary, contain or reinforce nutrition messages, and are of nominal value. FNS shall apply the general rules for determining the allowability of costs, as described in OMB guidance, paramount among which are the reasonable and necessary cost tests. Program reinforcement materials for nutrition education should:

• Have a clear, relevant, and useful connection to the nutrition education activities under this grant.

• Contain a nutrition education message that is directly relevant to school meals and consistent with current Dietary Guidelines or MyPlate.

• Be offered only after weighing and assessing other relative needs and cost effectiveness.

• Cost $5.00 or less per item.

• Follow guidelines specified in Appendix E: Guidelines for Nutrition Education and Social Marketing

Campaigns Provided Under the Grant.

Cookware Team Nutrition Grant funds may be used to purchase small equipment necessary for food storage, preparation, production, and display of food prepared for nutrition education purposes, including, but not limited to:

• Food storage containers.

• Pots.

• Pans.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.454 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.465

P a g e 14 | 46

• Mixing bowls.

• Knives.

• Utensils.

• Tabletop cooking equipment.

Demonstration Equipment, Apparel, and Supplies Team Nutrition Grant funds may be used to purchase food production demonstration equipment, apparel, and supplies, related to nutrition education including, but not limited to:

• Mobile food carts (<$5,000.00).

• Demonstration Tables (<$5,000.00).

• Aprons.

• Gloves.

• Hairnets.

• Single-serving cups.

• Bowls.

• Paper bowls.

Technology/Software Team Nutrition Grant funds may be used to purchase premium subscriptions to social media platforms, productivity and communication software, and other software used to provide nutrition education as part of this grant. Procurement of hardware such as laptops and tablets that are used specifically for the purposes of the grant activities is also permitted. A one-time purchase of a Wi/Fi hotspot to support tablet/iPad function is allowable. Procurement of technology may not exceed 10 percent of requested funds.

Travel Team Nutrition Grant funds may be used for travel costs necessary for conducting grant activities. Travel justifications and their respective objectives may include:

• Travel reimbursement for attending in-State trainings or meetings related to activities under this grant (reimbursement may only be paid for travel expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations 41 CFR Part 301 and shall not exceed the lesser of State or Federal maximum per diem rates).

• Travel costs and stipends may be used to reimburse for local travel and hotel costs to attend nutrition education conferences and continuing education opportunities.

• Travel costs and stipends may be used to reimburse grantees for official travel to meet USDA program cross collaboration, orientation, annual grantee meeting, or other mandatory grantee requirements (e.g., SNAP-Ed, CACFP, WIC, SNAC partnership meetings), as applicable.

• Travel costs should not exceed those prescribed by the General Services Administration (GSA), which can be found online at https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates.

Translation Services Team Nutrition Grants may be used to purchase translation or accessibility services for all print, electronic, social media, and web postings. Ensure that translation service provider is qualified, professional, experienced, who possess a high level of translation skill and proficiency in both English and the language of the target audience.

Translation service used should have at least one recognized language or translation certification/qualification below:

• Translator Certification/Degree from an Accredited University or Institution.

• American Translators Association (ATA) Certification.

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Certification.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301 https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

P a g e 15 | 46

• The Translators and Interpreters Guild Certification.

• Defense Language Institute, State/Federal Courts.

• Successful completion of the translation examination administered by the Office of Language

Services, Translating Division of the U.S. Department of State.

2.7.1 Allowable Costs for Sub-grants

• Funds may be used for food, professional allowances, reinforcement materials, cookware, technology, travel translation services, training, and other direct costs specifically to assist in nutrition education activities as described in the above in Section 2.7: Allowable Costs.

• All sub-grant budget line-items must be allowable costs as defined in this RFA and 2 CFR Part 200.

• Proposed costs must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to carry out the project’s goals and objectives. Expenditure must not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under similar circumstances and would qualify as a sound business practice.

2.8 Unallowable Costs

Unallowable costs for this grant (or sub-grants, if applicable) include:

Food

• Foods used to prepare a meal for which reimbursement will be provided under the FNS nutrition assistance programs, including the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

• Foods used as an incentive or prize for a nutrition education event.

• Foods provided directly to students and families to prepare and eat at home such as groceries or supplemental food.

• Meal sized portions or complete meal service.

• Meals or snacks used as refreshments during coalition meeting (e.g., LWP committee, SNAC meeting, etc.).

• Foods for activities outside the academic calendar (e.g., summer breaks, etc.).

• Alcoholic beverages.

