Opportunity Information: Apply for CEPD 2016 22
Apply for CEPD 2016 22
- The Farm Service Agency in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Areas FY 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.087 Biomass Crop Assistance Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 21, 2015 and posted on Aug 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 6, 2015 Project sponsors will be able to submit proposals through close of business on Friday, November 6, 2015. This proposal submission is for awards of project areas under FY 2016.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $22,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $22,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- A project sponsor may submit a proposal. A project sponsor is either a biomass conversion facility or a group of producers. This proposal period is for NEW project areas only.Project sponsors are eligible for submission of proposals. Project sponsors may either be a group of producers or a biomass conversion facility. Application will require the project sponsor to signup under SAM and have a DUNS number (a unique nine digit identification number, for each physical location of your business. D U N S Number assignment is FREE for all businesses required to register with the US Federal government for contracts or grants.) The BCAP is not subject to E.O. 12372. To submit on grants.gov, project sponsor MUST down load application and complete the SF 424 first with project abstract key contacts in order to upload all BCAP forms. The SF 424 is not an application requirement, but is necessary to complete in order to upload the proposal on grants.gov. BCAP forms (BCAP 1, BCAP 20, BCAP 21, BCAP 22, AD 1047) are to be added as attachments. BCAP forms are retrievable under the Full Announcement. Click on Full Announcement at the top of the BCAP RFP synopsis page to access these BCAP forms.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Areas FY 2016 opportunity is a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) funding initiative under CFDA 10.087 that supports the establishment and production of biomass feedstocks by designating new BCAP project areas. Rather than functioning like a traditional research grant, the award is essentially the government selecting a defined geographic project area proposed by a sponsor, after which eligible producers within that area can enroll and receive BCAP financial assistance tied to planting and maintaining qualifying biomass crops. The program was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, with authorization running through September 30, 2018, and this particular solicitation covered selections made using FY 2016 appropriations.
Funding for FY 2016 was authorized at $25 million total for the overall BCAP program, but not all of that amount is available for project area awards because the appropriation also covers other program costs. The notice explains that BCAP matching payments (a separate BCAP component) may consume roughly 10% to 50% of the annual appropriated budget, and additional funds are used for items like information technology, legal counsel, and technical assistance. With full authorization and appropriation, the amount effectively available for project area funding is estimated at $22.5 million (listed as the estimated total funding). The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $22.5 million and an award floor of $12.5 million, but those figures are described as suggested amounts used for selection priority rather than strict minimums or maximums any single project must receive.
The benefit to producers in approved project areas is delivered primarily through two payment types: (1) direct annual rental payments and (2) establishment cost-share reimbursements. Establishment payments can reimburse up to 50% of establishment costs for perennial crops, with a cap of $500 per acre, or up to $750 per acre for a socially disadvantaged farmer. In other words, the program is designed to reduce the upfront and ongoing financial burden of putting biomass crops into production, especially perennial systems that often require significant establishment investment before returns are realized.
Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to “project sponsors,” defined as either a biomass conversion facility or a group of producers. This proposal window was specifically for NEW project areas only. Selected project areas then allow producer-level contracts, and those producer contracts can run up to 5 years for herbaceous crops and up to 15 years for woody crops. A key budget detail is that all contracts to producers are obligated from current-year funds (here, FY 2016 appropriations) regardless of the length of the producer application, with payments made over time according to each producer’s approved contract terms.
Administratively, sponsors needed to submit through Grants.gov by the deadline and complete certain federal registration steps. Applicants were expected to be registered in SAM and have a DUNS number. The posting notes that BCAP is not subject to Executive Order 12372 (intergovernmental review). For the Grants.gov submission process, the sponsor had to download the application package and complete the SF-424 (including a project abstract and key contacts) to enable upload of required BCAP-specific forms. Those forms were submitted as attachments and included BCAP-1, BCAP-20, BCAP-21, BCAP-22, and AD-1047, accessible through the “Full Announcement” linked from the synopsis page.
Key dates and identifiers for the opportunity include Funding Opportunity Number CEPD 2016 22, a posted date of August 20, 2015, and an application deadline of November 6, 2015 (close of business) for project area proposals made for FY 2016 awards, with the archive date listed as December 31, 2015. The administering agency is the USDA Farm Service Agency, and the announcement provides a program contact (Kelly Novak, Energy Specialist/BCAP Manager) for assistance, particularly if the full announcement could not be accessed electronically.
