Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES EXCA 002445
Apply for USDA CSREES EXCA 002445
- The CSREES in the agriculture information and statistics science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Information System Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 14, 2009 and posted on Jul 14, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 12, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by 1890 Land Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University, 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Information System Project (EFNEP ISP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from USDA CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service) focused on modernizing how EFNEP data are collected, managed, and reported. The core aim is to fund the design, development, testing, and rollout of a web-based information system that can serve EFNEP needs at multiple levels: local programs, state/university or territory administrators, and federal oversight. In practical terms, the project is meant to replace or substantially enhance existing processes by creating a single, secure online platform that supports consistent evaluation and reporting across the entire EFNEP network.
A central requirement is that the new system must fully support the evaluation and reporting elements already used in the Nutrition Education Evaluation Reporting System (NEERS). The opportunity emphasizes continuity: whatever is built should align with the current NEERS reporting structure so that EFNEP performance measures and reporting requirements are not disrupted. At the same time, the project is expected to improve the functionality of the existing system, specifically by making it easier to use while maintaining strong security. This suggests an expectation for better user experience and efficiency (for example, cleaner data entry workflows, better validation and error checking, improved reporting outputs, and more reliable system performance), without weakening safeguards around sensitive program data.
Another major goal is interoperability. The opportunity explicitly calls for synchronizing EFNEP data with other agency and university data collection and reporting systems, including CSREES standard reporting, REEport, and the Community Nutrition Logic Model. This indicates that the government wants EFNEP reporting to fit into broader USDA and land-grant university accountability frameworks, reducing duplicate data entry and helping ensure that EFNEP outcomes and activities can be compared, aggregated, and analyzed alongside other related programs. The end result should be a system that not only captures EFNEP-specific information, but can also exchange data or align reporting formats with these other platforms so reporting and evaluation are more streamlined and consistent.
The project is also described as highly collaborative. Successful completion is expected to require extensive coordination among EFNEP program staff and information technology personnel at the federal level and across universities, states, and territories. This is highlighted as necessary because EFNEP reporting needs are layered: local and state/territory program operations have their own practical reporting and management needs, but those needs must fit within a federally defined evaluation and reporting structure. In other words, the system must work for on-the-ground educators and administrators while still producing standardized, federally required metrics and reports. That implies ongoing stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering, iterative testing with real users, and careful change management so that the final implementation is usable across many different institutions and operating environments.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA CSREES EXCA 002445, with an estimated total funding amount of $100,000 and no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants are limited to certain institutions of higher education within the land-grant system: 1890 Land-Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia. The grant was posted on July 14, 2009, with an application closing date of August 12, 2009, and it was later archived on February 17, 2010. The funding activity categories emphasize agriculture, information and statistics, and science and technology/research and development, which matches the project’s focus on building a modern, web-based data and reporting system for a national nutrition education program.
For support, the announcement notes that applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically can contact the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). The listing also indicates that there is contact support available for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that the agency anticipated technical and proposal-development questions given the specialized nature of the system-building work.
FAQs: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Information System Project (EFNEP ISP)
What is the EFNEP ISP grant opportunity?
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Information System Project (EFNEP ISP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from USDA CSREES (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service). It focuses on modernizing how EFNEP data are collected, managed, and reported by funding the creation of a web-based information system.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core aim is to fund the design, development, testing, and rollout of a single, secure online platform that supports EFNEP needs at multiple levels (local programs, state/university or territory administrators, and federal oversight) while enabling consistent evaluation and reporting across the EFNEP network.
What kind of system is expected to be built?
The opportunity calls for a web-based information system intended to replace or substantially enhance existing EFNEP processes. The system should be secure, easier to use than current approaches, and capable of supporting standardized program evaluation and reporting.
Who is the system supposed to serve?
The system is expected to serve EFNEP stakeholders at multiple levels, including local program users, state/university or territory administrators, and federal oversight users who rely on standardized reporting and performance measures.
What does the grant say about NEERS requirements?
A central requirement is that the new system must fully support the evaluation and reporting elements already used in the Nutrition Education Evaluation Reporting System (NEERS). The opportunity emphasizes continuity, meaning the new platform should align with the current NEERS reporting structure so EFNEP performance measurement and reporting are not disrupted.
Is the goal to replace NEERS or to keep it?
Based on the description, the goal is to build a system that aligns with and fully supports the NEERS evaluation and reporting elements, while improving functionality and usability. The emphasis is on continuity with the NEERS structure rather than disrupting it.
What improvements are expected compared to existing processes?
The opportunity signals expectations for improved functionality, including easier usability and strong security. Examples implied by the description include cleaner data entry workflows, stronger validation and error checking, improved reporting outputs, and more reliable system performance.
How important is security for the new system?
Security is explicitly emphasized. The system must be a single secure online platform, and usability improvements are expected to be achieved without weakening safeguards around sensitive EFNEP program data.
What does interoperability mean in this grant?
Interoperability refers to the system being able to synchronize EFNEP data with other agency and university data collection and reporting systems. The goal is to reduce duplicate data entry and ensure EFNEP outcomes and activities can be aligned, compared, aggregated, and analyzed alongside other related programs.
Which other systems or frameworks must the EFNEP ISP synchronize with?
The opportunity explicitly calls for synchronization with CSREES standard reporting, REEport, and the Community Nutrition Logic Model, in addition to supporting NEERS reporting elements.
Why is synchronization with CSREES standard reporting and REEport important?
The description indicates USDA wants EFNEP reporting to fit into broader accountability frameworks across USDA and land-grant universities. Synchronization is meant to streamline reporting, reduce duplicate data entry, and improve consistency across programs and reporting platforms.
What does the grant say about collaboration and stakeholder involvement?
The project is described as highly collaborative and is expected to require extensive coordination among EFNEP program staff and IT personnel at the federal level and across universities, states, and territories. This reflects the need to meet layered reporting needs while still producing standardized, federally required metrics and reports.
Why is extensive coordination expected?
EFNEP reporting needs are layered. Local and state/territory operations have practical needs, but those must fit within a federally defined evaluation and reporting structure. The system must work for on-the-ground users while reliably producing standardized federal reports.
Does the opportunity suggest any specific implementation approach?
While it does not prescribe a specific methodology, it strongly implies the need for stakeholder engagement, requirements gathering, iterative testing with real users, and change management to ensure the final system works across many institutions and operating environments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA CSREES EXCA 002445.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $100,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to certain land-grant institutions of higher education: 1890 Land-Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
Are non-land-grant organizations eligible?
Based on the eligibility statement provided, the eligible applicant pool is limited to the specified land-grant institutions and the University of the District of Columbia.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The grant was posted on July 14, 2009, and the application closing date was August 12, 2009.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates it was archived on February 17, 2010, and the application closing date was August 12, 2009.
What are the funding activity categories for this opportunity?
The funding activity categories emphasize agriculture, information and statistics, and science and technology/research and development.
What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The announcement states that applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically can contact the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays).
Is there support for questions about preparing the application?
Yes. The listing indicates contact support is available for questions related to preparing application content, reflecting that the agency anticipated technical and proposal-development questions.
What kinds of work are expected to be funded under this grant?
The opportunity states the project is meant to fund the design, development, testing, and rollout of the EFNEP web-based information system, with requirements centered on NEERS continuity, stronger usability, strong security, and synchronization with other reporting systems and frameworks.
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