RFA - Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs.pdf

Form RFA 01-23

Information Collection: 0584-0512 Expiration date: July 31, 2025

Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs - Cooperative Agreement

Fiscal Year 2024 Request for Applications (RFA) Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 10.532

Release Date: January 18, 2024

Application Due Date: 11:59 pm EST, March 18, 2024

Anticipated Award Date: April 2024

Letter of Intent (optional) Due Date: 11:59 pm EST, February 19, 2024

Informational Webinar Dates: February 8 and February 13, 2024

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 40 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.

Application Checklist

This Application Checklist provides applicants with a list of the required actions and documents that must be completed. However, FNS expects that applicants will read the entire 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.

Complete the following at least four (4) weeks prior to submission:

Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.

Register the UEI number in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Register in 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 5 – Application Review Information, and all necessary attachments.

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

All key staff proposed to be paid by this cooperative agreement.

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

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 justification, and basis for lodging estimate.

Types of 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 an itemized list of all consultant services.

Indirect cost information (either a copy of a Federally 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 an applicant is requesting the de minimis rate or indirect costs are not required, please state this in the budget narrative.

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

Appendix C – FNS-906 – Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability

Questionnaire.

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (PDF – Upload using the “Add Attachments” button under SF-424 item #15).

Non-Construction Grant Projects Forms: SF-424 Family o Application and Instruction for Federal Assistance (SF-424) o Budget Information and Instructions (SF-424A) o Assurance-Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)

SF LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) http://www.grants.gov/ o Indicate on your form whether your organization intends to conduct lobbying activities. If you organization does not intend to lobby, write “Not Applicable” in boxes required to be completed.

Resumes of key staff.

Letters of Support from State agency, school food authorities, and/or partners (if applicable).

Additional attachments as required.

Table of Contents

1. Program Description and Objectives

1.1 Executive Summary

1.2 Program Description

1.3 Key Objectives

1.4 Summary of Activities

2. Federal Award Information

2.1 Allowable Costs

2.2 Sub-Grants

2.3 Allowable Costs for Sub-Grants

2.4 Unallowable Costs

3. Eligibility Information

3.1 Eligible Applicants

3.2 Partnerships

3.3 Conflict of Interest

3.4 Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

3.5 Pre-Award Screening Requirements

3.6 Publications and Acknowledgement of USDA Support

4. Application and Submission Information

4.1 Content and Form of Application Submission

4.2 Submission Date

4.3 Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov

4.4 How to Submit an Application via Grants.gov

4.5 Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

4.6 Intergovernmental Review

4.7 Funding Restrictions

5. Application Review Information

5.1 Review Criteria

5.2 Review and Selection Process

6. Federal Award Administration Information

6.1 Federal Award Notice

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

6.3 Reporting Requirements

7. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

8. Other Information

8.1 Debriefing Requests

8.2 Data Collection and Ownership

APPENDIX A: Definitions

APPENDIX B: Suggested Budget Table/Budget Narrative Template and Budget Checklist

APPENDIX C: FNS-906 Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire .. 53

APPENDIX D: Letter of Intent

APPENDIX E: Cover Page

APPENDIX F: FNS-908 Performance Progress Report

APPENDIX G: Guidelines for Nutrition Education Provided Under the Cooperative Agreement

1. Program Description and Objectives

1.1 Executive Summary

Approximately 85% of Bureau of Indian Education operated, tribally controlled, and Navajo schools participate in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and many more students from Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians participate in NSLP at other schools across the country. For these children and their communities, traditional Indigenous foods are the centerpiece of their cultural and spiritual identities, reflective of relationships with the land, water, plants, animals, and medicines formed over millennia.

