USDA FNS FY17 SNAP PTI | USDA FNS FY17 SNAP PTI

FAQs: USDA FNS FY17 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement (SNAP PTI) Grant

What is the USDA FNS FY17 SNAP Process and Technology Improvement (SNAP PTI) grant?

The SNAP PTI grant is a discretionary federal grant competition from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). It is designed to help modernize and streamline how eligible people apply for and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, while improving efficiency and service quality within SNAP offices.

What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The overall goal is to make the SNAP experience easier for applicants and participants while improving day-to-day efficiency and service quality for agencies administering SNAP. FNS emphasizes projects that reduce barriers, simplify steps, and speed up processing for both initial applications and recertifications, with improvements that can be sustained and replicated.

What types of projects does FNS want to fund under this opportunity?

This opportunity targets two broad types of work: (1) development and implementation of simpler SNAP application and eligibility determination systems, and (2) measures that improve access to SNAP benefits for eligible people. Across both types, FNS is especially interested in projects that use new technologies and/or improve office processes to increase timeliness and reduce backlogs and rework.

What does "simpler SNAP application and eligibility determination systems" mean in practice?

It refers to projects that reduce complexity in forms, workflows, verification, eligibility checks, and decision-making steps. The focus is on streamlining how cases move through intake, verification, and determinations, including improvements that reduce unnecessary steps and make processing more reliable.

What kinds of efforts count as "improving access to SNAP benefits"?

Improving access can include strategies that reduce friction for underserved populations, expand effective outreach partnerships, or remove procedural hurdles that prevent eligible households from completing enrollment. The emphasis is on making it easier for eligible people to successfully apply, enroll, and stay enrolled.

Is the grant focused more on technology or on operational process improvements?

Both are supported. FNS encourages proposals that use new technologies and also proposals that take a hard look at office processes. The common expectation is that the project will measurably improve quality and efficiency in SNAP operations, including timeliness and processing performance.

What outcomes does FNS seem to care about most?

Based on the description, FNS is strongly focused on processing performance: improving the speed and reliability of application processing for new applications and renewal/recertification cases. The opportunity also highlights reducing barriers, simplifying steps, and improving overall operational efficiency inside SNAP offices.

Are projects expected to be sustainable and replicable?

Yes. FNS emphasizes improvements that can be sustained over time and replicated, suggesting a preference for solutions that are practical, operations-focused, and usable beyond a single short-term pilot.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public agencies and nonprofit partners that can contribute to SNAP process improvements. Eligible applicants include the 53 State agencies that administer SNAP, state and local governments, agencies providing health or welfare services, public health or educational entities, and private nonprofit organizations such as community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, food banks, and other emergency feeding organizations.

What applicant types are specifically listed as eligible?

The listing identifies eligible applicant types as state governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

What is the CFDA number and activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 10.580 and falls under the Food and Nutrition activity category.

What documentation is required for nonprofit applicants?

Nonprofit organizations must provide proof of nonprofit status by submitting an IRS determination letter (or proof of having applied for 501(c)(3) status), a list of board members if applicable, and their most recent audited financial statements signed by the treasurer (or the treasurer of the board).

What documentation is required for educational entities?

Educational entities must submit their most recent financial statements signed by the treasurer or board treasurer.

Do state agencies and state or local governments need special approvals before applying?

Yes. State agencies and state or local governments are expected to have any required approvals from state officials or governing bodies (such as councils or legislatures) before applying. They must explicitly acknowledge in the application that all necessary approvals have been obtained.

What happens if an application is missing required documentation?

Applications that do not include the required materials are considered non-responsive and are eliminated from consideration.

Are there any additional representations required from corporations, including nonprofit corporations?

Yes. All corporations, including nonprofit corporations, must complete a required representation related to felony convictions and tax delinquency.

How will proposals be reviewed and scored?

The funding notice points applicants to three formal review criteria in the Request for Applications (RFA). Proposals are expected to align the project design, work plan, and evaluation approach to those criteria, since they guide how reviewers score submissions.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this grant?

The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $2,000,000.

Which federal agency is offering this grant, and what type of funding instrument is it?

The grant is offered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and the funding instrument is a grant.

What were the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The funding opportunity was created on April 18, 2017, and the original application closing date was June 19, 2017.

Does the opportunity emphasize initial applications, recertifications, or both?

Both. The stated goals include speeding up processing for initial applications and recertifications, and improving the movement of cases through intake, verification, and determinations.

What kind of project approach appears to be most competitive based on the description?

The description suggests FNS is looking for practical, well-justified, operations-focused projects that reduce barriers, simplify steps, and improve timeliness. Projects that can show measurable improvements to processing performance, reduce backlogs and rework, and can be sustained and replicated appear to match the stated priorities.