FY 2026 CN Technology Innovation Grant

The Technology Innovation Grant for Child and Adult Care Food Program Integrity is administered by the Food and Nutrition Administration within the United States Department of Agriculture. The program is designed to strengthen oversight, accountability, and operational effectiveness within the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides nutritious meals to children and adults in care settings. The funding is authorized under federal appropriations legislation and reflects a broader federal priority to modernize public assistance systems while reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. The agency emphasizes innovation, system modernization, and improved data integrity as core drivers of this initiative. The primary purpose of the grant is to support State agencies that administer the Child and Adult Care Food Program in developing, implementing, or enhancing information technology systems. These systems are intended to improve program management, ensure accurate data reporting, and strengthen compliance monitoring. The grant encourages projects that address inefficiencies such as fragmented software systems, reliance on manual processes, and inconsistent data collection practices across local and state levels. By investing in modernized technology solutions, the program seeks to improve transparency and ensure that eligible participants receive intended benefits. Funding may be used for a range of activities including system planning, feasibility analysis, software development, system integration, procurement of technology tools, and training of staff and local program operators. Allowable costs include personnel, contractors, equipment, and travel related to implementation. However, routine maintenance, ongoing operational costs, and systems unrelated to the Child and Adult Care Food Program are not permitted. Projects are expected to prioritize implementation over planning and must demonstrate clear alignment with program integrity objectives. Eligibility for the program is limited to State agencies responsible for administering the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This includes State educational agencies or other entities designated by State leadership and approved by the federal agency. In cases where multiple agencies operate related nutrition programs, the agency administering this specific program must serve as the lead applicant. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to manage federal funds, comply with reporting requirements, and execute complex technology projects. The application process requires submission through the federal grants portal and includes standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, budget documentation, and an activities and indicators tracker. Applicants must outline their proposed technology solution, implementation strategy, staffing plan, and evaluation metrics. Applications are evaluated based on clarity, feasibility, innovation, alignment with program goals, and capacity to deliver measurable outcomes. Additional review criteria include sustainability of the proposed solution and its potential for replication across other State agencies. The application deadline is set for late July 2026, with awards anticipated in September 2026. The performance period is expected to extend through September 2029, allowing for multi-year project implementation. Award recipients are required to submit periodic financial and performance reports and must deliver a final presentation summarizing project outcomes, lessons learned, and best practices. This presentation may be shared nationally to support knowledge transfer and encourage adoption of successful innovations across jurisdictions.

Prioritize implementation-focused projects over planning-only proposals; align all activities with CACFP integrity objectives; ensure measurable outcomes and strong project management approach