Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CN FY17 OPS MOBILE TECH INNO LAB
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) grant opportunity titled "USDA-CN-FY17-OPS-Mobile Technology for CN Innovation Laboratory" is a discretionary cooperative agreement aimed at creating a dedicated innovation lab focused on mobile technology for Child Nutrition (CN) programs. The award is intended to run across FY 2017 through FY 2020 and is described as contingent on the availability of funds. The central goal is to establish a Mobile Technology for Child Nutrition Research Innovation Laboratory that can drive practical, testable, and scalable mobile solutions that strengthen how CN programs operate and how families experience them.
Funding is anticipated at up to $1,500,000 (award ceiling), with the program structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project rather than operating purely as a hands-off grantmaker. The eligible applicants are limited to academic or research institutions, specifically public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. In other words, the lead recipient is expected to be a university or comparable research-focused institution capable of managing research, development, evaluation, and grant administration responsibilities.
A defining feature of this opportunity is that the innovation laboratory is expected to function as a hub that issues subgrants to support real-world development, testing, and implementation of mobile technology-based solutions. Those subgrants may go to teams that combine state and local CN program operators, researchers, and small businesses, especially those positioned to build and rigorously test new mobile applications. The intent is to create a pipeline from concept to prototype to evidence of effectiveness, with promising tools potentially moving toward consideration and eventual use by FNS and state agencies.
The solutions envisioned are not generic consumer apps; they are explicitly meant to improve services, effectiveness, participation, and customer satisfaction within Child Nutrition programs. That can include tools that support administrators and frontline staff who run CN programs, as well as tools that improve service delivery for participants (for example, families and children interacting with program services). FNS also highlights a specific design preference: mobile technology solutions that incorporate behavioral economics approaches. This signals interest in apps that use proven behavioral design strategies (such as simplifying choices, using timely prompts, reducing friction in workflows, or presenting information in ways that encourage follow-through) to improve outcomes like participation, compliance, and user experience.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 10.538 (Food and Nutrition), was posted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, and was created on April 3, 2017 with an original closing date of June 5, 2017. Although the narrative states the funding supports one new cooperative agreement, the source data also lists "ExpectedAwards: 5," which suggests there may have been internal planning for multiple awards or related award actions; applicants would typically rely on the official notice language and any clarifications in the full solicitation to reconcile that detail. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as USDA FNS investing in an innovation lab model: one primary academic/research lead that coordinates a subgrant portfolio to build and evaluate mobile tools that can modernize and improve Child Nutrition program delivery.Apply for USDA CN FY17 OPS MOBILE TECH INNO LAB
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USDA-CN-FY17-OPS-Mobile Technology for CN Innovation Laboratory" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.538.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 03, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 05, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this USDA FNS grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "USDA-CN-FY17-OPS-Mobile Technology for CN Innovation Laboratory."
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
What kind of funding instrument is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. That means USDA FNS expects substantial involvement in the project during the period of performance, rather than operating as a fully hands-off funder.
What is the overall purpose of the award?
The purpose is to create a dedicated Mobile Technology for Child Nutrition Research Innovation Laboratory that drives practical, testable, and scalable mobile solutions that strengthen Child Nutrition (CN) program operations and improve how families experience CN services.
What is the main goal of the innovation laboratory?
The central goal is to function as an innovation hub that can move mobile solutions from concept to prototype to evidence of effectiveness, with the most promising tools potentially progressing toward consideration and eventual use by FNS and state agencies.
What types of solutions is USDA FNS looking for?
USDA FNS is looking for mobile technology-based solutions specifically designed to improve services, effectiveness, participation, and customer satisfaction within Child Nutrition programs. These solutions are not described as general-purpose consumer apps; they are meant to be program-relevant tools for real operational and participant-facing needs.
Who are the intended users of the mobile tools developed through this effort?
The envisioned tools may support CN administrators and frontline staff who operate CN programs, as well as participants and families (for example, families and children interacting with program services).
Is there a specific design approach that USDA FNS prefers for the mobile solutions?
Yes. FNS highlights a design preference for mobile technology solutions that incorporate behavioral economics approaches. Examples mentioned include simplifying choices, using timely prompts, reducing friction in workflows, and presenting information in ways that encourage follow-through.
What outcomes is the behavioral economics preference meant to improve?
Based on the description, the intent is to improve outcomes such as program participation, compliance, and overall user experience (including customer satisfaction) in Child Nutrition programs.
How much funding is available?
Anticipated funding is up to $1,500,000 (the award ceiling), contingent on the availability of funds.
What does "contingent on the availability of funds" mean in this context?
It means the award and funding levels are dependent on whether USDA FNS has sufficient appropriated funds available during the project period.
What is the anticipated project timeframe?
The award is intended to run across FY 2017 through FY 2020.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligible lead applicants are limited to academic or research institutions: public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Can a non-university (such as a company or nonprofit) apply as the lead?
Based on the eligibility description provided, the lead recipient is expected to be an institution of higher education (public/state-controlled or private). Other entities are not described as eligible to apply as the lead applicant in the provided summary.
What is the expected role of the lead recipient?
The lead recipient is expected to establish and operate the innovation laboratory, coordinate research, development, and evaluation activities, and manage grant administration responsibilities. A defining feature is also managing a subgrant-making function.
Does this opportunity involve subgrants?
Yes. The innovation laboratory is expected to issue subgrants to support real-world development, testing, and implementation of mobile technology-based solutions.
Who might receive subgrants through the innovation lab?
Subgrants may go to teams that combine state and local CN program operators, researchers, and small businesses, especially those positioned to build and rigorously test new mobile applications.
What is the intent behind the subgrant model?
The intent is to create a pipeline where ideas can be developed into prototypes and then evaluated for evidence of effectiveness, increasing the likelihood that successful tools could be scaled and considered for broader adoption.
Is this opportunity focused on research only, or also on implementation?
It is positioned as an innovation lab that supports development, testing, and implementation of mobile solutions. The description emphasizes practical and scalable tools, along with rigorous testing and evidence of effectiveness.
What program area does this grant fall under?
It is cataloged under CFDA 10.538 (Food and Nutrition).
When was the opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on April 3, 2017, with an original closing date of June 5, 2017.
How many awards are expected?
The narrative states the funding supports one new cooperative agreement. However, the source data also lists "ExpectedAwards: 5," which suggests there may have been internal planning for multiple awards or related award actions. The description indicates that applicants would typically rely on the official notice language and any clarifications in the full solicitation to reconcile that difference.
Is this best understood as funding a single app or a broader initiative?
It is best understood as funding an innovation lab model: one primary academic/research lead that coordinates a portfolio of subgrants to build, test, and evaluate multiple mobile tools aimed at modernizing and improving Child Nutrition program delivery.
What makes this opportunity different from a typical technology grant?
Two defining elements are highlighted: (1) it is a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement, and (2) it establishes a laboratory hub that issues subgrants to support development and rigorous testing of mobile tools for Child Nutrition programs.
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