USDA FNS TIG FY 17 | USDA FNSTIG 17

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNSTIG 17

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Child Nutrition Technology Innovation Grant opportunity for FY 2017 (USDA FNS TIG FY 17) is a discretionary, competitively awarded funding program designed to help State agencies modernize and strengthen the automated information systems used to run the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs). The funding authority comes from the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 114-113, enacted December 18, 2015), which set aside money specifically for States to develop new or improve existing technology that supports day-to-day program operations and oversight. For FY 2017, FNS made about $4.4 million available nationwide to support these efforts.

The central goal of the grant is to push forward practical, innovative technology solutions that make CNP administration more accurate, transparent, and performance-driven. FNS is looking for projects that improve program accountability and data quality, strengthen program performance measurement, and increase the ability of State agencies to detect, prevent, and target error-prone areas. Importantly, the emphasis is not only on statewide systems, but also on improvements that help identify patterns of risk or mistakes at the local level, including Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and Sponsor Organizations (SOs). In plain terms, FNS wants States to use smarter systems and better data to find where problems occur, understand why they occur, and reduce administrative or compliance errors across CNP operations.

Eligibility is limited to State governments, specifically State agencies that administer one or more of the Child Nutrition Programs: the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. Awards are made through a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, through technical coordination, monitoring, or collaboration on deliverables), rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.

FNS offered two distinct grant tracks under this solicitation: Planning Grants and Implementation Grants. Planning Grants are aimed at States that need to scope, design, and prepare for a technology initiative (such as developing requirements, architecture, project plans, governance, procurement strategies, or pilot designs). Implementation Grants are intended for States ready to build, deploy, integrate, or significantly enhance a technology solution. A key rule in this FY 2017 solicitation is that a State could apply for only one of these tracks, not both, forcing applicants to choose whether they were seeking support to plan a project or to carry out an already-defined solution.

From the published opportunity details, the funding opportunity number is USDA FNSTIG 17, and it is associated with CFDA 10.541 (Food and Nutrition). FNS anticipated making about 9 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000 per award. The application closing date was January 25, 2017, and the opportunity was posted on October 27, 2016. Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as a targeted federal investment in modernizing the technology backbone behind child nutrition program administration, with a strong focus on better data, stronger oversight, and improved identification of high-risk or error-prone processes across State and local program operations.

• The Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USDA FNS TIG FY 17" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.541.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-10-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for USDA FNSTIG 17

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