RFA TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grants.docx

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Reach and Resiliency Grants Fiscal Year 2022 Request for Applications (RFA)

Catalog for Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.568

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 approximately 54 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 documents. 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 weeks prior to submission:

1. Obtain a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;

2. Register the DUNS number in the System for Award Management (SAM); and,

3. Register in Grants.gov.

When preparing your application, ensure:

1. Application format and narrative meet the requirements included in Section 4 “Application and Submission Information.” This includes page limits, priorities outlined in Section 4, and all necessary attachments. Please note that FNS strongly suggests use of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template, as provided in Appendix A, to prepare an application package.

When preparing your budget (SF-424A and corresponding Budget Narrative), ensure the following information is included:

1. All key staff proposed to be paid by this grant.

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

1. Your organization’s fringe benefit rate and amount, as well as the basis for the computation and a list of the type of fringe benefits to be covered with Federal funds. You must also provide a copy of the Fringe Benefit Rate Agreement.

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

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

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

1. Justification, description and itemized list of all consultant services.

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

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

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

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

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

1. SF-LLL – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (fillable PDF in Grants.gov)

1. FNS-906 – Grant Program Accounting System & Financial Capability Questionnaire (Appendix D – a version is also available under “Related Documents” in Grants.gov. Fill out the form and upload using the “Add Attachments” button)

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

Table of Contents

18. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVE

On June 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $1 billion investment in its Build Back Better Initiative to support and expand the country’s emergency food network so that food banks and local organizations can reliably serve their communities. Build Back Better efforts are intended to improve access to nutritious food and provide resources to historically underserved and marginalized populations adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Additionally, Build Back Better efforts are designed to provide ongoing support for producers and workers, and create a more resilient food system. Of the $1 billion investment, USDA announced that $100 million is being offered through a new grant initiative aimed at helping food assistance organizations meet The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) requirements, strengthen infrastructure, and expand TEFAP’s reach into underserved communities. These grants will be offered directly to State agencies that operate TEFAP.

Out of the $100 million, $50 million is being made available at this time for a first round of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants, as described below. Funding and legislative authority to issue the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants are provided by Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA, P.L. 117-2).

Grant Description The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on our nation’s food systems and economy, forcing millions of Americans to turn to the country’s emergency food network for aid. Food banks, food pantries, and other community organizations have valiantly stepped up to meet this increase in need while simultaneously ensuring that staff and recipients are not unnecessarily exposed to the dangers of COVID-19. We applaud them for these efforts, while also recognizing that the pandemic has exposed some inequities within our Nation’s broader emergency food network – especially in remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income communities. As the country rebounds from the most devastating effects of the pandemic, we must take the time to reflect on how we can build back better so that TEFAP’s collective reach spreads to all ends of the country and to all eligible individuals in need.

In accordance with 7 CFR 251.4(k) and USDA’s Build Back Better initiative, the key objective of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants is to:

Expand TEFAP’s reach into remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program.

TEFAP State agencies are invited to apply for TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant funding by submitting an application for funding. That application must include a project plan that details how the State agency will work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of the grant program, among other applications requirements as outlined in Section 4 of this RFA.

An important first step towards achieving the grant objective may be to examine reach of the program; and grant funds can be used to support assessments of Program reach within a State/Territory to identify underserved remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income communities in addition to implementing strategies to expand reach in these areas. TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants provide State agencies with an opportunity to re-envision how they can work with currently participating organizations and/or new partner organizations, including second priority organizations as defined at 7 CFR 251.4(h), to reach underserved populations. Activities undertaken with grant funds may look vastly different among States/Territories; however, in all cases, activities should be informed by relevant data and/or the expert advice of program stakeholders. These stakeholders may include but are not limited to eligible recipients of TEFAP food, current TEFAP organizations, new and/or future partner TEFAP organizations, other community organizations involved in food security and/or emergency feeding, and local and/or State governmental agencies. All activities must also focus on expansion into remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are currently underserved by the program. Underserved areas are defined as those in which TEFAP foods are not easily accessible to all eligible populations as determined by the State agency.

