Opportunity Information: Apply for S OES 08 RFA ENV 0001
Apply for S OES 08 RFA ENV 0001
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Sustainable Agricultural Initiatives (Coffee, Bananas, Cacao)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 5, 2008 and posted on Apr 15, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2008 Applications must be submitted by 1159 pm Eastern Standard Time (EDT), Friday, May 16,2008.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,188,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants may include non governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, international or regional organizations, and US and non US Colleges and universities. Please see the Proposal Submission Instruction or PSI for further eligibility requirements.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Strengthening Sustainable Agricultural Initiatives (Coffee, Bananas, Cacao) opportunity is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES), Office of Environmental Policy funding competition designed to support practical, on-the-ground work that advances sustainable agriculture in the Dominican Republic and the countries covered by CAFTA-DR. The program is framed as support for regional and local initiatives that already show momentum or established commitment, with an emphasis on building from existing projects, partnerships, or collaborations rather than starting from scratch. It focuses specifically on sustainable agricultural initiatives tied to three priority crops: coffee, bananas, and cacao.
At its core, the opportunity is meant to strengthen how small and medium-scale producers and entrepreneurs earn stable, sustainable incomes while improving environmental outcomes. Proposed projects are expected to help farmers, cooperatives, and related businesses adopt best practices through a combination of technical assistance and vocational or workforce-oriented training. The solicitation highlights commercial strategies as a key component, meaning applicants are encouraged to link sustainability with real market viability, such as improved production methods, quality improvements, post-harvest handling, better business practices, or other steps that help enterprises compete and earn more while reducing environmental impacts. The call also signals a preference for proposals that connect with cooperatives and regional networks, suggesting that scaling impact through organized producer groups and cross-border or multi-community collaboration is a desirable approach.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement from the funding agency during implementation compared with a standard grant. The estimated total funding available is $1,188,000, and OES anticipates making about four awards. Individual project budgets are expected to fall between a floor of $200,000 and a ceiling of $300,000, with an explicit statement that no project should exceed $300,000. The announcement also states that cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) and clearly document those contributions as part of the proposed budget and plan.
This opportunity sits within the broader context of the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) associated with CAFTA-DR. The ECA context matters because it explains the policy goals behind the funding, which extend beyond farm-level sustainability. The long-term aims include supporting compliance with CAFTA-DR environmental obligations, encouraging high levels of environmental protection through strong laws and policies, and improving enforcement of environmental laws. It also emphasizes stronger environmental conservation, greater transparency and public participation in environmental decision-making, and building a culture of environmental compliance by promoting economic opportunities, voluntary improvements in environmental performance, job creation, and regional harmonization of environmental approaches to create a more consistent "level playing field" across participating countries. In practical terms, competitive proposals would be expected to show how agricultural sustainability activities also reinforce these broader environmental governance and compliance outcomes, even if indirectly, by reducing harmful practices, improving resource management, and strengthening institutions like cooperatives and networks that can sustain change.
Eligibility is fairly broad but targeted to organizations with capacity and experience in the region. Eligible applicants include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, international or regional organizations, and U.S. or non-U.S. colleges and universities. The common thread is demonstrated regional experience and the ability to support existing sustainable agricultural initiatives tied to the three named crops. The solicitation package is structured in three parts: the request for applications (RFA) announcement, the program description, and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI). The PSI is flagged as especially important because it contains detailed submission requirements and immediate steps needed to apply through Grants.gov.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number (S-OES-08-RFA-ENV-0001) and the posting timeline: posted April 15, 2008, with applications due by 11:59 pm Eastern time on Friday, May 16, 2008. The opportunity was later archived June 15, 2008. The listed contact for questions or access issues is Aaron Spencer at the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, reachable at spencerae@state.gov, phone (202) 647-8772, fax (202) 647-5947.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Strengthening Sustainable Agricultural Initiatives (Coffee, Bananas, Cacao) funding opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES), Office of Environmental Policy funding competition that supports practical, on-the-ground work to advance sustainable agriculture in the Dominican Republic and the countries covered by CAFTA-DR, with a specific focus on coffee, bananas, and cacao.
Who is the funding agency and office sponsoring this competition?
The sponsor is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES), Office of Environmental Policy.
