Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: FY2016 funds were combined into the FY2017 funds and awarded in FY2017. Fiscal Year 2017: USDA awarded nine (9) grants to the following states: Florida; Iowa; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; Montana; New Jersey; Pennsylvania; and Tennessee. Fiscal Year 2018: Information currently unknown.

Uses and Use Restrictions

To encourage State agencies that administer the CNPs to bridge gaps in automation by proposing innovative technology solutions that improve program accountability and efficiencies at both the State and local levels, thereby reducing duplication of effort, reducing errors, and increasing visibility of program operations for monitoring purposes.

Grants only relate to technology solutions for planning and implementation. State agencies should focus on one or more of the following methods to develop uniform systems that could provide automation between State and local levels: ? web-based software; ? uniform interfaces between diverse systems; ? technology equipment and/or software; and/or ? other innovative business automation solutions to improve program operation efficiencies, accountability, monitoring and overall program integrity at the State and local levels.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Grants only relate to technology solutions for planning and implementation.

Beneficiary Eligibility

above information to be updated as information becomes available.

Credentials/Documentation

Register in Grants.gov, complete pre-application assessment questions and submit a RFA package. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. In order to submit an application via grants.gov, applicants must have obtained a DUNS number and registered in both the new SAM and on grants.gov.

Award Procedures

Following an initial screening process to ensure all submissions are complete, FNS assembles a peer panel group to review and determine the technical merits of each application. Panel evaluates proposals based on how well they address the required application components and scores each application for either a Planning or Implementation Grant. Panel recommends applications for consideration to selecting officials.

Deadlines

Oct 27, 2016 to Jan 25, 2017: FY 2017 CNTI grants. Request for Application Release Date: October 27, 2016 Application Submission Due Date: January 25, 2017 Grant Award Date Approximately: April 25, 2017 [note: grants were actually awarded 8/31/17].

Authorization

Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law 114-113 December 18, 2015, Public Law 114-113.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Other - Not Specified.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The award period for the FY 2017 Planning Grants and Implementation Grants will be as follows, beginning from the date of the award: ? Planning Grants will be awarded for up to one year; and ? Implementation Grants will be awarded for up to three years. All grant funds must be obligated and all program activities under the grant (other than activities relating to the close out of the grant) must be completed by the end of the award period. The close-out of the grant must occur no later than 90 days following the termination date of the agreement, and all obligations incurred under the grant must be liquidated by this date. Any funds that are not liquidated within 90 days following the end of the award period must be returned to FNS. In addition, the final progress reports are due to FNS no later than 90 days following the end of the award period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

? 2 CFR Part 415: USDA ?General Program Administrative Regulations? ? 2 CFR Part 416: USDA ?General Program Administrative Regulations for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments?.

The award recipient will be required to enter the SF-425, Financial Status Report data into the FNS Food Program Reporting System (FPRS) on a quarterly basis.

In order to access FPRS, the grant recipient must obtain USDA e-authentication certification and access to FPRS.

More detailed instructions for reporting will be included in the FNS Federal financial assistance award package.

The recipient will be responsible for managing and monitoring the progress of the grant project activities and performance.

The award document will indicate the reporting schedule for submitting project performance/progress reports to FNS.

Any additional reporting requirements will be identified in the award terms and conditions, including results of the grant project.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

The recipient will be responsible for managing and monitoring the progress of the grant project activities and performance.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. ? 2 CFR Part 200: ?Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards? ? 2 CFR Part 400: USDA?s implementing regulation of 2 CFR Part 200 ?Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards?

Records

? 2 CFR Part 415: USDA ?General Program Administrative Regulations? ? 2 CFR Part 416: USDA ?General Program Administrative Regulations for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments?.

Financial Information

Account Identification

12-3539-0-1-605.

Obigations

(Project Grants) FY 16 $0; FY 17 est $6,711,245; and FY 18 est $0 - CN Technology Innovation Planning Grant for awards up to $100,000 with grant periods of up to one year CN Technology Innovation Implementation Grants for awards up to $2,000,000 with grant periods of 1-3 years SA may apply for either type of grant, but not both in a given RFA solicitation. Only one grant application will be accepted from a SA in response to this solicitation.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

CN TIG Planning Grant: 0-$100,000 CN TIG Implementation Grant 0-$2,000,000 For FY 2017: Nine (9) grants were awarded with a range of $93,222 - $1,942,547 The average grant amount was $745,694.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Carla Garcia, Grants Officer Grants and Fiscal Policy Division U.S. Department of Agriculture, FNS 3101 Park Center Drive Room 740 Alexandra, VA 22301 E-mail: carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov.

Headquarters Office

Cynthia Long, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive Room 628, Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Email: Cindy.Long@fns.usda.gov Phone: (703) 305-2590

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Grantees will be recommended on a competitive basis, based on an objective review of their proposals according to the technical evaluation criteria outlined in the RFA.