Marketing and Materials

• Advertising and public relations materials, except when incurred for social marketing campaigns as defined under this grant, recruitment of staff, acquisition of material for the grant, or publishing the results or accomplishments of the grant. Costs incurred to publicize the organization, as opposed to Team Nutrition Grant activities, are not allowable.

• Purchase or production of written or visual material for purposes of lobbying or influencing Federal, State, or local officials to pass or sign legislation or to influence the outcomes of an election, referendum, or initiative.

• Distribution of nutrition education and physical activity reinforcement items costing over $5.00 each.

• Costs for any nutrition education materials that have already been charged to another Federal or private program or source.

• Purchase or production of written or visual nutrition education messages that are not consistent with current Dietary Guidelines and/or MyPlate.

• Any material that endorses or promotes brand name products or retail stores.

• Manufacturer or store (cents off) coupons.

Equipment

• Large-scale, commercial foodservice equipment (>$5,000).

• Medical equipment.

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

P a g e 16 | 46

• Physical activity equipment.

• Gym memberships, trainers, equipment, or facilities.

Activities and Education

• Staff wellness activities outside of the scope of the nutrition education described under this grant (such as physical activity, meditation, blood pressure monitoring, and other such screening activities).

• Classes that are designed to provide case management or “life skills” training such as classes on English as a second language, parenting, child development, and crisis management.

• Nutrition education related to dietary needs of individuals, specific disease states, or altered physiological states.

• Food safety education, outside of education needed as part of a broader nutrition education curriculum, to prepare foods safely.

• Weight loss classes specific to individuals, individualized meal plans, or obesity treatment programs.

• Activities conducted under programs that are not the SBP, NSLP, NSLP afterschool snack service, or CACFP At-risk afterschool meals, or OSHCC.

• Body Mass Index “Report Cards” Programs.

• Health screenings.

• Backpack programs.

• Nutrition education for preschoolers that is not conducted in a school offering pre-school meals under the NSLP and/or SBP.

• Nutrition education provided outside of the regular school year, such as through the Seamless summer option of the NSLP and/or SBP or through the Summer Food Service Program.

Summary There is limited funding to accomplish Team Nutrition Grants Supporting Nutrition Education for School-Aged Children objectives. State agencies or SFAs shall ensure the best use of the limited funding.

A positive answer should always be sought to the following questions:

1. Is the cost applicable to my grant?

2. Is the cost allowable according to program cost principles?

3. Is the cost reasonable and appropriate?

3. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.1.1 Eligible Applicants

The goal of the FY 2023 grant is focused on connecting nutrition education to the school meals programs, State agencies that administer the NSLP are the preferred applicant. However, to increase access to Team Nutrition grant funding across the United States and its territories1, FNS will consider applications from the following entities eligible:

1. State agencies2 that administer:

• USDA’s NSLP

1 Puerto Rico, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands 2 Contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the United States Virgin Islands

P a g e 17 | 46

• USDA’s CACFP At-risk Afterschool Meals Component and OSHCC (only in cases when the State agency administering the NSLP chooses not to apply).

2. School Food Authorities (SFA)2 (only in cases where neither the State NSLP or State CACFP agency chose to apply).

Applying SFAs will require a Letter of Support (Attachment E) from their respective State agency that includes the following:

• Name of SFA.

• Address of SFA.

• Locality code (using NCES-CCD Navigator).

• Total student enrollment.

• Grade ranges.

• Student demographics (using ACS-ED Dashboard).

• Free and Reduced Meal percentage.

• Participation USDA Child Nutrition Programs (SBP, NSLP, CACFP).

• Documentation of good standing status of NSLP and SBP administration.

• Disclose of any deficiencies received within the previous 12 months.

State agencies must provide Letters of Support for SFAs on a first come, first served, basis. Each State agency may provide no more than three Letters of Support to applying SFAs. The State agency has the discretion, and is encouraged, to deny Letters of Support, or at a minimum, require additional evidence of financial and administrative capability from SFAs that have had significant problems operating other USDA Child Nutrition Programs.

Letters of Support should be written in size 12-point Times New Roman font using standardized letter formatting and are not to exceed one page. The applicant must submit the Letters of Support with their application on grants.gov.

3.1.2 Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

There are no cost sharing or matching considerations.

3.1.3 Other Eligibility Criteria

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

3.2 Pre-Award Screening Requirements

In reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, prior to making a Federal Award, Federal Awarding Agencies, in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.205, are required to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualifications or financial integrity information.