Development and Implementation of Healthy Meals Incentives School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants

In June of 2022, the USDA launched the Food System Transformation framework which aims to build a more resilient food supply chain, create a fairer food system, and make nutritious food more accessible and affordable for consumers, with a particular focus on equity. Under this RFA, t he School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grant Cooperative Agreement will reflect FNS’ commitment to encourage the offering of healthier food products in the marketplace for school meals through engagement with the food industry and incentivizing innovation and partnerships. Increasing access to nutritious and appealing foods for kids is critical to the success of strong school meal standards. The selected Cooperator(s) will collaborate with food industry partners to support school districts, food producers, suppliers, distributors, and community partners.

The goal of this RFA is to select a Cooperator or Cooperators who will implement and manage the School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants. The Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards for SFAs, the Healthy Meals Incentives Sub-Grants for Small and/or Rural SFAs, and the Healthy Meals Summits were released under another RFA and are not included herein.

The School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants described in this RFA were created to focus efforts to stimulate innovation in strengthening the availability of and access to nutritious food products in the K-12 school food marketplace. In addition, these sub-grants will support a more resilient food system through expanding manufacturing and purchasing capacity at the local and regional level. This, in turn, increases equitable access to healthy food products both in schools and in communities by way of support for agricultural producers, growers, and processors impacted by COVID-19 .

The School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants will support collaborative projects between school districts, food producers, suppliers, distributors, and/or community partners to stimulate innovation in strengthening the availability of and access to nutritious food products in the K-12 school food marketplace.

Eligible entities include public or private colleges and universities; non-profit or for-profit research organizations/institutions; entities with experience working with school nutrition professionals and/or the school food service industry to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. All applicants and/or its partners must have demonstrated experience in awarding and managing grants or sub-grants. Schools and school districts are not eligible entities for this award.