OMB No. 0581-0334

LOCAL FOOD FOR SCHOOLS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

PROGRAM

PROJECTNARRATIVE FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS – CURRENT INITIATIVES

This form is mandatory. Thoroughly review the “Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program” (LFS) Request for 

Application (RFA) before completing this form. Upon completion, this form must be converted to PDF and attached to the 

Grants.gov application package using the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” on the application package.

1. Applicant Organization - Must match box 8 of the SF-424.

Name:

Email:

Phone:

Fax:

Mailing Address:

2. Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) - This person will be the main contact for any correspondence 

and is responsible for signing any grant documentation. Must match box 21 of the SF-424.

Name:

Email:

Phone:

Fax:

Mailing Address: ☐ Check if same as above

3. Project Title - Must match box 15 of the SF-424.

4. Requested LFS Funds - Insert the total amount ($) of Federal funds requested. This must match the total amount 

requested on the SF-424, Line 18a. In the following narrative sections, describe how these funds will be utilized to meet the 

goals and objectives of the LFS Program as described in the RFA

$

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Include a summary of 250 words or less, suitable for dissemination to the public. This summary should include a concise outline 

of the project’s purpose; activities to be performed, including subawards (when applicable); deliverables and expected 

outcomes; intended beneficiaries; and any other pertinent information. This summary will be made available to the public.

ALIGNMENT AND INTENT

Clearly articulate the reason for requesting the funds. Briefly describe the need for cooperative agreement funds. Describe the 

intended benefits for producers and for recipients. How will the funds increase local food consumption and help build and 
OMB No. 0581-0334 

expand economic opportunity for local, small businesses, regional farmers/producers and for socially disadvantaged 

farmers/producers? How will the distribution of food benefit schools? How will the applicant ensure equitable distribution of 

food to tribal schools as required for the National School Lunch Program? 

Provide a Listing of Objectives This Project Hopes to Achieve 

Provide the objectives that your organization intends to achieve through the use of these funds. Objective 4 can be related to any aspect of the 

program and can address your unique set of circumstances. 

Objective 1 (purchase from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers related): 

Objective 2 (purchase from small businesses related): 

Objective 3 (related to sharing of lessons learned or improving outcomes or fostering adoption of promising best

practices): 

Objective 4 (optional):

Project Beneficiaries

Describe the producers you intend to purchase from and how recipients will benefit from this program? How many producers 

and how many recipients do you expect to benefit from your program? 

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE

Work Plan

Describe how you will meet the objectives of the program and demonstrate that your organization and sub recipients have the 

ability to carry out the procurements with ample planning, resources, financial controls, reporting ability and risk management 

plans. In addition, provide a timeline and milestones. The proposal must include the below six headings followed by a narrative 

that includes a response for each of the points noted below:

Plan and Objectives: Discuss your planned activities for achieving goals and providing project deliverables. Describe how 

your organization and if applicable, sub recipients will ensure the identified producers are engaged in procurements and your 

plan to ensure distribution of foods to schools. Provide a plan for evaluating accomplishments and outcomes, matching to 

project deliverables and verifiable indicators to demonstrate how progress will be measured and achieved. Include capturing 

lessons learned and strategies to improve program outcomes. 

Resources: Discuss the resources you will assign to this project and how you plan to manage the procurement process. 

Identify key personnel involved in tasks identified in your plan. List partner organizations and collaborators and their roles in the 

program. Identify key personnel involved, and timelines for achieving milestones.

Financial Controls: Discuss how you will provide adequate financial controls to monitor financial awards and sub recipients

and how you will ensure that funding is being used for the stated objective. Include systems and methods to ensure adequate 

controls will be in place.

Reporting (progress and financial) and Evaluation: Indicate your strategies for providing USDA the required reports

necessary to measure progress toward achieving program goals and required financial reporting. The award recipient is

responsible for obtaining and rolling up and consolidating reports from entities receiving subawards. 

Risk and Fraud Mitigation Plans: Describe how you will put in place necessary controls to reduce risk and to perform 

controls to reduce the possibility of fraud with procurement partners and those involved in distribution of the purchased food. 

Include measures to ensure controls are in place to reduce the risk of fraud by sub recipients. 

Timeline: Provide a timeline of activities and milestones. Include timing of procurements and expected delivery periods. 
OMB No. 0581-0334 

ACHIEVABILITY

These outcomes and indicators are consistent with the progress reporting requirements for this program. All applicants must 

identify how they will meet Outcome indicators 1 and 2. You also may create your own outcome and indicator that identifies 

the expected short term and long-term impacts of your work. You will need to establish baseline numbers and/or estimate 

realist target numbers for the outcome and indicator. 

Outcome Indicators

Complete all applicable project Outcomes and Indicators with estimated realistic target numbers. These outcome indicators will 

be required to be provided for quarterly progress reports.

Outcome 1: Provide an opportunity for States to strengthen their local and regional food 

system and to support local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through 

building and expanding economic opportunities. 

Indicator Description Estimated 

Number

1.a. Total number of local producers/vendors that are expected to 

participate in the program

1.b. Of the number in 1.a., the number of producers/vendors that are 

socially disadvantaged. 

1.c. Total dollars expected to be expended to purchase local and regional 

food through this program

1.d Of the number in 1.c, how many dollars will be expended to purchase 

food from socially disadvantaged producers/vendors.

