Emergency Food Relief Equipment 2024

1. Grant Information
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will provide funding for equipment to local emergency food relief organizations by providing through the Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants – 2024 Program.

a) Funding
Approximately $1.25 million is available for Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants. Funding for this grant opportunity is provided from Environmental Protection Fund.

b) Proposed Project Timeframes
All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a three-year contract period/term. Costs outside of the contract period/term are ineligible. The Master Contract for Grants (MCG) must be fully approved by DEC, and if applicable approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by the Department based upon written justification from the Grantee. Applicants should not submit an application if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

c) Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts
Minimum grant amount is $500; Maximum grant amount is $100,000.

d) Application Limit/Award limit
Applicants may submit up one application. Multiple applications may not be for the same project or project location. The application can include multiple items.

e) Eligible Project Locations
Eligible projects for grant funding must be located in New York State.

2. Eligible Applicants
For the purposes of this grant program, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations that provide emergency food relief in New York State, excluding New York State Food Banks, are considered eligible applicants:
Individuals and unincorporated groups may not apply, but an eligible nonprofit organization, known as a fiscal sponsor, may apply on behalf of an individual or unincorporated group.

An eligible applicant must be a not-for-profit corporation (NFP) community-based organization, or a community-based organization may partner with a NFP that will serve as their fiscal sponsor.

For the purposes of this grant opportunity, a community-based organization is an organization that:
• Serves the residents of an area equal to or smaller than a town or city outside of New York City, or an area equal to or smaller than one of the five boroughs within New York City; and
• Cannot have its charter revoked or otherwise be dissolved through the action of another organization; and
• Is able to enter into legal agreements independent of any affiliated nonprofit organization, government body, university or other entity that would be ineligible to apply for this grant; and
• Has more than 50 percent of its members residing in the affected community, or more than 50 percent of the people served by the applicant community group residing in the affected community.

For this grant opportunity, a NFP is subject to New York State’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Law, is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General.

Individuals and unincorporated groups may not apply, but an eligible nonprofit organization, known as a fiscal sponsor, may apply on behalf of an individual or unincorporated group.

Applicants must possess the knowledge, skills, and /or track record to successfully implement the project. (you may require applicants to answer a program question to support their knowledge, skills, etc.)

A fiscal sponsor is a New York State nonprofit organization that applies to DEC on behalf of individuals or unincorporated organizations or groups. The fiscal sponsor accepts responsibility to serve as a fiscal conduit for a DEC-funded project, receiving and disbursing funds related to the grant, and administering the requirements throughout the DEC grant process, including final reporting of grant activity. The unincorporated artist or group completes the project activity.

If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead applicant can submit the application for grant funding. The lead applicant must assume the responsibility for the project application, performance of work consistent with this RFA, and the State of New York Master Contract for Grants. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required. These letters are to be uploaded to the SFS Grants Management system in a single PDF under the appropriate question for the application.

3. Inquiries & Designated Contact Information
For general information on completing this application and for clarification of application requirements, contractual terms and procedures, contact:
Organics Reduction and Recycling Section – Grants Program

Contact Information: organicsgrants@dec.ny.gov and (518) 402-8706
For technical information regarding the Grants Management Bid Event, direct questions to:
NYS SFS Grants Management

Contact Information: helpdesk@sfs.ny.gov | 877-737-4185 toll-free | 518-457-7737
Include “Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants – 2024” in the subject line of the email. Questions regarding this grant opportunity will be accepted by the Department until C.O.B. January 28, 2025. All questions, and answers, will be uploaded to the DEC website that list the funding opportunity for applicants to view.

4. Application Submission
Applications must be submitted through the NYS SFS Grants Management System Using Google Chrome to access the SFS Grants Management System (GM) is recommended. Using other browsers may cause errors.

If you do not have access to the SFS Vendor Portal and if your organization is already established within the SFS Vendor portal, an SFS Delegated Administrator has been authorized within your organization to provision user login credentials, unlock accounts, or reset passwords. Please reach out to your SFS Delegated Administrator directly.

Also, if you do not have a login and if you are new to the SFS Vendor portal, and would like to establish an account for the purposes of doing business with the State of New York, contact the SFS Help Desk at 518-457-7717, 855-233-8363 or HelpDesk@sfs.ny.gov for more information.

The NYS SFS Grants Management system offers a Vendor User Manual, training videos and webinars for applicants requiring assistance. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS.

Paper applications will NOT be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications prior to the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. Please note staff with a Bid Response Initiator role can begin a bid, but only staff with the Bid Response Submitter role can submit the bid response.

All Applicants must be Registered with SFS Grants Management to apply. Please visit https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS to register.

In addition to registration, not-for-profits must also be Prequalified at the time and date that the application is due. If you are not Prequalified at that time and date, your application will not be considered.

PLEASE DO NOT DELAY IN BEGINNING AND COMPLETING THE PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS. PLEASE VISIT THE GRANTS MANAGEMENT Prequalification Page TO GET STARTED.

THE STATE RESERVES 5 DAYS TO REVIEW SUBMITTED PREQUALIFICATION APPLICATIONS. PREQUALIFICATION APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW LESS THAN 5 DAYS PRIOR TO Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants – 2024 APPLICATION DUE DATE MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED.

APPLICANTS SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THEIR PREQUALIFICATION INFORMATION WILL BE REVIEWED IF THEY DO NOT ADHERE TO THIS TIMEFRAME.