Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS FY15 CN DCI
Apply for USDA FNS FY15 CN DCI
- The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Direct Certification Improvement Grants FY15" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.579 Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 4, 2015 and posted on May 4, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 2016 Application submission due dates include July 15, 2015 October 15, 2015 January 15, 2016 April 15, 2016 and July 15, 2016.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Direct Certification Improvement Grants FY15 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA FNS FY15 CN DCI) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). It is designed specifically for State agencies that administer the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The main purpose is to help states cover the costs of projects that strengthen and increase direct certification, meaning the process that automatically qualifies eligible children for free school meals by matching school enrollment records with participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and, where permitted by law and regulation, other assistance programs. In practice, the grants are aimed at reducing paperwork for families and schools, improving the accuracy and speed of eligibility determinations, and ensuring more eligible children are properly and promptly enrolled for benefits.
FNS set aside an estimated total of about $4.5 million for this funding round and anticipated making around 30 awards. Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency expects to have an active role in overseeing the work, providing technical input, or coordinating on implementation as projects move forward. The funding range reflects that some projects are expected to be smaller and more targeted while others may involve broader statewide system improvements. The award floor is $75,000 and the award ceiling is $1,000,000, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for states that may not have readily available state funds to pair with federal dollars.
The solicitation offers two distinct tiers of funding based on project scope. Tier 1 grants provide up to $150,000 and are intended for limited-scope planning and implementation efforts. These projects would generally be appropriate for states that need to assess current barriers, pilot improvements, refine data-matching procedures, develop or update processes, or implement smaller-scale fixes that can quickly raise direct certification performance. Tier 2 grants provide up to $1,000,000 and are intended for full-scope implementation projects, which would more likely involve larger technology upgrades, statewide systems integration, improved automated matching, expanded data-sharing capacity, or other substantial infrastructure and process changes that can drive major improvements in direct certification outcomes. Importantly, a state may apply for either Tier 1 or Tier 2 under this solicitation, but cannot apply for both tiers at the same time.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically the State agencies that administer NSLP and SBP. The activity category is Food and Nutrition, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.579 (Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability). The original posting date and creation date were May 4, 2015, and the opportunity remained open through a series of application submission due dates: July 15, 2015; October 15, 2015; January 15, 2016; April 15, 2016; and July 15, 2016. The final closing date was July 15, 2016, with an archive date of August 14, 2016. Additional materials were referenced through an application package link (DCI RFA and application package), and the listed point of contact for access issues was Carla Garcia, Grant Officer.
Direct Certification Improvement Grants FY15 (USDA FNS FY15 CN DCI) - FAQs
What is the Direct Certification Improvement Grants FY15 opportunity?
Direct Certification Improvement Grants FY15 is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). It funds projects that strengthen and increase direct certification for free school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
What is the main goal of this grant program?
The goal is to help cover the costs of projects that improve direct certification, including increasing automatic qualification of eligible children for free school meals by matching school enrollment records with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and, where allowed, other assistance programs. The program aims to reduce paperwork, improve accuracy and speed of eligibility determinations, and ensure eligible children are enrolled promptly.
Who runs this grant opportunity?
The program is run by USDA FNS (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically the State agencies that administer NSLP and SBP.
Is this opportunity open to local school districts or non-profits?
No. Based on the information provided, the solicitation limits eligibility to State agencies that administer NSLP and SBP.
What types of projects does FNS want to fund?
Projects that strengthen and increase direct certification. Examples described include efforts to improve data matching with SNAP (and other programs where permitted), reduce paperwork for families and schools, improve the accuracy and speed of eligibility determinations, and support better and faster enrollment of eligible children for benefits.
How much total funding was available for this funding round?
FNS set aside an estimated total of about $4.5 million for this round.
How many awards did FNS expect to make?
FNS anticipated making around 30 awards.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
The award floor is $75,000 and the award ceiling is $1,000,000.
Does this grant require cost sharing or a matching contribution?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed for this opportunity.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements. This typically indicates FNS expects to have an active role during the project, such as providing technical input, coordinating implementation, or overseeing work as it moves forward.
What are the funding tiers and how do they differ?
The solicitation provides two tiers based on project scope:
- Tier 1: Up to $150,000 for limited-scope planning and implementation efforts.
- Tier 2: Up to $1,000,000 for full-scope implementation projects involving larger, statewide improvements.
What kinds of activities fit under Tier 1?
Tier 1 is intended for limited-scope planning and implementation, such as assessing current barriers, piloting improvements, refining data-matching procedures, developing or updating processes, or implementing smaller-scale fixes intended to quickly improve direct certification performance.
What kinds of activities fit under Tier 2?
Tier 2 is intended for full-scope implementation projects, such as larger technology upgrades, statewide systems integration, improved automated matching, expanded data-sharing capacity, or other substantial infrastructure and process changes that can drive major improvements in direct certification outcomes.
Can a state apply for both Tier 1 and Tier 2?
No. A state may apply for either Tier 1 or Tier 2, but cannot apply for both tiers at the same time under this solicitation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FNS FY15 CN DCI.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.579 (Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability).
What is the activity category for this program?
The activity category is Food and Nutrition.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date (and creation date) was May 4, 2015.
What were the application due dates?
The opportunity remained open through multiple application submission due dates: July 15, 2015; October 15, 2015; January 15, 2016; April 15, 2016; and July 15, 2016.
When did the opportunity close?
The final closing date was July 15, 2016.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was August 14, 2016.
Where were additional application materials referenced?
Additional materials were referenced through an application package link described as the "DCI RFA and application package."
Who was the point of contact for access issues with the application package?
The listed point of contact for access issues was Carla Garcia, Grant Officer.
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