As noted earlier, at this time, $50 million of the $100 million in TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants are being made available to TEFAP State agencies on a competitive basis. Each TEFAP State agency is eligible to apply for an amount of funding up to the maximum amount outlined for their State/Territory in Appendix B. The total amount of funding requested for the project must be outlined in the applicant’s submitted SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative. Maximum eligible funding amounts as outlined in Appendix B were established utilizing the TEFAP funding formula at 7 CFR 251.3(h), with a base funding amount incorporated. No minimum funding amount is established. Only those State agency projects that meet the purposes of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants will be funded; and FNS reserves the right to fund projects in whole or in part.

TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants will be available for approximately a two-year period of performance.

A second round of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants will be announced at a later date. The second round of grants will include the remaining $50 million dedicated to TEFAP from the Build Back Better initiative plus any portion of round one TEFAP Reach and Resiliency funds that are not utilized. FNS will use lessons learned from this first round of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grants to determine how best to target and allocate the second round of funding.

Key Objective The key objective for this grant is below. As noted in the “Activities/Indicators Tracker” section below (Section 4), proposed activities should be clearly aligned to this objective.

Objective

Expand TEFAP’s reach into remote, rural, Tribal and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program.

18. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

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

1. Total amount of funding expected to award: $50,000,000

1. Anticipated number of awards: 54

1. Anticipated award announcement date: March 2022

1. Expected amounts of individual Federal awards: $270,160 - $5,009,485. State agencies are eligible to apply for any amount of funding up to their State agency’s maximum eligible funding amount as outlined in Appendix B.

1. Anticipated start dates and period of performance: April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2024

1. Application due date: February 4, 2022

1. Letter of intent due date: January 5, 2022

Please note:

1. Grant awards are contingent upon the availability of Federal funding and/or appropriations of funds.

1. FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation, i.e., Request for Application, and competition to award additional grants this year or the subsequent fiscal year, should additional funds become available.

1. A second round of TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant funding will be made available at a future date. Grant requirements for the second round of funding will build upon lessons learned from this initial opportunity.

Allowable Costs Only costs that are necessary, reasonable, and allocable under 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, and which meet the specific criteria of the grant may be charged to this grant. State agencies may provide the funds to TEFAP eligible recipient agencies (ERAs) through a subgrant process if they so choose.

The provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E allow FNS to make reasonable judgments as to what is necessary and reasonable to be approved for funding in a project proposal. The chart included below provides examples of activities and services in each budget category that may be considered for funding through TEFAP Reach and Resiliency as well as those activities and services that will not be considered for funding.

Personnel and Fringe Benefits Note: staff will only be funded for the duration of the grant period (2 years)

In State or out of State travel expenses (food – not including alcohol, lodging, transportation) for State agency and/or ERA staff to attend conferences and/or training that will be utilized to carry out the proposed TEFAP Reach and Resiliency project plan.

Food intended for distribution to TEFAP participants or through TEFAP ERAs.

Handouts, flyers, posters, bulletin boards, banners, or other like materials necessary for reaching underserved areas.

Building and warehouse renovations at the State or ERA level necessary for reaching underserved areas or populations.

Computer software or hardware, or other information technology equipment, necessary for reaching underserved areas or populations.

Training for State agency and/or ERA staff on the safe and efficient distribution of TEFAP food, necessary for reaching underserved areas or populations.

Training for State agency and/or ERA staff necessary to identify underserved areas or gaps in TEFAP coverage.

Training for State agency and/or ERA staff on topics such as cultural competency, community engagement/organization, and racial equity, which are necessary for reaching underserved areas or populations.

Translation of State agency or ERA materials into other languages, necessary for reaching underserved areas or populations.

3. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Eligible Applicants

· State agencies that administer TEFAP, as defined at 7 CFR 251.3, are eligible to apply.

Cost Sharing or Matching Considerations

· There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for this program.

Other Eligibility Criteria

· N/A

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:

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

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

1. 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

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

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

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.

1. When acknowledging USDA support, use the following language: “This material is based upon work that is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Grantees should follow the USDA Visual Standards Guide when using the USDA logo.

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

4. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Content and Form of Application Submission FNS strongly encourages eligible applicants interested in applying to this program to adhere to the following applicant format and to utilize the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template, as provided in Appendix A, to prepare an application package. The information requested in the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, all requested information must be submitted in a similar format.

