WIC Special Project Innovation Grant (Cooperative Agreement)

ThisRFA intends to select one academic or non-profit organization to establish aUSDA "WIC Special Project Innovation Grant" or WSPI. The role of WSPI will beto award sub-grants to State and local WIC agencies to develop interactivetools and/or technical resources; modernize or redesign clinic processes, ordevelop other innovative solutions and program enhancements that improvecustomer service in WIC clinics; and ultimately, improve the WIC certificationand eligibility determination process within Program rules. Projects(sub-grants) will in part build on and improve our understanding of the diversepersonal experiences, perceptions, and attitudes of those eligible for WICservices and allow the Program to refine and enhance service delivery andcustomer service based on our understanding of the participant experience.Project strategies/solutions, suitable for implementation and testing, will beevaluated for their impact on clinic wait time, participant satisfaction, andother customer service related measures. TheGrantee will manage the special projects (formerly known as WIC Special ProjectGrants) and work directly with WIC State and local agencies as they develop,implement, and evaluate new or innovative projects to meet the changing needsof WIC participants. FNSexpects the Grantee to draft its own Request for Applications (RFA) for thesub-grant awards, and to develop a simple fillable application template to helpfacilitate applications from State and local WIC agencies. Once the Granteeawards the sub-grants, it must provide technical assistance to sub-grantees andfacilitate the management of the sub-grants, including: reviewing quarterlyprogress and financial reports, setting up quarterly conference calls, andhosting the closeout meeting for awardees to present their projects toFNS. Inorder to be considered for sub-grant funding, a State or local WIC agency musteither subscribe to one of the Grantee's project ideas, or present a projectthat: tests new and innovative ideas; include an evaluation component withmeasurable results; and be designed in way that the key project activities canbe replicated or transferred to other WIC agencies nationally.