Request for Applications - FY22 Team Nutrition Training Grant.pdf

1 | P a g e

Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention

Fiscal Year 2022 Request for Applications (RFA)

Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.574

Dates

Release Date: January 31, 2022

Grant Informational Webinar: 3:00-4:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), February 8, 2022

Letter of Intent Due Date: February 24, 2022

Application Due Date: 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), March 14, 2022

Anticipated Award Date: May 2022

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 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.

2 | P a g e

Table of Contents Fiscal Year 2022 Request for Applications (RFA)

1 Program Description and Objectives

1.1 Background and Legislative Authority

1.2 Team Nutrition Grant Goal

1.3 Grant Tracks

1.3.1 Track 1 Description: Coaching and Mentoring for School Nutrition Professionals .. 5

1.3.2 Track 2 Description: Incentivized Training for School Nutrition Professionals

1.3.3 Track 3 Description: Nutrition Education for School Nutrition Professionals, Students, and Families

1.4 Grant Activity, Application, and Reporting Requirements for All Tracks

2 Federal Award Information

2.1 Total Amount of Funding Expected to Award

2.2 Anticipated Award Amounts

2.3 Anticipated Start Dates and Period of Performance

2.4 Type of Federal Financial Assistance

2.5 Use of Grant Funds

2.5.1 Allowable costs

2.5.2 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

4.2 How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

4.2.1 Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

4.3 Funding Restrictions

3 | P a g e

5 Application Review Information

5.1 Initial Screening

5.2 Review and Selection Process

5.2.1 Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

5.3 Evaluation Factors and Criteria

5.3.1 Scoring for State Agency Track Applications

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

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)

7 Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

8 Other Information

8.1 Debriefing Requests

Appendix A – Application Checklist

Appendix B – Success Stories Instructions

Appendix C – Guidance for Interpreting Cost Principles for Grants and Sub-Grant Awards

Appendix D – Urban/Rural Classification Instructions

4 | P a g e

1 Program Description and Objectives

1.1 Background and Legislative Authority

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) are federally assisted meal programs operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. These programs provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or no-cost meals to children each school day. School lunches and breakfasts provided through these programs (i.e., school meals) must meet Federal nutrition requirements, which are based upon the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the NSLP and SBP at the Federal level. At the State level, the NSLP and SBP are administered by State agencies, which operate the Program through agreements with School Food Authorities (SFAs). While USDA establishes meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications for school meals, decisions about the specific foods to serve and how the foods are prepared are made by SFAs.

Team Nutrition Training Grants for State agencies that administer the NSLP are authorized under Public Law 111–296, which amended Section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. As authorized under Section 6(a)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 1755(a)(3), FNS provides Team Nutrition Training Grants to support training and technical assistance for School Nutrition Professionals, nutrition education for students and their caregivers, and activities to build a healthy school nutrition environment.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention supports State agencies in building a strong school nutrition workforce that is equipped to provide nutritious meals that meet NSLP and SBP meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications. During School Years (SY) 2020-2021 and 2021- 2022, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected school meal service across the country. Schools have experienced school foodservice labor shortages and staff turnover as well as supply chain disruptions. Many schools have operated under temporary waivers of certain meal pattern requirements. The FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant activities will help ensure School Nutrition Professionals have the training, support, and educational tools needed to meet meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications during SY 2022- 2023 and 2023-2024.

In alignment with the Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, the FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant takes a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all programming, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. To reflect this, the FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant is providing bonus points in scoring for applications that incorporate and describe the project’s ability to affect a meaningful impact on racial equity and inclusion and/or that contract with 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/

5 | P a g e businesses with economically or socially disadvantaged owners to achieve the objectives of the grant track chosen.

1.2 Team Nutrition Grant Goal

The goal of the FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention is to build and retain a strong school nutrition workforce that has the knowledge, skills, and the necessary support to provide nutritious school meals during SY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Activities under this grant may be implemented under the NSLP.