Regardless of whether the template is used or an alternative format, the proposed project plan should be presented on an 8 ½” x 11” document with white background with at least 1-inch margins on the top and bottom. All pages should be single-spaced, in 12-point font. We anticipate that the project plan with relevant information will be captured on no more than 8-10 pages, not including the cover sheet, table of contents, resumes, letter of commitment(s), endorsement letter(s), budget narrative(s), attachments/appendices, and required forms. All pages, excluding the form pages, should be numbered.

Special Instructions:

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

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

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

· 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.

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

All applications must include the following elements:

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

· Applicant’s name and mailing address

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

· Grant title and subprogram title (if applicable)

Filling out Section 1 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the Cover Sheet requirement. The information requested in Section 1 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 1 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A), in a similar format.

Table of Contents The Table of Contents should include relevant sections, subsections and associated page numbers.

Filling out Section 2 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the Table of Contents requirement. The information requested in Section 2 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 2 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A), in a similar format.

Application Project Summary The application project summary should concisely describe the proposed project activities and how those activities will help you meet the key objective of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant. Applicants should also include mention of the organizations and/or agencies that they will partner with on the project in the project summary.

Filling out Section 3 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the requirements of this section. The information requested in Section 3 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 3 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A), in a similar format.

Project Narrative The project narrative should clearly identify what the applicant is proposing and how it will address and examine the objective outlined above in the sections entitled, Program Description, and Key Objective, and the expected results and/or benefits achieved. In their project narrative, applicants must provide responses to all questions as outlined in Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A). These questions relate to project design, methodology, procedures, timetables, monitoring/oversight, expected results, and staffing. The project narrative must also contain all attachments requested in Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Attachment A). Grantees should reference Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A) for a full list of project narrative requirements. A summary of requirements is listed here:

· The submission of a current TEFAP State plan of operation, as an attachment;

· The submission of a list of all TEFAP ERAs currently operating in the State, including those ERAs that have an agreement with another ERA, as an attachment. The list should indicate whether or not the ERA is operating TEFAP under an agreement with the State agency or another ERA, the name of the other ERA (if applicable), and the street address(es) of any TEFAP distribution sites (as defined in 7 CFR 251.3(c)) that are operated by the ERA. Applicants must submit the list as an Excel attachment that follows the format outline in Question 2, Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A);

· The submission of a detailed assessment of TEFAP’s current reach within the State, including the identification of any remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are currently underserved by the program (i.e., areas in which TEFAP foods are not easily accessible to all eligible populations, as determined by the State agency). This assessment may be accompanied by attachments (e.g., a map of served/underserved zip codes within the State/Territory, or a map of TEFAP ERAs overlaid with a map of remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas) if necessary. As an alternative to submitting a detailed assessment, applicants may provide an explanation of how they will utilize grant funds to complete such an assessment to identify remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas underserved by the Program;

· An explanation of how the above mentioned assessment was conducted, or how it will be conducted with grant funds;

· A description of how “remote,” “rural,” “Tribal,” and “low-income” were defined in the assessment, or a description of how those terms will be defined in any assessment conducted with grant funds. There are many available definitions of these concepts to draw from, and the description provided should include an explanation of why specific definitions were chosen and how they were adapted to local context, if necessary[footnoteRef:2]; [2: Numerous Federal definitions of “remote,” “rural,” and “low-income” exist and may be useful to State agencies looking for guidance on definitions to employ in a TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant project. Please see the following resources for more information: USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) Frontier and Remote Area Codes; U.S. Office of Management and Budget Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas; Census Bureau Rural-Urban Classifications; USDA ERS Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes; and Census Bureau American Indian and Alaska Native Geographic Areas; and Census Bureau. The following data tools may also be of use: USDA ERS Food Environment Atlas; USDA ERS Food Access Research Atlas; FNS Summer Food Service Program Rural Designation Map; and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index. ]

· A description of the applicant’s specific plans for utilizing TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant funding to work with stakeholders (including but not limited to recipients of TEFAP food, current TEFAP organizations, new and/or future partner TEFAP organizations, other community organizations involved in food security and/or emergency feeding, and local and/or State governmental agencies) to expand TEFAP’s reach in remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas underserved by the program;

· A description of how applicants consulted with relevant stakeholders and/or utilized available data to form their project plan;

· The expected results of the grant project and a description of how the applicant will monitor and measure progress toward the expected results;

· The name and title of the grant Project Manager(s) or Coordinator(s), and a description of their qualifications to manage or coordinate project activities;

· A list of any partnerships that the State will enter into to carry out grant activities, or any sub grant processes that will be established, and a description of any sub grant monitoring and oversight processes that will be established; and

· A summary timeline of grant activities.

