Opportunity Information: Apply for 2021 02
Apply for 2021 02
- The Department of Agriculture, Global Programs in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 2020. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive USDA grant opportunity run through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) that helps U.S. organizations build, maintain, and expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. It is structured as a cost-share program, meaning the applicant is expected to contribute resources alongside federal funding to carry out trade development activities. The overall intent is practical and market-facing: strengthen demand and market access abroad so U.S. agricultural sectors can grow exports over time, not just generate short-term sales.
Funding is awarded competitively, and proposals are judged using the evaluation criteria laid out in the program materials and formal Cooperator program regulations. A key theme in the selection process is performance and measurable outcomes. FAS aligns funding decisions with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, so applications need to show clear logic between activities and results, plus credible ways to track progress. Strong proposals typically present a coherent long-term agricultural trade strategy, explain why the approach will work in the targeted markets, and include a timeline with checkpoints where outcomes can be measured using quantifiable goals tied to specific products and/or countries.
Another major factor is representation and industry participation. FAS looks favorably on applicants that can demonstrate broad producer representation for the commodity being promoted and meaningful involvement from affiliated industry partners. In practice, this often points to commodity associations, trade groups, or similar organizations that can credibly speak for a sector and coordinate promotion efforts across multiple stakeholders. FAS also weighs whether the proposal focuses on markets with strong growth potential, reflecting a preference for projects that are likely to generate significant export gains or protect strategically important markets from erosion.
Eligibility covers U.S. agricultural commodities broadly, with one explicit exclusion: tobacco is not eligible. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.600 and categorized under Agriculture. The eligible applicant field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which signals that eligibility is not limited to a single applicant type in the summary record and must be confirmed in the full notice or eligibility addendum. The awarding agency is the Department of Agriculture, Global Programs (FAS).
For this specific posting, the funding opportunity number is 2021 02. It was created May 8, 2020, with an original application closing date of June 26, 2020. The instrument type is a grant, the maximum award ceiling shown is $10,000,000, and the program expected to make about 30 awards. The overall takeaway is that FMD funds are aimed at well-organized, sector-backed export development strategies that can demonstrate measurable progress, target promising foreign markets, and deliver outcomes consistent with GPRA-driven performance expectations.
Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
1) What is the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program?
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive USDA grant opportunity administered by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). It supports U.S. organizations working to build, maintain, and expand overseas markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and products.
2) What is the main purpose of the FMD program?
The program is designed to strengthen overseas demand and market access for U.S. agricultural sectors so exports can grow over time. It emphasizes sustained, practical, market-facing development rather than simply generating short-term sales.
3) Is the FMD program competitive?
Yes. Funding is awarded competitively, and proposals are evaluated based on the criteria described in the program materials and the formal Cooperator program regulations.
4) What type of funding instrument is used?
The instrument type for this opportunity is a grant.
5) Is this a cost-share program?
Yes. FMD is structured as a cost-share program, meaning the applicant is expected to contribute resources alongside federal funds to carry out trade development activities.
6) What does "cost-share" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the posting description, cost-share means the applicant must provide their own resources in addition to the federal funding to implement the proposed trade development work. (Specific match requirements would be detailed in the full program materials.)
7) Who is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Global Programs, through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
8) What is the CFDA number and category for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.600 and is categorized under Agriculture.
9) What kinds of projects does FMD support?
The program supports overseas market development efforts for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. The intent is to strengthen demand and market access abroad through organized trade development activities that can produce measurable results over time.
10) What kinds of applicants does FAS tend to view favorably?
FAS looks favorably on applicants that demonstrate broad producer representation for the commodity being promoted and show meaningful involvement from affiliated industry partners. This often aligns with commodity associations, trade groups, or similar sector organizations that can coordinate promotion across multiple stakeholders.
11) Are all agricultural commodities eligible?
Eligibility covers U.S. agricultural commodities broadly, with one explicit exclusion: tobacco is not eligible.
12) Is tobacco eligible for funding under this program?
No. Tobacco is explicitly excluded from eligibility under the opportunity description provided.
13) How does FAS evaluate proposals?
Proposals are judged using the evaluation criteria in the program materials and Cooperator program regulations. A recurring theme in selection is performance and measurable outcomes, including how well the application links activities to results and how progress will be tracked.
14) What role do measurable outcomes play in selection?
Measurable outcomes are central. The description indicates FAS aligns funding decisions with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, so applications need clear logic between activities and results and credible ways to track progress.
15) What is GPRA and why does it matter for this grant?
GPRA refers to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. For this opportunity, it matters because FAS uses GPRA-driven performance expectations when making funding decisions, meaning proposals should be built around measurable goals and verifiable progress tracking.
16) What does a strong proposal typically include?
Based on the description, strong proposals typically include a coherent long-term agricultural trade strategy, a clear explanation of why the approach will work in the targeted markets, and a timeline with checkpoints for measuring outcomes. They also tend to use quantifiable goals tied to specific products and/or countries.
17) Does the program favor certain target markets?
Yes. FAS weighs whether the proposal focuses on markets with strong growth potential and appears to prefer projects likely to generate significant export gains or protect strategically important markets from erosion.
18) How important is industry participation and representation?
It is a major factor. FAS looks for broad producer representation and meaningful participation from affiliated industry partners, suggesting a preference for sector-backed approaches rather than isolated efforts.
19) What is the funding opportunity number for this posting?
The funding opportunity number is 2021 02.
20) When was this funding opportunity created?
This posting was created on May 8, 2020.
21) What was the original application closing date listed for this posting?
The original application closing date listed is June 26, 2020.
22) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) shown?
The maximum award ceiling shown is $10,000,000.
23) How many awards were expected for this posting?
The program expected to make about 30 awards.
24) Is eligibility limited to one specific type of applicant?
The eligible applicant field is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This indicates eligibility is not limited to a single applicant type in the summary record and should be confirmed in the full notice or eligibility addendum.
25) Where should applicants confirm eligibility details?
Eligibility should be confirmed in the full notice or the "Additional Information on Eligibility" text/addendum referenced by the posting.
26) What is the overall takeaway about what FMD funding is meant to support?
FMD funds are aimed at well-organized, sector-backed export development strategies that target promising foreign markets and can demonstrate measurable progress consistent with GPRA-driven performance expectations.
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