Today, tribes are recovering their Indigenous foods and traditional food systems, often as an integral component of their economic development strategies. Belief in food sovereignty, the ability of tribes to reclaim control of their food systems, is strong across Indian Country. However, there remain many barriers to incorporating more traditional Indigenous foods into the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP), including product availability and procurement; high cost of Indigenous foods as compared to conventional foods; low availability of Indigenous foods commercially; lack of scratch cooking capacity; predominately rural or remote locations of schools serving these students; inadequate access to transportation and high-speed internet; and language barriers. In addition, USDA regulations that are sometimes misunderstood may hamper efforts to include traditional Indigenous foods as part of reimbursable meals. Often schools that serve tribal students are in underserved communities and may not have access to training and resources enabling them to optimize their school meal operations and incorporate traditional Indigenous foods into their meals. Under this RFA, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will award $2 million in total grant funding to up to four (4) organizations led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians (see Section 3 - Eligibility Information). The legislative authority for this cooperative agreement announcement is Section 21(a)(1)(A)(i-iii) of https://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla-amended-pl-117- 328 the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Funding was provided through the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Acts (P.L. 118-15 and P.L. 118-22).

These awards will be made via the Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement to provide regionally focused training and technical assistance (TA) to school nutrition professionals on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods, including the use of cooperator and FNS-developed resources and tools. The cooperators, with FNS guidance and approval, will also develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served, and the cooperators will train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education to students. School Food Authorities (SFA) to be supported under the cooperative agreement must participate in the NSLP. Funds may be used to provide training, TA, and nutrition education to support the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the NSLP, School Breakfast Program (SBP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), and/or Child and Adult Care Food Program At-Risk Afterschool Meals (CACFP At-Risk) (see Appendix A - Definitions). The anticipated period of performance for this cooperative agreement is from May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026.

1.2 Program Description

USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, while ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all https://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla-amended-pl-117-328 https://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla-amended-pl-117-328 https://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla communities. Part of this effort includes USDA’s commitment to support tribal Nations’ self-determination, promote equity, remove barriers to services and programs, and incorporate community perspectives into food programs, recognizing their tribal sovereignty and food sovereignty. USDA understands the importance of serving traditional Indigenous foods and encourages operators of the CNP to source locally grown and raised foods.

In December 2022, the USDA Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) held two tribal consultations to gain input on the proposed rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Revisions to Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which was published on February 7, 2023. Issues identified during these consultations included the desire to incorporate more traditional Indigenous foods into meals offered through the CNP, the health impacts of a typical “American” diet on tribal communities, and USDA school meal regulations that are sometimes misunderstood and thus may hamper efforts to include traditional Indigenous foods. Often schools that serve tribal students are in underserved communities and may not have access to training and resources enabling them to optimize their school meal operations and incorporate traditional Indigenous foods into their meals. Barriers such as product availability and procurement; high cost of Indigenous foods as compared to conventional foods; low availability of Indigenous foods commercially; lack of scratch cooking capacity; predominately rural or remote locations of schools serving these students; inadequate access to transportation and high-speed internet; and language barriers compound these issues.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health calls for improving food access and affordability. A focus of Pillar 1 is supporting food sovereignty, improving access to traditional Indigenous foods, and ensuring tribal communities are equitably served by Federal programs. USDA FNS has developed many trainings and resources on procuring, preparing, and crediting foods as part of the CNP. However, there is a need to provide tailored training and TA directly to school nutrition professionals serving tribal communities to ensure that they can utilize the available resources and incorporate traditional Indigenous foods into their meals and snacks, addressing the unique barriers each Program operator may face.

To address this need, in FY 2024, USDA FNS will award $2 million in total grant funding to up to four (4) organizations led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians, from different regions of the contiguous United States, Alaska, or Hawaii (regions may, but are not required to, correspond to USDA FNS regions). These entities will provide tailored training and TA to SFAs that serve tribal communities and participate in the NSLP. Funds may be used to support the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the NSLP, SBP, SFSP, SSO, and/or CACFP At-Risk. Cooperators should draw from the experience and expertise of school nutrition professionals, school administrators, community partners, elders, and other community experts from the tribal communities being served and provide training and TA that are culturally relevant and appropriate. The cooperators, with FNS guidance and approval, will also develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served, and the cooperators will train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education to students. The legislative authority for this cooperative agreement announcement is Section 21(a)(1)(A)(i-iii) ofhttps://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla-amended-pl-117-328 the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. Funding was provided through the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Acts (P.L. 118-15 and P.L. 118-22).

