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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Process and Technology Improvement Grants (PTIGs) - FY 2024

Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture
CFDA: 10.580
Federal FON: USDA-FNS-SNAP-PTIG-2024
Office: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 06/18/2024 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 04/19/2024
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $5,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $20,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to support efforts to develop and implement projects that use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of SNAP application and eligibility determination systems. Funding will support new projects that help make investments in systems to improve efficiency, provide excellent customer service, and meet federal standards as they face unprecedented operational challenges.

Applicants must address at least one of the following three objectives:

  • Modernize SNAP customer service and client communication to improve accessibility, transparency, and responsiveness in processing applications and determining eligibility: projects will use technology-based tools to help improve the customer experience and access to SNAP; eligible activities include:
    • Creating or improving client self-service options
    • Improving communication with applicants and participants with electronic notices and text messaging reminders
    • Ensuring applications, verification requirements, notices, and other client communications are clear, in plain language, and accompanied by guides or instructions for easy understanding
    • Reducing technology-based barriers to entry for persons with a disability or limited English proficiency
    • Developing and/or enhancing mobile responsiveness websites, mobile applications, online applications, and online portals
  • Improve administrative infrastructure and day-to-day SNAP operations in processing applications and determining eligibility: projects will employ technology to maintain or improve service levels, reduce administrative burden and increase staff time available for accurate and timely case processing, and incorporate lessons learned about effective use of technology and new ways of working from the COVID-19 pandemic; eligible activities include:
    • Improving call centers
    • Improving paper document processing
    • Developing workload management dashboards
    • Creating a hard-coded or scripted policy chat bot
    • Enhancing eligibility systems and applications
  • Invest in technology and systems to encourage cross collaboration and cross enrollment between SNAP and other federal, state, and local assistance programs: projects will improve customer service and access to benefits for eligible populations, improve state administration between programs, and reduce administrative burden when processing combined applications; eligible activities include:
    • Developing combined applications and partnerships across state-operated assistance programs to increase client access and alignment between programs
    • Enhancing cross-program enrollment through integrated mobile applications, online portals, and automated technologies for data population
    • Improving data sharing and verification between SNAP and other federal, state, and local assistance programs within the state agency to reduce administrative burden
    • Creating a technology improvement plan to enhance or develop easy cross-enrollment or administration between SNAP and other programs

In addition, applicants must identify one or more of the following SNAP processes that will be improved as a result of the proposed project:

  • Timeliness
  • Program integrity
  • Program access, especially for underserved populations
  • Applications screening, especially for underserved populations
  • Verification
  • Administrative cost and burden
  • Interview
  • Recertification
  • Client reporting
  • Application intake
  • Notices
  • Error rates

Funding will only support projects containing advanced automation technologies acknowledged by the funding agency as major changes. Refer to the Memo file for additional information.

The funding agency encourages applicants to propose innovative ideas to solve both common and unique problems associated with SNAP application and eligibility processes.

Bonus points may be awarded during the application evaluation process to projects that:

  • Are particularly data driven
  • Approach solutions from a human-centered design perspective to modernize program delivery and improve the customer experience

Optional webinars are scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.

Last Updated: April 22, 2024

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are:

  • State agencies that administer SNAP
  • State and local governments
  • Agencies providing health or welfare services
  • Public health or educational entities
  • Private 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities, including community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other emergency feeding organizations

For the purposes of this program, the term state agencies refers to the agencies of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands that administer SNAP.

Indian tribal organizations (ITOs) may also apply, but must do so in partnership with their SNAP state agency. Alternatively, the SNAP state agency may apply with an ITO.

State agencies and state and local governments must have the necessary approvals of state officials, such as councils or legislatures, of funding prior to submitting an application.

Unless the applicant is a state agency submitting an application on its own, a letter of commitment or letter of endorsement from the relevant SNAP state agency must be included with the application.

Bonus points may be awarded during the application evaluation process to applicants that have never received an award through this program.

