Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/05/17/00-12336/cooperative-state-research-education-and-extension-service-request-for-proposals-rfp-community-food
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 02:36:17
Document Index: 629742898

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3019', 'art 3015', 'art 3019', 'arts 3015', 'art 3015', 'art 401']

Federal Register :: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Request for Proposals (RFP): Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program, Fiscal Year 2000
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Request for Proposals (RFP): Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program, Fiscal Year 2000
A Notice by the Agriculture Department on 05/17/2000
Proposals must be received on or before June 29, 2000. Proposals received after this date will not be considered for funding. Comments regarding this request for proposals are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
31373-31383 (11 pages)
1. Community Food Project Grant Eligibility
2. Technical and Training Assistance Grant Eligibility
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-12336 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/00-12336
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 31374
The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 established new authority for a program of Federal grants to support the development of community food projects designed to meet the food needs of low-income people; increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.
This RFP sets out the objectives for these projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application procedures. Proposals are requested for (1) projects designed to increase food security in a community (termed Community Food Projects), and (2) projects that provide Training and Technical Assistance on a nationwide basis to entities interested in developing Community Food Projects (termed T&TA Projects).
This RFP contains the entire set of instructions needed to apply for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program grant.
By this notice, CSREES additionally solicits stakeholder input from any interested party regarding the FY 2000 Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program for use in development of any future requests for proposals for this program.
The address for hand-delivered proposals or proposals submitted using an express mail or overnight courier service is: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace Center; 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024.
Proposals sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be sent to the following address: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2245.
Written comments should be submitted by mail to: Policy and Program Liaison Staff; Office of Extramural Programs; USDA-CSREES; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2299; or via e-mail to: RFP-OEP@reeusda.gov. In your comments, please include the name of the program and the fiscal year of the RFP to which you are responding.
Dr. Mark R. Bailey, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2241, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241; telephone: (202) 401-1898; mbailey@reeusda.gov, or Dr. Elizabeth Tuckermanty, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2240, telephone: (202) 205-0241; Internet: etuckermanty@reeusda.gov.
CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this solicitation of applications from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the development of any future RFP for the program. CSREES has determined that this program is not an agricultural research, extension, or education program for the purposes of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, 7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2). Therefore, CSREES is not required by statute to solicit stakeholder input regarding this RFP. CSREES, however, always welcomes constructive comments from interested parties regarding an RFP or particular program. Comments should be submitted as provided for in the Addresses and Dates portions of this Notice.
a. Community Food Projects. The purpose of the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) is to support the development of Community Food Projects with a one-time infusion of Federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining or to support stand-alone T&TA activities. Community Food Projects should be designed to: (i) Meet the food needs of low-income people; (ii) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (iii) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.
Community Food Projects are intended to take a comprehensive approach to developing long-term solutions that help to ensure food security in communities by linking the food production and processing sectors to community development, economic opportunity, and environmental enhancement. Comprehensive solutions may include elements such as: (i) Improved access to high quality, affordable food among low-income households; (ii) expanded economic opportunities for community residents through local businesses or other economic development, improved Start Printed Page 31375employment opportunities, job training, youth apprenticeship, school-to-work transition, and the like, and (iii) support for local food systems, from urban gardening to local farms that provide high quality fresh foods, ideally with minimal adverse environmental impact. Any solution proposed must tie into community food needs.
Applicants should be aware of several USDA and Federal policy initiatives that have the potential to strengthen the impact and success of some Community Food Projects. These include the Department's Community Food Security Initiative and its seven action areas of local infrastructure, economic and job security, Federal nutrition assistance safety net, supplemental food provided by nonprofit groups, food production and marketing, education and awareness, and research, monitoring, and evaluation.
