Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2015
Apply for USDA FNS F2S 2015
- The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 Farm to School Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.575 Farm to School Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 19, 2014 and posted on Feb 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2014 Please see first page of RFA for Conference/Event Grants Submission Date Deadline Information. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible schools State and local agencies Indian tribal organizations Agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers and, Non profit entities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 Farm to School Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to help schools and their partners expand and strengthen farm to school efforts that increase student access to locally produced foods. The program was created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish a USDA Farm to School Program. Each year, Congress provides funding (noted here as $5 million annually) to support grants, technical assistance, and federal administration tied to this mandate. The core purpose of this particular funding cycle is to support practical, on-the-ground work that connects eligible schools with local producers and local food systems in ways that make local foods more available, more usable in school meal programs, and more sustainably integrated over time.
For FY2015, USDA expected to award about $5 million in project grants aimed at improving access to local foods in eligible schools, plus up to an additional $500,000 specifically reserved for farm to school conferences, trainings, and similar events. The funding is awarded on a competitive basis and depends on federal fund availability. The overall opportunity is listed as discretionary funding, and awards may be made as grants and/or cooperative agreements. USDA anticipated making roughly 80 awards under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.575, Farm to School Grant Program. The total estimated funding level in the announcement is $5,500,000, reflecting both the main project grants and the conference/event set-aside.
Applicants can pursue one of three main grant types: Planning Grants, Implementation Grants, or Support Service Grants. Planning Grants are designed for early-stage work such as conducting assessments, building partnerships, developing procurement strategies, identifying supply-chain needs, and creating detailed action plans that can be implemented after the planning period. These awards were expected to range from $20,000 to $45,000. Implementation Grants and Support Service Grants are larger and focus on putting farm to school activities into practice or providing essential services that help programs operate and scale. Both of those categories were expected to range from $65,000 to $100,000. USDA indicated an anticipated split in how funds would be distributed across categories: about 25 percent of total grant dollars for planning projects, and about 75 percent for implementation and support service projects, signaling a strong emphasis on getting established ideas fully operational and expanding functioning efforts.
A key requirement for the Planning, Implementation, and Support Service grants is cost sharing. Under the HHFKA, the federal share cannot exceed 75 percent of the total project cost. That means applicants must contribute at least 25 percent of the overall project cost through matching resources. Practically, the total project budget is the sum of the federal request plus the applicant match, and the match can come from allowable sources as defined in the RFA (for example, cash and certain in-kind contributions, if permitted and properly documented). This match requirement does not apply to the separate conference/event funding described below.
New in FY2015, USDA also made funds available specifically for conferences, trainings, and events that support farm to school knowledge-sharing and capacity building. These conference/event awards were expected to range from $15,000 to $50,000, and importantly, they did not require matching funds. USDA expressed an intent to support at least one statewide or regional conference in each of the seven FNS regions, as well as at least one national conference, which highlights a goal of strengthening networks and consistent technical learning across the country in addition to funding local projects.
Eligibility is broad and designed to reflect the partnerships farm to school programs typically require. Eligible applicants include eligible schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full RFA). This structure allows school districts to apply directly, but also enables intermediaries such as nonprofits, producer groups, and public agencies to coordinate work across multiple schools, align producers with school buyers, and provide training or operational support that schools may not be positioned to manage alone.
Key administrative details in the public notice include the funding opportunity number USDA FNS F2S 2015 and a posting date of February 19, 2014. The main application closing date listed is April 30, 2014, with a note to consult the first page of the RFA for the specific conference/event grant submission deadline information (since those timelines can differ). The award ceiling for the main grant categories is $100,000, and the overall award floor listed is $15,000, which aligns with the minimum size of the conference/event awards. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, USDA provided a Farm to School Support Team contact phone number (202-720-0092) and an email contact in the notice, and it also pointed applicants to the USDA Farm to School website and newsletter for updates.
FY15 USDA Farm to School Grant Program FAQs
What is the FY15 Farm to School Grant Program?
The FY15 Farm to School Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to help schools and their partners expand and strengthen farm to school efforts that increase student access to locally produced foods.
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose of the FY2015 funding cycle is to support practical, on-the-ground work that connects eligible schools with local producers and local food systems so that local foods become more available, more usable in school meal programs, and more sustainably integrated over time.
