Child Care Health and Wellness Grants

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act of 2010, PL 111-80, authorizes the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to award grants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for projects aimed al improving the health and nutrition of children in child care settings. A maximum of $8 million will be available for fiscal year (FY) 2010.

Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to state agencies who administer the child care portion of the CACFP. State agencies who receive grant funding must use no less than fifty percent of grant funds to award sub-grants to local child care institutions to promote the health and nutrition improvement of children in child care settings. State agencies will award the sub-grants through a single competitive process which also complies with their own procurement laws. In accordance with PL 111-80, state and local institution proposals that focus on promoting nutrition and physical activity, technical assistance, outreach and innovational uses of technology will receive priority consideration. In conformance with their procurement requirements, state agencies will award the sub-grants through a competitive process.

The attached Request for Application outlines the requirements that a state agency must follow to be considered for a Child Care Wellness grant We encourage you to apply for grant funding to improve the health and nutrition of children in child care settings.

Please send one (1) original and two (2) copies of your application to Grants Management Division, Food and Nutrition Service Headquarters, Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 738, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302-1594. Applications may also be submitted online through www.grants.gov. The completed application package must be received at Food and Nutrition Service Headquarters, by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) on June 18, 2010. Applications may be personally delivered, submitted electronically, or mailed sufficiently in advance of the deadline to ensure timely receipt. FNS will not accept applications sent by data fax. If you Child Care Health and Wellness Grants opt to mail your application we strongly suggest using a mail delivery service that guarantees delivery and allows you to track delivery to FNS. Late applications, and additions or revisions to an application after it is received will not be considered.

Applicants who wish to submit an electronic application must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Contract Registry (CCR) number. If your agency has not yet obtained a number, you must contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-800-234-3867 to register for a number. There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number. The DUNDS number enables tracking and identifying applications for Federal assistance. The DUNS number is to be provided on the Standard Form 424, "Application for Federal Assistance."

A CCR is needed to access the www .grants.gov website and to electronically file a grant application. If there are no problems with the applicant's registration, the CCR Number registration process should take three to five business days.

In November 2010, FNS will notify those state agencies that are approved for funding, and issue funds as promptly as possible thereafter, subject to the availability of funding. We look forward to receiving your application for a Child Care Wellness Grant.

Cynthia Long
Director
Child Nutrition Division