Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES ARPA 002424
Apply for USDA CSREES ARPA 002424
- The CSREES in the agriculture business and commerce disaster prevention and relief education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 26, 2009 and posted on Jun 26, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses State governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- Applications may be submitted by qualified public and private entities. This includes all colleges and universities, Federal, State, and local agencies, nonprofit and for profit private organizations or corporations, and other entities. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. An applicant s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will result in CSREES returning the application without review or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude CSREES from making an award.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture Risk Management Education (RME) Competitive Grants Program is a USDA CSREES discretionary grant opportunity designed to strengthen the ability of U.S. agricultural producers to manage risk and make better business decisions. Its main purpose is practical education: giving farmers, ranchers, and other producers the knowledge, skills, and decision-making tools needed to evaluate uncertainty and choose strategies that protect their operations, with a clear end goal of improving long-term farm profitability. The program emphasizes applied, producer-focused training and the use of proven tools, along with efforts to show measurable results from the education provided.
A major feature of this funding opportunity is its structure: it supports four Regional Risk Management Education Centers, with one center serving each of four defined U.S. geographic regions (as specified in the Request for Applications). These regional centers are intended to coordinate and expand risk management education within their regions, including building partnerships and tailoring educational efforts to the needs of local agricultural producers. In addition to the four regional centers, the program also funds one electronic support center. That electronic center is meant to act as a hub for existing risk management tools and resources, encourage the formation of networks focused on producers, support the ongoing development of risk management curricula and educational materials, help deliver education through multiple methods (for example, in-person training, online content, workshops, and other outreach formats), and verify or document program impacts so the value of the training can be demonstrated.
For FY 2009, the announcement notes a special emphasis linked to Section 12026 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), which amended Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)). In practical terms, this signals that proposals were expected to align with updated statutory priorities around risk management education, including the broader federal policy interest in helping producers better understand and use tools such as crop insurance, marketing strategies, financial planning, and other approaches that reduce vulnerability to price, production, weather, and other operational risks.
The total estimated funding for the opportunity is $4,800,000, with an expected five awards. Individual awards range from a floor of $300,000 to a ceiling of $1,175,000. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can make it more accessible to applicants that might otherwise struggle to provide non-federal match.
Eligibility is broad and includes qualified public and private entities. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly listed, and small businesses are also eligible), and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). Native American tribal organizations are included, including federally recognized tribal governments. The announcement also clarifies that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the project. It also stresses that eligibility must be met by the application deadline; failing to meet eligibility requirements could result in the application being returned without review or otherwise make the applicant ineligible for an award even if reviewed.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted June 26, 2009, with an application deadline of August 10, 2009, and it was later archived on February 17, 2010. The funding opportunity number is USDA CSREES ARPA 002424, and it is associated with CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The listed activity categories reflect the program's cross-cutting nature, including agriculture, business and commerce, disaster prevention and relief, education, environment, and natural resources. For applicants needing technical help accessing the full announcement, the CSREES Help Desk contact information is provided (phone 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time), along with a note directing program questions to the RFA contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Agriculture Risk Management Education (RME) Competitive Grants Program?
The Agriculture Risk Management Education (RME) Competitive Grants Program is a USDA CSREES discretionary grant opportunity intended to strengthen the ability of U.S. agricultural producers to manage risk and make better business decisions through practical, applied education.
2. What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The primary purpose is producer-focused risk management education. Funded efforts are meant to give farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers the knowledge, skills, and decision-making tools needed to evaluate uncertainty and choose strategies that protect their operations, with the overall goal of improving long-term farm profitability.
3. What types of activities does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes applied training designed for producers, the use of proven tools and resources, and efforts to show measurable results from the education delivered (for example, documenting or verifying impacts so the value of the training can be demonstrated).
4. How is this funding opportunity structured?
The opportunity supports a network approach: four Regional Risk Management Education Centers (one per defined U.S. geographic region, as specified in the Request for Applications) plus one electronic support center that serves as a hub for tools, resources, curriculum support, delivery methods, and impact documentation.
5. How many awards are expected to be made?
The announcement estimates five awards total.
6. What is the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding for the opportunity is $4,800,000.
7. What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards range from a floor of $300,000 to a ceiling of $1,175,000.
8. Is cost sharing or matching funding required?
No. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
9. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes qualified public and private entities. Examples listed include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and various government entities such as state, county, and city/township governments, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Native American tribal organizations and federally recognized tribal governments are included.
10. Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included as eligible applicants.
11. Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility information includes Native American tribal organizations and federally recognized tribal governments.
12. Can an award recipient subcontract parts of the project?
Yes. The announcement indicates that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the project.
13. When must an applicant meet eligibility requirements?
Eligibility must be met by the application deadline. The announcement notes that failing to meet eligibility requirements could result in the application being returned without review or otherwise make the applicant ineligible for an award even if it is reviewed.
14. What kinds of risks or topics are proposals expected to address?
For FY 2009, the announcement highlights an emphasis linked to Section 12026 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), amending Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)). In practical terms, this indicates proposals were expected to align with updated statutory priorities around risk management education, including helping producers understand and use tools such as crop insurance, marketing strategies, financial planning, and other approaches to reduce vulnerability to price, production, weather, and other operational risks.
15. What do the Regional Risk Management Education Centers do?
The four regional centers are intended to coordinate and expand risk management education within their regions. This includes building partnerships and tailoring educational efforts to the needs of agricultural producers in their local areas.
16. What is the electronic support center expected to do?
The electronic support center is meant to act as a hub for existing risk management tools and resources, encourage producer-focused networks, support ongoing development of curricula and educational materials, help deliver education through multiple methods (such as in-person training, online content, workshops, and other outreach formats), and verify or document program impacts.
17. What federal agency and program identifier are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is a USDA CSREES grant and is associated with CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The funding opportunity number is USDA CSREES ARPA 002424.
18. What are the activity categories associated with this grant?
The activity categories listed reflect the program's cross-cutting nature and include agriculture, business and commerce, disaster prevention and relief, education, environment, and natural resources.
19. When was this opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on June 26, 2009, and the application deadline was August 10, 2009.
20. What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?
The announcement states it was archived on February 17, 2010, indicating the listing was later moved into an archived status after the active application period.
21. Where can applicants get technical help accessing the full announcement?
Technical help is available through the CSREES Help Desk at 202-401-5048, during business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
22. Who should applicants contact with program-specific questions?
The announcement directs program questions to the RFA contacts (rather than the technical help desk).
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