What law created or authorized the USDA Farm to School Program?
The program was created through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to formally establish a USDA Farm to School Program.
How much funding was USDA expecting to award in FY2015?
USDA expected to award about $5 million in project grants aimed at improving access to local foods in eligible schools, plus up to an additional $500,000 reserved for farm to school conferences, trainings, and similar events. The total estimated funding level listed is $5,500,000.
Is this funding competitive?
Yes. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis and is dependent on federal fund availability.
What type of funding is this (discretionary or mandatory)?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding.
What award instruments may be used?
Awards may be made as grants and/or cooperative agreements.
About how many awards did USDA anticipate making?
USDA anticipated making roughly 80 awards under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.575, Farm to School Grant Program.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 10.575, Farm to School Grant Program.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA FNS F2S 2015.
What is the posting date listed for this opportunity?
The posting date listed is February 19, 2014.
When is the application due date for the main grant categories?
The main application closing date listed is April 30, 2014.
Do conference/event grants have the same deadline as the main grants?
Not necessarily. The notice indicates that applicants should consult the first page of the RFA for the specific conference/event grant submission deadline information, since those timelines can differ.
What grant types are available under this opportunity?
Applicants can pursue one of three main grant types: Planning Grants, Implementation Grants, or Support Service Grants. In addition, FY2015 included a separate funding stream for conferences, trainings, and events.
What are Planning Grants intended to support?
Planning Grants are designed for early-stage work such as conducting assessments, building partnerships, developing procurement strategies, identifying supply-chain needs, and creating detailed action plans that can be implemented after the planning period.
What is the expected award range for Planning Grants?
Planning Grant awards were expected to range from $20,000 to $45,000.
What are Implementation Grants intended to support?
Implementation Grants focus on putting farm to school activities into practice to improve access to local foods in eligible schools.
What is the expected award range for Implementation Grants?
Implementation Grant awards were expected to range from $65,000 to $100,000.
What are Support Service Grants intended to support?
Support Service Grants focus on providing essential services that help farm to school programs operate and scale.
What is the expected award range for Support Service Grants?
Support Service Grant awards were expected to range from $65,000 to $100,000.
How did USDA anticipate distributing funding across planning versus implementation/support?
USDA indicated an anticipated split of about 25 percent of total grant dollars for planning projects and about 75 percent for implementation and support service projects, signaling an emphasis on getting established ideas operational and expanding functioning efforts.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement for Planning, Implementation, and Support Service Grants?
Yes. A key requirement for Planning, Implementation, and Support Service grants is cost sharing. Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the federal share cannot exceed 75 percent of the total project cost, so applicants must provide at least 25 percent as matching resources.
How is the total project budget calculated under the cost-share requirement?
The total project budget is the sum of the federal request plus the applicant match. The match can come from allowable sources defined in the RFA (for example, cash and certain in-kind contributions, if permitted and properly documented).
Does the match requirement apply to conference/training/event awards?
No. The separate conference, training, and event awards described for FY2015 did not require matching funds.
What are the conference/training/event awards?
New in FY2015, USDA made funds available for conferences, trainings, and events that support farm to school knowledge-sharing and capacity building.
What is the expected award range for conference/training/event funding?
Conference/training/event awards were expected to range from $15,000 to $50,000.
What geographic or network goals did USDA describe for conference support?
USDA expressed an intent to support at least one statewide or regional conference in each of the seven FNS regions, as well as at least one national conference.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include eligible schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full RFA).
Can school districts apply directly, or do they need a partner organization?
The eligibility structure allows school districts to apply directly. It also allows intermediaries such as nonprofits, producer groups, and public agencies to coordinate work across multiple schools and provide training or operational support.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling) listed?
The award ceiling for the main grant categories is $100,000.
What is the minimum award amount (floor) listed?
The overall award floor listed is $15,000, aligning with the minimum size of the conference/training/event awards.
Where can applicants get help or request the full announcement?
USDA provided a Farm to School Support Team contact phone number (202-720-0092) and an email contact in the notice for applicants needing help accessing the full announcement.
Where can applicants look for updates about the program?
The notice points applicants to the USDA Farm to School website and newsletter for updates.
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