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Areas FY 2016 - FAQs
1) What is the BCAP Project Areas FY 2016 opportunity?
The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Areas FY 2016 opportunity is a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) funding initiative (CFDA 10.087) that supports the establishment and production of biomass feedstocks by selecting and designating new BCAP project areas. Instead of awarding a typical research grant to a single applicant, USDA selects a defined geographic project area proposed by an eligible sponsor, and then eligible producers within that approved area may enroll and receive BCAP financial assistance tied to qualifying biomass crops.
2) Is this a traditional grant awarded directly to one recipient?
No. The central action in this solicitation is the government selecting a sponsor-proposed geographic project area. Once a project area is approved, eligible producers inside that area can enroll and receive BCAP assistance through producer-level contracts. The opportunity is not described as a traditional research grant.
3) Which agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA).
4) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for BCAP is 10.087.
5) What does BCAP support within an approved project area?
BCAP supports the establishment and production of biomass feedstocks by providing financial assistance tied to planting and maintaining qualifying biomass crops in designated project areas.
6) What types of payments are available to producers in approved project areas?
The notice describes two primary payment types available to producers who enroll in an approved project area: (1) direct annual rental payments and (2) establishment cost-share reimbursements.
7) How much can BCAP reimburse for establishment costs?
Establishment payments can reimburse up to 50% of establishment costs for perennial crops, with a cap of $500 per acre. For a socially disadvantaged farmer, the cap can be up to $750 per acre.
8) Who is eligible to submit a proposal for a new BCAP project area?
Only “project sponsors” may submit proposals. The solicitation defines project sponsors as either (a) a biomass conversion facility or (b) a group of producers.
9) Does this solicitation cover existing project areas or only new ones?
This proposal window was specifically for NEW project areas only.
10) How long can producer-level contracts run once a project area is approved?
Producer contracts can run up to 5 years for herbaceous crops and up to 15 years for woody crops.
11) From what funding year are producer contracts obligated?
The notice states that all contracts to producers are obligated from current-year funds (in this case, FY 2016 appropriations) regardless of the length of the producer application, with payments made over time according to each producer’s approved contract terms.
12) How much funding was authorized for BCAP in FY 2016?
Funding for FY 2016 was authorized at $25 million total for the overall BCAP program.
13) Is the full $25 million available for project area awards?
No. The notice explains that not all of the $25 million is available for project area awards because the appropriation also covers other BCAP components and program costs. For example, BCAP matching payments may consume roughly 10% to 50% of the annual appropriated budget, and additional funds are used for items such as information technology, legal counsel, and technical assistance.
14) What is the estimated total funding available for project area funding in this notice?
With full authorization and appropriation, the amount effectively available for project area funding is estimated at $22.5 million, which is listed as the estimated total funding.
15) What are the award ceiling and award floor listed, and do they function as strict limits?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $22.5 million and an award floor of $12.5 million. However, the notice describes these figures as suggested amounts used for selection priority rather than strict minimums or maximums that any single project must receive.
16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is CEPD 2016 22.
17) When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The posted date is August 20, 2015. The application deadline for project area proposals is November 6, 2015 (close of business).
18) What is the archive date for the opportunity listing?
The archive date is listed as December 31, 2015.
19) What legislation reauthorized this program, and how long was it authorized?
The program was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, with authorization running through September 30, 2018. This particular solicitation covered selections made using FY 2016 appropriations.
20) Where were sponsors required to submit their applications?
Sponsors needed to submit through Grants.gov by the stated deadline.
21) What federal registrations were expected for applicants?
Applicants were expected to be registered in SAM and have a DUNS number.
22) Is this opportunity subject to Executive Order 12372 (intergovernmental review)?
No. The posting notes that BCAP is not subject to Executive Order 12372.
23) What forms were involved in the Grants.gov submission package?
For the Grants.gov submission process, the sponsor had to download the application package and complete the SF-424 (including a project abstract and key contacts) to enable upload of required BCAP-specific forms. The BCAP-specific forms were submitted as attachments and included BCAP-1, BCAP-20, BCAP-21, BCAP-22, and AD-1047, accessible through the “Full Announcement” linked from the synopsis page.
24) Who is the program contact listed for help with the announcement?
The announcement provides a program contact: Kelly Novak, Energy Specialist/BCAP Manager. The contact is noted as a resource for assistance, particularly if the full announcement could not be accessed electronically.
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