Opportunity Information: Apply for FAS OTP FMD04232012
Apply for FAS OTP FMD04232012
- 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 30, 2012 and posted on Apr 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 2012. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- 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) Program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity intended to help U.S. agricultural industries build demand overseas. The program, commonly referred to as the Cooperator Program, focuses on creating new foreign markets, expanding existing ones, and maintaining long-term export channels for U.S. agricultural commodities and value-added products. It does this through cost-share assistance, meaning the federal funds are meant to supplement (not replace) the applicant's own resources and investment in export market development activities. In practical terms, the funding supports organized efforts that increase international sales and strengthen the global position of U.S. agriculture, with the important limitation that tobacco is not eligible; otherwise, all U.S. agricultural commodities may be considered.
This opportunity was issued as a mandatory funding announcement and uses a grant as the funding instrument. Applications are competitively reviewed, and awards are made based on the evaluation criteria described in the notice and in the underlying Cooperator program regulations. The competitive aspect matters because applicants are not automatically entitled to funding; they must present a strong proposal that shows how planned activities will effectively develop or sustain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products. While the notice does not list the evaluation factors in the excerpt provided, it makes clear that reviewers will measure applications against established program standards rather than informal or ad hoc preferences.
The total estimated funding available under this announcement is $34,500,000. The notice anticipates making about 25 awards, which suggests the program typically funds multiple projects or organizations in a given cycle rather than a single large recipient. The stated award ceiling is also $34,500,000 and the award floor is $0, indicating that awards could vary widely in size and that there is no guaranteed minimum award amount for any applicant. Because cost sharing is required, successful applicants should expect to document and commit matching resources according to program rules, and they should be prepared to explain how their contributions and the federal share will work together to produce measurable market development results.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations. The listing shows "Others" under eligible applicants, but the eligibility clarification specifies that applicants must be nonprofit trade organizations tied to U.S. agricultural commodities or products. This aligns with the program's purpose: it is designed to support industry-wide or sector-wide export promotion and market development strategies rather than individual private companies acting alone. Applicants should also be prepared to show that they have the organizational capacity and industry representation needed to carry out overseas promotion, technical assistance, outreach, or other market development work that benefits U.S. producers and exporters.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number FAS OTP FMD04232012 and is associated with CFDA number 10.600 (Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program). The notice was posted on April 30, 2012, with an application closing date of May 23, 2012, and it was archived on May 24, 2012. For additional program materials, the notice points applicants to a Market Development Programs information link. For access issues or questions about the announcement, the contact listed is Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst, reachable at (202) 720-5588.
Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program, also commonly called the Cooperator Program. It is intended to help U.S. agricultural industries build demand overseas by supporting export market development efforts.
What is the main purpose of the FMD (Cooperator) Program?
The program focuses on creating new foreign markets, expanding existing markets, and maintaining long-term export channels for U.S. agricultural commodities and value-added products. The overall goal is to increase international sales and strengthen the global position of U.S. agriculture.
What types of products or commodities are eligible?
All U.S. agricultural commodities may be considered except tobacco. Tobacco is explicitly not eligible under this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit U.S. agricultural trade organizations. While the listing includes "Others" as an eligible applicant type, the eligibility clarification specifies that applicants must be nonprofit trade organizations tied to U.S. agricultural commodities or products.
Are individual private companies eligible to apply?
Based on the eligibility statement provided, the opportunity is intended for nonprofit trade organizations rather than individual private companies acting alone.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. Applications are competitively reviewed, and awards are made based on evaluation criteria described in the notice and the underlying Cooperator program regulations. Applicants are not automatically entitled to funding.
What does "cost-share assistance" mean in this program?
Cost-share means federal funds are intended to supplement, not replace, the applicant's own resources and investment in export market development activities. Applicants should be prepared to commit and document matching resources according to program rules.
How much total funding is available under this announcement?
The total estimated funding available is $34,500,000.
How many awards does the notice anticipate making?
The notice anticipates about 25 awards.
What is the minimum and maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $34,500,000 and the award floor is $0. This indicates award sizes may vary widely and there is no guaranteed minimum award amount for any applicant.
Does this announcement guarantee funding to eligible applicants?
No. Because the opportunity is competitive, eligible applicants must submit strong proposals and will be evaluated against established program standards and criteria referenced in the notice and regulations.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
Funding supports organized efforts to develop, expand, or sustain foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products. The excerpt indicates activities may include overseas promotion, technical assistance, outreach, or other market development work that benefits U.S. producers and exporters.
What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate in their application?
Applicants should be prepared to show they have the organizational capacity and industry representation needed to carry out market development work overseas. They should also be prepared to explain how their own contributions and the federal share will work together to produce measurable market development results.
Is this opportunity listed as mandatory or discretionary?
This opportunity was issued as a mandatory funding announcement.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NOFA?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FAS OTP FMD04232012.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 10.600, identified as the Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program.
When was the notice posted?
The notice was posted on April 30, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was May 23, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on May 24, 2012.
Where does the notice direct applicants to find additional program materials?
The notice points applicants to a Market Development Programs information link for additional program materials.
Who is the contact person listed for access issues or questions?
The contact listed is Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst.
What phone number is provided for the listed contact?
The phone number provided is (202) 720-5588.
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