Opportunity Information: Apply for AMS NOCCSP 2015
Apply for AMS NOCCSP 2015
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Organic Certification Cost Share Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.171 Organic Certification Cost Share Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 3, 2015 and posted on Mar 3, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 6, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
- To participate in the NOCCSP, interested States, through their Departments of Agriculture, must complete an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into an agreement with USDA AMS.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) is a USDA initiative run through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that helps certified organic producers and handlers offset the cost of becoming or staying certified. The program is grounded in federal law, originally authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and later updated by the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). AMS administers the program under the broader framework of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the federal grant management rules in 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Grant Guidance).
A key point is that the funding does not go directly from USDA to individual farms or businesses. Instead, AMS awards cooperative agreements to eligible state agencies, typically State Departments of Agriculture, which then operate as pass-through entities. Those state agencies accept, review, and approve requests from certified organic operations and issue reimbursements for allowable organic certification expenses. The program covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
For the FY 2015 opportunity described in the notice, total program funding was expected to be about $10.3 million (the listing shows an estimated total funding amount of $10 million). AMS anticipated making roughly 56 awards, with award sizes ranging from a floor of $5,000 up to a ceiling of $3,000,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for states to participate. Eligible applicants are state governments, and participation requires the state, through its Department of Agriculture, to submit an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into an agreement with USDA AMS. The funding opportunity number is AMS-NOCCSP-2015, and the CFDA number listed is 10.171 (Organic Certification Cost Share Programs). The posting date was March 3, 2015, with an application deadline of April 6, 2015.
On the benefit side for organic operations, the reimbursement is designed to make certification more affordable by covering up to 75 percent of an operation's total allowable certification costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $750 per certification scope. The scopes specifically mentioned are crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (processing). For this FY 2015 cycle, eligible costs were those incurred during the certification cost window from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. While the grant is awarded to state agencies, the practical takeaway for farmers and organic businesses is that they must apply through their own State Department of Agriculture to receive assistance.
The announcement also notes that AMS may issue multi-year grant agreements and may consider performance and past expenditures when deciding whether to allocate additional funds after the initial round. In other words, states that effectively distribute the funds and demonstrate strong program administration may be better positioned for future allocations. Additional rules, procedures, and performance criteria for state agencies were provided in the AMS Organic Certification Cost Share Program Fiscal Year 2015 Terms and Conditions document linked in the notice (http://bit.ly/CostShareGen). For access issues with the full announcement, the contact listed was Kristen Nelson, Chief of Staff, at 202-690-3962.
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) FAQs
What is the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP)?
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) is a USDA initiative administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that helps certified organic producers and handlers offset the cost of obtaining or maintaining organic certification.
Which USDA agency runs NOCCSP?
NOCCSP is run through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Does USDA pay cost-share reimbursements directly to individual farms or businesses?
No. USDA AMS does not send funding directly to individual farms or businesses. AMS awards cooperative agreements to eligible state agencies (typically State Departments of Agriculture), and those state agencies act as pass-through entities that accept applications from certified organic operations and issue reimbursements for allowable certification expenses.
Who can apply for the USDA funding under this FY 2015 opportunity?
Eligible applicants for the USDA funding are state governments. Participation requires the state, through its Department of Agriculture, to submit an Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424) and enter into an agreement with USDA AMS.
If I am a certified organic operation, where do I apply to receive reimbursement?
Certified organic producers and handlers must apply through their own State Department of Agriculture (the state agency administering NOCCSP funds as a pass-through entity).
What geographic areas are covered by the program?
The program covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this FY 2015 notice?
The funding opportunity number is AMS-NOCCSP-2015. The CFDA number listed is 10.171 (Organic Certification Cost Share Programs).
When was the FY 2015 opportunity posted and when was the application deadline?
The posting date was March 3, 2015, and the application deadline was April 6, 2015.
How much total funding was expected to be available for the FY 2015 cycle?
Total program funding was expected to be about $10.3 million (the listing shows an estimated total funding amount of $10 million).
How many awards did AMS anticipate making, and what were the award size ranges?
AMS anticipated making roughly 56 awards. Award sizes ranged from a minimum (floor) of $5,000 up to a maximum (ceiling) of $3,000,000.
Is there a state match or cost-sharing requirement to participate?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for states to participate.
What does the cost-share reimbursement cover for organic operations?
The reimbursement is designed to make organic certification more affordable by covering up to 75 percent of an operation's total allowable certification costs, up to a maximum reimbursement of $750 per certification scope.
What is the maximum reimbursement amount?
The maximum reimbursement is $750 per certification scope.
What percentage of allowable certification costs can be reimbursed?
Up to 75 percent of an operation's total allowable certification costs can be reimbursed, subject to the $750 per-scope cap.
What certification scopes are specifically mentioned for reimbursement?
The scopes specifically mentioned are crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (processing).
What is the eligible cost window for the FY 2015 cycle?
For FY 2015, eligible costs were those incurred during the certification cost window from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.
What type of federal award mechanism is used to fund states?
AMS awards cooperative agreements to eligible state agencies, which then administer reimbursements to certified organic operations.
What legal and regulatory framework is NOCCSP based on?
The program is grounded in federal law originally authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and updated by the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). AMS administers the program under the broader framework of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the federal grant management rules in 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Grant Guidance).
Can AMS issue multi-year agreements under this program?
Yes. The announcement notes that AMS may issue multi-year grant agreements.
How might future funding allocations be determined for states?
AMS may consider performance and past expenditures when deciding whether to allocate additional funds after the initial round. States that effectively distribute the funds and demonstrate strong program administration may be better positioned for future allocations.
Where were additional state agency rules and performance criteria described for FY 2015?
Additional rules, procedures, and performance criteria for state agencies were provided in the AMS Organic Certification Cost Share Program Fiscal Year 2015 Terms and Conditions document linked in the notice: http://bit.ly/CostShareGen
Who was the listed contact for access issues with the full announcement?
The contact listed was Kristen Nelson, Chief of Staff, at 202-690-3962.
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