Filling out Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the requirements of this section. The information requested in Section 4 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 4 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A), in a similar format.

Activities/Indicators Tracker Proposed Activities and indicators measuring success must be mapped to the Program Objective (as described in Section I – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION) in the below format. Proposed activities should include an estimated timeline for start and completion and should be listed in chronological order. Activities must also be accompanied by one or more indicators. An indicator is defined as a metric that relates to the grant objective (Expand TEFAP’s reach into remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by the program) and that you anticipate that you will be able to track during the period of performance of the grant. Examples of indicators include Number of people attending community meetings; Number of ERA and/or State agency staff trained on a specific topic; Percentage of TEFAP recipients in specific remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas satisfied with program access; Number of eligible participants in specific remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas with improved access to a TEFAP distribution site; Percentage of eligible recipients residing in specific remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas who accessed the Program during the reporting period; etc.

Objective: Expand TEFAP’s reach into remote, rural, Tribal and/or low-income communities underserved by the program.

Filling out Section 5 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the requirements of this section. The information requested in Section 5 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 5 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template (Appendix A), in a similar format.

Application Budget Narrative The budget narrative, which is required in addition to the SF-424A, should correspond with the proposed project narrative and the information provided in the SF-424A. The narrative must justify and support the bona fide needs of the budget’s direct costs. If the budget includes indirect costs, the applicant must provide a copy of its most recently approved Federal indirect cost rate agreement as an attachment. All funding requests must be in whole dollars. The budget narrative must also clearly state the percentage of grant funds that the applicant would keep at the State level.

Filling out Section 6 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template in full, as provided in Appendix A, fulfills the requirements of this section. The information requested in Section 6 of the application template is required for your application to be considered complete. If the application template is not used, applicants must submit all requested information as outlined in Section 6 of the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency grant application template, in a similar format.

Indirect Cost Rate 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 Section 7 of this RFA.

Required Grant Application Forms Please refer to the Application Checklist for a list of required grant forms.

Letter of Intent The eligible applicant who intends to apply should submit a Letter of Intent to apply notice by January 5, 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 notice should include the potential applicant’s name and address, organization’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address of the primary point of contact, in addition to an estimated grant project amount. The applicant can send the letter via mail or e-mail to the FNS Grant Officer identified in Section 7 of this RFA. A template letter of intent is provided in Appendix C for State agency use, if so desired.

Submission Date Complete grant applications must be uploaded to www.grants.gov by 11:59 PM EST on the due date listed on the cover page. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Mailed, e-mailed or hand-delivered application packages will not be accepted. For further instructions, go here.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. 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. If multiple application packages are submitted through Grants.gov by the same applicant in response to this solicitation, FNS will accept the latest application package successfully submitted. All other packages submitted by the applicant will be removed from this competition.

FNS strongly encourages applicants to begin the registration process at least four weeks before the due date and to submit applications to Grants.gov at least one week before the deadline to allow time to troubleshoot any issues, should they arise. Please note that upon submission, Grants.gov may send multiple confirmation notices; applicants should ensure receipt of confirmation that the application was accepted. Applicants experiencing difficulty submitting applications to Grants.gov should contact the Grant Officer noted in the Agency Contacts (Section 7) of this RFA. FNS will evaluate submission issues on a case-by-case basis.

Preparing for Electronic Application Submission through Grants.gov Applicants must register with Grants.gov, Dun and Bradstreet, and Sam.gov in order to submit an application to FNS via Grants.gov, as required. FNS strongly encourages applicants to begin the registration process at least four weeks before the due date.