1.3 Grant Tracks

Grant funds will be made available on a competitive basis under three grant tracks:

1. Coaching and Mentoring for School Nutrition Professionals

2. Incentivized Training for School Nutrition Professionals

3. Nutrition Education for School Nutrition Professionals, Students, and Families

State agencies may submit one application specifying a single grant track. State agencies may not mix and match activities from the three different grant tracks. These grant tracks are intended to simplify and expedite the application and award process, while providing necessary flexibilities for State agencies to address the needs of their SFAs.

1.3.1 Track 1 Description: Coaching and Mentoring for School Nutrition Professionals

Track 1 Objective: By June 30, 2024, provide coaching and mentoring to school nutrition directors and managers to assist them in meeting meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications for school meals, including the implementation of scratch cooking techniques and forecasting, procurement, and menu planning for school meals.

Track 1 Activities:

These activities should be indicated in the “Project Work Plan Narrative” section of the proposal narrative. Failure to indicate the activities below will result in a reduced score during review.

A. Provide a Coordinator (1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff position) of the Coaching and Mentoring Program. This person will provide training and technical assistance to mentors, meet periodically with all mentors to discuss challenges and possible solutions mentees are experiencing, and identifies and works with community organizations to identify solutions to meal pattern implementation challenges and to ensure training is culturally appropriate and accessible to staff with limited English proficiency. The coordinator should be a Registered Dietitian with at least three years of experience in school foodservice.

B. Implement a Coaching and Mentoring Program to assist school nutrition directors and managers in meeting the meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications for SY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Mentors shall meet regularly (virtually or in-person) and provide technical assistance and coaching to other school nutrition directors and

6 | P a g e managers (i.e., mentees) who are new to the position or experiencing challenges in planning and serving meals that meet NSLP and SBP meal pattern requirements. FNS recommends a ratio of 1 mentor per 10 mentees. Examples of similar coaching and mentoring programs include the Institute of Child Nutrition’s Team Up for School Nutrition Success; School Nutrition Strategies, Trainings, Action Plans, and Resources (STAR); and Enhanced School Nutrition Strategies, Trainings, Action Plans, and Resources (E-STAR) programs.

C. Collect process evaluation data, best practices, and other feedback from mentors and mentees in the Coaching and Mentoring Program.

D. Provide sub-grants to SFAs to support menu changes needed to meet meal pattern requirements. Additional information about sub-grant requirements can be found in Section 5.3.1.

1.3.2 Track 2 Description: Incentivized Training for School Nutrition Professionals

Track 2 Objective: By June 30, 2024, provide at least 40 hours of meal pattern training for school nutrition managers and directors and 8 hours for school nutrition frontline staff (virtually or in-person). The training should focus on meal pattern standards and weekly dietary specifications and strategies to achieve compliance, including food preparation techniques, recipe standardization and use, and school food forecasting and procurement.

Track 2 Activities:

These activities should be indicated in the “Project Work Plan Narrative” section of the proposal narrative. Failure to indicate the activities below will result in a reduced score during review.

A. Provide a Coordinator (1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff position) of the Meal Pattern Training Program to coordinate training efforts among SFAs, collect and share best practices, provide training follow-up support, and serve as a liaison to community groups and organizations to ensure training is accessible to limited English proficiency audiences. The coordinator should be a Registered Dietitian with at least three years of experience in school foodservice.

B. Develop, update, or customize meal pattern, food preparation, forecasting, and/or food procurement training to be consistent with current NSLP and SBP requirements, and to meet the needs of the School Nutrition Professionals to be trained. This includes the development of training materials in languages other than English, as needed.

C. Provide meal pattern, food preparation, forecasting, and/or food procurement training for School Nutrition Professionals (40 hours per manager/director and 8 hours per each frontline staff member) within the time period of the grant.

D. Incentivize early completion of the Meal Pattern Training Program by providing a monetary bonus (up to $500 per School Nutrition Professional) for the completion of training within 6 months of implementation of the training program.

E. Collect process evaluation data, best practices, and other feedback on the Meal Pattern Training Program.

https://theicn.org/icn-resources-a-z/team-up https://theicn.org/icn-resources-a-z/team-up https://theicn.org/star/ https://theicn.org/ibites/estar/

7 | P a g e

F. Provide sub-grants to SFAs to support menu changes needed to meet meal pattern requirements. Additional information about sub-grant requirements can be found in Section 5.3.1.