https://www.usda.gov/tribalrelations https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/proposed-updates-school-nutrition-standards https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/proposed-updates-school-nutrition-standards https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/White-House-National-Strategy-on-Hunger-Nutrition-and-Health-FINAL.pdf https://www.fns.usda.gov/nsla-amended-pl-117-328

There are 574 Federally Recognized Tribes and nearly a quarter of Hawaiian residents are Native Hawaiian. Each community has its own rich and diverse culture and food traditions; thus, a local/regional approach will ensure that the needs of the specific tribes being served are addressed through the projects funded under this RFA. In addition, this work must be developed and delivered by organizations led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians (see Section 3 - Eligibility Information) with input from the SFAs and tribes being served. FNS will provide significant support to the cooperators, including working to increase the presence of traditional Indigenous foods in the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (FBG); updating/developing additional resources and trainings specifically targeted towards SFAs serving tribal communities (in collaboration with the cooperators); and continuing to update the FNS webpage, Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs, with all available USDA resources and trainings to support the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP.

Through this initiative, FNS intends to see the following outcomes:

• Increased understanding of the specific barriers faced by SFAs serving tribal communities in offering traditional Indigenous foods as part of the meals served through the CNP.

• Increased capacity of organizations led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians to provide training and TA to increase the inclusion of traditional Indigenous foods into the meals served through the CNP.

• Engagement of school nutrition professionals from tribal communities in incorporating traditional Indigenous foods into the meals served through the CNP.

• New and updated resources, tools, and trainings tailored to school nutrition professionals and other school staff or community partners serving tribal communities on the importance of traditional Indigenous foods and how to increase inclusion of these foods into the meals served through the CNP.

• The establishment of new procurement relationships that can supply traditional Indigenous foods to SFAs serving tribal communities in quantities and at prices that are acceptable.

• The development, standardization, and testing of new recipes utilizing traditional Indigenous foods that are specific to the tribal communities being served.

• Increased inclusion of traditional Indigenous foods into the meals served through the CNP.

• Increased engagement of students, school nutrition professionals, other school staff, and tribe members in increasing traditional Indigenous foods in the meals served through the CNP through taste tests, student nutrition committees, Local School Wellness Committees, and/or other means.

• New and updated nutrition education resources tailored to students from tribal communities on the meaning and importance of the traditional Indigenous foods that are served, and training for school nutrition professionals on providing nutrition education to students.

• Identification and sharing of best practices and outcomes data that demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of tailored training and TA for school nutrition professionals in increasing the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the meals served through the CNP.

• Increased partnerships between non-profit organizations, SFAs, tribes, and/or other entities with experience and expertise in training, nutrition and nutrition education, traditional Indigenous foods, and/or school food service management.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/28/2022-01789/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-for-child-nutrition-programs https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/food-buying-guide-for-child-nutrition-programs https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fns.usda.gov%2Fcn%2Fserving-traditional-indigenous-foods&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cfa569f87bf2448e9c21c08db65dd7b60%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638215774153571357%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lsbsNpwD1MNhx1n9tdZ3mKv9XNDISN5zB85k8%2F0F2wk%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fns.usda.gov%2Fcn%2Fserving-traditional-indigenous-foods&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cfa569f87bf2448e9c21c08db65dd7b60%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C638215774153571357%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lsbsNpwD1MNhx1n9tdZ3mKv9XNDISN5zB85k8%2F0F2wk%3D&reserved=0

• Increased partnerships between FNS and organizations led and staffed primarily by members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians and tribal communities.

The work completed under this cooperative agreement will supplement other efforts currently underway within FNS such as the Team Nutrition Training Grant, the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, and the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative. These programs aim to improve the quality and acceptability of meals served through the CNP, support local procurement, and strengthen the K-12 food system to ensure that schools across the nation can serve foods that are healthy, culturally appropriate for the communities that they serve, and appealing to students. In alignment with the Executive Order (EO) On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, this cooperative agreement 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.

