Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FSA SND AMA 23 NOFO0001306
The Organic Certification Cost Share Programs (OCCSP) is a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) grant opportunity for fiscal year 2023 designed to reduce the financial burden of getting and keeping organic certification. It combines two related funding streams: the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Together, these programs are meant to make organic certification more accessible by helping cover a portion of the fees and expenses that organic producers and handlers pay to become certified or to renew and maintain that certification.
This particular funding announcement is aimed at State Agencies, not individual farms or businesses applying directly to USDA. Eligible applicants are state governments, meaning the administering entities are the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands). USDA FSA awards grant funds to these State Agencies, and the State Agencies then run the reimbursement process within their jurisdictions by paying cost-share reimbursements to certified organic operations. In other words, producers and processors typically interact with their state program office for reimbursement, while the state interacts with USDA for the grant award and oversight.
The funding available in FY 2023 is about $10 million for NOCCSP and about $943,000 for AMA, reflecting two separate pots of money under the broader OCCSP umbrella. The opportunity is discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument. USDA indicated an expected nine awards, with an award ceiling of $260,000, which signals that grants are distributed to a limited number of State Agencies based on the program structure and allocation approach. The notice functions as the initial request for applications and lays out the eligibility and performance expectations State Agencies must meet to receive and administer these funds.
At the farm or operation level, the benefit is structured as a reimbursement for eligible organic certification expenses. For certification costs incurred during the covered time window (October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023), organic operations can request reimbursement through their State Agency until November 1, 2023, unless that State Agency obtains approval to use a different deadline. The reimbursement rate is up to 75 percent of an operation's total allowable certification costs, capped at $750 per certification scope. The certification scopes specifically referenced include crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (processing), and the program also allows reimbursement of State Organic Program fees where applicable. The scope-based cap matters because an operation with multiple certification scopes may be eligible for separate reimbursements up to the cap for each scope, depending on how the State Agency administers and verifies costs under program rules.
Key administrative dates in the federal announcement include a creation date of May 31, 2023 and a federal application closing date for State Agency submissions of July 31, 2023 (applications due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time). The opportunity is listed under agriculture as the funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 10.171. Overall, the program is straightforward in purpose: USDA funds State Agencies so they can reimburse organic producers and handlers for a significant share of certification-related expenses, helping more operations afford the upfront and ongoing costs required to participate in certified organic markets.Apply for USDA FSA SND AMA 23 NOFO0001306
- The Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Organic Certification Cost Share Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.171.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 p.m. Eastern Time.. (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 $260,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Organic Certification Cost Share Programs (OCCSP)?
The Organic Certification Cost Share Programs (OCCSP) is a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) grant opportunity for fiscal year 2023 that helps reduce the cost of obtaining and maintaining organic certification. It is designed to make organic certification more accessible by reimbursing a portion of eligible certification-related expenses paid by organic producers and handlers.
Which programs are included under OCCSP?
OCCSP combines two related funding streams: the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program.
Who applies to USDA for this grant opportunity?
This funding announcement is aimed at State Agencies, not individual farms or businesses applying directly to USDA. USDA FSA awards grant funds to eligible State Agencies, and those State Agencies administer reimbursements within their jurisdictions.
Who are the eligible applicants for the FY 2023 OCCSP grant?
Eligible applicants are state governments. The administering entities include the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
How do organic producers and handlers receive the benefit if they do not apply directly to USDA?
Producers and handlers typically interact with their State Agency program office. The State Agency runs the reimbursement process and pays cost-share reimbursements to certified organic operations, while the State Agency interacts with USDA for the grant award and oversight.
What is the purpose of the funding?
The purpose is to reimburse organic producers and handlers for a portion of eligible organic certification fees and expenses to reduce the financial burden of becoming certified and renewing or maintaining organic certification.
How much funding is available under OCCSP in FY 2023?
In FY 2023, approximately $10 million is available for NOCCSP and approximately $943,000 is available for AMA. These are two separate funding pots under the OCCSP umbrella.
How many awards does USDA expect to make under this announcement?
USDA indicated an expected nine awards.
What is the award ceiling mentioned in the announcement?
The award ceiling is $260,000.
What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
The opportunity uses a grant funding instrument and is described as discretionary.
What costs can be reimbursed for organic operations?
The benefit at the operation level is structured as a reimbursement for eligible organic certification expenses, including certification-related fees and expenses incurred during the covered period. The program also allows reimbursement of State Organic Program fees where applicable.
What is the reimbursement rate and maximum amount an operation can receive?
The reimbursement rate is up to 75 percent of an operation's total allowable certification costs, capped at $750 per certification scope.
What does "per certification scope" mean in this program?
The cap applies separately to each certification scope. The scopes specifically referenced are crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (processing). An operation with multiple scopes may be eligible for separate reimbursements up to the cap for each scope, depending on how the State Agency administers and verifies costs under program rules.
What certification scopes are specifically referenced in the announcement?
The referenced certification scopes are crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (processing).
What time period of certification costs is covered for reimbursement?
The covered time window for certification costs is October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
What is the deadline for organic operations to request reimbursement through their State Agency?
Organic operations can request reimbursement through their State Agency until November 1, 2023, unless the State Agency obtains approval to use a different deadline.
Can a State Agency use a reimbursement deadline different from November 1, 2023?
Yes. The information provided indicates the November 1, 2023 deadline applies unless the State Agency obtains approval to use a different deadline.
What are the key federal dates for the State Agency application process?
Key administrative dates include a creation date of May 31, 2023 and a federal application closing date of July 31, 2023 for State Agency submissions.
What time is the federal application due on the closing date?
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2023.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 10.171.
What is the funding activity category listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under agriculture as the funding activity category.
What role does USDA FSA play versus the State Agency role?
USDA FSA awards grant funds to State Agencies and provides oversight at the federal level. State Agencies administer the reimbursement process locally by paying cost-share reimbursements to certified organic operations within their jurisdictions.
Is this announcement the initial request for applications?
Yes. The notice functions as the initial request for applications and describes eligibility and performance expectations State Agencies must meet to receive and administer the funds.
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