State agencies may submit more than one application or enter into more than one partnership; however, if the state agency submits more than one application, it must make explicit in each application its relationship to any others. State agencies with more than one partner organization may also submit a single application designed to make subawards to the partner organizations.

Entities that received an award through this program in FY 2022 or FY 2023 are not eligible to apply and receive an award for FY 2024. This restriction only applies to the lead entity on the award and not to partner organizations or government agencies on a particular project.

Previous award recipients include:

  • Colorado Department of Human Services (CO)
  • Dakota County Department of Employment and Economic Assistance (MN)
  • New York City Human Resources Administration (NY)
  • Kern County Department of Social Services (CA)
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MI)

Refer to the Award file for additional information regarding previous award recipients.

Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
Academic Institutions
Consortia
Non Profits
State Government
Tribal Organizations/Institutions
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 18, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Mailed, emailed, or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • SF 424B
  • SF LLL
  • FNS 906
  • Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) (if applicable)
  • 501(c)(3) determination letter issued by the IRS (if applicable)
  • List of board of directors (if applicable)
  • Representation regarding felony convictions and tax delinquency (if applicable)
  • Letter(s) of commitment (if applicable)
  • Letter(s) of endorsement (if applicable)
  • Cover sheet
  • Table of contents
  • Executive summary (1 page max)
  • Project narrative
  • Activities/indicators tracker
  • Budget narrative

The application must be 25 pages or less, not including the cover sheet, executive summary, table of contents, resumes, letter(s) of commitment, letter(s) of endorsement, budget narrative(s), appendices, and required forms. The proposed project plan must be formatted on standard-sized, single-spaced white pages with at least one-inch margins on the top and bottom and must use a 12-point font. In addition, all application pages, excluding the form pages, must be numbered.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

  • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
  • SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Optional webinars will be held for this program as follows:

May 9, 2024
2:00 p.m. ET
Registration: www.zoomgov.com

May 20, 2024
3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: www.zoomgov.com

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Project design (45 points)
  • Organizational experience, staff capability, and management (15 points)
  • Project evaluation (20 points)
  • Budget and economic efficiency (20 points)
  • Bonus points (9 points)

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $5,000,000 (Estimated)
Award Range: $20,000 (Min) / $2,000,000 (Max)
Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program.

Funding Notes:

A total of $5 million is expected to be available to support up to an anticipated 12 awards ranging from $20,000 to $2 million through this program.

Award announcements are expected to be made in August 2024.

The project period is expected to begin on September 1, 2024, and end on September 30, 2027.

If the activities funded under this program are part of a larger eligibility system project with total projected costs exceeding $6 million, the applicant must submit, and the funding agency must approve, an advance planning document (APD) prior to the expenditure of program funds. Additional information regarding the APD process can be found online at www.fns.usda.gov/sso.

No more than 25 percent of the total award amount may be used for outreach activities.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Ongoing costs to carry out an existing project
  • Projects containing advanced automation technologies that go beyond those acknowledged as major changes, as detailed in the Memo file
  • Drafting or printing informational materials, pure application assistance, screening/pre-qualifying applicants, or other similar activities
  • Pre-award costs

For FY 2022, five awards ranging from $517,961 to $1,649,845 were distributed through this program. For FY 2021, seven awards ranging from $509,594 to $914,400 were distributed. Refer to the Award file for details.

Contacts:

Jee Chang
Grant Officer
jeewon.chang@usda.gov

Agency Address
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service
Braddock Metro Center II
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to Jee Chang.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US13466_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (593.5 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US13466_Overview_FY2024.pdf (109.0 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US13466_FNS-906_FY2024.pdf (151.9 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US13466_Memo_FY2024.pdf (297.4 Kb)
Award File: US13466_Award_FY2024.pdf (2.6 Mb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Overview file contains general program information, including information regarding webinars scheduled for this program. The FNS-906 file contains a required form for submission. The Memo file contains the funding agency's memorandum regarding advanced automation technologies. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients.

Grant Keywords
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Grant Categories
Health, Prevention/Treatment
Information Technology/Telecommunications
Human Services