Application Notes:

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 27, 2025.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Faxed, emailed, mailed, or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424A
• Project abstract summary
• Project narrative form (15 pages max, excluding existing form content)
• Letters of verification for matching contributions
• Letters of commitment from partners and collaborators
• Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) (if applicable)
• Resumes of key staff

The project narrative must be single-spaced and formatted on standard-sized pages using an 11-point font. The project narrative must be submitted in .pdf format. Letters must be submitted on the appropriate letterhead.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Pre-application webinars are expected to be scheduled for this program. Information regarding webinars may be posted online at www.ams.usda.gov.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Alignment and intent (25 points)
• Technical merit (25 points)
• Achievability (15 points)
• Expertise and partners (25 points)
• Fiscal plan and resources (10 points)

Refer to the NOFA, ProjectNarrative, and PartnerLetterTemplate files for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Applicants must provide at least 25 percent of awards via nonfederal cash or in-kind contributions.

Matching contributions must be in the form of allowable costs, and must be committed or secured sat the time of award selection.

Priority will be given to applicants that leverage significant nonfederal financial and technical resources.

Applicants may utilize their matching contributions to offer mini-grants, as long as they further the project purposes and comply with standard federal match requirements.

Indirect costs may be used as in-kind match but not as cash match, and will not count toward the minimum required match.

Match contributions may not be used for this program if they are already being used toward satisfying a match requirement under another federal award agreement.

Donated land/or buildings may not be used as in-kind matching contributions.

Federal funds and project income may not be used as matching contributions.

Funding Notes:

Approximately $4.5 million is expected to be available to support an estimated ten awards through this program. Award amounts will vary according to project type, as follows:

• Planning and design: ranging from $100,000 to $250,000
• Implementation and expansion: ranging from $250,000 to $1 million

Projects will begin on September 30, 2025. Planning and design project periods will span 24 months, ending on September 29, 2027. Implementation and expansion project periods will span 36 months, ending on September 29, 2028.

Applicants must include costs for the project coordinator and any additional key personnel to attend a funding agency-sponsored award management meeting during the project period, as detailed on pages 15-16 of the NOFA file.

All project income earned during the project period must be used to further the original purpose of the project, under the conditions of the award.

Recipients may incur pre-award costs 90 calendar days before the award. Expenses incurred more than 90 calendar days pre-award require prior approval from the funding agency. All pre-award costs are incurred at the applicant's own risk.

Funds may not be used for:

• Supporting supply chain activities for food items originating from or being sold to areas outside the defined locality or region
• Agricultural production-related expenses, like growing crops or buying farm equipment, tools, materials, supplies, and other related costs
• Buying land or constructing buildings or structures
• Purchasing general purpose equipment
• Projects that benefit only one agricultural producer or individual
• Projects that depend upon the completion of another project or the receipt of another award
• Duplicating activities in a project already funded from another federal award program
• Providing capital for revolving loan funds or seed equity funds
• Creating award recipients' own smaller grant programs
• Activities not related to projects, or unknown costs at the time of application submission
• Micro-loans or re-granting

Refer to pages 13-23 of the Terms&Conditions file for additional unallowable costs information.

For FY 2024, a total of $5,224,700 was distributed via ten awards through this program. For FY 2023, a total of $4,418,541 was distributed via ten awards. For FY 2022, a total of $19,353,496 was distributed via 36 awards. Refer to the Award file for details.

May 15, 2025
A list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program has been released and attached as the FAQ file. All relevant sections have been updated accordingly.