Opportunity Information: Apply for FMD2015
Apply for FMD2015
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funds Availability Foreign Market Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.600 Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2014 and posted on Apr 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $34,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $34,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- To participate in the Cooperator program, an applicant must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Notice of Funds Availability for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program (Funding Opportunity Number FMD2015) is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The program focuses on helping U.S. agriculture build demand overseas by supporting efforts to create new export markets, expand existing ones, and maintain long-term foreign market presence for U.S. agricultural commodities and products. The central idea is that coordinated marketing, promotion, and market development work conducted by eligible industry organizations can increase international sales, strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture, and sustain export growth over time.
This opportunity is offered as a grant under a mandatory funding category, and it operates as a cost-share program rather than a fully federally funded activity. That means successful applicants are expected to contribute matching resources alongside federal funds, consistent with the program's cost-sharing requirements. Applications are accepted and funded on a competitive basis, and proposals are evaluated using criteria described in the announcement and in the formal Cooperator program regulations. In practice, this generally means applicants must lay out a clear market development strategy, explain why the proposed foreign markets and activities matter, demonstrate organizational capacity to deliver results, and show that the budget and cost-share arrangement are reasonable and well supported.
The scope of eligible products is broad: all U.S. agricultural commodities and products can be considered, with one explicit exclusion, tobacco. The funding is therefore relevant to a wide range of agricultural sectors, including bulk commodities, intermediate products, and consumer-oriented foods and agricultural goods, as long as the activities are aimed at foreign market development and align with the program's purpose.
Eligibility is restricted to a specific type of applicant. To participate, the applicant must be a nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organization. The listing categorizes eligible applicants as "Others" and points to additional eligibility clarification in the full announcement, but the key requirement stated is that the organization be nonprofit, U.S.-based, and a trade organization representing agricultural interests. This structure reflects the program's cooperative model, where industry groups often coordinate promotion and market development activities on behalf of a commodity or product sector.
The total estimated funding available under this notice is $34,500,000. The listed award ceiling is also $34,500,000, indicating that, in theory, the maximum possible award could be as high as the full program amount, though in typical competitive grant practice funding is often distributed among multiple cooperators depending on proposal quality, program priorities, and available funds. The award floor is listed as $0, which generally signals there is no minimum award size guaranteed and that award amounts can vary widely based on the application and agency decisions.
Key dates for this particular announcement show it was posted on April 17, 2014, with an application closing deadline of May 19, 2014. The opportunity was archived on May 20, 2014, meaning it is no longer open under that posting, but the details are useful for understanding the program's structure and what future FMD notices typically look like. For applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement at the time, the notice provides a direct agency contact: Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst at FAS, reachable by phone at 202-720-5588.
Overall, this grant opportunity is designed for nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations that can put forward competitive, well-justified, cost-shared market development projects intended to strengthen and grow international demand for U.S. agricultural commodities and products (excluding tobacco). The program emphasizes measurable market-building efforts, shared financial responsibility, and competitive selection based on published evaluation criteria and program regulations.
Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program (FMD2015) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program, Funding Opportunity Number FMD2015. It is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the purpose of the FMD Cooperator Program?
The program is designed to help U.S. agriculture build demand overseas. It supports efforts to create new export markets, expand existing markets, and maintain a long-term foreign market presence for U.S. agricultural commodities and products.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The program supports coordinated marketing, promotion, and market development work conducted by eligible industry organizations to increase international sales, strengthen U.S. agricultural competitiveness, and sustain export growth over time.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. Applications are accepted and funded on a competitive basis, and proposals are evaluated using criteria described in the announcement and in the formal Cooperator program regulations.
Is the funding fully federally funded, or is cost-sharing required?
This opportunity operates as a cost-share program rather than a fully federally funded activity. Successful applicants are expected to contribute matching resources alongside federal funds, consistent with the program's cost-sharing requirements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations. The key requirement stated is that the organization be nonprofit, U.S.-based, and a trade organization representing agricultural interests.
Are for-profit companies eligible to apply directly?
Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, not for-profit companies applying directly.
What products are eligible under this program?
All U.S. agricultural commodities and products can be considered, with one explicit exclusion: tobacco.
Is tobacco eligible for funding under this opportunity?
No. Tobacco is explicitly excluded from eligible products under the scope described in the opportunity information.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding available under this notice is $34,500,000.
What is the maximum possible award amount?
The listed award ceiling is $34,500,000, indicating that the maximum possible award could be as high as the full program amount.
Is there a minimum award size?
The award floor is listed as $0, which generally indicates there is no minimum award size guaranteed and that award amounts may vary widely based on the application and agency decisions.
Will the funding be awarded to one organization or multiple organizations?
The opportunity information notes that, in typical competitive grant practice, funding is often distributed among multiple cooperators depending on proposal quality, program priorities, and available funds. The information provided does not guarantee a specific number of awards.
What do applicants generally need to include in a competitive proposal?
In practice, proposals generally need to lay out a clear market development strategy, explain why the proposed foreign markets and activities matter, demonstrate organizational capacity to deliver results, and show that the budget and cost-share arrangement are reasonable and well supported.
What is meant by "market development" in this program?
Market development, as described here, refers to activities aimed at building overseas demand for U.S. agricultural commodities and products, including creating new markets, expanding existing markets, and maintaining a long-term presence in foreign markets.
What agency administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the funding category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered as a grant under a mandatory funding category.
When was this notice posted and when did it close?
The notice was posted on April 17, 2014. The application closing deadline was May 19, 2014.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on May 20, 2014, which indicates it is no longer open under that posting.
Why is the award still useful if the notice is archived?
Even though this posting is archived, the details are useful for understanding the program's structure and what future FMD notices typically look like.
Who can be contacted for questions about the full announcement (as listed in the notice)?
The notice lists Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst at FAS, as the contact. Phone: 202-720-5588.
What is the main goal of funding projects under this program?
The central goal is to strengthen and grow international demand for U.S. agricultural commodities and products (excluding tobacco) through cost-shared, coordinated market development efforts led by eligible nonprofit trade organizations.
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