Outcome 2: Provide an opportunity for States to strengthen their local and regional food 

system and to support local small businesses through building and expanding economic 

opportunities.

Indicator Description Estimated number

2.a. Total number of local producers/vendors that are 

expected to participate in the program 

2.b. Of the number in 1.a., the number of 

producers/vendors that are small businesses.

2.c. Total dollars expected to be expended to 

purchase local and regional food through this 

program

2.d. Of the number in 1.c, how many dollars will be 

expended to purchase food from small 

businesses.
OMB No. 0581-0334

Outcome 3: Final Report – Program Outcomes

The following project outcomes will be required at the conclusion of the program. For your submission, 

provide your goals for program outcomes 1-3. 

The goal of this program is to increase the purchase of local and regional foods for distribution to 

schools, and build partnerships with local and regional producers, small businesses, socially 

disadvantaged farmers/producers, and schools. A desired outcome of the LFS is that these partnerships 

continue after the program concludes.

At the end of the performance year, recipients will be required to provide a final report. This report will 

include a summary of the data from the quarterly progress reports and a narrative addressing questions 

1 through 3 below. The narrative responses will be used to measure the outcome of the program.

1. Percentage of new marketing opportunities established by purchasing from local and regional 

farmers/producers, and of those, what percentage will likely be sustained after the funding is 

expended.

2. Percentage of new marketing opportunities established by purchasing from socially 

disadvantaged farmers/producers, and of those, what percentage will likely be sustained after 

the funding is expended.

3. Percentage of new marketing opportunities established by purchasing from small businesses, 

and of those, what percentage will likely be sustained after the funding is expended.

Responses to question 1, 2, and 3 should compare the number of partnerships built through the LFS to 

partnerships in existence prior to the program, and of those, the percentage that will continue at the 

conclusion of the program. 

Outcome 4: Unique outcome for your project

Initiatives are strongly encouraged to add at least one Outcome and Indicator(s) based on relevant initiative efforts not covered 

above. Creativity is highly encouraged, particularly regarding any metrics reflecting coordination, learning, and responsiveness.

Project Specific Outcome Indicator(s)

Indicator Description Estimated 

Number

4.a. 

Outcome Indicator Measurement Plan

For each completed outcome indicator, describe how you derived the numbers, how you intend to measure and achieve each 

relevant outcome and indicator, and any potential challenges to achieving the estimated targets and action steps for addressing 

them.

Outcome 

and 

Indicator #

I.e., 3.i., 6.a., 

6.b.

How did you derive the 

estimated numbers?

I.e., documented background 

or baseline information, recent 

research and data, etc.

How and when do you 

intend to evaluate?

I.e., surveys, 3rd party 

assessment

Anticipated key factors 

predicted to contribute to 

and restrict outcome

Including action steps for addressing 

identified restricting factors
OMB No. 0581-0334 

Distribution of Project Results

Describe how you will distribute the project’s results (positive and negative) to similar organizations, stakeholders, and others 

that may be interested in the project’s results or implementing a similar project.

EXPERTISE AND PARTNERS

Key Staff (Applicant Personnel and External Partner/Collaborators)

Provide the name, title and project role for each of the key staff and provide a one- to two-page resume or summary of 

relevant experience and/or qualifications for each of the participants listed. Longer resumes or summaries will be disregarded. 

Initiatives must include Letters of Commitment from Partner and Collaborator Organizations (if known at time of application) to 

support the information requested in the RFA. 

FISCAL PLAN AND RESOURCES

Please complete the Budget and Justification below.

BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION

The budget must show the total cost for the project and describe how category costs listed in the budget are determined. The 

budget justification must provide enough detail for AMS staff to easily understand how costs were determined and how they 

relate to the Project Objectives and Expected Outcomes. 

Refer to RFA Section 4.6 for more information on allowable and unallowable expenses.

The individual subaward budgets are not expected at the submission of this application; however, initiatives will be expected to 

provide a comprehensive plan detailing each project, associated outcomes, and applicable expenses in order to draw down on 

the funds associated with this line item.

Budget Summary

Expense Category Federal Funds

Funds used for 

Purchase of Food 

Funds used for 

food storage

Funds used for food 

distribution

Direct Costs Subtotal
OMB No. 0581-0334 

Total Budget (direct costs)

Contractual

The Contractual section includes direct procurements and contractual and subaward agreements resulting in procurements. A 

subaward is an award provided by the non –federal entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal 

award received by the non-federal entity. Procurement/Contractual/Subaward costs are expenses associated with purchasing 

food, storage, and/or distribution. If there is more than one contractor or subaward, each must be described separately. (List 

each contract/subaward separately.)

Type Name/Organization and Funds Justification Funds 

Requested

Contract ☐

Subaward ☐ $ 

Contract ☐

Subaward ☐ $ 

Contract ☐

Subaward ☐ $ 

Contractual Subtotal

☐ By checking this box, I affirm that my organization followed the same policies and procedures used

for procurements from non-federal sources, which reflect applicable State and local laws and

regulations and conform to the Federal laws and standards identified in 2 CFR §200.317 through

§200.326, as applicable. If the contractor(s)/consultant(s) is/are not already selected, I affirm that my

organization will follow the same requirements.

USDA’S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PAPERWORK BURDEN STATEMENT

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a 

collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-XXXX.The 

time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 4 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, 

searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.