FY 25 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Concept Proposal

The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” The agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture within any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is eligible to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for grant funds. Organizations or individuals interested in the SCBGP should contact their state department of agriculture for more information.

Each eligible State department of agriculture applicant that submits an application that the AMS reviews and accepts is eligible to receive the available grant allocation. Each State department of agriculture is eligible to receive an estimated base grant of approximately $243,001.17 (Farm Bill) and an amount based on the average of the most recent available value of specialty crop cash receipts in the State (2020 calendar year estimates) and the acreage of specialty crop production in the State (2017 Census of Agriculture). The data source for specialty crop cash receipts and acreage is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, and National Agricultural Statistics Service. FY 2025 funding is based on annual Farm Bill Funding.

The maximum indirect cost rate is eight percent (8%) of the project’s budget. Applicants are responsible for presenting costs incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances consistently and must not include costs associated with an established indirect cost rate agreement as direct costs. In addition, applicants cannot allocate a cost as a direct cost if it is also incurred as an indirect cost for the same purpose and vice versa. Direct costs are costs that can be identified specifically with a particular award, project, program, service, or other organizational activity or that can be directly assigned to such an activity relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Typically, direct costs include, but are not limited to, compensation of employees who work directly on the award to include salaries and fringe benefits, travel that is necessary for the project, and equipment and supplies used for the project to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Indirect costs (also known as “Facilities and Administrative costs”) are costs incurred for common or joint objectives that cannot be identified specifically with a particular project, program, or organizational activity. Below are typical indirect costs for specific types of organizations. The salaries of administrative and clerical staff should normally be treated as indirect costs. Direct charging of these costs may be appropriate where all of the following conditions are met: • Administrative or clerical services are integral to a project or activity; • Individuals involved can be specifically identified with the project or activity; • Such costs are explicitly included in the budget or have the prior written approval of the federal awarding agency; and • The costs are not also recovered as indirect costs. The following are considered indirect and should not be included in the Projected Budget as direct costs: • Information Technology services; • Rent; • Utilities and internet service; • Telephone service (mobile and land-line); • General office supplies; and • Insurance.

TIMELINE PHASE I: CONCEPT PROPOSAL Release Request for Concept Proposals: December 2024 Concept Proposals Due: January 31, 2025 PHASE II: GRANT PROPOSAL (by invitation only) Invitation to Grant Proposals: Early March 2025 Grant Proposals Due to NDA: March 31, 2025 Grant Proposals Sent to USDA for Approval: May 2025 Announcement of Award Funding: September 2025

Interested applicants must apply by completing the Concept Proposal application on AmpliFund, which is accessible online at https://ne.amplifund.com. All Concept Proposals must be completed online on or before January 31, 2025.

Projects must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets. Each project must identify at least one expected measurable outcome and indicator that specifically demonstrates the project’s impact in enhancing the competitiveness of eligible specialty crops. Funds will not be awarded for projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. In addition, grant funds cannot be used to compete unfairly with private companies that provide equivalent products or services. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners. Proposals should be initiated by organizations, industry groups, or academic institutions, or should involve collaboration or partnerships between producers, industry groups, academics, or other organizations. Applicants may cooperate with any public or private organization or two or more individuals or organizations may propose a joint project. Applicants should describe how the project potentially affects and produces measurable outcomes for the specialty crop industry and/or the public rather than a single organization, institution, or individual.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/scbgp/index.html Instructions as to how obtain a Unique Entity ID Number can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/home

https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/scbgp/index.html

The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).” The agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture within any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is eligible to apply directly to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for grant funds. Organizations or individuals interested in the SCBGP should contact their state department of agriculture for more information.

Awardees must provide NDA with copies of all information, documents, or materials that are generated as a result of this grant project, along with a written interim reports (for multi year projects), and a final performance report summarizing the Project activity. Interim reports are due by November 1st of each year and final reports are due to NDA by November 1, 2028.

Casey Foster casey.foster@nebraska.gov (402) 471-6857

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FY2021_GD_TermsandConditions.pdf