1.3.3 Track 3 Description: Nutrition Education for School Nutrition Professionals, Students, and Families

Track 3 Objective: By June 30, 2024, provide nutrition education to School Nutrition Professionals, students, and/or parents/guardians of students to build support for nutritious food and beverage choices at school.

Track 3 Activities:

These activities should be indicated in the “Project Work Plan Narrative” section of the proposal narrative. Failure to indicate the activities below will result in a reduced score during review.

A. Provide a Coordinator (1 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff position) of the School Nutrition Education Program to facilitate school nutrition education efforts across the State, and collaborate school nutrition education efforts and messaging with other nutrition programs (such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed); Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP); Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); Farm-to-School; and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)). The coordinator should also serve as a liaison to community organizations to facilitate the delivery of culturally appropriate nutrition education to limited English proficiency audiences. The coordinator should be a Registered Dietitian with at least three years of experience providing nutrition education for children and adolescents.

B. Develop, customize, or update nutrition education materials to convey messages consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, communicate positive messages about the availability and nutritional quality of school meals, and/or to make school meal information accessible to parents/guardians and/or School Nutrition Professionals with limited English proficiency.

C. Conduct formative research (e.g., focus groups, interviews, and surveys) to evaluate nutrition education materials to ensure the information is clear, understood as intended, culturally appropriate, and motivational to students, School Nutrition Professionals, and parents/guardians.

D. Implement nutrition education activities for students and their parents/guardians connected to school meal menu options, including taste-testing events, food demonstration activities, and school nutrition communication campaigns. Nutrition education must use positive nutrition messaging and be consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

E. Implement nutrition education activities, challenges, and events for School Nutrition Professionals. Nutrition education must use positive nutrition messaging and be consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

8 | P a g e

F. Provide education for parents/guardians, students, and/or School Nutrition Professionals on Local School Wellness Policies and their development, implementation, and assessment.

G. Collect process evaluation data, best practices, and other feedback from nutrition education participants.

H. Provide sub-grants to SFAs to support menu changes needed to meet meal pattern requirements. Additional information about sub-grant requirements can be found in Section 5.3.1.

1.4 Grant Activity, Application, and Reporting Requirements for All Tracks

Grant Activities – All Grant Tracks Please note that the activities below are required for all grant tracks. These activities must be clearly indicated in the “Project Work Plan Narrative” section of the proposal narrative. Failure to indicate the activities below will result in a reduced score during review.

• Provide a State Agency Project Director (at least .25 FTE, separate from the Project Coordinator), who ensures the terms and conditions of the grant are met, including all reporting requirements. The Project Director should have experience managing grants or projects of similar size and scope. The Project Director is responsible for overseeing all grant activities; providing fiscal oversight; and exercising effective internal control of funds that are provided to a sub-contractor or sub-grantee. The Project Director should attend the virtual Orientation Meeting with USDA personnel at the beginning of the grant.

• Present their grant findings at a mandatory virtual grantee meeting hosted by USDA during year two of the grant.

• Ensure that schools under SFAs that receive sub-grants are enrolled as Team Nutrition Schools. Visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/schools to check enrollment and sign up.

• Provide sub-grants to SFAs. Sub-grants are to be specific to the following activities.

States may choose which of the following sub-grant activities to implement under their sub-grants, that are relevant to the track chosen. However, additional activities beyond those specified below will not be funded through the sub-grants.

o Small equipment (less than $5,000 per item) needed for the preparation of school meals, meal service operations, and food storage.

o The purchase of samples of new school food products to evaluate their suitability for inclusion on school meal menus.

o The purchase of samples of alternative school meal serving items, such as trays, bowls, cups, wraps, or other materials to evaluate their suitability for portioning and serving new healthier food items for school meal service.

o Cafeteria signage and displays to promote healthier menu items.

o Taste-test events and food demonstrations to introduce healthier menu items to students.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/schools

9 | P a g e o Additional school nutrition staff and qualified consultants to facilitate the implementation of scratch cooking, recipe revisions, and nutrition education.

o Additional school nutrition staff to allow time for other school nutrition staff to participate in meal service training.

o To incentivize early completion of training by providing a monetary bonus (up to $500 per School Nutrition Professional during the period of performance for this grant) for the completion of training within a 6-month period.

o Production of educational materials for students and their families about the nutritional benefits of school meals.

o Nutrition education activities for school nutrition staff focused on 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as they pertain to the nutritional needs of children as well as adults.

