Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM NOCCSP 2016
Apply for USDA AMS TM NOCCSP 2016
- The USDA-AMS 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2016 and posted on May 04, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 05, 2016. (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 $2,180,872.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 56 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) is a USDA grant program run by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that helps offset the cost of becoming or staying certified organic. It is rooted in federal farm legislation, originally authorized under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and later updated by the 2014 Farm Bill. The basic purpose is straightforward: make organic certification more affordable for organic producers and handlers by reimbursing certain eligible certification expenses, which in turn supports growth and stability in the organic sector.
A key point about how the program works is that AMS does not pay individual farms or businesses directly. Instead, USDA awards grant funds to eligible state agencies (generally State Departments of Agriculture) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands). Those state and territorial agencies act as pass-through administrators. They apply to USDA for NOCCSP funds, then run their own reimbursement process: they accept applications from certified organic operations, review and approve them based on program rules, and then issue reimbursements for qualifying costs.
For the FY 2016 cycle described in the notice, USDA indicated that about $10.7 million in total funding was available nationwide through NOCCSP. The expected number of awards was 56, reflecting awards across states and territories. While USDA provides the overall program structure and funding, each state agency is responsible for implementing the reimbursement process locally, which is why organic operations are directed to contact their own State Department of Agriculture to apply for cost-share assistance. The formal federal framework for administering the program references the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and federal grant administrative requirements under 2 CFR 200, which set standards for how federal funds must be managed, documented, and reported.
Eligibility for applying to USDA for this funding (the entity that submits the grant application) is limited to state governments and qualifying state agencies, not individual producers or organic businesses. However, the intended beneficiaries are certified organic operations, including both producers and handlers, who can request reimbursement for specific organic certification costs. For this FY 2016 opportunity, the eligible cost window for reimbursements covered expenses incurred between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. The program notice emphasizes that the FY 2016 Request for Applications lays out the detailed eligibility rules and performance expectations that state agencies must meet in order to receive and manage the funds.
In terms of the specific funding opportunity logistics, this NOCCSP announcement was categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDA-AMS under CFDA number 10.171. The funding opportunity number was USDA AMS TM NOCCSP 2016. The original and current application deadline listed for state agency applicants was July 5, 2016, and the posting and creation date for the opportunity was May 4, 2016. The listed award ceiling was $2,180,872, which reflects the maximum potential award size for an individual state or territorial agency under this notice, even though the total national pot was much larger.
For someone seeking reimbursement as an organic producer or handler, the practical takeaway is that the entry point is not Grants.gov or USDA directly, but the relevant state or territorial Department of Agriculture. That office can explain what documentation is required, what certification expenses qualify, and how and when reimbursements are issued. USDA also points applicants and administrators to additional program guidance on the AMS website at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp, which serves as a central reference for NOCCSP and related organic cost-share information.
National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) FAQs
What is the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP)?
NOCCSP is a USDA grant program run by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that helps make organic certification more affordable by reimbursing certain eligible organic certification expenses for certified organic producers and handlers.
What is the purpose of NOCCSP?
The program is designed to offset (reimburse) some of the costs of becoming certified organic or maintaining organic certification. By reducing certification costs, it supports growth and stability in the organic sector.
Who runs NOCCSP at the federal level?
The program is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
Does USDA pay reimbursements directly to individual organic farms or businesses?
No. AMS does not pay individual farms or businesses directly. USDA awards grant funds to eligible state and territorial agencies, which then operate reimbursement programs for certified organic operations within their jurisdiction.
Who actually applies to USDA for NOCCSP grant funding?
Eligible state agencies (generally State Departments of Agriculture) and qualifying state government entities apply to USDA for NOCCSP funding. Individual producers and organic businesses do not submit the federal grant application under this opportunity.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of the program?
The intended beneficiaries are certified organic operations, including organic producers and organic handlers, who may request reimbursement for certain organic certification costs through their state or territorial program administrator.
Where is NOCCSP available?
USDA makes NOCCSP funding available to eligible agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
How do organic producers and handlers apply for reimbursement?
Organic producers and handlers apply through their state or territorial administering agency (typically the State Department of Agriculture). That agency accepts applications, reviews them for compliance with program rules, and issues reimbursements for qualifying expenses.
Is Grants.gov the main entry point for organic operations seeking reimbursement?
No. For producers and handlers seeking reimbursement, the practical entry point is the appropriate state or territorial Department of Agriculture rather than applying to USDA directly.
What role do state and territorial agencies play in NOCCSP?
State and territorial agencies act as pass-through administrators. They apply to USDA for funds, establish and run their local reimbursement process, collect and review applications from certified organic operations, and issue reimbursements for eligible certification expenses.
How much funding was available for the FY 2016 NOCCSP cycle described?
USDA indicated that approximately $10.7 million in total funding was available nationwide for the FY 2016 cycle described in the notice.
How many awards were expected for FY 2016?
The notice indicated an expected 56 awards, reflecting awards across states and territories.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount per state or territorial agency for this notice?
The listed award ceiling was $2,180,872, representing the maximum potential award size for an individual state or territorial agency under this specific FY 2016 notice.
What was the eligible cost window for reimbursements under this FY 2016 opportunity?
For the FY 2016 opportunity described, eligible certification expenses were those incurred between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.
What is the CFDA number for this program opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA number 10.171.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NOCCSP announcement?
The funding opportunity number provided was USDA AMS TM NOCCSP 2016.
When was the FY 2016 opportunity posted?
The posting and creation date listed for the opportunity was May 4, 2016.
What was the application deadline for state agency applicants for FY 2016?
The original and current application deadline listed for state agency applicants was July 5, 2016.
What type of grant opportunity is this?
This NOCCSP announcement was categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDA-AMS.
What federal authorities and rules are referenced for administering the program?
The program framework references the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, and it also points to federal grant administrative requirements under 2 CFR 200, which set standards for managing, documenting, and reporting federal grant funds.
Where can I find official program guidance or more information?
USDA points to the AMS website for program guidance and related organic cost-share information: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/occsp.
Who should I contact to learn what documentation is required and how reimbursements are issued?
You should contact your state or territorial Department of Agriculture (or the relevant administering agency). Because the reimbursement process is implemented locally, that office can explain required documentation, what certification expenses qualify, and how and when reimbursements are issued.
Where are the detailed eligibility rules and performance expectations described for this cycle?
The notice indicates that the FY 2016 Request for Applications includes the detailed eligibility rules and performance expectations that state agencies must meet to receive and manage NOCCSP funds.
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