Week of 3/20 – 3/24
Are there opportunities to connect with other program leads to learn more about how they implement a specific intervention in Michigan? For example, to connect with program leads who implement Teen Battle Chef.
The Map to Healthy Living search functions allow anyone to search for programming by organization, region, or intervention. To begin your search:
- Select: 1 What to Look For, on the right of the screen
- Select: Snap-Ed Programs
- Select the search category you’d like to explore. For a specific intervention you would select Intervention, then select the intervention you are interested in.
- Select: 3 Go
The map will then generate a list of all the locations using that intervention. Program lead contact information is listed there.
Should we include nutrition educators in our Current and Pending documentation?
At minimum, include key SNAP-Ed staff: Local Program Lead, PSE Lead, and Finance Lead in your organization. If your proposed program includes a Lead Nutrition educator, they should be included as well.
RFP Information Session 3/15
After submitting the Letter of Intent (LOI), how long does it take for MFF to respond?
The LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline on Monday, March 20 at 4:30 p.m. EST. Feedback will be provided within three (3) working days of your LOI submission.
In the Letter of Intent (LOI), how in depth should we talk about the communities we propose to work with?
The LOI should provide a snapshot of anticipated programming, including high level information about the communities you will serve.
Do we submit one LOI with the responses to the prompts and another LOI with the signed acknowledgement on organizational letterhead?
All LOI components from the provided template must be on your organization letterhead. You will submit one file for the LOI.
Can we think of this new form [Anticipated Programming Form] like the program summary narrative?
Much of the information captured in the Anticipated Programming Form aligns with content included in a program summary, which is developed after notification of provisional funding and is included with your contract.
Is there a save option on the Anticipated Programming Form (Qualtrics form)?
There is no save button; however, the form will ‘remember’ your progress as long as you use the same computer browser and do not clear your cookies. You do not have to keep the browser open.
In the Anticipated Programming Form, should we select only new PSE strategies? Or should we include PSE strategies we are already working on, including long-term strategies?
You want to include all of your PSE strategies.
In the Anticipated Programming Form, how should we select PSE assessments/tools/approaches? Should we select new PSE assessments/tools/approaches, or should we include PSE assessments/tools/approaches we have previously used and will reference in FY 2024?
Include any assessments/tools/approaches you plan to newly complete as well as existing assessments/tools/approaches you will reference for information.
What do we include as core direct education (DE) interventions [in the Anticipated Programming Form]? Do we include DE interventions that are only offered for a limited number of series or to a specific population?
Include all core direct education interventions regardless of whether they are offered on a limited basis (e.g., small number of series or only to a specific population).
Question 4 of the Program Narrative asks about how we address equity specifically related to SNAP-Ed staff compensation, how much detail should we provide in the response?
In your response, lift up any policies/procedures your organization has about equitable pay.
What costs should we anticipate for SNAP-Ed University (SNAP-Ed U) this year?
SNAP-Ed U is the annual compliance training that typically does not have a registration cost. You should build in travel costs for SNAP-Ed U into your proposed budget. Hotel rooms are master billed to Michigan Fitness Foundation with no cost to you.
What are the dates for SNAP-Ed University?
Typically, the third (3rd) or fourth (4th) week in August. Official dates will be communicated soon.
Is there a cost for Rec-Connect™? Are we still able to share with our community partners to sustain the program?
Yes, the cost is $150 per person delivering lessons. There will be additional guidance on print permissions, etc.
How much should we budget for Choices in our FY 2024 proposed budget?
There is guidance in the budget instructions related to Choices and what costs to plan for.
Is there additional guidance for how to develop our budget for increasing PSE work?
Build your budget to align with the programming you are proposing. This includes staff time and effort, supplies, etc. You should also consider efficiency with administrative costs.
Is it required to provide both direct education (DE) and PSE change work at every site we work with?
No. DE and PSE should work in tandem, but you do not need to have both approaches at all the same sites. For example, if you are providing DE in a school, you can advance PSE in places where families access food.
Is there an ideal ratio for the amount of direct education (DE) and PSE our proposed program covers? As our program plans ahead, we plan to increase our PSE work.
