FY 24 NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants
Summary
This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announces the distribution of $10 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (PL 118-42) to state agencies to competitively award Equipment Assistance Grants to eligible local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs) and schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This NOFA and attachment provide guidance on the grant awards, funding, funding goals, period of performance, award/award timelines, administration and reporting for these grants.
Eligibility
Under this NOFA, state agencies are directed to competitively award subgrants to LEAs, SFAs or schools to purchase equipment, with a value of greater than $1,000. State agencies must develop a Request for Application (RFA) to competitively award the subgrants and submit the RFA to their respective FNS regional program office for prior approval. The RFA must reference all applicable federal and state level (Government-wide and USDA requirements).
State agencies may consider any eligible LEA, SFA or school to receive a grant award.
Selection criteria factors that state agencies should consider when awarding the subgrants, may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Opportunities to impact nutrition and quality of meals, including supporting the implementation of updated nutrition requirements for school meals.
- Age of food service equipment or lack of appropriate items;
- Ability of food service equipment to increase the efficiency of SFA procurement, food storage, and distribution/service;
- The availability of existing state and local funding for equipment purchases;
- Strategies for adopting cafeteria changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student.
Equipment purchased under the subgrant must be for the purpose of serving healthier meals, improving food safety, and/or helping to support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program.
The Assistance Listing Number (ALN), formerly referred to as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this grant project award is: 10.579.
How to Apply
For more information on how to apply refer to the Notice of Funding Availability.