UC: Federal Stimulus Opportunities
 

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Total Recovery Act funding

$28 billion was appropriated to the USDA for the following accounts:

  • Departmental Administration: $24 million
  • Agricultural Research Service: $176 million
  • Office of Inspector General: $22.5 million
  • Farm Service Agency: $70.44 million
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service: $340 million
  • Rural Development: $4.36 billion
  • Food and Nutrition Service: $20.9 billion
  • Forest Service: $1.15 billion
  • Agricultural Disaster Assistance Transition: $794 million
  • Foreign Agriculture Service: $202.5 million

Funding opportunities

  • Close Date: May 29, 2009
    Opportunity Title: Recovery Act WIC EBT Expansion
    Agency: Food and Nutrition Service
    Funding Number: USDA-FNS-WIEBT-ARRA-09-01
    Description: The Recovery Act provides $100 million to be used by WIC State agencies to establish, improve or administer management information systems for WIC, to include changes necessary to meet new legislative or regulatory requirements. In this funding opportunity, the agency will provide Recovery Act funding to state agencies that have existing cooperative agreements with FNS for electronic benefits transfer projects as follows:

    • Current WIC state agencies that are implementing electronic benefits transfer that demonstrate a need for additional funds for development, implementation and evaluation of their projects, to include agencies that have reached statewide electronic benefits transfer implementation. Funds may be used for activities related to implementation of an electronic cash value voucher to be in compliance with the new food package regulation. Eligible state agencies include: Chickasaw Nation, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Wyoming.
    • Current WIC State agencies that are in various stages of electronic benefits transfer planning that were not fully funded at the time of initial award or to cover a shortfall in project funds. Funds may be used to conduct feasibility studies and paper cost analyses, hire a planning contractor, or undertake other beneficial planning activities. Eligible State agencies: Arkansas, Florida, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
    • In addition, all state agencies cited above may apply for funds to conduct activities that would benefit multiple state agencies in their electronic benefits transfer initiatives, such as the development of a State Universal Product Code prototype system, development of WIC electronic benefits transfer training materials, or other developmental work that would facilitate the expansion of electronic benefits transfer. An existing electronic benefits transfer operational State agency may apply or may request funds to work with a new electronic benefits transfer State agency. FNS has a waiver from OMB and will not be using Grants.gov APPLY to notify or receive applications for this grant opportunity. FNS will contact each State Agency, in writing, concerning application procedures in the near future. For additional information on the Recovery Act – WIC/MIS grant opportunities please go to the USDA Recovery Act Web site at www.usda.gov/recovery.
  • Close Date: June 26, 2009
    Opportunity Title: Recovery Act New SAM and EBT Grant
    Agency: Food and Nutrition Service
    Funding Number: USDA-FNS-WIEBT-WISA-ARRA-09-02
    Description: The Recovery Act provides $100 million to be used by WIC state agencies to establish, improve or administer management information systems for WIC, to include changes necessary to meet new legislative or regulatory requirements. In this funding opportunity, the agency will provide Recovery Act funding to new projects for: 1) implementation of new State Agency Model (SAM) transfers; 2) new EBT planning grants; and 3) new EBT implementation grants for those WIC state agencies that have completed or nearly completed EBT planning activities. For new SAM transfers, state agencies will need to demonstrate, through their planning activities and an alternatives analysis, that a SAM transfer is the most appropriate system that meets program needs. FNS has a waiver from OMB and will not be using Grants.gov APPLY to notify or receive applications for this grant opportunity. FNS will contact each state agency, in writing, concerning application procedures in the near future. For additional information on the Recovery Act – WIC/MIS grant opportunities please go to the USDA Recovery Act web site at www.usda.gov/recovery.
  • Close Date: June 26, 2009
    Opportunity Title: Recovery Act New SAM and EBT Grant
    Agency: Food and Nutrition Service
    Funding Number: USDA-FNS-WICMIS-ARRA-09-03
    Description: The Recovery Act provides $100 million to be used by WIC State agencies to establish, improve or administer management information systems (MIS) for WIC, to include changes necessary to meet new legislative or regulatory requirements. In this funding opportunity we will provide ARRA funding for other WIC/MIS projects that may include, in priority order, but are not necessarily limited to:
    • MIS enhancements/software changes for implementation of the new food package requirements, to include monthly reporting changes;
    • MIS modifications to incorporate EBT readiness functionality and UPC database usage;
    • Planning costs to assess new MIS needs, conduct alternatives analysis, etc.
    • New MIS development/transfers that are outside the SAM project
    • FY 2009 technology equipment purchases as outlined in the State agency's approved hardware replacement plan (FY 2010 hardware replacement needs may also be funded, but at a lower priority);
    • Upgrades to technology such as conversion of current system to a web-based system, improving bandwidth or other data transmission lines, etc.;
    • MIS modifications and enhancements needed to comply with Program requirements and/or improve Program management and reporting capabilities (examples include Value Enhanced Nutrition Assessment (VENA), improved vendor compliance and review reporting systems, upgrades to funding and participation reporting and forecasting tools, etc.);
    • Other MIS modifications that improve communication and access to services (examples include automated participant reminder systems, video teleconferencing, geographic information systems, interactive training equipment, voicemail systems, etc.)
    • Projects that impact multiple State agencies that can take advantage of joint procurement strategies and economies of scale; and
    • Other information technology (IT) investments that improve infrastructure, promote efficiencies at the clinic and State level, reporting enhancements, and projects that support WIC's overall technology plan. FNS has a waiver from OMB and will not be using Grants.gov APPLY to notify or receive applications for this grant opportunity. FNS will contact each State Agency, in writing, concerning application procedures in the near future. For additional information on the ARRA – WIC/MIS grant opportunities please go to the USDA Recovery Act web site at www.usda.gov/recovery.
  • Opportunity Title: Recovery Act - 2008 Aquaculture Grant Program
    Agency: Farm Service Agency
    Funding Number: USDA-FSA-PECD-ARRA-01
    Description: The Recovery Act authorizes $50 million of Commodity Credit Corporation funds for grants to states that agree to provide assistance to eligible aquaculture producers for losses associated with high feed input costs during the 2008 calendar year. Eligible applicants are limited to State Departments of Agriculture or similar state government entities in each state. Grants to states will be made on a pro rata basis based on the amount of aquaculture feed used in each state during the 2007 calendar year, as determined by CCC. Subject to the availability of funding, CCC anticipates awarding $50 million to states by July 2009. CCC will contact each State Department of Agriculture, in writing, concerning application procedures in the near future. For additional information on the Recovery Act – 2008 Aquaculture Grant Program, please visit the USDA Recovery Act web site at www.usda.gov/recovery

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