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

Optional Grant Activities – All Grant Tracks If one or both of the following activities are included in the application, additional points may be awarded during scoring of the application:

• Ensure that the application describes the project’s ability to affect a meaningful impact on racial equity and inclusion. This could be accomplished by demonstrating a relevant way to eliminate barriers while achieving the grant track objectives in reaching underserved or marginalized populations or communities.

• If grant funds are used to obtain the services of contractors, the applicant describes an approach to contract with businesses with economically or socially disadvantaged owners to achieve the objectives of the chosen grant track.

Application Requirements – All Grant Tracks In the proposal narrative, applicants should provide all information requested in the appropriate section of the track application using the space provided (Attachments A1-Track 1, A2-Track 2, A3-Track 3). Applicants should fit their narrative within the provided space restrictions.

Need and Reach to Underserved SFAs (1 page): Describe the need for the grant in your State and how it will affect the nutritional quality of school meals. Address how grant and/or sub-grant activities will benefit schools serving at least 40 percent of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and schools in rural areas. For the purposes of this grant, rural is defined as an area where the school participating in the project, or the location of the site participating in the project is located in the attendance boundary of a school with a locality code of 41, 42, or 43 using the National Center for Education Statistics online tool to determine urban/rural classification, as described in Appendix D.

10 | P a g e

Collaboration and Partnerships (1 page): Discuss how your State will collaborate with community organizations, farm to school efforts, and other nutrition programs (such as SNAP- Ed, EFNEP, WIC, and CACFP) in the implementation of the grant and sub-grant activities to ensure consistent nutrition messaging. Clearly describe how individuals traditionally underserved in the community will lead, have a voice in, participate in, and/or benefit from the grant activities. Discuss how community organizations will be utilized to help ensure grant activities and materials reach people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

Staffing (resume and position description for the Project Director and the Project Coordinator (4 pages total)) Resumes and position descriptions should demonstrate the appropriate educational, technical, and experiential background for the proposed role.

Project Work Plan Narrative (4 pages): Each track has different requirements for the project work plan narrative.

Track 1 – Project Work Plan Narrative: Describe how your State will implement the Coaching and Mentoring Program, to include the following:

• Recruitment, retention, and anticipated number of mentors.

• Methods to recruit mentors that represent different racial and ethnic groups within the State.

• Qualifications (experience and education) of mentors.

• Training and oversight of mentors.

• Anticipated ratio of mentors to mentees.

• Recruitment of mentees (school nutrition managers and directors) to participate in the Coaching and Mentoring Program.

• Anticipated number of mentees.

• Coaching and mentoring methods and topics.

• Anticipated average number of mentoring sessions per mentee.

• The anticipated number of SFAs in the State with managers/directors receiving coaching/mentoring through the program.

• Methods to ensure the Coaching and Mentoring Program is reaching underserved areas of the State.

Track 2 – Project Work Plan Narrative: Describe how your state will implement incentivized training for School Nutrition Professionals, including:

• Selection, qualifications (education and experience), and anticipated number of trainers.

• Recruitment, retention, and anticipated number of training participants (school nutrition managers/directors and frontline staff).

• Description of training methods and topics.

• Expected number of hours of training per participant.

• Description of incentive award protocols and delivery.

11 | P a g e

• Description of training materials to be revised or developed.

• Development of materials for limited English proficiency audiences.

• The anticipated number of SFAs in the State with School Nutrition Professionals to receive training.

• Methods to ensure that an incentivized training program is reaching underserved areas of the State.