The anticipated period of performance for this cooperative agreement is from May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026.

1.3 Key Objectives

Below is a list of the Key Objectives. As noted in Section 4.1 – Content and Form of Application Submission, proposed activities and their indicators should be clearly aligned to these objectives.

Proposals must include activities to support the first six (6) objectives identified below. Objective 7 is optional. Note that if awarded, cooperators will be required to report on progress towards activities aligned with the required objectives and must use the FNS-908 for reporting (see Appendix F - FNS-908 - Performance Progress Report). Carefully considering proposed activities and indicators will prepare cooperators for their progress reporting requirements if awarded.

# Objective

1. Gather information on barriers to including traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP and strengths and challenges related to training and TA (using past feedback obtained through consultation and other channels to the extent possible), provide a report to USDA FNS, and utilize information gained to inform project implementation.

2. Provide culturally appropriate training and TA to meet the unique needs of school nutrition professionals who procure, prepare, and serve meals for tribal communities – drawing on the expertise of school nutrition professionals and others from the tribal communities being served. 50% or more of those providing training and TA for staff must be members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

3. Market and distribute cooperator and FNS-developed resources, tools, and trainings through culturally appropriate avenues.

4. Develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served as part of their meals; train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing culturally relevant nutrition education to students; and ensure that nutrition education is delivered to students. 50% or more of those providing nutrition education directly to students must be members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/team-nutrition-training-grants https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/farm-school-grant-program https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/farm-school-grant-program https://www.fns.usda.gov/cnp/healthy-meals-incentives 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. Support the establishment of new procurement relationships; supply chain development/coordination; development, standardizing, and testing of new recipes;

and/or increased engagement of students and their parents/caregivers, school nutrition professionals, other school staff, and tribal partners in increasing traditional Indigenous foods in the meals served through the CNP.

6 Facilitate a regional Community of Practice of school nutrition professionals from tribal serving schools to share best practices, collaborate, and learn from each other.

7. (OPTIONAL) Provide funding in the form of sub-grants to SFAs participating in the NSLP to support them in the implementation of concepts learned through training and TA (Section 2.2 – Sub-Grants).

1.4 Summary of Activities

This RFA is an announcement of the availability of funds to undertake the activities associated with the Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Cooperative Agreement, with substantial involvement by FNS. Cooperators will provide culturally appropriate, regionally focused (regions may, but are not required to, correspond to USDA FNS regions) training and TA on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods including the use of cooperator and FNS-developed resources and tools. Cooperators will also develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served as part of their meals, and train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education to students.

Certain required activities must be completed as part of this cooperative agreement and applicants should describe how they will implement these required activities in their proposals. In addition to the required activities, applicants may propose their own activities and approaches for satisfying the objectives and/or use the suggested approaches listed below.

# Objective

1. Gather information on barriers to including traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP and strengths and challenges related to training and TA (using past feedback obtained through consultation and other channels to the extent possible), provide a report to USDA FNS, and utilize information gained to inform project workplan.

Required Activities:

• Provide a report to USDA FNS regarding barriers to including traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP and TA and training needs in the region proposed in the application.

• Utilize information gained to inform project implementation.

Suggested Approaches:

• Conduct listening sessions.

• Utilize existing gathering opportunities to collect information.

• Include a wide variety of stakeholders including school nutrition professionals, other school staff, tribal leaders, students, caregivers, and other community organizations from the tribal communities to be served.

# Objective

2. Provide culturally appropriate training and TA to meet the unique needs of school nutrition professionals who procure, prepare, and serve meals for tribal communities – drawing on the expertise of school nutrition professionals and others from the tribal communities being served. 50% or more of those providing training and TA for staff must be members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

Required Activities:

• Develop and implement a workplan and timeline to develop and deliver effective, culturally appropriate resources, TA, and training to school nutrition professionals and other school staff and/or community partners serving tribal communities.

