Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FNS F2S TECH COOP 24
The Farm To School Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement (USDA FNS F2S TECH COOP 24) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) designed to strengthen farm to school efforts at a national and/or regional scale. Through this cooperative agreement, USDA is looking to partner with experienced organizations that can deliver hands-on support, coordination, and capacity-building that helps schools and child nutrition operators connect more effectively with local and regional food systems. The overall intent is to expand and improve farm to school activity in ways that directly advance USDA priorities related to food system improvements, healthier school meals for children, and Tribal food sovereignty.
This opportunity is organized into three distinct funding tracks, and applicants must choose the track that best matches their proposed work. The Supporting Community Engagement track aligns with the USDA priority of Improving Child Health through Nutritious School Meals and focuses on expanding farm to school institutes. In practical terms, this track is geared toward projects that build community-level knowledge and skills through structured learning opportunities, training, and peer exchange that help schools and communities implement farm to school strategies more effectively.
The Supporting Producer Engagement track aligns with USDA's Food System Transformation priority and targets the supply-side of farm to school by strengthening producer engagement with the Child Nutrition Programs market. Projects under this track are meant to help farmers, ranchers, and other food producers better understand and access school and institutional purchasing opportunities, navigate procurement expectations, and build the relationships and operational readiness needed to sell into child nutrition channels.
The Supporting Tribal Engagement track aligns with USDA's Indigenous Food Sovereignty priority and is centered on conducting Tribal dialogues. The purpose of these dialogues is to inform and strengthen FNS farm to school grantmaking and technical assistance for Tribal entities. This track emphasizes listening, engagement, and coordination with Tribal communities so future farm to school funding and support are better aligned with Tribal priorities, realities, and sovereignty-centered approaches.
Award amounts depend on the track selected, with funding available from $500,000 up to $1,000,000 per award, and an overall award ceiling of $1,000,000. USDA anticipates making about 9 awards under this announcement. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, recipients should expect substantial involvement from USDA/FNS compared to a standard grant, meaning the agency may play a more active role in shaping, coordinating, or supporting project implementation.
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and federally recognized Native American tribal governments/Indian Tribal Organizations. Applicants are expected to operate at a national and/or regional level and, importantly, to have a demonstrated history of meaningful engagement with the specific audiences their projects intend to serve, whether that is school nutrition stakeholders and community partners, producers entering the child nutrition marketplace, or Tribal communities and organizations.
Key administrative details include a posting/creation date of July 27, 2023, an original application closing date of October 10, 2023, and program alignment with CFDA number 10.531 in the Food and Nutrition category.Apply for USDA FNS F2S TECH COOP 24
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service in the food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Farm To School Technical Assistance-Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.531.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 27, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 10, 2023. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Farm To School Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement (USDA FNS F2S TECH COOP 24) - FAQs
What is the Farm To School Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement (USDA FNS F2S TECH COOP 24)?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). It is designed to strengthen farm to school efforts at a national and/or regional scale by partnering with experienced organizations that can provide hands-on support, coordination, and capacity-building for schools and child nutrition operators to connect with local and regional food systems.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The overall intent is to expand and improve farm to school activity in ways that directly advance USDA priorities related to food system improvements, healthier school meals for children, and Tribal food sovereignty.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, not a standard grant.
How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant for this program?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, recipients should expect substantial involvement from USDA/FNS compared to a standard grant. That means the agency may play a more active role in shaping, coordinating, or supporting project implementation.
How many funding tracks are available?
There are three distinct funding tracks in this announcement.
Do applicants have to choose a track?
Yes. Applicants must choose the single track that best matches their proposed work.
What are the three funding tracks?
The three tracks are: Supporting Community Engagement, Supporting Producer Engagement, and Supporting Tribal Engagement.
What is the Supporting Community Engagement track focused on?
This track aligns with the USDA priority of Improving Child Health through Nutritious School Meals and focuses on expanding farm to school institutes. It is geared toward building community-level knowledge and skills through structured learning opportunities, training, and peer exchange to help schools and communities implement farm to school strategies more effectively.
What is the Supporting Producer Engagement track focused on?
This track aligns with USDA's Food System Transformation priority and targets the supply-side of farm to school by strengthening producer engagement with the Child Nutrition Programs market. Projects are meant to help farmers, ranchers, and other food producers better understand and access school and institutional purchasing opportunities, navigate procurement expectations, and build the relationships and operational readiness needed to sell into child nutrition channels.
What is the Supporting Tribal Engagement track focused on?