Other related Federal activities include: food recovery and gleaning efforts; connecting low-income urban consumers with rural food producers; aiding citizens in leaving public assistance and achieving self-sufficiency; and utilizing microenterprise and/or development projects related to community food needs. Other relevant and ongoing Federal initiatives include: USDA farmers' markets; USDA's Office of Sustainable Development and Small Farms; USDA and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development designated Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities; and the AmeriCorps National Service Program.
Community Food Projects are intended to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system. Solutions to hunger and access to food should reflect a process that involves partnership building among the public, private nonprofit, and for-profit sectors. Together, these parties can address issues such as: the capacity of the community to produce food and support local growers; the need for, and location of, grocery stores that market affordable, high quality food; transportation to provide access to food supplies; economic opportunities for residents to increase income, thereby increasing economic access to high quality nutritious food; community development issues; and the environment. Wherever possible, Community Food Projects should support food systems based on strategies that improve the availability of high-quality locally or regionally produced foods to low-income people.
Community Food Projects should build on these local experiences and encourage innovative long-term efforts. A project should be designed to endure and outlive the one-time infusion of Federal funds. Community Food Projects should be designed to become self-supporting (or have a sustainable funding source). Projects also should have the potential to be a replicable model. Examples of previously funded Community Food Projects may be viewed on the Internet in the CFPCGP website at http://www.reeusda.gov/​crgam/​cfp/​community.htm.
b. Training and Technical Assistance Grants. Potential applicants to the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program may have outstanding ideas that could address community food security problems, but are reluctant to submit proposals because they may not be familiar with the USDA and other Federal agency grant application and administration processes. The enabling legislation recognized this possibility when it authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to an entity seeking the assistance. T&TA project proposals are being solicited in this RFP in order to address this situation. T&TA projects should be designed to assist potential applicants in the following areas: understanding the grant application process; understanding the purposes of the CFPCGP; being familiar with the necessary components of a competitive CFPCGP proposal; understanding what constitutes an appropriate and eligible community food project under the CFPCGP; providing technical assistance, when appropriate, to successful applicants in carrying out their projects; and provide the USDA with a performance report at the conclusion of the grant that delineates the relative successes of their various technical assistance activities.
A T&TA project proposal should demonstrate an applicant's technical expertise in the above noted areas. The proposal should also show that the applicant organization has the capacity to provide training and technical assistance to applicants on a regional or national basis, through regional workshops, electronic media, or other appropriate means. Additionally, the applicant should also demonstrate capacity or experience in being able to assist successful applicants in carrying out their projects. Organizations that can demonstrate an involvement in community food security issues and programs are strongly encouraged to apply.
The amount of funds available in FY 2000 for support of grant awards under this program is approximately Start Printed Page 31376$2,400,000. Up to $250,000 of that amount will be available for T&TA Projects.
Applicants, regardless of the type of project, may request one, two, or three years of funding, but in all cases, the grant term may not exceed three years for any one project. A Community Food Project may be supported by only a single grant under this program.
Authorized departmental officer means the Secretary or any employee of the Department who has the authority to issue or modify grant instruments on behalf of the Secretary.
Grant means the award by the Secretary of funds to an eligible entity to assist in meeting the costs of conducting, for the benefit of the public, an identified Community Food or Training and Technical Assistance Project.
Matching means that portion of allowable project costs not borne by the Federal Government, including the value of in-kind contributions.
Project director means the single individual designated in the grant application and approved by the Secretary who is responsible for the direction and management of the project.
Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Project means a project of regional or national scope that requests Federal Assistance to help community-based entities develop proposals for funding under the CFPCGP and to provide information, education, and skills training to Community Food Project applicants, potential applicants, and grantees.
Private, nonprofit or other entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to receive a Community Food Project grant:
Private, nonprofit or other entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to apply for and receive a T&TA grant under this program:
a. Have the capacity to provide, on a regional or national basis, training and technical assistance in community food security, including the assessment of community food needs, appraisal of existing community assets pertaining to food security issues, coalition building, project development, evaluation and completion, proposal preparation, and fund raising;
b. Demonstrate competency to implement a T&TA project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
c. Demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties. Start Printed Page 31377
Successful Community Food Project applicants must provide matching funds amounting to at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project during the term of the grant award. The Federal share of a Community Food Project costs can be no more than 50 percent of the total. Matching funds are not required for T&TA grants.