• Develop and deliver effective, culturally appropriate resources, TA, and training to school nutrition professionals and other school staff and/or community partners serving tribal communities using FNS and cooperator developed tools for menu planning, procurement, preparation, and crediting.

Suggested Approaches:

• Conduct training and TA sessions at various locations and in different formats (e.g., virtual delivery, in-person trainings, conference/meeting presentations, individual site visits) that are easily accessible to school nutrition professionals and other school staff and/or community partners serving tribal communities.

• Provide language and translation services (if needed) utilizing qualified, professional, and experienced translators, that are qualified per the individual tribe’s standards and approval.

Objective

3. Market and distribute cooperator and FNS-developed resources, tools, and trainings through culturally appropriate avenues.

Required Activity:

• Develop and implement a marketing and communications plan to raise awareness of available tools, resources, and training.

• Utilize multiple communication methods to share resources, tools, and trainings with school nutrition professionals, tribes, and community stakeholders serving tribal communities.

• Share best practices and outcomes data that demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of tailored training and TA for school nutrition professionals and other school staff in increasing the use of traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP.

• Present at relevant conferences to promote the work done by SFAs in your region and support other SFAs in increasing the use of traditional Indigenous foods.

# Objective

4. Develop culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students to accompany the traditional Indigenous foods that are served as part of their meals; train school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing culturally relevant nutrition education to students; and ensure that nutrition education is delivered to students. 50% or more of those providing nutrition education directly to students must be members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians.

• Develop and test effective, culturally relevant nutrition education materials for students that align with traditional Indigenous foods being served.

• Train school nutrition professionals and other school staff in delivering nutrition education to students.

• Deliver/ensure delivery of nutrition education to students.

• Create nutrition education materials in multiple formats (e.g., handouts, Power Point presentations, games, home-based activities).

• Integrate school nutrition professionals who are from Federally Recognized Tribes and/or

Native Hawaiians into the development and delivery of nutrition education for students.

• Integrate nutrition education across the curriculum (i.e., include in other subjects such as history and science).

# Objective

5. Support the establishment of new procurement relationships; supply chain development/coordination; development, standardizing, and testing of new recipes;

and/or increased engagement of students and their parents/caregivers, school nutrition professionals, other school staff, and tribal partners in increasing traditional Indigenous foods in the meals served through the CNP.

• Implement one or more of the activities found in the Objective 5 description.

• Establish buying cooperatives in the proposed region.

• Create competitions for school nutrition staff to contribute recipes including traditional

Indigenous foods (and then standardize those recipes).

• Train school nutrition staff to conduct taste tests for new recipes made with traditional

Indigenous foods.

• Develop student nutrition committees or add students to Local School Wellness

Committees and train them to lead student engagement activities.

# Objective

6. Facilitate a regional Community of Practice of school nutrition professionals from tribal serving schools to share best practices, collaborate, and learn from each other.

Required Activities:

• Create a Community of Practice of school nutrition professionals from tribal serving schools across the proposed region.

• Provide regular meeting opportunities for the group and facilitate communication and collaboration among members.

• Support collaborative presentations at relevant conferences and meetings.

• Support creation of collaborative resources and trainings.

• Share best practices gleaned from Community of Practice meetings through social media, newsletters, and presentations.

2. Federal Award Information The following information is intended to provide potential applicants with information to help make informed decisions about proposal submissions.

• Total amount of funding expected to award: $2 million in total grant funding

• Anticipated number of awards: up to four (4) (in different regions of the contiguous United

States, Alaska, or Hawaii, regions may, but are not required to, correspond to USDA FNS regions)

• Minimum award amount (award floor): $250,000

• Maximum award amount (award ceiling): anticipate $500,000 but reserve the right to increase depending upon the number of awards made.

