Appendix E2 State MOU

OMB Control No.:0584-NEW

Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302 ATTN: PRA (0584-xxxx*). Do not return the completed form to this address

Appendix E2 State MOU

Evaluation of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Participant Characteristics

Memorandum of Understanding

Between

Optimal Solutions Group, LLC,

And

< STATE AGENCY>

1. PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to define the terms under which the <STATE AGENCY> will participate in an evaluation of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) participant characteristics for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Background/Overview

The USDA has contracted with Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal), to study and prepare a report documenting the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) providers and participant characteristics. This study will evaluate the current operations of the SFSP. Using a mixed-method approach of web surveys and telephone calls, Optimal will collect data from a nationally representative sample of states, sponsors, and sites, augmented by qualitative data collection with parents/caregivers of eligible participants and non-participants. A final report will be prepared and a briefing provided to FNS staff. Optimal will conduct a sub-study of states with high SFSP participation and states with low SFSP participation to examine factors that account for differences in SFSP participation across the states.

Research team roles/responsibilities:

• Submit a detailed data request.

• Submit any required documentation for an institutional review board (IRB).

• Maintain stringent privacy and safeguard all data according to applicable federal, state, and local laws and guidelines.

• Not identify sponsors, sites, or parents/caregivers in publications or other communications outside the research team.

• Operate a help desk number and e-mail address for questions regarding participation in the study and/or technical difficulties completing the survey.

• Hold webcasts with state agencies and sponsors to ensure clarity of roles.

• Compensate parents/caregivers for their participation in the interviews.

State agency roles/responsibilities:

• Provide the research team with a list of all active SFSP sponsors by <date>. Include the following information:

  • Sponsor name

  • Contact information for sponsor’s main point of contact (name, role, phone number, e-mail address)

  • Sponsor’s dates of operation

  • Number of sites sponsor operates

  • Sponsor type (government, nonprofit, NYSP, residential camp)

  • Types of meals served

  • Meal counts by sponsor for each type of meal served

• Complete the web survey in its entirety.

• Submit the signed MOU.

• Encourage sponsors to cooperate if they are selected for the study.

Preferred Points of Contact for State Agency:

Name	State Agency	Role	E-mail	Phone
1.
2.
3.

Preferred Points of Contact for Research Team:

Name	Organization	Role	E-mail	Phone
1. Mark Turner	Optimal	Project Director	[email protected]	877-776-8501
2. Carla Bozzolo	Optimal	Project Manager	[email protected]	877-776-8501
3. Chan Chanhatasilpa	USDA/FNS	Contracting Officer’s Representative	[email protected]	703-305-2115
4. Ashley Owens	USDA/FNA	Contracting Specialist	[email protected]	703-305-2940

For issues regarding data, contact Carla Bozzolo. For issues regarding study design, contact Mark Turner. For issues regarding authorization to conduct this study, contact Chan Chanhatasilpa or Ashley Owens.

2. TERM OF AGREEMENT

This agreement will be effective from <DATE> through <DATE>.

3. PROCEDURES FOR AMENDING AGREEMENT

Any changes, amendments, or modifications to this agreement must be made and agreed to by the parties in writing. No amendment, change, waiver, or discharge hereof shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the party against which the amendment, change, waiver, or discharge is sought to be enforced.

4. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Confidential information or data, as used in this clause, mean (1) information or data of a personal nature about an individual or (2) proprietary information or data submitted by or pertaining to an institution or organization.

The parties shall use any private data or information provided or developed under this agreement solely for the purpose for which the data or information was provided or developed. The parties shall establish administrative and physical safeguards to prevent the unauthorized disclosure and/or use of all private data or information provided or developed under this disclosure or the dissemination of private data or information.

5. TERMINATION PROCESS

Either party may terminate this agreement by giving thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other.

6. ASSIGNMENT

This agreement, and all rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned without the express prior written consent of all other parties hereto. Any assignment or attempt at the same in the absence of such prior written consent shall be void and without effect.

Should you agree with the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, please sign in the appropriate spaces below.

7. SIGNATURE OF THE PARTIES

For: <STATE AGENCY>

Signature: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________

Name: _______________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________________

For: Optimal Solutions Group, LLC

Signature: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________________________________

Name: _______________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________________

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