Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS OPS FY23 EQUITY
The Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs grant opportunity is a USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) discretionary funding announcement that supports research aimed at improving fairness and access within Child Nutrition (CN) programs. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient is expected to work closely with USDA/FNS during the project period rather than operating as a completely independent grantee. The overall purpose is to generate practical, evidence-based insights about what prevents eligible children and communities from fully accessing CN benefits, and to identify strategies that can reduce or remove those barriers.
USDA anticipates making a single award with an award ceiling of up to $2,000,000 total, covering fiscal years 2023 through 2026. The award is intended for a public or private academic or research institution that can serve as the primary grantee and project lead across multiple years. A central feature of this opportunity is that most of the funds are expected to be redistributed by the main grantee as sub-grants. In other words, the organization that wins the cooperative agreement will not only conduct or coordinate research itself, but will also run a competitive sub-award process and fund additional organizations to carry out related research activities. Those sub-grants can go to public or private academic institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and State or local government entities, as long as the work aligns with the research goals described in the RFA.
The work supported under this opportunity focuses on research that helps identify barriers to equitable access in CN programs and evaluates or proposes strategies to overcome them. While the announcement text does not list specific required research topics in the excerpt provided, the emphasis is clearly on understanding why gaps in access exist and what interventions, policy changes, administrative practices, outreach approaches, or program design adjustments could meaningfully improve participation and benefit delivery for underserved or historically marginalized groups. The expectation is that the funded efforts will produce actionable findings that can inform program improvements, not just general observations.
Key administrative details include the opportunity number USDA FNS OPS FY23 EQUITY, the CFDA number 10.579, and the funding activity category of Food and Nutrition. Eligible applicants for the main award include public and State-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The funding opportunity was created on July 8, 2022, with an original application closing date of September 12, 2022. The sponsoring agency is the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.
Taken together, this opportunity is best understood as a multi-year, research-focused equity initiative in which USDA funds one lead institution to manage a broader research portfolio. That lead institution is responsible for coordinating with USDA under a cooperative agreement model and for distributing a large share of the funding through competitive sub-grants to generate a body of research that clarifies access barriers in child nutrition programs and points to realistic, evidence-driven solutions.Apply for USDA FNS OPS FY23 EQUITY
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.579.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs Grant (USDA FNS) - FAQs
What is the Equitable Access in Child Nutrition Programs grant opportunity?
It is a USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) discretionary funding announcement that supports research focused on improving fairness and access within Child Nutrition (CN) programs. The goal is to generate practical, evidence-based insights about barriers that prevent eligible children and communities from fully accessing CN benefits and to identify strategies that reduce or remove those barriers.
What is the overall purpose of the funding?
The purpose is to build actionable research evidence that explains why gaps in access and participation exist in Child Nutrition programs and what can be changed to improve equitable access for underserved or historically marginalized groups. The emphasis is on findings that can inform program improvements rather than general observations.
Which USDA agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It is structured as a cooperative agreement. This means the selected recipient is expected to work closely with USDA/FNS during the project period, rather than operating as a completely independent grantee.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement in practice?
Based on the announcement description, the lead recipient is expected to coordinate closely with USDA/FNS throughout the project period. The opportunity is designed around collaboration and ongoing engagement with USDA/FNS, not a hands-off relationship.
How many awards does USDA anticipate making?
USDA anticipates making a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $2,000,000 total.
What years does the funding cover?
The award is intended to cover fiscal years 2023 through 2026.
Who is the intended primary recipient (lead institution) for the main award?
The opportunity is intended for a public or private academic or research institution that can serve as the primary grantee and project lead across multiple years.
Which organizations are eligible to apply for the main award?
Eligible applicants for the main award include public and State-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
What is unusual or distinctive about how the funds are expected to be used?
A central feature is that most of the funds are expected to be redistributed by the main grantee as sub-grants. The lead awardee is expected not only to conduct or coordinate research, but also to run a competitive sub-award process and fund additional organizations to carry out related research activities.
What is the role of the main grantee beyond conducting research?
The main grantee serves as the project lead across multiple years, coordinates closely with USDA/FNS under the cooperative agreement, manages a broader research portfolio, and administers a competitive sub-award process to distribute substantial funding to other organizations for aligned research.
Who can receive sub-grants under this opportunity?
Sub-grants can go to public or private academic institutions, not-for-profit organizations, and State or local government entities, as long as the work aligns with the research goals described in the RFA.
What kinds of research activities are the funds meant to support?
The funding supports research that identifies barriers to equitable access in Child Nutrition programs and evaluates or proposes strategies to overcome them. The focus includes understanding why access gaps exist and identifying interventions, policy changes, administrative practices, outreach approaches, or program design adjustments that could improve participation and benefit delivery for underserved or historically marginalized groups.
Are specific research topics required?
The excerpt provided does not list specific required research topics. However, it clearly emphasizes research that explains barriers to equitable access and identifies evidence-driven strategies to reduce or remove those barriers, with an expectation that results will be actionable for program improvements.
What is meant by "equitable access" in the context of this opportunity?
In the context of the announcement summary, equitable access refers to improving fairness in participation and benefit delivery within Child Nutrition programs by understanding and addressing barriers that prevent eligible children and communities from fully accessing CN benefits, particularly in underserved or historically marginalized groups.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Food and Nutrition.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA FNS OPS FY23 EQUITY.
What is the CFDA number?
The CFDA number is 10.579.
When was the funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on July 8, 2022.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was September 12, 2022.
What is the main expected output of the funded work?
The funded efforts are expected to produce practical, evidence-based, and actionable findings that clarify barriers to access in Child Nutrition programs and point to realistic solutions that can inform program improvements.
How should this opportunity be described at a high level?
It is a multi-year, research-focused equity initiative where USDA funds one lead institution through a cooperative agreement to manage and coordinate a broader research portfolio, including distributing a large share of funds through competitive sub-grants to generate a body of research on access barriers and solutions in Child Nutrition programs.
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