Description
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to end hunger and promote nutrition security. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a Federal nutrition assistance program that serves pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, infants, and children up to five years old who are income eligible and at nutritional risk. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health and social services to participants in all 50 geographic states, the District of Columbia, 33 Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), and five U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (The Act) (P.L. 117-2) provided the USDA with an appropriation to carry out the WIC Program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) (42 U.S.C. 1786). ARPA provided the USDA with $390 million to carry out outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts to increase participation and redemption of benefits in WIC and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). This is an announcement of the availability of funds for a one-time initiative, competitive cooperative agreement for up to four years. Funds are available to an entity (i.e., a civic technology nonprofit or other nonprofit type with similar staffing and experience/expertise; a research institute that is public, private, or nonprofit; or an accredited college or university) that meets the technical requirements outlined in this RFA. USDA anticipates awarding up to $15,000,000 to one selected applicant. The Period of Performance will be at a minimum two Fiscal Years will not exceed a maximum of four Fiscal Years.