Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Process and Technology Improvement Grants

The purpose of these grants is to support efforts by State agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners to develop and and implement projects that use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of SNAP application and eligibility

This program supports efforts by State agencies and their community-based and faith-based partners to develop and and implement projects that use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of SNAP application and eligibility determination systems.

State agencies that administer the SNAP, State or local governments; agencies that provide health or welfare services; public health or educational entities and private nonprofit entities such as community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding organizations. Note: An eligible entity that received a Process and Technology Improvement Grant award in the prior two fiscal years is ineligible to apply in the current fiscal year. This only applies to the lead entity on the award (i.e. the recipient whose name appears in block 9 of the awarded project's FNS-529) and not to partner organizations or government agencies on a particular project

The entities eligible to receive grants under this competition are: - The 53 State agencies that administer the SNAP; - State or local governments, including tribal governments; - Agencies providing health or welfare services; -Indian Tribal Organizations; - Public health or educational entities; and - Private non-profit entities such as community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding organizations. State agencies and State and local governments should have the necessary approvals of state officials (such as councils or legislatures) of funding prior to submitting the application. Applicants should also acknowledge in their application that all necessary approvals for funding have been obtained. Non-profit organizations are required to submit a copy of the IRS Determination Letter, form 501(c)(3) or proof of application for exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, a list of their Board of Directors if applicable, and their most recent audited financial statements signed by the Treasurer or the Treasurer of the board. Educational entities are also required to submit their most recent financial statements signed by the Treasurer or Treasurer of the board. Applications submitted without these will be considered non-responsive and eliminated from consideration. All corporations, including non-profit corporations are required to complete the attached representation regarding felony convictions and tax delinquency.

Funds for PTIG projects are to be used to improve the quality and efficiency of operations within SNAP offices. Examples of how grants funds can be used include: 1) Modernize SNAP customer service and client communication; 2) Improve administrative infrastructure and day-to-day SNAP operations; 3) Invest in technology and systems to encourage cross collaboration and cross enrollment. Pre-award costs will not be awarded for this grant project. Projects predicated on waiving SNAP regulations are not allowable and will not be considered for funding. However, if during the grant period, a State agency determines a waiver is needed, the State may apply for one but there is no guarantee FNS will approve the waiver. No more than 25 percent of the grant funds may be used for outreach activities. Applications must comply with criteria listed in the Request for Application package.

Funds for PTIG projects are to be used to improve the quality and efficiency of operations within SNAP offices. Examples of how grants funds can be used include: 1) Modernize SNAP customer service and client communication; 2) Improve administrative infrastructure and day-to-day SNAP operations; 3) Invest in technology and systems to encourage cross collaboration and cross enrollment. Pre-award costs will not be awarded for this grant project. Projects predicated on waiving SNAP regulations are not allowable and will not be considered for funding. However, if during the grant period, a State agency determines a waiver is needed, the State may apply for one but there is no guarantee FNS will approve the waiver. No more than 25 percent of the grant funds may be used for outreach activities. Applications must comply with criteria listed in the Request for Application package.

Grantees will be allowed to use the grant funds for the duration of the 3 year project period. Grants awarded in FY24 will be funded for the period of September 1, 2024, through September 30, 2027.

Special Instructions Letters of Commitment or Endorsement FNS recognizes that the grant proposals responding to this RFA will directly affect State agency operations. Unless the applicant is a State agency submitting an application on its own, a letter of commitment or letter of endorsement must be included in the application package to be considered for funding. Applications that require a letter of commitment or letter of endorsement, which fail to provide one, will not be considered. Such letters may be addressed to the FNS Grants Officer. FNS welcomes grant proposals from entities other than a State agency; however, such applicants must demonstrate that the State agency strongly endorses and/or is involved in the proposed project through a letter of endorsement. A letter of endorsement is required if an applicant is an entity other than a State agency and is not directly partnering with a State agency on the project. Letters of endorsement from the State are also required when local or county governments submit an application. The State agency's letter of endorsement must: explain that the State agency is aware of the project and its projected impact on the State's eligibility system; acknowledge whether the project creates any additional work for the State agency and identify the State capacity to address the additional work; express support for the proposed project; describe how the proposed project will support the State agency's current or planned technology and/or business process improvement efforts and priorities; and the letter must be on the respective State agency's letterhead and signed by an authorizing official. A letter of commitment is also required if the grant proposal is from a State agency working in partnership with another organization(s). The State agency applying must submit a letter(s) of commitment from its partners. The letter(s) of commitment must describe: the organization's role in the project; the amount of time the partner organization intends to commit to the project and an attestation that it will cooperate with the grant applicant in implementing the project; and the letter must be on the respective organization's letterhead and signed by an authorizing individual.

The review panel to score and rank applications uses Technical Review Criteria which includes: (1) Project Design; (2) Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency; (3) Organizational Experience and Management/Staff Capability; and (4) Evaluation on a 0-100 scale. Grantees can also earn bonus points for proposals that are particularly data driven (up to 3 points), to proposals that have never received a Process and Technology Improvement Grant as FNS believes such applicants would benefit from capacity building and modernization projects (up to 3 points), and proposals that incorporate Human-Centered Design (up to 3 points).

Following the initial screening process, FNS will assemble a peer panel group to review and determine the technical merits of each application. The peer panel will evaluate the proposals based on how well they address the required application components. The peer panel members will recommend applications for consideration for a grant award based on the evaluation scoring. The selecting official reserves the right to award a grant to meet agency priorities, program balance, geographical representation, or project diversity. The selecting official will consider the panel recommendations. In general, awards will be based on rank funding order. However, FNS reserves the right to fund out of rank order to achieve agency priorities (such as to grant an award to an entity that includes a joint effort between a State agency and a community-based or faith-based organization, demographic, or socioeconomic diversity, etc.). If the panel review indicates that FNS has received few or no technically acceptable proposals, the selecting official may determine that FNS will make no awards, or commit less than the $5 million set aside for this purpose.

FNS will award the grants through a competitive process and will notify selected grantees of the grant award no later than September 15, 2024.

Instructions provided in Request for Application.

Instructions provided in Request for Application.