Program application materials are available at the CFPCGP website (http://www.reeusda.gov/​crgam/​cfp/​community.htm). Program application materials also are available from the Proposal Services Unit, Office of Extramural Programs, USDA/CSREES at (202) 401-5048. These materials may also be requested via Internet by sending a message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and phone number to psb@reeusda.gov. If calling or sending e-mail, please indicate that you want a copy of the application materials for the Fiscal Year 2000 Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program.
(a) The proposal should be prepared on only one side of the page using standard size (81/2″ ×11″) white paper, one inch margins, typed or word processed using no type smaller than 12 point font, and single or double spaced. Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Geneva, Helvetica, Times Roman).
(c) The proposal should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner. Do not bind. An original and 8 copies (9 total) must be submitted in one package.
Each copy of each grant proposal must have as its cover page an “Application for Funding”, Form CSREES-661. One copy of the application, preferably the original, must contain the pen-and-ink signature(s) of the proposing project director(s) (PD) and the authorized organizational representative who possesses the necessary authority to commit the organization's time and other relevant resources to the project. Any proposed PD or co-PD whose signature does not appear on Form CSREES-661 will not be listed on any resulting grant award. Complete both signature blocks located at the bottom of the “Application for Funding” form.
(c) In Block 8., enter “Community Food Project”, or “T&TA Project.”
(e) Other Funding Agencies (Block 22). List the names or acronyms of all other public or private funding agencies including other agencies within USDA and other programs funded by CSREES to whom your application has been or might be sent. In the event you decide to send your application to another organization or agency at a later date, you must inform the identified CSREES Program Director as soon as practicable. Submitting your proposal to other potential funding agencies will not prejudice its review by CSREES; however, duplicate support for the same project will not be provided.
a. The Community To Be Served and the Needs To Be Addressed. Identify and succinctly describe the critical elements and needs of the local food economy or food system, including demographics, income, and geographic characteristics of the area to be served. Start Printed Page 31378
h. Self-Sustainability. Describe how a one-time infusion of Federal funds will be sufficient for the proposed Community Food Project to advance local capacity-building and achieve sustainability. Entrepreneurial projects should provide evidence (e.g., a market analysis or the outline of a business plan) to demonstrate that it is likely to become self-sustaining and provide employees with important job skills.
For T&TA project proposals, the Project Narrative shall not exceed 10 pages. To ensure fair and equitable competition, reviewers are instructed to read only the first 10 pages of a project narrative and to ignore information on additional pages. The project narrative must repeat and respond to the following six points in (a) through (f) below:
a. Community Food Security Issues and Programs. The proposal should provide a succinct description of community food security issues and programs and the scope of involvement of the applicant entity. Such items as the food economy or food system should be noted as should pertinent information regarding demographics, income, geographic characteristics of the area(s) previously served.
b. Organizations Involved. List all collaborating organizations and individuals who will be assisting you and their respective roles in provision of training and technical assistance. Provide documentation that these organizations have agreed to collaborate if the proposal is successful.
c. Project Goals and Purposes. List the goals and/or purposes of the project and a justification for the goals in terms of the types of services that will be provided.
e. Time Line. The proposed work should be for a three-year period. Training and technical assistance should be scheduled so that potential applicant organizations will have ample opportunity to take advantage of the assistance offered with enough time to construct and submit a community food project proposal in any given year.
f. Evaluation. T&TA proposals should contain an internal evaluation component so as to provide enough timely information over the course of the project to improve the training and technical assistance.