Track 3 – Project Work Plan Narrative: Describe how your State will provide nutrition education to School Nutrition Professionals, students, and the parents/guardians of students. Proposal should include the following:

• Selection and anticipated number of nutrition education participants, by category (School Nutrition Professional, student, parent/guardian).

• Description of nutrition education messages, methods, and settings by category (School Nutrition Professional, student, parent/guardian).

• Connection between nutrition education and school meal menu options.

• Expected hours of nutrition education per participant by category (School Nutrition Professional, student, parent/guardian).

• Description of nutrition education materials to be revised or developed and how they will be evaluated/tested.

• Description of the development of materials for limited English proficiency audiences.

• Selection, qualifications (education and experience), and retention of nutrition educators.

• The anticipated number of SFAs in the State with schools implementing nutrition education activities.

• Methods to ensure that culturally appropriate nutrition education materials reach underserved audiences.

Sub-grant Administration and Management – All Tracks (1 page):

Describe how your State will make sub-grants available to SFAs and provide oversight. Discuss the type of activities to be funded through the sub-grants, the anticipated number of sub-grants, and their amounts. See section 1.4 Grant Activity, Application, and Reporting Requirements for All Tracks for information on the types of activities that may be funded under the sub-grants.

Budget Table – All Tracks (no limit on section length): Provide an itemized budget, formatted in a table, describing the appropriate use of grant funds, including calculations for how all line-item expenses were derived. All budget line item expenses must be allowable costs as defined in this RFA and 2 CFR 200 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part- 200/subpart-E) that all budget line items align with the activities described in the Project Work Narrative and Budget Narrative for the chosen grant track. Proposed costs must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to carry out the project’s goals and objectives. All funding requests must be in whole dollars only. Budget categories in this table must match those listed on the https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E

12 | P a g e

SF-424A form. If the budget table is created in a spreadsheet, it must be formatted to fit on an

8.5 x 11-inch page, with a font no smaller than 11-point Times New Roman.

Budget Narrative – All Tracks (1.5 pages): Provide a descriptive budget narrative that addresses every budget line-item expense. Briefly describe how the total amount for that line item was determined and that expense supports the project goals. Provide details where necessary.

Evaluation Plan (1 page): Each track has different requirements for the evaluation plan.

Track 1 – Evaluation Plan Describe how the grant will collect and report on the following (at a minimum):

• Numbers of managers/directors (mentees) mentored.

• Average number of mentoring/coaching sessions per mentee.

• Type of mentoring/coaching sessions (in person or virtual).

• Challenges and solutions to providing school meals that meet meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications (i.e., best practices).

• Race/ethnicity of mentors and mentees.

• Languages of materials provided.

• The number of SFAs in the State with managers/directors receiving coaching/mentoring through the program.

Track 2 – Evaluation Plan Describe how the grant will collect and report on the following (at a minimum):

• The number of training participants by category (school nutrition manager/director, frontline staff).

• Race/ethnicity of training participants.

• Average duration (hours) of training program by participant by category.

• Number of training participants receiving an incentive award.

• Total monetary amount spent on incentive awards.

• Languages of trainings provided.

• Challenges and solutions to providing meal pattern training (i.e., best practices).

Track 3 – Evaluation Plan Describe how the grant will collect and report on the following (at a minimum):

• Number of students participating in nutrition education activities.

• Number of parents/guardians participating in nutrition education activities.

• Number of School Nutrition Professionals participating in nutrition education activities.

• Race/ethnicity of training participants.

• Languages of nutrition education provided.

• Challenges and solutions to providing school nutrition education.

• Formative research findings from the development of nutrition education materials.

• Examples of successful collaborations between school nutrition education and other nutrition programs in the community.

13 | P a g e

Project Timeline (Grant activities should not start before June 1, 2022) – All Tracks (2 pages):

Provide a timeline, using the template in Attachment C, showing the dates for the key activities within the period of performance of this grant, including:

• Hiring of the Project Coordinator and other program staff such as mentors, trainers, consultants, nutrition educators, and evaluators.

• Recruitment of participants, such as training, mentoring, and nutrition education participants.

• Implementation of key grant activities, such as coaching, training, and/or nutrition education.

• Award and implementation of sub-grants.

