Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD RBCS INVESTFSC 23
The USDA Rural Development (RD) Innovation Center, working in partnership with USDA's Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA), is offering a competitive cooperative agreement to support an evaluation of how RD grant and loan programs affect regional food supply chains. The core purpose of the opportunity is to fund a rigorous assessment of RD's investments aimed at strengthening food supply chains, with an emphasis on understanding real-world results and what is working (or not) across funded activities and regions. In practical terms, the selected cooperator would be expected to design and carry out an evaluation that can speak to outcomes and impacts associated with RD's portfolio, rather than simply describing program activities.
Funding for this opportunity totals $750,000 in FY 2023 cooperative agreement funds. RD indicates it may select one awardee or make no award at all, and it reserves the right to withhold funding if it determines an award is not in its interest. Applications are competitively scored, and proposals must reach a minimum threshold of 60 points to be considered for funding, which signals that the agency is looking for well-developed evaluation designs, credible methods, and clear evidence the applicant can deliver.
Eligible applicants are organizations, not individuals. The notice specifies that both public and private sector institutions may apply as long as they have at least five years of experience conducting research on U.S. food systems or performing evaluations of federally funded programs connected to strengthening food supply chains. Beyond eligibility, applicants must show they have the staff, tools, and organizational capacity to complete all required tasks and deliverables within the period of performance. A key requirement is demonstrated experience designing and implementing multiple types of evaluation work, specifically formative evaluations (to improve program design and implementation as it is happening), performance evaluations (to assess how well programs are operating and meeting targets), and impact evaluations (to estimate the effects attributable to RD investments).
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under a cooperative agreement, meaning the federal agency typically expects substantial involvement in the work (for example, coordination on scope, methods, data access, and review of deliverables), rather than a hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is issued by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service and is associated with CFDA 10.890. The funding opportunity number is USDA RD RBCS INVESTFSC 23. The original application closing date listed is September 8, 2023, and the opportunity was created on August 9, 2023.
Overall, the solicitation is aimed at experienced research and evaluation organizations that can credibly measure and explain how RD's financing and grantmaking influence supply chain resilience, market access, processing and distribution capacity, and other regional food system dynamics, while producing actionable findings that RD and USDA leadership can use for learning, improvement, and decision-making.Apply for USDA RD RBCS INVESTFSC 23
- The Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluation of Rural Development’s Investments in Food Supply Chains" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.890.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this USDA funding opportunity?
This is a competitive cooperative agreement offered by the USDA Rural Development (RD) Innovation Center in partnership with USDA's Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA). The award supports an evaluation of how RD grant and loan programs affect regional food supply chains.
2) What is the main purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to fund a rigorous assessment of RD investments aimed at strengthening food supply chains, focusing on real-world results. The selected cooperator is expected to produce evidence about outcomes and impacts tied to RD's portfolio, not just describe activities or funded projects.
3) What will the selected cooperator be expected to do?
The cooperator will be expected to design and carry out an evaluation that can speak to outcomes and impacts associated with RD's grant and loan portfolio related to regional food supply chains. The emphasis is on credible evaluation design, strong methods, and actionable findings for RD and USDA leadership.
4) How much funding is available?
Total funding is $750,000 in FY 2023 cooperative agreement funds.
5) How many awards will USDA make?
RD indicates it may select one awardee or make no award at all. RD also reserves the right to withhold funding if it determines an award is not in its interest.
6) Is this opportunity competitive?
Yes. Applications are competitively scored, and proposals must reach a minimum threshold of 60 points to be considered for funding.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are organizations (not individuals). Both public and private sector institutions may apply if they meet the experience requirements described in the notice.
8) Can an individual consultant apply?
No. The notice specifies that eligible applicants are organizations, not individuals.
9) What experience is required to be eligible?
Applicants must have at least five years of experience conducting research on U.S. food systems or performing evaluations of federally funded programs connected to strengthening food supply chains.
10) What kinds of evaluation experience does USDA expect?
Applicants must demonstrate experience designing and implementing multiple types of evaluation work, specifically:
- Formative evaluations (to improve program design and implementation while it is happening)
- Performance evaluations (to assess how well programs are operating and meeting targets)
- Impact evaluations (to estimate effects attributable to RD investments)
11) What capacity must applicants demonstrate beyond past experience?
Applicants must show they have the staff, tools, and organizational capacity to complete all required tasks and deliverables within the period of performance.
12) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (rather than a typical grant)?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity under a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial federal involvement in the work. RD may coordinate with the cooperator on items such as scope, methods, data access, and review of deliverables, rather than taking a hands-off approach.
13) What agency is issuing the opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
14) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.890.
15) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA RD RBCS INVESTFSC 23.
16) What is the application deadline listed in the notice?
The original application closing date listed is September 8, 2023.
17) When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 9, 2023.
18) What topics or outcomes is the evaluation expected to address?
The solicitation emphasizes measuring and explaining how RD's financing and grantmaking influence regional food supply chain dynamics. Examples highlighted include supply chain resilience, market access, processing and distribution capacity, and other regional food system dynamics.
19) Is the evaluation supposed to focus on RD's overall portfolio, or individual activities?
The notice emphasizes an evaluation that can speak to outcomes and impacts associated with RD's portfolio, rather than simply describing individual program activities.
20) What does USDA appear to be looking for in strong proposals?
Based on the scoring approach and the stated purpose, USDA appears to be looking for well-developed evaluation designs, credible methods, and clear evidence that the applicant can deliver high-quality work and usable findings for learning, improvement, and decision-making.
21) What is the intended use of the findings?
The solicitation indicates the evaluation should produce actionable findings that RD and USDA leadership can use for learning, improvement, and decision-making.
22) Does USDA guarantee an award will be made?
No. RD indicates it may select one awardee or make no award at all, and it reserves the right to withhold funding if making an award is not in its interest.
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