If it will be necessary to enter into formal consulting or collaborative arrangements with others, such arrangements should be fully explained and justified. Evidence, in the form of a letter or e-mail from the collaborator/subcontractor that details the services that will be provided, and a budget and a budget narrative, should be provided as an appendix to the grant application. If the need for consultant services is anticipated, the proposal narrative should provide a justification for the use of such services, a statement of work to be performed, the rate of pay, and a resume or curriculum vita for each consultant. For purposes of proposal development, informal day-to-day contacts between key project personnel and outside experts are not considered to be collaborative arrangements and thus do not need to be detailed.
If you expect to enter into subcontractual arrangements, please note that the provisions contained in 7 CFR part 3019, USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grant and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, and the general provisions contained in 7 CFR part 3015.205, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, flow down to Start Printed Page 31379subrecipients. In addition, required clauses from Sections 40-48 (“Procurement Standards”) and Appendix A (“Contract Provisions”) to 7 CFR part 3019 should be included in final contractual documents, and it is necessary for the subawardee to make a certification relating to debarment/suspension.
All successful applicants should plan to attend an evaluation training meeting. Therefore applicants should include in their proposed budget request funding for two persons to travel to Washington, DC to attend a two to three day meeting. More information will be provided once successful applicants are identified.
6. All Other Direct Costs. Anticipated direct project charges not included in other budget categories must be itemized with estimated costs and justified in the Budget Narrative. This also applies to revised budgets, as the item(s) and dollar amount(s) may change. Examples may include space rental at remote locations, subcontractual costs, and charges for consulting services, telephone, facsimile, shipping costs, and fees necessary for laboratory analyses. You are encouraged to consult the “Instructions for Completing the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program Budget” for additional guidance relating to this budget category. Form AD-1048 must be completed by each subcontractor or consultant and retained by the grantee.
7. Indirect Costs—If available, the current rate negotiated with the cognizant Federal negotiating agency should be used. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate. If a negotiated rate is used, the percentage and base should be indicated in the space allotted under item K. on the Budget Form. If no rate has been negotiated, a reasonable dollar amount for indirect costs may be requested, which will be subject to approval by USDA. In the latter case, if a proposal is recommended for funding, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted prior to award to support the amount of indirect costs requested. CSREES will request an indirect cost rate proposal and provide instructions, as necessary. A proposer may elect not to charge indirect costs and, instead, use all grant funds for direct costs. If indirect costs are not charged, the phrase “None requested” should be written in this space.
b. Budget Narrative—All budget categories, with the exception of Indirect Costs for which support is requested, must be individually listed (with costs) and justified on a separate sheet of paper and placed immediately behind the Budget Form.
c. Matching Funds—As stated in part I.E., matching funds are mandatory for Community Food Projects. (Matching funds are not mandatory for T&TA projects.) Proposals should include written verification of commitments of matching support (including both cash and in-kind contributions) from third parties. Written verification means:
(i) For any third party cash contributions, a separate pledge agreement for each donation, signed by the authorized organizational representatives of the donor organization and the applicant organization, which must include: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the donor; (2) the name of the applicant organization; (3) the title of the project for which the donation is made; (4) the dollar amount of the cash donation; and (5) a statement that the donor will pay the cash contribution during the grant period; and
The sources and amounts of all matching support from outside the applicant institution should be summarized on a separate page and placed in the proposal immediately following the Budget Narrative. All pledge agreements must be placed in the proposal immediately following the summary of matching support. Start Printed Page 31380
All proposals must contain Form CSREES-663 listing other current publicly or privately supported (including in-house) projects to which key personnel identified in the proposal have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary support for person(s) involved is included in the budget for this proposed project. Analogous information must be provided for any pending proposals that are being considered by, or that will be submitted in the near future to, other possible sponsors, including other USDA Programs or agencies. Concurrent submission of identical or similar proposals to other possible sponsors will not prejudice proposal review or evaluation by CSREES for this purpose. However, a proposal that duplicates or overlaps substantially with a proposal already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under this program. Note that the project being proposed should be included in the pending section of the form.
