Opportunity Information: Apply for TASC2015
Apply for TASC2015
- The Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funds Availability Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops" 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 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 $9,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Notice of Funds Availability for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program is a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity intended to strengthen and protect export markets for U.S. specialty crops. The core purpose of the program is to fund practical, export-focused projects that help U.S. organizations overcome or reduce sanitary, phytosanitary (SPS), and other technical barriers that either block exports outright or create serious risk of market disruption. In plain terms, the program targets the kinds of regulatory, inspection, standards, testing, certification, pest and disease, residue, labeling, or other technical requirements that can keep U.S. fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticultural products, and similar specialty crop products from entering or staying in foreign markets.
For the purposes of this grant, "specialty crops" are broadly defined as all cultivated plants (and products derived from them) produced in the United States, with specific exclusions. The excluded commodities are wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco. This definition matters because it clarifies that TASC is not designed for the major program crops listed above, but instead for the wide range of other plant-based commodities where export access is often limited by SPS rules, pest risk concerns, and technical compliance hurdles.
This opportunity was issued as a mandatory grant program in the agriculture funding activity category under CFDA 10.604 (Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program). The posted and creation date for the announcement was April 17, 2014. The application deadline was May 19, 2014, with an archive date of May 20, 2014, indicating that this specific funding round is historical, even though it remains useful as a reference for how the TASC program is structured. The estimated total funding available under this notice was $9,000,000. Individual awards could be as high as $500,000 (the award ceiling). The award floor was listed as $0, which typically signals that proposals may vary widely in size and that there may not be a minimum request level, though applicants still need to submit a credible budget aligned with the project scope. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants generally are not required to contribute non-federal funds to be eligible, which can lower barriers for participation and allow organizations to propose projects based on need and impact rather than fundraising capacity.
Eligibility is intentionally broad and oriented around export relevance. 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 non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies. The emphasis on a "demonstrated role or interest" is important because it signals that the program is intended for applicants with real connectivity to export activity, market access work, technical problem-solving, or the specialty crop supply chain, rather than purely academic projects without a clear pathway to export outcomes.
The projects funded under TASC are meant to be technical in nature and tied to resolving export barriers. While the announcement text provided does not list example activities in detail, the program description implies the kinds of projects that typically qualify: work that supports compliance with foreign SPS and technical requirements, evidence generation to satisfy foreign regulatory concerns, engagement and coordination around pest or disease issues affecting market access, technical studies that support equivalency or approval decisions, training or capacity-building needed to meet importing-country requirements, and other targeted interventions that reduce the likelihood that shipments will be rejected, delayed, or restricted. The overarching goal is to maintain or expand access to international markets by addressing the specific technical reasons a market might be closed or threatened.
The funding opportunity number for this notice is TASC2015, and the funding instrument type is a grant. The administering agency is the Foreign Agricultural Service. For applicants or interested parties who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, the notice provides a direct point of contact: Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst, reachable by phone at 202-720-5588. The listing also references an additional information link titled "TASC - Notice of Funds Availability," which would have contained the full requirements, submission instructions, and any detailed evaluation criteria for that cycle.
Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) Program - FAQs
1. What is this grant opportunity?
This Notice of Funds Availability describes the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. The program is designed to strengthen and protect export markets for U.S. specialty crops by funding practical, export-focused projects.
2. What is the main purpose of the TASC program?
The core purpose is to help U.S. organizations overcome or reduce sanitary, phytosanitary (SPS), and other technical barriers that block exports or create serious risk of market disruption for U.S. specialty crops.
3. What kinds of export barriers does TASC target?
TASC targets technical requirements and constraints that can prevent U.S. specialty crop products from entering or staying in foreign markets. Based on the notice description, these barriers can include regulatory and inspection requirements, standards, testing, certification, pest and disease concerns, residue issues, labeling requirements, and other technical conditions that affect market access.
4. What are "specialty crops" for the purposes of this grant?
For this grant, "specialty crops" are broadly defined as all cultivated plants (and products derived from them) produced in the United States, with specific exclusions listed in the notice.
5. Which commodities are excluded from the TASC specialty crop definition?
The notice specifically excludes: wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, and tobacco.