• Informational webinar dates: February 8 and 13, 2024

• Letter of Intent (optional) due date: 11:59 pm EST on February 19, 2024

• Application due date: 11:59 pm EST on March 18, 2024

• Anticipated award announcement date: April 2024

• Anticipated period of performance (start and end date of the award): 2 years, May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2026

Please note:

• Cooperative agreement 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 cooperative agreements this year or the subsequent fiscal year, should additional funds become available.

2.1 Allowable Costs

All costs proposed in the budget table and detailed in the budget narrative must be allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable. Refer to this RFA and 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles for a detailed description of all allowable and unallowable costs. All costs must be specifically for the purposes of cooperative agreement activities.

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

Personnel Costs and Fringe Benefits Salaries and fringe benefits of personnel involved in resource development, training, TA, and administrative support of activities under this cooperative agreement, including contracted employee salaries.

• All staff wages, salaries, and fringe 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.

• The wages and salaries must be commensurate to the task an individual is performing under this cooperative agreement, as opposed to reflecting other positions for which they are credentialed (i.e., if a physician leads a nutrition education training for teachers, pay must be commensurate with the activity of nutrition education training rather than that of a physician).

• The Lead Applicant must provide a Project Director that devotes no less than 0.25 FTE to the project for the entire duration.

Meeting/Training Space Charging costs of currently leased space to complete administrative or training activities must include 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. If renting space from a third party the grantee should ensure the cost does not exceed current market value and aligns with the requirements set forth in 2 CFR 200.465 - Rental Costs of Real Property and Equipment.

Technology/Software Premium subscriptions to social media platforms, productivity, and communication software, and other software used to provide training and hardware such as laptops and tablets. A one-time purchase of a Wi/Fi hotspot to support tablet/iPad function is allowable. Technology costs may not exceed ten (10) percent of requested funds.

Travel Reimbursement may only be paid for travel expenses in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations (41 CFR Part 301 – Transportation Expenses) and must not exceed the lesser of State or Federal maximum per diem rates. Attendee objectives must be made clear within the budget narrative.

Travel expenses may only be incurred for activities which directly support the implementation of this cooperative agreement. Travel expenses may be incurred for the following types of activities (not an exhaustive list):

• Cooperator staff, contractors, or sub-grantees attending in-State or regional trainings or meetings or conducting trainings.

• Cooperator staff or contractors conducting site visits to monitor progress of sub-grants and/or provide training and TA to sub-grantees.

• Cooperator staff or contractors attending collaboration meetings with partners, tribes, and community stakeholders.

• School nutrition professionals or other school staff or community partners attending training.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.465 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-41/subtitle-F/chapter-301/subchapter-B/part-301-10 https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

For any site visits performed during the period of performance of the cooperative agreement, USDA funds must be named and used.

Cooperators in receipt of an award agreement may be asked to host USDA officials for a site visit during the period of performance. All costs associated with the site visit will be paid for by USDA and are not expected to be included in the cooperative agreement budget.

Kitchen Supplies Supplies (less than $5,000) necessary for food storage, preparation, production, and display of food prepared for training purposes or taste tests, including, but not limited to, food storage containers, pots/pans, mixing bowls, knives, utensils, measuring cups, and tabletop cooking devices (e.g., food processor, stand mixer).

Training and Office Supplies Supplies needed to conduct trainings and taste tests, and carry out the administrative functions of the project, including, but not limited to, aprons, gloves, hairnets, bowls, paper bowls, plastic cutlery, paper, pens, markers, flip chart paper, and whiteboards.

Resource and Training Development Development, printing, duplication, storage, and distribution of resources, and TA and training materials.

Advertising and Public Relations Development, printing, duplication, publication, and storage of cooperative agreement related advertising and public relations materials such as videos, brochures, advertisements, and social media graphics for purposes of recruiting staff to implement the cooperative agreement, informing school nutrition professionals about training and TA opportunities, distribution, and marketing of resources, or publishing the results or accomplishments of the cooperative agreement. This includes costs of exhibiting at conferences attended by school nutrition professionals and tribal leaders for the purposes of promoting training and TA opportunities.

