Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS TASC 2027
Apply for USDA FAS TASC 2027
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.604.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS), listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.604. The program’s core purpose is to help U.S. organizations protect and expand export markets for U.S. specialty crops by funding projects that remove, resolve, or reduce sanitary, phytosanitary (SPS), or other technical barriers. In practical terms, this funding is meant for work that addresses regulations, inspection requirements, plant pest or disease concerns, residue standards, certification issues, or other technical rules that either currently block exports or could become a threat to export access.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based public and private entities that can show a real role or demonstrated interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops. On the government side, that includes federal, state, and local agencies. On the private side, eligible examples include nonprofit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state and regional trade groups, and private companies. While foreign organizations cannot apply as the primary recipient, they are allowed to participate through partnerships as subrecipients or as in-kind contributors, as long as the main award goes to an eligible U.S. organization. This structure allows projects to involve overseas technical partners or stakeholders when that is necessary to solve market access issues, while still keeping the award under U.S. control.
A key compliance requirement is that applicants must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before the application deadline. If a SAM registration is inactive, expired, pending, or shows an excluded status, the application will be treated as ineligible. The announcement is explicit that exceptions, waivers, or extensions will not be granted for SAM registration problems, so applicants need to confirm early that their SAM record is active and will remain active through submission.
The opportunity is identified as USDA FAS TASC 2027, with an original closing date of 2026-08-14. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Agriculture. The opportunity anticipates about 20 awards. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided source details, which typically means applicants should look to the full notice for any funding limits, typical award sizes, cost share requirements (if any), and allowable cost rules.
Overall, this grant is best suited for organizations that can propose targeted, export-focused technical assistance activities aimed at overcoming SPS or technical barriers affecting specialty crops. Strong applications will generally be those that can clearly define the barrier, show why it matters for export performance, and lay out realistic activities and partners that can lead to measurable improvements in market access or reduced risk of future restrictions.
2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Grant FAQs
What is the 2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant?
The 2027 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). It is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.604 and supports projects tied to export market access for U.S. specialty crops.
What is the main purpose of the TASC program?
The core purpose is to help U.S. organizations protect and expand export markets for U.S. specialty crops by funding projects that remove, resolve, or reduce sanitary, phytosanitary (SPS), or other technical barriers that restrict exports or could threaten export access in the future.
What types of barriers does TASC funding address?
TASC is designed for work that addresses technical market access barriers such as regulations, inspection requirements, plant pest or disease concerns, residue standards, certification issues, and other technical rules that currently block exports or could become a future threat to export access.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based public and private entities that can demonstrate a real role or demonstrated interest in exporting U.S. agricultural specialty crops. Examples include federal, state, and local agencies; nonprofit trade associations; universities; agricultural cooperatives; state and regional trade groups; and private companies.
Can a foreign organization apply as the main applicant?
No. Foreign organizations cannot apply as the primary recipient. The main award must go to an eligible U.S. organization.
Can foreign organizations participate in a TASC project in any way?
Yes. Foreign organizations may participate through partnerships as subrecipients or as in-kind contributors, as long as the primary recipient is an eligible U.S. organization. This allows projects to include overseas technical partners or stakeholders when needed to resolve market access issues.
What is the required SAM.gov status to submit an application?
Applicants must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before the application deadline. If the SAM registration is inactive, expired, pending, or shows an excluded status, the application will be considered ineligible.
Are there waivers or extensions for SAM.gov registration issues?
No. The announcement is explicit that exceptions, waivers, or extensions will not be granted for SAM registration problems. Applicants should verify early that their SAM record is active and will remain active through submission.
What is the opportunity identifier for this funding?
The opportunity is identified as USDA FAS TASC 2027.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for TASC?
The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.604.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date provided is 2026-08-14.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Agriculture.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates about 20 awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
An award ceiling is not specified in the provided details. When a ceiling is not shown in summary information, applicants typically need to refer to the full funding notice for any funding limits, typical award sizes, and related budget rules.
Does the provided information mention cost share or matching requirements?
No. The provided details do not state whether cost share is required. Applicants would generally need to consult the full notice for any cost share requirements and allowable cost rules.
What kinds of organizations are a good fit for TASC projects?
This grant is best suited for organizations that can propose targeted, export-focused technical assistance activities aimed at overcoming SPS or other technical barriers affecting specialty crops, particularly where the applicant can show a credible export interest and a plan likely to improve market access.
What makes a strong TASC application, based on the summary provided?
Strong applications generally define the barrier clearly, explain why it matters for export performance, and propose realistic activities and partnerships that can lead to measurable improvements in market access or reduced risk of future restrictions.
What is meant by "technical assistance" in this context?
In this program context, technical assistance refers to project work intended to remove, resolve, or reduce SPS or other technical barriers to exporting specialty crops. The summary highlights areas such as regulations, inspections, pest and disease concerns, residue standards, and certification-related issues.
Do projects have to focus on current barriers, or can they address potential future threats?
Both. The program is intended to address barriers that currently block exports and issues that could become a threat to export access.
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