The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Division of Nutrition, announces the availability of funding to provide emergency food and nutrition support services to food insecure populations in New York State.
Donor Name: New York State Department of Health
State: New York
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/17/2022
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
Resource/Grant distribution projects distribute resources and/or funding to a network of EFPs that they do not directly operate. There are two methods by which resources and/or funding are distributed: (A) through a formal application process open to organizations in a specific Region in NYS (Type A) or (B) without a formal application process through a network of EFPs operating under an Applicant’s umbrella organization (Type B). Applicants should contract directly with the NYSDOH to administer HPNAP food and fiscal support grants; monitor HPNAP recipient organizations to ensure compliance with HPNAP food safety, sanitation and nutrition policies; provide technical assistance; and ensure compliance with HPNAP reporting guidelines. Resource/Grant Distribution contractors may also allocate HPNAP and other food and operational assistance funding to provide cost effective assistance and optimal nutritional quality to EFPs that do not receive HPNAP funding from other sources.
Resource/Grant Distribution Project applicants may apply for only ONE enrollment type (A or B).
- Resource/Grant Distribution – Type A – Type A project activities include:
- Administer a HPNAP Food Grant Project through a formal application process, such as a Request For Proposal (RFP, subcontract procurement), to eligible EFPs within a specific region. Application development, scoring, and review processes must be approved by a designated HPNAP Contract Manager before implementation. Applications will be reviewed and scored by a Review/Advisory Committee using an objective scoring process and notification will be given to applicants within a prescribed timeframe;
- Administer the HPNAP Nutrition Resources Management Project which provides nutrition expertise and technical assistance to EFPs through a HPNAP funded Nutrition Resource Manager (NRM). The NRM is responsible for performing the following required activities:
- Evaluate foods for compliance with HPNAP nutrition policies, safety, value, storage life, handling and use, and cultural relevance;
- Educate Contractor staff and EFPs in the importance of providing healthy foods as identified in the current US Dietary Guidelines for Americans;
- Assist in educating EFP providers on HPNAP nutrition policies;
- Provide technical assistance/training to site monitoring staff on evaluating prepared meals (soup kitchen, shelter, etc.) and food packages for compliance with HPNAP nutrition policies. Follow-up on food packages and meals that do not meet HPNAP nutrition policies;
- Assess EFP food and nutrition education needs and develop at least four annual food/nutrition education workshops to be presented by food bank staff;
- Assist in quality control of perishable/dated food products in Contractor’s inventory, including expedited distribution of food items nearing their expiration dates, and assess warehouse food handling practices;
- Provide technical assistance to Contractor and EFPs regarding food product Concerns;
- Act as a consultant to Contractor staff regarding food and sanitation practices performed by Contractor EFPs, assessing the provision of food safety training asneeded;
- Assist the Contractor in administration of HPNAP resources (OS, food safety, Food Grants, Seed Grants to EFPs;
- Conduct a minimum of 12 site monitoring visits to EFPs annually;
- Participate as an active member of the HPNAP Advisory Board;
- Assist EFPs in accessing other community sources of quality food and nutrition information and educational resources;
- Participate in EFP community and coalition meetings to understand current social and operational issues and promote nutrition services;
- Participate in DOH, HPNAP, and NRM meetings, conference calls, and trainings;
- Participate in professional development activities to maintain current knowledge of community nutrition and food security issues;
- Meet with the HPNAP Contract Manager to discuss and document progress in providing and performing the above activities; and submit a report summarizing the meeting to NYSDOH;
- Participate in NRM activities to assess the effectiveness of HPNAP food safety policies; and
- Assist in educating EFP providers regarding Contractor’s and HPNAP nutrition policies, including the promotion of Client Choice Food Pantry operation
- Comply with the HPNAP Food Safety and Sanitation Policies and Procedures to support the delivery of safe foods to emergency food recipients (which includes providing food safety and sanitation supplies and training to EFPs).
- Conduct an HPNAP member agency needs assessment and satisfaction study to develop an action plan for improving services to EFPs and clients.
- Comply with HPNAP initiatives such as increase milk and produce, client choice, customer satisfaction, and food quality.
- Optional: Administer a HPNAP OS grant annually to optimize EFPs food supply access or provision of services. OS funding is available to EFPs to supplement their funding available to pay operating costs including needs for staffing, utilities, space, food service disposables, transportation, and food service equipment. Contractors will solicit eligible EFPs, distribute and receive applications, recruit and orient review committee members, establish an objective scoring process, allocate funds to award recipients, and monitor award recipients for compliance with established policies andsubmission of required documentation. Application development, scoring, and review processes must be approved by a designated HPNAP Contract Manager before implementation. Review committees will be comprised of Contractor staff and the HPNAP Contract Manager. HPNAP awardees are ineligible to receive Operations
- Support and Food Grant awards through this subcontract procurement process.
- Optional: Administer HPNAP Seed Grants to fund new initiatives in response to EFP requests. Total funding for Seed Grant initiatives cannot exceed 5% of the total annual budget. All funding must meet Seed Grant guidelines.
- Resource/Grant Distribution – Type B: Type B project activities include:
- Administer a HPNAP Food Grant Project without a formal application process. The Contractor will select not-for-profit EFPs in the Contractor’s established network and Region that provide emergency food services. The contractor will allocate budgets within a network of affiliated recipients. All proposed recipients require pre-approval by HPNAP Contract Manager prior to the Contractor entering into a Food Grant Project agreement with each EFP chosen for a grant;
- Comply with the HPNAP Food Safety and Sanitation Policies and Procedures to support the delivery of safe foods to emergency food recipients which includes providing food safety and sanitation supplies and training to EFPs; and administer a HPNAP Food Safety and Sanitation Project;
- Conduct a HPNAP member agency needs assessment and satisfaction study to develop an action plan for improving services; and
- Comply with HPNAP initiatives such as increased access to milk and produce, Client Choice planning, customer satisfaction, and food quality.
An Applicant may subcontract aspects of the Work Plan to be performed by Applicant pursuant to the terms of its Application, but is expected to state in their Application the specific components to be performed through subcontracts. Applicants should note that the lead organization (that is, the successful Applicant, as Contractor) will have overall responsibility for all Contract activities, including those performed by subcontractors, and will be the primary contact for the DOH. All subcontractors and the subcontract work to be performed must be approved by DOH.
Grant Period
It is expected that contracts resulting from this RFA will have the following five year time period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2028.
Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Eligibility Requirements for All Components :
- Registration as a not-for-profit organization (e.g., tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code);
- The minimum request for funding must be $100,000 annually;
- A minimum of 12 months experience within the last 3 years providing services described in at least one of the Components of this RFA; and
- Prequalification in the NYS Grants Gateway portal, if not exempt, on the date and time the applications are due.
For more information, visit NYSDH.