Memberships and Professional Activities Costs of institutional memberships in technical and professional organizations (e.g., Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, School Nutrition Association, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior) necessary to effectively implement activities as approved under this cooperative agreement during the period of performance. (2 CFR 200.454 - Memberships, Subscriptions, and Professional Activity Costs)

Nutrition Education Reinforcement Materials Nutrition education reinforcement materials refer to any material given out as a prize for involvement, participation, or winning of a nutrition education activity such as stickers, buttons, or refrigerator magnets. Terms used to describe these items include enhancement items, home reinforcements, incentives, and educational extenders. These items must be reasonable and necessary, contain or reinforce nutrition messages, and be of nominal value. FNS shall apply the general rules for determining the allowability of costs, as described in 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles, paramount among which are the reasonable and necessary cost tests. Program reinforcement materials for training or nutrition education should:

• have a clear, relevant, and useful connection to the nutrition education activities they are intending to reinforce.

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-200.454

• contain a nutrition education message that is directly relevant to the CNP and consistent with the Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate.

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

• cost $5.00 or less per item.

• be non-food items.

• follow guidelines specified in Appendix G - Guidelines for Nutrition Education Provided

Under the Cooperative Agreement.

Food Food costs may not exceed ten (10) percent of the requested funds. Food purchases must only be for training purposes, including culinary or food safety trainings for school nutrition professionals, recipe development, recipe testing, or student engagement activities such as taste tests (see additional information in Section 2.4 – Unallowable Costs).

Translation Services Translation or accessibility services for print, electronic, social media, and web content, and on-demand, live virtual, or in-person trainings. Ensure that translation service provider is qualified per the individual tribe’s standards and approval.

Stipends Stipends may be awarded for school nutrition professionals or other school staff to attend necessary meetings, conferences, and trainings. Travel costs should not be awarded as stipends (see Travel within this section). Stipends may cover meeting registration fees, replacement pay (expressed as cost/day), and/or substitute pay (expressed as cost/day).

2.2 Sub-Grants

Applicants may include sub-grants to SFAs who participate in the NSLP as part of their proposed budget, but sub-grants are not required. Sub-grant funds may be used to support SFAs in the implementation of concepts learned through the training and TA provided by the cooperator.

2.3 Allowable Costs for Sub-Grants

Sub-grants funds may be used for the establishment of new procurement relationships; supply chain development/coordination; development, standardizing, and testing of new recipes; and/or increased engagement of students and their parents/caregivers, school nutrition professionals, other school staff, and tribal partners in increasing traditional Indigenous foods in the meals served through the CNP. All costs proposed by sub-grantees must be allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable. Refer to this RFA and 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles for a detailed description of all allowable and unallowable costs. All expenses incurred by the sub-grantees under this cooperative agreement must be specifically for the purposes of sub-grant activities.

2.4 Unallowable Costs

Entertainment Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any associated costs (e.g., mascot costumes, promotional items) unless there is a programmatic purpose and prior approval is granted by FNS.

https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/ https://www.myplate.gov/

Food Food costs may not exceed ten (10) percent of the requested funds. Food purchases must only be for training purposes, including culinary or food safety trainings for school nutrition professionals, recipe development, recipe testing, or student engagement activities such as taste tests. Food purchases cannot be used for:

• 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 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.

• alcoholic beverages.

• meals or snacks for training or meeting attendees, unless approved in advance in accordance with 2 CFR 200.432 - Conferences.

Advertising and Public Relations Development, printing, duplication, publication, and storage of materials for publicizing the organization, as opposed to cooperative agreement activities, are not allowed. In addition, applicants may not include expenses associated with the following:

• 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 reinforcement items costing over $5.00 each or that are food items.

• Costs for any training 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 the current Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate.

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

• Manufacturer or store cents off coupons.

• Promotional “swag” and “door prize” items. Examples of unallowable promotional items include blankets, candy, clothing, coloring books, cups, fidget spinners, hats, holiday ornaments, jar grip openers, keychains, koozies, neckties, stress balls, stuffed animals, thermoses, tote bags, trading cards, and writing utensils.