• Data collection and evaluation activities.

Grantee Reporting Requirements – All Grant Tracks Grantees are required to submit semi-annual progress reports, quarterly financial reports, and final progress and financial reports. The grantee will utilize the FNS-908 Performance Progress Report (PPR) form and financial reports will be submitted through the online Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS). The specific reporting format will be provided to grantees as part of the Grant Orientation Webinar. All training and nutrition education materials developed under the grant must be submitted to FNS as part of semi-annual reports or the final report.

Sharing of Grant Materials on the Child Nutrition Sharing Site The Child Nutrition Sharing Site is an online information center providing Child Nutrition Programs with a means for sharing effective resources related to program operation. All training and nutrition education materials developed under the grant should be submitted to the Child Nutrition Sharing Site (CNSS – theicn.org/cnss/). Submissions can be made at any time during the grant period of performance.

Semi-Annual Performance Progress Reports Semi-annual reports should discuss grant activities that took place during the past 6 months and are due thirty days after the reporting period. Submission of best practices and success stories (using the instructions in Appendix B) and photographs of grant activities and associated photo releases are part of the grant deliverables. Grantees will submit the Performance Progress Report and other deliverables via the USDA Microsoft Teams Platform.

Final Reports Final Reports are due ninety days after the end of the grant period and should be a cumulative report that provides summative data for the entire grant period of performance. Grantees will submit the final Performance Progress Report via the USDA Microsoft Teams Platform.

Grantees should submit the following, but are not limited to:

• A final set of all grant materials developed that are 508-compliant in an electronic format.

• Success stories (refer to the instructions in Appendix B).

• A minimum of five high-resolution (300 pixels per inch, minimum) photographs of grant projects in action and accompanying signed photo releases.

https://theicn.org/cnss/

14 | P a g e

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

Recipients shall include acknowledgement of USDA Food and Nutrition Service support on any audiovisual which is produced with grant support and which has a direct production cost of over $5,000. When acknowledging USDA support, grantees shall use the following language: "This material is based upon work that is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture.”

15 | P a g e

2 Federal Award Information

2.1 Total Amount of Funding Expected to Award

During FY 2022, FNS plans to award approximately $6 million for the Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention, subject to the availability of funds. FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants during FY 2022 or the subsequent fiscal year, should additional funds become available.

2.2 Anticipated Award Amounts

FNS anticipates competitively awarding this FY 2022 Team Nutrition Training Grant for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention to State agencies, with a total of approximately $6 million available for award. Up to $1 million may be requested per State agency. Should additional funds become available, FNS may increase this grant ceiling to $1.5 million, and award grants to more States. FNS reserves the right to make greater or fewer grant awards based upon funding availability, 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.

2.3 Anticipated Start Dates and Period of Performance

Through a competitive grants process, the anticipated grant period of performance is May 2022 through June 30, 2024.

2.4 Type of Federal Financial Assistance

Funding for approved Team Nutrition Training Grants for School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention 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 of funding. All Team Nutrition Training Grant funds must be obligated, and all activities must be fully completed by June 30, 2024.

2.5 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.”

2.5.1 Allowable costs

See Appendix C: Guidance for Interpreting Cost Principles for Grants and Sub-Grant Awards.

Food Expenses Team Nutrition Training Grant funds may be used to pay for food if the food is part of a specific nutrition education activity, culinary training (not as meals for training participants, but as part of the instruction), or to purchase samples of new food items for the school meal menu as part of activities under this grant. Food purchases must be in accordance with the Agency’s Buy

16 | P a g e

American Provision. For more information, refer to the OMB Code of Federal Regulations Cost Principles-2 CFR Part 200 and Part 400. See section 2.5.2 Unallowable Costs for examples of when food may not be purchased with grant funds. Any food purchase, as well as any expenditures associated with food purchases, must be clearly identified within the submitted budget narrative.

Nutrition Education Reinforcement Materials Nutrition education reinforcement materials refer to products given to students or School Nutrition Professionals that convey nutrition messages, such as stickers, buttons, and refrigerator magnets. These items must have a direct relationship to the training, mentoring, or nutrition education program under the grant. 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 also should:

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

• Contain a nutrition education message that is directly relevant to school meals and consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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

• Cost $5.00 or less per item.