6. Why does the specialty crop definition matter for applicants?
The definition clarifies that TASC is not intended for the major program crops listed as exclusions, and instead focuses on the wide range of other plant-based commodities where export access is often limited by SPS rules, pest risk concerns, and technical compliance hurdles.
7. What agency administers this grant?
The administering agency is the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
8. What is the CFDA number for this program?
The notice lists CFDA 10.604 (Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program).
9. What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number in the notice is TASC2015.
10. What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
11. How much total funding was available under this notice?
The estimated total funding available under this notice was $9,000,000.
12. What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $500,000 per award.
13. What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0. This typically indicates there may not be a stated minimum request amount and that proposal budgets may vary widely, as long as the budget is credible and aligns with the project scope.
14. Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.
15. 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.
16. What types of government entities are eligible?
Eligible government applicants include federal, state, and local agencies.
17. What types of private entities are eligible?
Eligible private applicants include non-profit trade associations, universities, agricultural cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and private companies.
18. What does "demonstrated role or interest in exporting" mean in practice?
The notice emphasizes that applicants should have real connectivity to export activity, market access work, technical problem-solving, or the specialty crop supply chain. The intent is to support projects with a clear pathway to export outcomes rather than work that is purely academic without export relevance.
19. What kinds of projects does TASC fund?
Projects are meant to be technical in nature and tied directly to resolving export barriers. While the notice text provided does not list detailed example activities, it indicates the program supports work such as: supporting compliance with foreign SPS and technical requirements, generating evidence to address foreign regulatory concerns, engaging and coordinating around pest or disease issues that affect market access, conducting technical studies that support equivalency or approval decisions, and providing training or capacity-building needed to meet importing-country requirements.
20. What is the overall goal of TASC-funded projects?
The overarching goal is to maintain or expand access to international markets by addressing the specific technical reasons a market might be closed, restricted, or at risk of disruption.
21. When was this notice posted?
The posted and creation date for the announcement was April 17, 2014.
22. What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was May 19, 2014.
23. Is this specific funding round still open?
No. The archive date was May 20, 2014, which indicates this particular funding round is historical, although it may still be useful as a reference for how the TASC program is structured.
24. What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The notice provides a direct point of contact for assistance: Elaine Protzman, Program Analyst, at 202-720-5588.
25. Where would applicants find the full requirements and submission instructions for that cycle?
The listing references an additional information link titled "TASC - Notice of Funds Availability," which would have contained the full requirements, submission instructions, and any detailed evaluation criteria for that cycle.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Foreign Agricultural Service
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Strengthening Independent Media in Moldova
Previous opportunity: Direct On chip Digital Optical Synthesizer (DODOS)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for TASC2015
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (TASC2015) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Basin States Salinity Program Apply for R14SS40005 Funding Number: R14SS40005 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $9,200,000 |
| Rural Health and Safety Education Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 004522 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 004522 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA FBMB 004523 Funding Number: USDA NIFA FBMB 004523 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| AgrAbility Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004524 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| Critical Agricultural Materials Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004526 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004526 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Federal State Marketing Improvement Program Apply for USDA AMS FSMIP 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS FSMIP 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| National Integrated Water Quality Program Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004527 Funding Number: USDA NIFA ICGP 004527 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Smith Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004528 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004528 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| IMPROVING POST HARVEST LOSS THROUGH HOUSHOLD SEED STORAGE MODELS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN JAMAICA Apply for APS OFDA 14 000007 Funding Number: APS OFDA 14 000007 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Biodiesel Fuel Education Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004529 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004529 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 2014 Farmers Market Promotion Program Grants Apply for USDA AMS FMPP 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS FMPP 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| 2014 Local Food Promotion Program Grants Apply for USDA AMS LFPP 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS LFPP 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Crop Protection and Pest Management Apply for USDA NIFA CPPM 004531 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CPPM 004531 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,150,000 |
| Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership Apply for RFA OAA 14 000029 Funding Number: RFA OAA 14 000029 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| Soil Health and Conservation Outreach Workshops Apply for USDA NRCS MO 14 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MO 14 01 Agency: Missouri State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004541 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004541 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Healthy Homes Partnership Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 004538 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 004538 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for USDA AMS NOP NATL 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS NOP NATL 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for USDA AMS NOP AMA 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS NOP AMA 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Alfalfa and Forage Research Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004536 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004536 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "TASC2015", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.