Eligibility Requirements Applicants to the GusNIP - Nutrition Incentive Program must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in 7 U.S.C. 7517 and as discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. 1. Eligible Entity Eligibility to apply for a GusNIP - Nutrition Incentive Program grant is limited to governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. 2. Partners and Collaborators Applicants for GusNIP grants are encouraged to seek and create partnerships with public or private, non-profit, or for-profit entities, including links with academic institutions (including minority-serving colleges and universities and tribal colleges and universities) and/or other appropriate professionals; community-based organizations; tribal nations and local government entities; and/or partnering entities for the purposes of providing additional resources and strengthening historical failure in underserved communities. Nutrition Incentive Program applicants may partner with or make subgrants to public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit entities; including an emergency feeding organization, an agricultural cooperative, a producer network or association, a community health organization, a public benefit corporation, an economic development corporation, a farmers market, a community-supported agriculture program, a buying club, a retail food store participating in SNAP/NAP, and a Tribal, State, Territory, or local agency. Only the applicant must meet the requirements specified above for grant eligibility. When planning partnerships and collaborations, applicants may sub-award to organizations not eligible to apply directly to the Nutrition Incentive Program provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project, will complete and maintain active registration with SAM, and are otherwise eligible to receive Federal Assistance awards. All organizations not eligible to receive a Federal award are listed in SAM with the Exclusion Type. See SAM Exclusion Types. See Part IV, C of this RFA for the subaward funding restriction. Fiscal Agent. If a non-profit organization cannot accept Federal funds directly, a letter must be included in the application stating that in the event the application results in an award, the award funds must be administered through a fiscal agent organization on their behalf. This agent must be identified in the letter from the applicant and the letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent organization. The letter must include the fiscal agent’s point of contact, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. This letter is to be included as an attachment to Field 12, Other Attachments (Part IV, B of this RFA) of the application. In the event an application is recommended for funding, NIFA will request that both the applicant institution/organization and the fiscal agent organization submit complete management information (see Part V, C of this RFA). Include documents showing the applicant organization’s non-profit status when responding to this request.