Opportunity Information: Apply for FAS OTP TASC04232012
Apply for FAS OTP TASC04232012
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funds Availability Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.604 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops 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 $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 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).
- Any U.S. organization, private or government, with a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities may apply to the program. Government organizations consist of Federal, State, and local agencies. Private organizations include non profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies. Foreign organizations, whether government or private, may participate as third parties in activities carried out by U.S. organizations, but are not eligible for funding assistance from the program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Notice of Funds Availability for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program 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. exporters of specialty crops overcome practical, technical obstacles that block or threaten access to foreign markets. In plain terms, TASC funds projects that tackle sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues and closely related technical barriers, such as plant health requirements, pest and disease concerns, residue limits, inspection and certification procedures, and other science-based or regulatory constraints that can keep U.S. fruits, vegetables, nursery products, and other specialty crop items from being accepted abroad.
For this program, "specialty crops" are broadly defined as all cultivated plants, or products derived from them, that are produced in the United States, with several major commodity exceptions. Specifically excluded from eligibility under the specialty crop definition are wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. That definition matters because proposals need to clearly tie project activities and expected outcomes to export market access or export protection for eligible specialty crop products, rather than to the excluded commodity categories.
This particular funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FAS OTP TASC04232012) was posted on April 30, 2012, with an application deadline of May 23, 2012, and it was archived the day after closing (May 24, 2012). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that the funding agency expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project, such as coordination, oversight, or collaboration on certain deliverables, rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant with minimal federal engagement. The activity category is agriculture, and the assistance is listed under CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number 10.604, which corresponds to the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program.
In terms of funding scale, the announcement lists an estimated total program funding level of $9,000,000 for the competition and anticipates making about 30 awards. Individual awards have a ceiling of $500,000, and the stated floor is $0, meaning the announcement does not set a minimum award amount. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award, although applicants can still propose leveraged resources or partner contributions if they strengthen the project.
Eligibility is intentionally broad within the U.S. agricultural export community. Any U.S. organization, whether private or governmental, may apply as long as it has a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities. Eligible government applicants include federal, state, and local agencies. Eligible private applicants include nonprofit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state and regional trade groups, and private companies. A key limitation is that foreign organizations are not eligible to receive funding directly under TASC; however, they may participate as third parties in project activities led by a U.S. organization. This structure allows U.S. applicants to collaborate internationally where it is necessary to resolve technical barriers (for example, working with foreign laboratories, regulatory bodies, or research partners), while keeping the federal funding relationship centered on an eligible U.S. recipient.
Overall, the program is best understood as an export market access and export risk-reduction tool for specialty crops. Rather than funding general marketing campaigns, TASC supports projects that address the underlying technical reasons a specialty crop may be delayed, restricted, or rejected in a foreign market. Competitive projects typically align their work with a clearly defined barrier, identify the affected commodity and target market(s), and propose concrete technical activities that lead to measurable improvements in access or compliance, such as data generation, technical consultations, training, method development, or other barrier-specific solutions. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the notice provides a point of contact at FAS: Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst, reachable by phone at 202-720-5588.
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program - FAQs
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the purpose of the TASC Program?
TASC funds projects that help U.S. exporters of specialty crops overcome practical, technical obstacles that block or threaten access to foreign markets. The focus is on resolving technical barriers that can prevent U.S. specialty crop products from being accepted abroad.
What kinds of barriers does TASC aim to address?
The program targets sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues and closely related technical barriers, including plant health requirements, pest and disease concerns, residue limits, inspection and certification procedures, and other science-based or regulatory constraints affecting exports.
Does TASC fund general marketing or promotional campaigns?
Based on the description provided, TASC is best understood as an export market access and export risk-reduction tool rather than a general marketing program. It supports work that addresses the technical reasons a shipment may be delayed, restricted, or rejected in a foreign market.
What are "specialty crops" for this program?
For TASC, "specialty crops" are broadly defined as all cultivated plants (or products derived from them) that are produced in the United States, with certain major commodity exceptions. Proposals need to clearly connect project activities and expected outcomes to export market access or export protection for eligible specialty crop products.
Which commodities are excluded from the TASC specialty crop definition?
The following are specifically excluded: wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FAS OTP TASC04232012.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 30, 2012. The application deadline was May 23, 2012, and it was archived on May 24, 2012.
What type of award is used for TASC under this announcement?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for project administration?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates that the funding agency expects substantial involvement during the life of the project, such as coordination, oversight, or collaboration on certain deliverables, rather than issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for TASC?
The CFDA (now commonly referenced as the Assistance Listing) number is 10.604, which corresponds to the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program.
How much total funding is expected to be available in this competition?
The announcement lists an estimated total program funding level of $9,000,000 for the competition.
How many awards does FAS expect to make?
The announcement anticipates about 30 awards.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
Individual awards have a ceiling of $500,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The stated floor is $0, meaning the announcement does not set a minimum award amount.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Can applicants include leveraged resources or partner contributions anyway?
Yes. While matching is not required, applicants can still propose leveraged resources or partner contributions if they strengthen the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Any U.S. organization, private or governmental, may apply as long as it has a demonstrated role or interest in exporting U.S. agricultural commodities.
What types of U.S. government entities may apply?
Eligible government applicants include federal, state, and local agencies.
What types of private organizations may apply?
Eligible private applicants include nonprofit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state and regional trade groups, and private companies.
Are foreign organizations eligible to receive TASC funding directly?
No. Foreign organizations are not eligible to receive funding directly under TASC.
Can foreign organizations participate in a TASC project in any way?
Yes. Foreign organizations may participate as third parties in project activities led by an eligible U.S. organization. This allows international collaboration where needed to resolve technical barriers while keeping the funding relationship with a U.S. recipient.
What kinds of specialty crop products are mentioned as examples?
The description references U.S. fruits, vegetables, nursery products, and other specialty crop items.
What should a competitive project proposal generally include?
Competitive projects typically align their work with a clearly defined barrier, identify the affected commodity and target market(s), and propose concrete technical activities leading to measurable improvements in access or compliance. Examples of activity types mentioned include data generation, technical consultations, training, method development, or other barrier-specific solutions.
How should applicants connect their project to eligibility requirements?
Proposals should clearly tie project activities and expected outcomes to export market access or export protection for eligible specialty crop products, and avoid focusing on excluded commodities (wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, tobacco).
Who is the point of contact for questions about the full announcement?
The notice provides a point of contact at FAS: Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst.
How can the point of contact be reached?
Elaine Protzman can be reached by phone at 202-720-5588.
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