Sub-Grants to School Food Authorities Under this grant, State agencies are required to award sub-grants to SFAs. See section 1.4 Grant Activity, Application, and Reporting Requirements for All Tracks: Grant Activities for All Tracks for information on the types of activities that may be funded under the sub-grants.

The State should:

• Provide oversight to sub-grant recipients to ensure that expenditures authorized under the sub-grants are allowable, allocable, and reasonable.

• Ensure that all sub-grant expenditures are consistent with all local, State, and federal policies, regulations, and procedures.

• Ensure that sub-grant expenditures do not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under similar circumstances and would qualify as a sound business practice.

• Ensure the schools of the SFAs that receive sub-grants are enrolled as Team Nutrition Schools. Visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/schools to enroll.

• Ensure that sub-grant funds are only used for activities specified under section 1.4 Grant Activity, Application, and Reporting Requirements for All Tracks: Grant Activities for All Tracks.

17 | P a g e

• Ensure that all sub-grant awards follow the OMB Code of Federal Regulations Cost Principles-2 CFR Part 200 and Part 400.

Technology Team Nutrition Training Grants may be used to purchase USDA approved nutrient analysis software, content learning management systems, and other software used to provide training and 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 are also permitted.

Procurement of technology may not exceed 10 percent of requested funds. Funds used to purchase high-resolution photography equipment shall not exceed $2,000 total.

Travel Team Nutrition Training Grant funds may be used for travel costs necessary for conducting grant activities. These may include:

• Travel reimbursement for attending local and 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 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 for School Nutrition Professionals to attend grant-related trainings and activities.

2.5.2 Unallowable costs

Unallowable costs in the grant or sub-grants include:

• Purchasing meals and snacks for training participants.

• Foods used to prepare a meal for which reimbursement will be provided under the FNS nutrition assistance programs.

• Foods used as an incentive or prize.

• Foods provided directly to students and families to prepare and eat at home.

• Foods not related to activities under this grant.

• School gardens and garden equipment, tools, or materials (including seeds, soil, planters, and plants).

• Training outside of meal pattern requirements and weekly dietary specifications, food preparation techniques, school food procurement and forecasting, and the preparation of USDA standardized recipes. For example, food safety training is outside of the scope of this grant.

• Food service or any other equipment ($5,000 or more).

• Physical activity classes or equipment.

• 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 are not allowed).

• Activities conducted under programs that are not the NSLP, SBP, or SSO.

• Mascot costumes.

• Promotional incentive items solely for marketing or staff morale boosters.

18 | P a g e

• Health fair prizes.

• Door prizes for training or nutrition education events, such as gift cards.

• Purchase of nutrient analysis software that is not USDA-approved as specified at:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/usda-approved-nutrient-analysis-software.

Summary There is limited funding to accomplish Team Nutrition’s School Nutrition Professional Readiness and Retention objectives. State agencies 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 and the sub-grant’s objectives?

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

3. Is the cost reasonable and appropriate?

http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/usda-approved-nutrient-analysis-software

19 | P a g e

3 Eligibility Information

3.1 Eligibility Criteria

3.1.1 Eligible Applicants

Only State agencies that administer the NSLP may apply in response to this solicitation. Each State may submit only one application. State agencies are encouraged to read this RFA to choose the track that is best for their situation. States may not apply to more than one track.

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 200.205, are required to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualifications or financial integrity information. Additionally, Federal Awarding Agencies are required to have a framework in place for evaluating the risks posed by applicants before they receive Federal awards. The FNS review of risk posed by applicants will be based on the following:

• SAM.gov, the System for Award Management, the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS.

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

• Dun & Bradstreet, the system where applicants establish a DUNS number that is used by the Federal government to better identify related organizations that are receiving funding under grants and cooperative agreements.

• FNS Risk Assessment Questionnaire: Applicants must complete the Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire (FNS-906) that allows FNS to evaluate aspects of the applicant’s financial stability, quality of management systems, and history of performance, reports, and findings from audits. The questionnaire contains several questions that may be an indicator of potential risk.