Proposals must be received on or by June 29, 2000. Proposals received after this date will not be considered for funding.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit completed proposals via overnight mail or delivery service to ensure timely receipt by the USDA. The address for hand-delivered proposals or proposals submitted using an express mail or overnight courier service is: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace Center; 901 D Street, SW; Washington, DC 20024.
Since the award process must be completed by September 30, 2000, applicants should submit fully developed proposals that meet all the requirements set forth in this RFP and have fully developed budgets as well. However, USDA does retain the right to conduct discussions with applicants to resolve technical and/or budget issues as it deems necessary.
A number of expert reviewers will conduct the merit review based on the evaluation criteria. These reviewers will be drawn from a number of areas, among them government, universities, non-profit organizations, and other pertinent entities involved in community food security or similar activities. The views of the individual reviewers will be used by CSREES to Start Printed Page 31381determine which proposals will be recommended to the Administrator for funding. Evaluated proposals will be ranked based on merit. Final approval for those proposals recommended for an award will be made by the Administrator.
1. How well the proposed project addresses the three statutory CFPCGP objectives of: (i) Meeting the food needs of low-income people; (ii) increasing the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (iii) promoting comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues (25 points);
4. The relevance of the experience of the organizations that are involved in the proposed project, including the applicant entity, and the type and extent of support that other organizations will be providing. Applicant organizations should demonstrate a history of commitment to and direct involvement in food security projects in low-income communities or in communities with low-income groups. The qualifications of staff involved with the proposed project and/or organizational leadership should reflect the expertise necessary to carry out the proposed activities or similar types of activities. Experience in and connections with the community will be considered as important as academic or professional credentials in this regard (20 points);
6. The strength of the proposed project's evaluation component and how it will contribute to the evaluation of the CFPCGP on a national basis (8 points); and
7. The time line for accomplishing project goals and objectives is realistic and achievable (2 points).
The evaluation of T&TA Projects by expert reviewers will be based on the following criteria, weighted relative to each other, and assigned a point value, as noted in the parentheses following each criteria:
1. How well the proposed project assists applicants, eligible entities, and others in understanding the three statutory CFPCGP objectives of: (i) Meeting the food needs of low income people; (ii) increasing the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (iii) promoting comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues (35 points);
2. The appropriateness of goals and purposes of the project and how those goals will provide T&TA activities that will assist organizations and individuals regionally or nationwide in addressing the CFPCGP goals of: (i) Developing linkages between two or more sectors of the food system; (ii) supporting the development of entrepreneural activities; (iii) developing innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors; and (iv) encouraging long-term planning activities and multiple activities conducted in collaboration with other entities (30 points);
3. The experience of the applicant and other organizations (if any) to be involved in the proposed project. Applicants should demonstrate a history of or the capability for involvement in T&TA on Community Food Projects or other similar programs. The relevant qualifications of staff involved in the proposed project should be provided (20 points) and;
4. The timeline for accomplishing the planning, scheduling, and delivery of T&TA is realistic and achievable (15 points).
Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the awarding official of CSREES shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose proposals are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this RFP. The date specified by the Administrator as the effective date of the grant shall be no later than September 30. It should be noted that the project need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds granted by CSREES under this RFP shall be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, the applicable Federal cost principles, and the Department's assistance regulations (parts 3015, 3016, and 3019 of 7 CFR). Start Printed Page 31382
7 CFR Part 3015—USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, implementing OMB directives (e.g., Circulars Nos. A-21 and A-122) and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308, as well as general policy requirements applicable to recipients of Departmental financial assistance.
35 U.S.C. 200 et seq.—Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR part 401). Start Printed Page 31383
Done at Washington, DC, this 11th day of May 2000.
[FR Doc. 00-12336 Filed 5-16-00; 8:45 am]