Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Recipient Trafficking Prevention Grants
The goal of the SNAP Recipient Trafficking Prevention
The SNAP Recipient Trafficking Prevention Grant Program is targeting the following specific areas for consideration of grant funding: 1) Transition of any State that currently utilizes batch processing to upload and verify information with FNS s electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS) to using web services; resulting in more secure, timely, and accurate information.
2) Process improvements intended to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of State recipient fraud oversight operations, with a particular emphasis on the detection, investigation, and prosecution of trafficking.
3) Pilot innovative strategies to increase the number of SNAP recipient trafficking allegations that are investigated and administratively disqualified or prosecuted.
4) Pilot innovative strategies to identify and successfully investigate attempts to buy or sell SNAP benefits online using any form of social media (Facebook, Twitter) or ecommerce website (Craigslist, eBay).
Established in 1862, the Department of Agriculture serves all Americans through anti-hunger efforts, stewardship of nearly 200 million acres of national forest and rangelands, and through product safety and conservation efforts. The USDA opens markets for American farmers and ranchers and provides food for needy people around the world.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds for SNAP Recipient Trafficking Prevention Grant projects are to be used to improve outcomes for State agency activities devoted to recipient trafficking prevention, detection, and prosecution.
Funds from this RFA are for new projects and shall not be used for the ongoing cost of carrying out an existing project.
FNS does not intend for this grant program to fund compliance with existing statutory or regulatory program requirements, such as data matching.
The SNAP Recipient Trafficking Prevention Grant program is not intended to fund new or improvements to systems, such as fraud detection or eligibility systems, improvements to data management and warehousing, or other large scale system or technology-based projects.
Applications must comply with criteria listed in the Request for Application package.
The SNAP Recipient Trafficking Prevention Grant program is not intended to fund new or improvements to systems, such as fraud detection or eligibility systems, improvements to data management and warehousing, or other large scale system or technology-based projects.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
This grant opportunity is open to the 53 State agencies that administer SNAP.
FNS will consider only one application per State agency or one application per County in a County Administered State.
There is no State matching requirement for this grant program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Agreements are established between State agencies and FNS. State agencies use funds to improve outcomes for activities devoted to recipient trafficking prevention, detection, and prosecution.
Credentials/Documentation
Specific instructions provided in Request for Application. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application package should be prepared in accordance with instructions in the Request for Application (RFA) and submitted to the Food and Nutrition Service by the deadline specified.
Award Procedures
All applications that meet the published deadline for submission will be screened for completeness and conformity to the requirements as announced in the RFA package. Grants are awarded by a competitive process via a technical review panel composed of Food and Nutrition Service staff which convenes to determine the technical merit of each grant application, provide a numerical score and make recommendations to selecting officials.
Deadlines
Aug 15, 2014
Authorization
Section 29(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036), 7 U.S.C 2036.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 30 to 60 days.
Appeals
Non-selected applicants may request a debriefing to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of submitted proposals.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds should be expended within 24 months of identified start date. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are not applicable.
Cash reports are not applicable.
The State agency will submit quarterly financial status reports and progress reports.
FNS will conduct an ongoing review of quarterly progress and financial reports to monitor the grantee s project activities to ensure that the objectives, terms and conditions of the agreement are met.
The State agency will submit quarterly financial status reports and progress reports.
Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
State agencies must maintain records as necessary to support the use of SNAP Grant funds in accordance with the Grant Agreement. Such records must be retained for a period of 3 years after the date of submission of the final report for the fiscal year to which the records pertain, except that if audit findings have not been resolved, the records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period as long as required for the resolution of the issues raised by the audit.
Financial Information
Account Identification
12-3505-0-1-605.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 13 $0; FY 14 est $7,000,000; and FY 15 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No current data available.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
7 CFR 272.1(g)(9)(iii); 7 CFR 272.1(g)(58); 7 CFR 272.4(e)(1-4); 7 CFR 272.4(g); 7 CFR 273.2(f)(11)(B)(1-2); 7 CFR 273.13; 7 CFR 273.15; 7 CFR 273.16; 7 CFR 273.18
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Jane C. Duffield 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Email: Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov Phone: 703-605-4385
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The review panel will score and rank applications using Technical Review Criteria which includes: (1) Soundness or Merit of Project Design; (2) Implementation and Evaluation; (3) Budget Appropriateness and Economic Efficiency; (4) Staff Capability and Management.
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