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

20 | P a g e

4 Application and Submission Information

4.1 Content and Form of Application Submission

Eligible applicants interested in applying to this grant opportunity must adhere to the following application format.

• Include the completed grant application (Attachments A1-Track 1, A2-Track 2, or A3- Track 3) for the selected grant track.

• Limit the narrative portion of the application to the page lengths provided in the application. Expansion beyond the page limits provided will result in elimination from the competition.

• Use at least one-inch margins on the top and bottom of the page and an easily readable 12-point font, such as Time New Roman (for applicant-created documents).

• Follow all application instructions regarding budget, timeline, resumes, etc.

• Complete the Content Summary section on the final page of the grant application (Attachments A1-Track 1, A2-Track 2, or A3-Track 3).

Submit completed application via Grants.gov. Files should be submitted as a Portable Document Format file (.PDF) through the http://www.Grants.gov workspace.

Special Instructions:

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

• There are no requirements for cost sharing or matching; therefore, this will not be considered in the review process.

• FNS reserves the right to make greater of 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.

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

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

• FNS reserves the right to request clarification on any application submitted in response to this solicitation.

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

• Applicants who apply to more than one Grant Track will be eliminated from the competition.

• If multiple application packages are submitted through Grants.gov by the same applicant for the same Grant Track in response to this solicitation, FNS will accept the last application package successfully submitted. All other packages submitted by the applicant will be removed from this competition.

http://www.grants.gov/

21 | P a g e

Letter of Intent:

The eligible applicant who intends to apply should submit a Letter of Intent (Attachment D) notice by February 24, 2022. This notice does not obligate the applicant to submit an application but provides FNS with useful information in preparing for the review and selection process.

The applicant can send the Letter of Intent via e-mail to the FNS Grant Officer, Anna Arrowsmith, identified below:

E-mail: Anna.Arrowsmith@usda.gov

The Application should follow this format for all Grant Tracks:

• Completed application for chosen grant track (Attachment A1-Track 1, Attachment A2- Track 2, or Attachment A3-Track 3).

o Resume or Position Description of Project Director and Project Coordinator.

o Budget Table as an attachment on Grants.gov.

o Project timeline as an attachment on Grants.gov (Attachment C).

• Required Grant Application Forms.

o SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance (fillable PDF in Grants.gov).

o SF-424A – Budget Information and Instruction Form (fillable PDF in Grants.gov).

o SF-424B – Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (fillable PDF in Grants.gov).

o SF-LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

o (Attachment B) FNS-906 – Grant Program Accounting System & Financial

Capability Questionnaire.

o Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF - Upload using the “Add

Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15).

▪ A current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), negotiated with a Federal negotiating agency, should be used to charge indirect costs. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate. If a NICRA is used, the percentage and base should be indicated. If the applicant does not have, and has never been approved for, a NICRA, they may charge up to 10% de minimis. In this instance, the applicant must indicate they are requesting the de minimis rate. 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. For questions related to the indirect cost rate, please work with the Grant Officer as noted in this RFA.

Activities and Indicators Tracker Proposed Activities and indicators measuring success must be connected to the objective for the chosen Grant Track in the format below. All activities should have indicators associated with it as part of the proposal that relate back to the objective. A maximum of 5 activities and indicators can be added to support the application. Indicators are defined as any metric anticipated to be tracked during the period of performance of the grant. The Activities and mailto:Anna.Arrowsmith@usda.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html

22 | P a g e

Indicators Tracker is part of the application packet (Attachment A1-Track 1, A2-Track 2, or A3- Track 3).

Example

Activities and Indicators Tracker (Example)

Objective Objective from Track 1, 2, or 3

Activity

Indicator(s)

Activity

Indicator(s)

Activity

Indicator(s)

4.1.1 Submission Date

Completed grant applications must be uploaded to Grants.gov by 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST), on March 14, 2022.

• Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Mailed, e-mailed, or hand-delivered application packages will not be accepted. For further instructions, see “How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov”.

• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

• FNS will not consider additions or…