Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant is a competitive funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to help organizations work together to plan, build, and strengthen local or regional food systems. The program is designed around the idea that meaningful food system improvements usually take coordinated partnerships, so the grant focuses on projects where multiple organizations collaborate to develop supply chains, markets, infrastructure, and other supports that keep food production and distribution more connected within a region.
For FY 2020, USDA anticipated making about $10 million available for awards (after USDA administrative costs), although the final amount depended on Congressional action. RFSP funds projects under two main tracks. The Planning and Design track supports earlier-stage work, such as organizing partnerships, conducting assessments, developing feasibility studies, and creating actionable plans, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $250,000. The Implementation and Expansion track supports more advanced efforts to put plans into action or scale existing regional food system work, with awards ranging from $250,000 up to $1,000,000. Across both tracks, applicants must provide a required match equal to 25 percent of the total federal funds requested, and that match must be in cash (not in-kind).
Eligibility is built around the concept of a “partnership.” A partnership is an agreement between one or more eligible entities and one or more eligible partners, and the application must clearly identify which organization or organizations will be responsible for receiving and managing the grant award. Importantly, an application can be submitted either by an eligible entity or by an eligible partner on behalf of the full partnership, as long as roles and responsibilities for grant management are clearly spelled out in the proposal.
A wide range of applicant types can participate, including state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. All applicants must be domestic entities that are owned, operated, and located within the United States or eligible U.S. territories, including the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Tribal governments.
Key administrative details for this specific posting include the funding opportunity number USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009, the CFDA number 10.177, and an award ceiling of $1,000,000. The opportunity was categorized as a mandatory grant in the agriculture funding activity area. The application closing date listed for this cycle was May 26, 2020, with the opportunity created on March 9, 2020.Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Food System Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.177.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) Grant (FY 2020) FAQs
What is the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant?
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant is a competitive funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), administered through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). It supports projects where multiple organizations work together to plan, build, or strengthen local or regional food systems.
What is the main purpose of RFSP?
RFSP is designed to help coordinated partnerships improve local and regional food systems. It emphasizes collaboration to develop and strengthen regional supply chains, markets, infrastructure, and other supports that keep food production and distribution more connected within a region.
Who offers and administers this grant program?
The grant is offered by USDA and administered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Is RFSP a competitive grant?
Yes. RFSP is described as a competitive funding opportunity.
How much funding was anticipated to be available for FY 2020?
For FY 2020, USDA anticipated making about $10 million available for awards (after USDA administrative costs). The final amount depended on Congressional action.
What are the two funding tracks under RFSP?
RFSP funds projects under two main tracks: (1) Planning and Design and (2) Implementation and Expansion.
What types of activities does the Planning and Design track support?
The Planning and Design track supports earlier-stage work such as organizing partnerships, conducting assessments, developing feasibility studies, and creating actionable plans.
What is the award range for the Planning and Design track?
Awards under the Planning and Design track range from $100,000 to $250,000.
What types of activities does the Implementation and Expansion track support?
The Implementation and Expansion track supports more advanced efforts to put plans into action or to scale existing regional food system work.
What is the award range for the Implementation and Expansion track?
Awards under the Implementation and Expansion track range from $250,000 up to $1,000,000.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this posting is $1,000,000.
Is a cost share or match required?
Yes. Applicants must provide a required match equal to 25 percent of the total federal funds requested.
Does the required match have to be cash, or can it be in-kind?
The required 25 percent match must be in cash. In-kind match is not allowed for this requirement.
How does RFSP define a "partnership" for eligibility purposes?
A partnership is an agreement between one or more eligible entities and one or more eligible partners. The application must clearly identify which organization or organizations will be responsible for receiving and managing the grant award.
Can one organization apply on behalf of a partnership?
Yes. An application can be submitted either by an eligible entity or by an eligible partner on behalf of the full partnership, as long as roles and responsibilities for grant management are clearly spelled out in the proposal.
Does the application need to name who will manage the grant award?
Yes. The application must clearly identify which organization or organizations will be responsible for receiving and managing the grant award.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply or participate?
A wide range of applicant types can participate, including: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are nonprofits eligible, including those that are not 501(c)(3)?
Yes. Both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits are included as eligible organization types.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are listed among eligible applicant types.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes, with a limitation. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible.
Are Tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants/participants, and Tribal governments are also included in the location eligibility description.
Do applicants have to be based in the United States?
Yes. All applicants must be domestic entities that are owned, operated, and located within the United States or eligible U.S. territories.
Which U.S. territories are included as eligible locations?
Eligible locations include the 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as Tribal governments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RFSP posting?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS TM RFSP G 20 0009.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.177.
How is this opportunity categorized (funding type and activity area)?
This opportunity was categorized as a mandatory grant in the agriculture funding activity area.
What was the application closing date for this cycle?
The application closing date listed for this cycle was May 26, 2020.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 9, 2020.
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