The purpose of the competitive School Nutrition Equipment Assistance Grant for Schools is to allow School Food Authorities (SFA) to purchase equipment needed to serve healthier meals that meet the updated meal patterns, with emphasis on serving more fruits and vegetables in school meals, improving food safety, expanding access, and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
Schools that did not receive a School Nutrition Equipment Assistance grant in 2010 (ARRA), 2011 (USDA), or FY14, FY15, FY16, FY17, FY18, FY19, FY20, FY21 (USDA). A slight preference for schools with a higher percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals, though all NSLP participating schools are eligible.
School districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/ Seamless Summer Option (SSO) during the 2021-2022 school year and are in good standing with the Child Nutrition Program reporting requirements may apply for individual schools. All School Food Authorities (SFAs) are eligible to apply and receive a grant award. Schools must be in compliance with the current meal pattern regulations.
Federal (CFDA: 10.579)
USDA awarded the Massachusetts DESE approximately $554,752 in Federal FY 21 funds to support grant awards up to approximately $20,000 per school in FY 22. The Department will award 20 to 30 competitive grants.
Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.
In general, the funds may be used for purchasing equipment for the implementation of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in (and only in) the specific school requesting the grant. Each unit of equipment purchased with the grant award must have a minimum value greater than $1,000. Examples include equipment for heating, cooking, holding, serving, and refrigeration of foods used in the NSLP. The grant funds can be used for installation and delivery costs of the equipment purchased. Equipment requests may include new equipment, renovation of equipment, or replacement of equipment. If the equipment purchased for the school is ever sold, the proceeds must be returned to the School's Nutrition Program Account. The performance period for the grant award, and that all procurement and expenditures activities must be completed no later than August 31, 2022.
Upon approval to 8/31/2022
Office for Food and Nutrition Programs
Kerry Callahan
(781) 338-6462
Friday, November 19, 2021
Proposals must be emailed to Equipment Grants at: NutritionEquipmentGrant@mass.gov by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.
Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
Part II — Budget Detail Pages
Part III — Required Program Information
All equipment purchased with these grant funds must be tagged with a label identifying it as being purchased with Federal FY 21 USDA School Nutrition Assistance Grant Funds.
Each equipment item requested for this grant must have a value of greater than $1,000. Any item with value between $1,000 and $5,000 should be appropriately budgeted on the supply line item of the budget (line 7). Any item $5,000 or more per item should be budgeted on the equipment line of the budget (line 11).
School Food Authorities (SFA) awardees will adhere to all Federal, State, and Local procurement laws and standards, including, if applicable, as found in 7 CFR Part 210.21 and 2 CFR 200.317 through 2 CFR 200.326
All equipment competitively procured using these grant funds must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable.
State Contract User Guide
Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget and Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.
Submit complete proposals via email, including the authorized signatory page with an original signature of the Superintendent/ Executive Director.
Contact:
Kerry Callahan Office for Food and Nutrition Programs NutritionEquipmentGrant@mass.gov
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
For all other FNS nutrition assistance programs, State or local agencies, and their sub recipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form , (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: (202) 690-7442; or
email: program.intake@usda.gov.
Last Updated: October 19, 2021
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.