Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Awards-Community Food and Nutrition

 

To provide for community-based, local, statewide and national programs which: (1) Coordinate existing private and public food assistance resources to better serve low-income populations, whenever such coordination is determined to be inadequate; (2) assist low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and initiate new programs in underserved or unserved areas; and (3) develop innovative approaches at the State and local level to meet the nutritional needs of low-income individuals.

Deleted 08/20/2009 (Archived.) 93.571 ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Direct Payments for Specified Use; Formula Grants. In fiscal year 2002, 101 grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 93 grants will be awarded for fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004. Community Opportunities, Accountability, Training, and Educational Services Act of 1998, Section 681; Public Law 97-35, 42 U.S.C. 9910. (1) Formula Grants: Formula grants are awarded to Community Services Block Grant recipients in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (2) Direct Grants: The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to make direct grants to State and local public and private nonprofit agencies with a demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement nutrition-related program activities. A project must be targeted to address the needs of a specific segment of low-income individuals or families. The official poverty line, as established by the Department of Health and Human Services is used as a criterion of eligibility. Formula Grants: Formula grant awards are made to Community Services Block Grant recipients. (1) Formula Grants: States are required to submit an annual application for the formula grant awards. (2) Direct Grants: The competitively-awarded grants are subject to the provisions of Title 45 CFR 74 and 92 and E.O. 12372. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Applicants for funds are subject to the clearance procedures and requirements established by the States in which their projects will be conducted. Clearance action through the appropriate State clearinghouses must be initiated prior to or at the same time of submission of proposals to the Office of Community Services (OCS). (1) Formula Grants: None is required for the formula grant awards, since they are made as supplements to the existing Community Services Block Grant awards; however, if the intended use of funds is not consistent with its current block grant application, the State must submit an appropriate plan revision to OCS. (2) Direct Grants: Applications to OCS for competitively-awarded direct grants should be addressed to: Division of Discretionary Grants, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. All applications for assistance under this program component must contain: (1) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; (2) SF-424A, Budget Information; (3) a program narrative, submitted in accordance with the following format: (a) analysis of need; (b) project design/work program; (c) organizational experience in program area; (d) management history; (e) staffing and resources; and (f) staff responsibilities; (4) SF-424B, Assurances-Non-Construction Programs; (5) Certification Regarding Drug Free Work place Requirements; (6) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; (7) Certification Regarding Lobbying; and certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke. (1) Formula Grants: OCS determines the amount to be awarded to States in accordance with the formula set forth in the Community Services Block Grant Act, as amended. (2) Direct Grants: The Director, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, DHHS, will make the final decision on all grant awards. Selection of applicants will be determined based on the review and rating criteria outlined in the Program Announcement. (1) Formula Grants: None is applicable for formula grants. Grants are awarded anytime during the fiscal year in which the recipient submits his or her application. (2) Direct Grants: Applications must be submitted within the time frame published in the Program Announcement. Applicants should contact the following office for specific deadlines: Office of Community Services, ACF, 5th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. (1) Formula Grants: Not applicable. (2) Direct Grants: From 60 to 90 days from the application deadline. Not applicable. Not applicable. (1) Formula Grants: Based on a complete application which addressed the objectives contained in this submission. (2) The rating criteria for competitively-awarded direct grants are as follows: (a) analysis of needs (target area/population to be served, nature and extent of problem adequately described and documented); (b) adequacy of work program (specific, measurable goals appropriately related to needs, adequately described activities appropriately related to goals); (c) significant and beneficial impact (significantly improved or increased nutrition services for low-income individuals, significant leverage or mobilization of funds, the enhancement of existing outreach activity, and either addresses a one-time problem or can be continued with nonfederal resources); (d) implementation coordinated with other organizations to avoid duplication and improve service delivery; (e) ability of applicant to perform (successful past experience in operation nutrition-related activities, and quality of staff); and (f) adequacy of the proposed budget. (1) States receive Community Food and Nutrition funds for Statewide Community Food and Nutrition initiatives, which must be subgranted to eligible agencies. (2) Federal funds are competitively-awarded to eligible agencies for statewide and local program activities which address one or more of the above objectives and also include outreach and public education efforts designed to inform low-income individuals and displaced workers of the nutrition services available to them under the various federally-assisted nutrition programs. Of the amounts appropriated, 60 percent is for allotment by statutory formula to eligible agencies for statewide programs, and 40 percent is available for competitive awards to eligible agencies for local and statewide programs. (3) Projects must result in direct benefits targeted toward low-income individuals as defined in the most recent "Annual Update of Poverty Income Guidelines," published in the Federal Register. (4) Projects are normally funded for 1 year and each project will have an expiration date; however, at the Director's discretion, competitively-awarded grants may support projects for shorter or longer periods, i.e., up to 17 months. (5) States may not use their formula grant supplement for State-level administrative costs. (1) Formula Grants: States must prepare a final report on the use of formula grants of Community Food and Nutrition funds 90 days after the end of the grant period. (2) Direct Grants: Competitively-awarded direct grant recipients are required to file semi-annual financial and program progress reports and a final narrative report summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the work program approved by OCS. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92 and OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. (1) Formula Grants: States receiving formula grants are required to keep records sufficient to permit preparation of required reports and to permit tracing of funds to a level of expenditure adequate to insure that funds have not been spent unlawfully. (2) Direct Grants: Recipients of competitively-awarded direct grants are required to keep all financial and program reports necessary for program review and audit to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with grant terms and conditions. Records must be kept on file for at least 3 years. (1) Formula Grants: Section 681 of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act, as amended (Public Law 97-35, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9910) prescribes that, from 60 percent of the amount appropriated shall be awarded to eligible agencies for Statewide programs in each State in an amount which bears the same ratio to 60 percent of such appropriations as the low-income and unemployed populations of such State bear to the low-income and unemployed population of all the States. There is no matching requirement. (2) Direct Grants: Section 681 of the CSBG Act, as amended, provides that 40 percent of the amount appropriated be awarded as direct grants to eligible agencies for local and statewide programs. These awards are made on a competitive basis. There is no matching requirement. (1) Formula Grants: Formula grant awards are made for a specific grant period in the fiscal year; amounts unobligated by the State at the end of a grant period are not available for obligation after the expiration of the established grant period. (2) Direct Grants: Financial assistance made available under the competitive grant component will normally be for a 1-year period and each project will have an expiration date. However, at the discretion of the Director, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, shorter or longer project periods, i.e., up to 17 months, may be established. Not applicable. (1) Formula Grants: Margaret Washnitzer, Chief, CSBG Branch, on (202) 401-9343; (2) Direct Grants: Catherine Rivers, (202) 401-5282 Division of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-5282. http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs 75-1504-0-1-506. (Grants and Contracts) FY 02 $7,311,140; FY 03 est $7,281,362; and FY 04 est $0. (1) Formula Grants: $715 to $363,440; $182,078; (2) Direct Grants: $50,000. (1) Formula Grants: the CSBG Act, as amended, and internal Information Memorandum. (2) Direct Grants: Office of Community Services, Program Announcement, notice of availability published in the Federal Register. Not applicable.