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Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2018

Summer Food Service Program: Expansion, Access, Training and Start-Up (SFSP EATS) Grant for New and Existing Sponsors
Fund Code: 542

Purpose:The purpose of this State-funded Other Non Competitive grant program is to encourage new and existing Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsors to increase participation in the program by serving more children per day, extend the length of the SFSP, and create new sites. The creation of new sites will increase program availability to participants not currently receiving program services. This is solely a planning and sustainability grant.

Priorities: Priorities are to:
  1. increase number of participants by increasing Average Daily Participation (ADP)*:
    1. involve a range of community members (city government, parks and recreation departments, community agencies, school constituents, students, teachers, administrators, food service staff, and families);
    2. plan to expand activities at the food service site;
    3. extend the length of the SFSP for the full summer vacation;
    4. increase the number of days the program is operational; and
    5. add additional meal services;
  2. support new sites that will serve a low-income population not previously served in the SFSP;
  3. support programs that serve the highest number of eligible children;
  4. increase access to healthy meals in rural communities;
  5. implement Farm to Summer initiatives at sites by utilizing fresh local produce and incorporating agricultural activities;
  6. provide nutritious meals to children with increased offerings of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the meal service;
  7. provide training to site supervisors;
  8. support School Food Authorities (SFA) that offer school breakfast and after school snack programs during the academic year (high priority); and
  9. equip sites with resources, materials and supplies for sustainability.
*Sponsor ADP is found on the monthly Sponsor Claim tab and is calculated based on the monthly claim data. This is a monthly average of daily meals served for a specific meal type.

Eligibility:New and existing Summer Food Service Program sponsors, including School Food Authorities, government and community-based organizations may apply. Applicants proposing sites serving a significant low-income population shall receive priority consideration.

Funding Type:State

Funding: Approximately $460,000 is available. The funds are prioritized for new and existing sponsors with sites located in the vicinity of districts with a minimum of 50% of students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Existing sponsors must request funding using the highest ADP from the FY17 Sponsor Claims. New SFSP sponsors must make a reasonable estimate of ADP.

Previous Summer Average Daily Participation of Children**:Apply for Up to:
0-100$2,500
101-200$5,000
201-300$7,500
301-400$12,500
401-500$17,500
501-750$20,000
751-1000$25,000
1001-1500$30,000
1501-2000$35,000
2001-3000$40,000
3001-4500$45,000
4501-6000$55,000
6001-7500$65,000
**Existing Sponsors: Use month with highest ADP from FY17 Sponsor Claims tab.

*** New Sponsors: approximate monthly ADP by dividing the estimated total number of meals to be served in a month for the busiest meal service type by the total days of operation for that month. Please contact DESE for further instructions.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.

Fund Use: Grant award shall be used for costs associated with the planning of effective programs. Funds shall be used to design and support a project that will extend your program through the entire summer vacation period, expand sustainable participation in the summer feeding program and start-up new sites.

Funds may be used for, but not limited to:
  1. Outreach expenses
    1. hiring an outreach intern
    2. marketing or publicizing availability of SFSP
    3. activities /disposables to promote participation in SFSP
  2. Training for site supervisors
  3. Purchase of equipment necessary for safe food handling, operational supplies and incentives
  4. Purchase resources to support Farm to Summer
Funds may not be used for:
  1. Administrator salaries
  2. Instructional/Professional staff salaries
  3. Support staff salaries
  4. Stipends
  5. Fringe benefits
Provide detailed justification of need for equipment costing more than $5,000. This may be subject to approval pending review.

Goods and services must be delivered by June 30, 2018.

Project Duration:Upon Approval - 6/30/2018
Program Unit:Office for Food and Nutrition Programs
Contact:Jane Stoleroff
Kristen Torres
Phone Number:(781) 338-6317
(781) 338-6453

Date Due:Friday, March 9, 2018
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.


Required Forms:
Download Word Document
Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
Download Excel Document
Part II - Budget (to be entered directly in EdGrants)
Download Word Document
Part III - Required Program Information


Additional Information: Potential grant applicants should register immediately for the EdGrants training webinar to facilitate required EdGrants User access and grant submission.

Nutrition Programs Website

Submission Instructions: Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

In order to apply for this grant, you will need to log into EdGrants: Front Office with a DESE assigned user name and password.

In order to request a user name, please email EdGrants@doe.mass.edu. You will be sent a user request form to fill out and return. This request form must come from your financial/business office manager or their designee.

If you do not know your Applicant Number (LEA code) or you have never received DESE funding before, please contact Jane Stoleroff so that we can begin the process of setting you up as an Applicant in our grants system.

Once you obtain your login information for EdGrants, applicants are required to register to the Funding Opportunity and then create and name the grant. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:

FY18 542 OFNP Applicant Name

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature as well as the Part III required Program Information. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.

For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information.

Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.