Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 12 000027
Apply for RFA OAA 12 000027
- The Agency for International Development in the agriculture energy science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Powering Agriculture An Energy Grand Challenge for Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 8, 2013 and posted on Jun 12, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2013 The close date has been extended to 02/28/2013. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development is a USAID-led funding competition, launched with the Government of Sweden and Duke Energy Corporation, that seeks practical solutions to a specific development bottleneck: farmers and agriculture-related businesses in developing countries often lack reliable, affordable, and clean energy. The opportunity is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), meaning it is designed to attract a range of innovative approaches rather than fund a single pre-defined project model. The core aim is to reduce barriers that prevent clean energy from being adopted across agricultural value chains, where energy access can directly influence productivity, incomes, food security, and post-harvest losses.
The grant focuses on expanding access to clean energy services used in agriculture, which can include energy for irrigation and water pumping, on-farm processing, cold storage, drying, milling, and other activities that improve efficiency and reduce waste. While the announcement text is broad, the underlying intent is clear: proposals should link energy solutions to measurable agricultural and economic outcomes in developing-country contexts. This generally implies technologies or service models that can operate in rural and off-grid or weak-grid environments, and that can be sustained beyond the award period through viable financing, operations, and maintenance plans.
In terms of funding size and scale, the competition anticipated a total award pool of roughly USD 10 million to USD 20 million. Individual awards were expected to range from USD 300,000 (award floor) up to USD 1,500,000 (award ceiling). Projects could run for up to three years, with the final period of performance set at the time of award based on the proposed workplan and scope. The program also notes that awards could be made using different instruments depending on the applicant and proposal characteristics, including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and collaboration agreements. That flexibility signals that both assistance-style projects and more acquisition-oriented efforts could be supported if they align with program goals.
Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage diverse partnerships and commercialization pathways. Eligible applicants include small businesses; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than universities). The funding listing also indicates a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute their own resources or secure partner contributions as part of the project financing plan, a common feature in programs that want to validate market commitment and improve chances of sustainability.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-OAA-12-000027 and falls under discretionary funding, with activity categories spanning Agriculture, Energy, and Science and Technology/Research and Development. It is associated with CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The opportunity was originally posted June 12, 2012, with an original closing date of July 12, 2012, and later extended to a current closing date of February 28, 2013. For further details and official guidance, the notice points applicants to the Powering Agriculture website and provides a contact mailbox for the Powering Agriculture Grand Challenge team for access issues or announcement-related questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is "Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development"?
Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development is a USAID-led funding competition, launched with the Government of Sweden and Duke Energy Corporation. It supports practical solutions to a specific development bottleneck: farmers and agriculture-related businesses in developing countries often lack reliable, affordable, and clean energy.
What problem is this grant opportunity trying to solve?
The opportunity targets barriers that prevent clean energy from being adopted across agricultural value chains in developing countries. The intent is to improve energy access in ways that can raise productivity and incomes, strengthen food security, and reduce post-harvest losses.
How is this opportunity structured (what does BAA mean)?
The opportunity is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). This means it is intended to attract a range of innovative approaches rather than fund a single pre-defined project model.
What types of solutions or activities are in scope?
The grant focuses on expanding access to clean energy services used in agriculture. Examples mentioned include energy for irrigation and water pumping, on-farm processing, cold storage, drying, milling, and other activities that improve efficiency and reduce waste across agricultural value chains.
Is the program focused on clean energy specifically?
Yes. The competition emphasizes reliable, affordable, and clean energy solutions that can be used by farmers and agriculture-related businesses in developing countries.
Do proposals need to connect energy access to agricultural results?
Yes. While the announcement text is broad, the stated intent is that proposals should link energy solutions to measurable agricultural and economic outcomes in developing-country contexts.
What kinds of operating environments are implied for proposed solutions?
The opportunity generally implies technologies or service models that can operate in rural settings, including off-grid environments or areas with weak-grid service.
How important is sustainability after the award period?
Sustainability is a core expectation. The opportunity indicates that solutions should be able to continue beyond the award period through viable financing as well as realistic operations and maintenance plans.
How much total funding is anticipated under this competition?
The competition anticipated a total award pool of roughly USD 10 million to USD 20 million.
What is the expected funding range for individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from USD 300,000 (award floor) up to USD 1,500,000 (award ceiling).
How long can a project last?
Projects could run for up to three years. The final period of performance would be set at the time of award based on the proposed workplan and scope.
What funding instruments might be used?
Awards could be made using different instruments depending on the applicant and proposal characteristics, including grants, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and collaboration agreements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: small businesses; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status; and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than universities).
Are partnerships encouraged?
The eligibility language is intentionally broad to encourage diverse partnerships and commercialization pathways. Specific partnership requirements are not stated in the provided description.
Is cost share or matching required?
Yes. The funding listing indicates a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants should expect to contribute their own resources or secure partner contributions as part of the project financing plan.
What sectors or topic areas does this opportunity cover?
The opportunity spans Agriculture, Energy, and Science and Technology/Research and Development.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-OAA-12-000027.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
When was the opportunity posted and what are the closing dates?
The opportunity was originally posted on June 12, 2012. The original closing date was July 12, 2012, and it was later extended to a current closing date of February 28, 2013.
Where can applicants find official details or get help?
For further details and official guidance, the notice points applicants to the Powering Agriculture website. It also provides a contact mailbox for the Powering Agriculture Grand Challenge team for access issues or announcement-related questions.
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