10.331: Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants Program

10.331

Active

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) [USDA]

Aug. 5, 2022

Aug. 5, 2022

Additional COVID relief and response appropriations were made to GusNIP. GusNIP COVID Relief and Response (GusCRR) funding will generally be directed to address critical food security needs of low-income communities, enhancing the resilience of food and healthcare systems enduring the pandemic, and maximize funds reaching participants in communities in need. GusNIP awardees are particularly well positioned to respond with pandemic relief in an impactful and timely way. NIFA requests applications for expanded scope of work of active GusNIP and FINI awards. For eligibility purposes, the period of performance in your current active GusNIP or FINI award must have begun prior to December 27, 2020 and must have an end date at least 90 days after the publication date of this RFA. GusCRR does not replace current programming or current award activities. The purpose of the GusNIP program is to fund and evaluate projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers by providing incentives at the point of purchase and bring together stakeholders from various parts of the food and healthcare systems to foster understanding of how they might improve the health and nutrition status of participating households. The GusNIP program includes nutrition incentive grants, produce prescription grants and cooperative agreements. The primary goals and objectives for GusNIP nutrition incentive grants are to “increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase” [7 U.S.C. 7517(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) as amended]. For GusNIP, nutrition incentive grants, NIFA defines “fruits and vegetables” as “any variety of fresh, canned, dried, or frozen whole or cut fruits and vegetables without added sugars, fats, or oils, and salt (i.e., sodium).” GusNIP nutrition incentive grants will test strategies that could contribute to our understanding of how best to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by SNAP participants to inform future efforts. The primary goals and objectives for GusNIP produce prescription grants are to prescribe fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to educational opportunities relating to nutrition to members that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of produce prescriptions on (1) the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables; (2) the reduction of individual and household food insecurity; and (3) the reduction in healthcare use and associated costs. The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program [formerly known as the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI)] grant program is a competitive program. Projects funded under this program provide incentives to low-income consumers participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) to purchase fruits and vegetables at the point of sale. The projects supported by this program have the support of State agencies and include use of effective and efficient benefit redemption technologies that can serve as a replicable model for benefit redemption.

B - Project Grants

Eligible entities include governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. GusNIP COVID Relief and Response (GusCRR) : Eligibility to receive a GusCRR grant is limited to organizations with a current active GusNIP nutrition incentive grant, GusNIP produce prescription grant, or FINI grant. Organizations with a GusNIP cooperative agreement are not eligible for GusCRR. Current active GusNIP or FINI awards must have begun prior to December 27, 2020, and must have an end date at least 90 days after the publication date of this RFA. GusCRR does not replace current programming or current award activities. An eligible organization may submit only one GusCRR nutrition incentive grant application. An eligible organization may submit only one GusCRR produce prescription grant application to supplement their most recent active award. A GusCRR nutrition incentive grant and a GusCRR produce prescription grant may be submitted from the same organization.

Eligible entities include governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Eligibility to receive a GusCRR grant is limited to organizations with a current active GusNIP nutrition incentive grant, GusNIP produce prescription grant, or FINI grant. Organizations with a GusNIP cooperative agreement are not eligible for GusCRR. Current active GusNIP or FINI awards must have begun prior to December 27, 2020 and must have an end date at least 90 days after the publication date of this RFA. GusCRR does not replace current programming or current award activities. An eligible organization may submit only one GusCRR nutrition incentive grant application. An eligible organization may submit only one GusCRR produce prescription grant application to supplement their most recent active award. A GusCRR nutrition incentive grant and a GusCRR produce prescription grant may be submitted from the same organization.

https://sam.gov/fal/0cc5c361ec914021a3be83c2d0dd8a0d/view