The program you are proposing needs to align with community need. The split between DE and PSE (you should be doing both) should reflect the programming selected to address community needs.
Can the 2022 County Health Ranking file be shared with our community partners?
Yes, this is publicly available data that MFF packaged for specific use for the RFP process.
For the conversation, can we bring the same community partner who participated last year?
When you get the questions, have a conversation about who makes the most sense to be a part of your community team.
Should the community member I bring to the conversation be related to my SNAP-Ed direct education (DE) work or PSE work?
There is not a specific type of community partner that needs to participate in the conversation. Questions will be provided in advance. When you get the questions, have a conversation about who makes the most sense to be a part of your community conversation team.
How will the conversations be scheduled?
We block certain days and time windows and offer you and your community teams options.
Week of 3/2 – 3/10
Will the Request for Proposal information session on March 15 be recorded?
Yes, the information session will be recorded. The recording will be posted on the technical assistance tab within 48 hours of the live session.
Can we assume schools eligible in FY 2023 will be eligible for FY 2024? We want to expand our direct education schools in FY 2024 to include schools that became eligible during FY 2023.
For proposal purposes, include sites that are currently eligible and that you want to deliver programming in FY 2024. If funded, all sites will need to be confirmed as eligible before programming begins.
We are funded in FY 2023 as a Community Impact Project and plan to apply to continue as a Community Impact Project in FY 2024, which funding opportunity should we proceed with?
See the response below under General Questions, “My organization is currently funded by SNAP-Ed at MFF in FY23. Which funding option (to be a subrecipient or a community impact project in FY24) should I consider?”
General Questions
[In the Letter of Intent template, it states,] “If funded, will complete approved activities within FY 2024 and will not use third party contractors to complete SNAP-Ed work.” Does this mean I cannot hire a Nutrition Educator on a 1-year contract?
No, contracting staff whose work or deliverables you will oversee, such as Nutrition Educators, is allowable; however, outsourcing or subcontracting to entities or individuals to administer and/or manage a part or the entirety of your SNAP-Ed program is not permitted.
My organization is currently funded by SNAP-Ed at MFF in FY23. Which funding option (to be a subrecipient or a community impact project in FY24) should I consider?
Federal regulations outline criteria to delineate between subrecipient grantees and service providers as contractors. All currently funded organizations in FY23 (subrecipient and community impact project) and new organizations that meet the eligibility criteria to be a subrecipient and can demonstrate capacity to independently design, deliver, and monitor a federal grant, like SNAP-Ed, need to submit to be a subrecipient in FY24. Furthermore, a currently funded organization’s record of program performance and grant compliance will be considered; those with a successful record need to pursue being a subrecipient in FY24.
If you are unsure whether your organization should submit a proposal package to be a subrecipient in FY24, we recommend you submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the RFP. When MFF reviews your LOI, we will look to ensure you meet adequate standards to be a subrecipient and provide feedback on whether you should continue with the RFP process or consider other potential funding opportunities.
If you plan to apply as a Community Impact Project in FY24, the Request for Application process will open April 24, 2023.
We are currently a [FY 2023] subrecipient and are eligible for the FY 2024 RFP. However, we are looking to make some program adjustments to [better meet changing] community needs. Is there an opportunity to talk to someone [at MFF] about the things we are considering ahead of submitting a proposal to ensure we aren’t changing anything that would [jeopardize] our chances for funding?
Questions about the FY 2024 RFP must come in through the FAQs or in the technical assistance session to be answered and posted so that everyone can benefit from the information. While there is not an opportunity to talk to MFF staff about proposed programming details before submitting a proposal package, keep in mind that what you anticipate and include in a proposal can evolve over time. If funded, there will be opportunity for conversations with an MFF Program Manager to finalize your programming for the upcoming year.
Is the subrecipient [contract] for one year?
Currently, funding is for one program year.
Are there any word count limitations for the program narrative?
No, there is no word or page limit; however, we encourage you to be thoughtful and intentional about what and how much information is included to clearly describe your programming.
Last Updated
5 p.m. on March 10, 2023