Memberships and Professional Activities Costs of individual professional memberships in organizations (e.g., Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, School Nutrition Association, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior) 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.

Activities and Education Education to take place under this cooperative agreement includes training for school nutrition professionals on procurement, preparation, and crediting of traditional Indigenous foods, and training for school nutrition professionals and other school staff on providing nutrition education related to traditional Indigenous foods to students. Funds cannot be used for the following:

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.432

• Staff wellness activities outside of the scope described in this RFA (e.g., physical activity, meditation, blood pressure monitoring).

• 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.

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

• Body Mass Index “Report Cards” programs.

• Health screenings.

• Backpack programs.

• Nutrition education for preschoolers.

All costs proposed in the budget and detailed in the budget narrative must be allowable, reasonable, necessary, and allocable. Refer to this RFA and 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles for a detailed description of all allowable and unallowable costs. All costs must be specifically for the purposes of cooperative agreement activities.

Summary Cooperators must 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 cooperative agreement?

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

3. Is the cost reasonable and appropriate?

3. Eligibility Information

3.1 Eligible Applicants

It is the intent that this cooperative agreement will be awarded to organizations with existing relationships, experience, and expertise in Indian Country in the areas of training, school nutrition, Indigenous foods, and nutrition education. Eligible applicants must propose a project that supports SFA(s) serving students from Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians from a specified region of the contiguous United States, Alaska, or Hawaii (regions may, but are not required to, correspond to USDA FNS regions). Approaches serving multiple tribes are encouraged, and applicants are encouraged to serve high numbers of tribal students.

To be eligible as the Lead Applicant for this cooperative agreement, entities must meet criteria A, B, and C below.

A) Entity must be one of the following entity types:

• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

• SFA that participates in NSLP

• Tribal government owned entity, arm, or instrumentality

• Native Hawaiian Organization as recognized by the Department of the Interior

• Other non-governmental entity including Tribal Colleges & Universities

• Fiscal sponsor of any of the above eligible organizations 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.doi.gov/hawaiian/nholist https://www.aihec.org/tribal-colleges-universities/

AND

B) The leadership and staff of the entity must be predominantly (more than 50%) members of Federally Recognized Tribes and/or Native Hawaiians. (In the case of a fiscal sponsorship, this provision applies to the fiscally sponsored entity. In the case of partnerships, this provision applies to the Lead Applicant, but the Lead Applicant may have non-qualifying partners).

AND

C) The entity must demonstrate existing relationships, experience and expertise in training, TA, school nutrition, Indigenous foods, and nutrition education.

The following eligibility considerations also apply:

• All non-profit organizations applying must include their 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

• Entities failing to meet the eligibility requirements, including submitting all required documents and forms, will be deemed INELIGIBLE and will be removed from the competition without further consideration.

• Suspended or debarred entities are ineligible to submit applications in response to this solicitation.

• FNS will only accept one application for this RFA from each Lead Applicant. If more than one application is submitted through grants.gov, FNS will accept the application with the most recent time stamp.

3.2 Partnerships

Applicants are highly encouraged to form partnerships to apply for this funding opportunity. The Lead Applicant must meet Criteria B above, however the Lead Applicant can have non-qualifying partners. Given the many complex barriers to serving more traditional Indigenous foods in the CNP, successful applicants may benefit from creating partnerships with multiple organizations that will provide the experience and scope necessary to carry out the activities required under this

RFA.

3.3 Conflict of Interest

If any conflicts of interest are identified by the applicant (related to the entity or a specific staff member), a discussion of what steps the applicant will take to ensure the successful implementation and achievement of the goals and objectives of this cooperative agreement and the achievement of the outcomes as defined in the RFA should be provided. A conflict of interest may be a situation in which the applicant may gain personal or professional benefit through this cooperative agreement or have goals and objectives that are incompatible with this cooperative agreement.