In order to submit an application, you must:

1. Obtain a DUNS number

· If your organization does not have a DUNS number, or if you are unsure of your organization’s DUNS, contact Dun & Bradstreet at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling 1-888-814-1435, Monday thru Friday, 8am-9pm ET. There is no fee associated with obtaining a DUNS number.

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

1. Register in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

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

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

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

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

1. Create a Grants.gov Account:

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

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/grantors/grantor-registration.html

1. Authorize Grants.gov Roles:

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

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview/workspace-roles.html

1. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview/workspace-roles.html Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization's AOR that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

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

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the Center with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, please contact the Grant Officer noted in the Agency Contacts (Section 7) of this RFA.

Grants.gov Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission All applications must be received by 11:59 PM EST on the due date listed on the cover page, as detailed here. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant AOR will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicant AORs will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

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

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

Additional Information on Grants.gov and the Registration Process:

NOTICE: Special Characters and Naming Conventions All applicants MUST follow Grants.gov guidance on file naming conventions. To avoid submission issues, please follow the guidance provided by Grants.gov (per the Grants.gov Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

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

File attachment names longer than approximately 50 characters can cause problems processing packages. Please limit file attachment names. Also, do not use any special characters (examples: & – * % / # ’ -). This includes periods (.) and spacing followed by a dash in the file. To separate words in naming a file, use underscore, as in the following example: Attached_File.pdf.

Please note that if these guidelines are not followed, your application will be rejected. FNS will not accept any application rejected from www.grants.gov portal due to incorrect naming conventions.

Additional information and applicant resources are available at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity is subject to the requirements of EO 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs”. This Executive Order was issued with the desire to foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by relying on State and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The Order allows each State to designate an entity to perform this function.

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

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

Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

5. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Evaluation of Grant Application Criteria

REVIEW CRITERIA

FNS will pre-screen all applications to ensure the applicants are eligible entities and are in compliance with all Program regulations. FNS will not approve any waivers from Program regulations for any projects submitted in response to this solicitation.

EVALUATION FACTORS AND CRITERIA

The following selection criteria will be used to evaluate applications for this RFA. Evaluations will be based on a 100-point scale:

· Appropriate Project Design – Applications will be scored on the appropriateness of the project design, as outlined in the Project Narrative, Activities/Indicators, Budget (SF-424A), and Budget Narrative sections of the application. This will include a judgment as to whether the proposed project will allow the State agency to meet the objective of the grant. The Appropriate Project Design subscore will make up 75 points of the final score assigned to an application. Criteria that will be used to score the Appropriate Project Design subscore includes but is not limited to:

· The applicant submitted a thorough assessment of TEFAP’s current reach in the State/Territory and identified the underserved remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas where project activities will take place, OR included a plan to conduct a thorough assessment of TEFAP reach using grant funds;

· The proposed Activities/Indicators correlate with the narrative plans to meet the grant objective and the submitted Budget and Budget Narrative;

· The project design was appropriately influenced by available data and/or the expert advice of relevant stakeholders, and involves those stakeholders in implementation of activities;

· The expected results of the project are reasonable, attainable, and based on the proposed activities;

· The project timeline, as outlined in the Project Narrative and Activities/Indicators tracker, is reasonable, includes an estimated completion date for all activities, and appropriate indicators for those activities;

· The project plan includes a complete description of the project manager’s qualifications to manage or coordinate project activities, OR a complete description of the hiring criteria that will be used if someone will be hired for this purpose using grant funds; and

· Appropriate and Efficient Budget– Applications will be scored on the appropriate and efficient use of grant funds, as evidenced by the submitted Budget (SF-424A) and Budget Narrative. This includes an assessment of reasonability of outlined costs. The Appropriate and Efficient Budget subscore will make up 25 points of the final score assigned to an application.

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Following the initial screening process, FNS will assemble an evaluation panel to review and determine the technical merits of each application. The panel will evaluate the proposals based on how well they address the required application components and then array the applications from highest to lowest score. The panel members will recommend applications for consideration for a grant award based on the evaluation scoring. The Selecting Official reserves the right to accept the panel’s recommendation or to select an application for funding out of order to meet agency priorities, or to balance out geographical representation or project diversity. FNS reserves the right to use this solicitation and competition to award additional grants in this or the subsequent fiscal year should additional funds be made available.

NOTE: If a discrepancy exists between the total…