Opportunity ID: 214033

General Information

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-FNS-DC-FY-2013
Funding Opportunity Title: Direct Certification Improvement Grant (Tier I
Opportunity Category: Mandatory
Opportunity Category Explanation: CategoryExplanation
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement
Category of Funding Activity: Food and Nutrition
Category Explanation: –
Expected Number of Awards: 10
Assistance Listings: 10.579 — Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No
Version: Synopsis 1
Posted Date: Jan 07, 2013
Last Updated Date: –
Original Closing Date for Applications: Jul 01, 2013 Application Deadlines:

Tier 1 Grant Applications: February 1, 2013; March 1, 2013; April 1, 2013; May 1, 2013; June 1, 2013; and July 1, 2013

Tier 2 Grant Applications: April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jul 01, 2013 Application Deadlines:

Tier 1 Grant Applications: February 1, 2013; March 1, 2013; April 1, 2013; May 1, 2013; June 1, 2013; and July 1, 2013

Tier 2 Grant Applications: April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013
Archive Date: Jul 31, 2013
Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,000,000
Award Ceiling: $1,000,000
Award Floor: $75,000

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants: State governments
Additional Information on Eligibility: –

Additional Information

Agency Name: Food and Nutrition Service
Description: FNS is announcing a new Direct Certification Improvement Grant opportunity to make available to States approximately
$8 million in remaining funds to be used for direct certification improvements.
Purpose of Grants
*The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) amended the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to add provisions intended to encourage States to improve program access through direct certification, including:
1. Requiring States to reach percentage benchmarks for direct certification rates for children in households receiving assistance under SNAP according to the following timelines: 80% for school year 2011-2012; 90% for school year 2012-2013; and 95% for school year 2013-2014 and each school year thereafter; and
2. Requiring States that fall below the benchmark for the previous school year to develop and implement continuous improvement plans (CIPs) to describe specific measures that the State will use to identify more children who are eligible for direct certification, including improvements or modifications to technology, information systems, or databases.
The purpose of the Direct Certification Improvement Grants described in the new RFA is to fund State agency activities in planning and implementing direct certification improvement projects that will help them reach and maintain the direct certification rate benchmarks mandated by the HHFKA. Ultimately, FNS intends for the grants to assist States in improving access, increasing accuracy, and reducing paperwork in the NSLP and SBP by simplifying the certification process for free school meals.

Types of Grants Offered
FNS is offering two types of Direct Certification Improvement Grants:
1. Tier 1: Limited-scope planning and implementation grants may be awarded for up to
$150,000 under a simplified application process to fund planning (particularly continuous
improvement plans for those not meeting 80% benchmarks in school year 2011-2012) and
short-term implementation projects of limited scope. Please note that funding is limited to
no more than $75,000 for planning activities. The grants will be awarded for periods of
up to one year. States will have six opportunities to apply in 2013: February 1, March 1,April 1, May 1, June 3, and July 1, 2013 (if funds remain available); and
2. Tier 2: Full-scope implementation grants may be awarded for up to $1,000,000 to fund
direct certification implementation projects of significant scope, for periods of one to three
years. State agencies will have two opportunities to apply: April 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013
(if funds remain available).
Link to Additional Information: FY 2013 Direct Certification Improvement Grants RFA & other documents
Grantor Contact Information: If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Carla Garcia

Grant Officer

Email:carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov

Version History

Version Modification Description Updated Date

Folder 214033 Full Announcement-1 -> appendix d-tier 2 proposal template.pdf

Folder 214033 Full Announcement-1 -> fy13directcertletter.pdf

Folder 214033 Full Announcement-1 -> fy13appendixc.pdf

Folder 214033 Full Announcement-1 -> fy13rfa.pdf

Packages

Agency Contact Information: Carla Garcia
Grant Officer

Email: carla.garcia@fns.usda.gov
Who Can Apply: Organization Applicants

Assistance Listing Number Competition ID Competition Title Opportunity Package ID Opening Date Closing Date Actions
10.579 USDA-FNS-DC-FY-2013 FY 2013 Direct Certification Improvement Grant PKG00158690 Jan 07, 2013 Jul 01, 2013 View

Package 1

Mandatory forms

214033 SF424_Mandatory-1.1.pdf

214033 Other-1.0.pdf

214033 SF424A-1.0.pdf

214033 Mandatory_SF424B-1.1.pdf

Optional forms

214033 Attachments-1.0.pdf

2025-07-11T10:30:57-05:00

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