Mobile Technology for Child Nutrition Innovation Laboratory

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service is making up to $1.5 million available through a cooperative agreement to establish a Mobile Technology for Child Nutrition Research Innovation Laboratory under CFDA 10.538, with the most recent solicitation posted April 3, 2017 and due June 5, 2017.

This program funds the development, testing, and implementation of mobile technology solutions designed to improve services, effectiveness, participation, and customer satisfaction in USDA Child Nutrition programs. The lab operates through subgrants to eligible entities, which may include partnerships among state and local nutrition programs, researchers, and small businesses developing and validating novel mobile applications for eventual adoption by the Food and Nutrition Service and state agencies. FNS has expressed particular interest in mobile solutions that integrate behavioral economic principles into their design to support program administrators and improve service delivery for participants.

The program operates as a cooperative agreement structure, with the funding instrument extended to public or private academic and research institutions as the prime applicant. The sole recent solicitation on record was posted in April 2017, targeting a four-year performance period (FY 2017–2020) and carrying a June 5, 2017 due date. No subsequent grant opportunities have been posted in the source material, and no recent grant awards are documented. This suggests the program either completed its single award cycle and remains inactive, or the source material does not reflect current activity. Without evidence of awards disbursed or opportunities posted beyond 2017, the program's current funding status and pursuit viability cannot be determined from available information.