Which countries and regions are the focus of this opportunity?
The geographic focus includes the Dominican Republic and the countries covered by CAFTA-DR, with an emphasis on regional and local initiatives and the potential for cross-border or multi-community collaboration.
Which agricultural crops are eligible under this solicitation?
The solicitation is specifically tied to three priority crops: coffee, bananas, and cacao.
What types of projects are encouraged?
Projects are expected to strengthen sustainable incomes and environmental outcomes for small and medium-scale producers and entrepreneurs, primarily through technical assistance and vocational or workforce-oriented training that helps adopt best practices and improve market viability.
Does the program support brand-new projects, or does it prefer building on existing work?
The program emphasizes building from existing projects, partnerships, or collaborations that already show momentum or established commitment, rather than starting from scratch.
What is meant by "practical, on-the-ground work" in this context?
Based on the description provided, this refers to field-level and enterprise-level activities that directly help farmers, cooperatives, and related businesses implement sustainable practices, improve production and quality, strengthen post-harvest handling, and adopt better business practices tied to real market outcomes.
What role do commercial strategies play in the proposed projects?
Commercial strategies are highlighted as a key component. Applicants are encouraged to connect sustainability with market viability, such as improved production methods, quality improvements, post-harvest handling, and business practices that increase competitiveness, income stability, and environmental performance.
Are cooperatives or regional producer networks important to this opportunity?
Yes. The solicitation signals a preference for proposals that connect with cooperatives and regional networks, suggesting organized producer groups and broader collaborations are seen as a way to scale impact.
What funding instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement by the funding agency during implementation compared with a standard grant.
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding available is $1,188,000.
How many awards does OES expect to make?
OES anticipates making about four awards.
What is the expected award size for individual projects?
Individual project budgets are expected to range from $200,000 to $300,000, and no project should exceed $300,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, and applicants should plan to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) and document those contributions in the proposed budget and plan.
What is the broader policy context for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity sits within the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) associated with CAFTA-DR. The ECA context includes long-term goals such as supporting compliance with CAFTA-DR environmental obligations, encouraging high levels of environmental protection through strong laws and policies, improving enforcement of environmental laws, strengthening conservation, promoting transparency and public participation, encouraging voluntary improvements in environmental performance, job creation, and regional harmonization of environmental approaches.
How should proposals relate sustainable agriculture activities to CAFTA-DR environmental goals?
Competitive proposals would be expected to show how agricultural sustainability activities reinforce broader environmental governance and compliance outcomes, for example by reducing harmful practices, improving resource management, and strengthening institutions such as cooperatives and networks that can sustain change.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutions, international or regional organizations, and U.S. or non-U.S. colleges and universities, with demonstrated regional experience and the ability to support existing sustainable agricultural initiatives tied to coffee, bananas, or cacao.
Is this opportunity limited to U.S.-based organizations?
No. The eligibility list includes both U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities, and also includes other organization types such as NGOs, research institutions, and international or regional organizations.
What key skills or capacity should applicants be able to demonstrate?
Applicants should demonstrate regional experience and the ability to support and strengthen existing sustainable agricultural initiatives connected to the priority crops, including delivering technical assistance and vocational/workforce-oriented training and integrating commercial strategies.
What are the main components of the solicitation package?
The solicitation package is structured in three parts: (1) the request for applications (RFA) announcement, (2) the program description, and (3) the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
Which part of the solicitation is especially important for submitting an application?
The Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) are flagged as especially important because they contain detailed submission requirements and immediate steps needed to apply through Grants.gov.
How are applications submitted?
The information provided indicates that applications are submitted through Grants.gov, with detailed requirements and steps contained in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is S-OES-08-RFA-ENV-0001.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted April 15, 2008. Applications were due by 11:59 pm Eastern time on Friday, May 16, 2008.
What does it mean that the opportunity was "archived"?
The information provided states the opportunity was archived on June 15, 2008, indicating it was moved to an archived status after the competition period referenced in the timeline.
Who can be contacted with questions or access issues?
The listed contact is Aaron Spencer at the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES).
What are the contact details for the opportunity?
Email: spencerae@state.gov. Phone: (202) 647-8772. Fax: (202) 647-5947.
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