This track aligns with USDA's Indigenous Food Sovereignty priority and is centered on conducting Tribal dialogues. These dialogues are intended to inform and strengthen FNS farm to school grantmaking and technical assistance for Tribal entities, emphasizing listening, engagement, and coordination so future funding and support align with Tribal priorities, realities, and sovereignty-centered approaches.
Who is the funding intended to support or benefit?
The opportunity is designed to support and strengthen farm to school efforts by improving how schools and child nutrition operators connect with local and regional food systems. Depending on the track, the work may focus on school nutrition stakeholders and community partners, producers entering the child nutrition marketplace, or Tribal communities and organizations.
What scale of work is USDA looking for under this opportunity?
Applicants are expected to operate at a national and/or regional level.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and federally recognized Native American tribal governments/Indian Tribal Organizations.
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are 501(c)(3) nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description specifies that 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible excluding institutions of higher education.
What experience or background is expected of applicants?
Applicants are expected to have a demonstrated history of meaningful engagement with the specific audiences their projects intend to serve. Examples of audiences noted in the announcement include school nutrition stakeholders and community partners, producers seeking to enter the child nutrition marketplace, or Tribal communities and organizations.
How much funding is available per award?
Award amounts depend on the track selected, with funding available from $500,000 up to $1,000,000 per award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The overall award ceiling is $1,000,000.
How many awards does USDA anticipate making?
USDA anticipates making about 9 awards under this announcement.
Which USDA agency is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
Is this opportunity tied to specific USDA priorities?
Yes. The tracks align with USDA priorities including Improving Child Health through Nutritious School Meals, Food System Transformation, and Indigenous Food Sovereignty.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is aligned with CFDA number 10.531.
What category is this program listed under?
It is listed in the Food and Nutrition category.
What is the posting or creation date for this opportunity?
The posting/creation date is July 27, 2023.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was October 10, 2023.
Does the funding support work that improves school meals?
Yes. The opportunity is intended to advance USDA priorities that include healthier school meals for children, and the Supporting Community Engagement track specifically aligns with Improving Child Health through Nutritious School Meals.
Does the funding support work related to producers selling into school and institutional markets?
Yes. The Supporting Producer Engagement track specifically targets producer engagement with the Child Nutrition Programs market, including procurement expectations and readiness to sell into child nutrition channels.
Does the funding support Tribal-led or Tribal-focused engagement?
Yes. The Supporting Tribal Engagement track centers on Tribal dialogues to inform and strengthen FNS farm to school grantmaking and technical assistance for Tribal entities, with an emphasis on sovereignty-centered approaches.
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| CN-SFSP-SNAP-ADMIN-2017 Apply for CN SFSP SNAP ADMIN 2017 Funding Number: CN SFSP SNAP ADMIN 2017 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| FY24 Participation in WIC & Prevalence of Health Risks Associated with Maternal Mortality Apply for USDA FNS OPS PHRAMM 24 Funding Number: USDA FNS OPS PHRAMM 24 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Recognizing & Addressing MMM Warning Signs Apply for USDA FNS MMMWS 24 Funding Number: USDA FNS MMMWS 24 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| FY24 School Foodservice Workforce Apply for USDA FNS OPS SFWS 24 Funding Number: USDA FNS OPS SFWS 24 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Supporting the Use of Traditional Indigenous Foods in the Child Nutrition Programs Apply for USDA FNS 2024 SUTIF Funding Number: USDA FNS 2024 SUTIF Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| 2024-DRAFT-IFRP-TRANSPORT-RFA-DRAFT Apply for 720BHA24RFA00001 Funding Number: 720BHA24RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $351,000 |
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| USDA-FNS-WICSPG-FY2015-FullMini Apply for USDA FNS WICSPG FY2015 FULLMINI Funding Number: USDA FNS WICSPG FY2015 FULLMINI Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Farm to School Training Grants Apply for CN F2S TRAINING 16 Funding Number: CN F2S TRAINING 16 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY16 FDPNE Projects Apply for USDA FNS FDD FDPNE FY16 Funding Number: USDA FNS FDD FDPNE FY16 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| FY2016 TN Training Grant Apply for USDA FNS CNTN FY2016 Funding Number: USDA FNS CNTN FY2016 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Team Nutrition Training Grants Apply for USDA FNS TNTG 2024 Funding Number: USDA FNS TNTG 2024 Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Feed The Future Partnership with Partners for Food Solutions (PFS) Apply for APS OAA 16 000001 ADDENDUM PARTNER PFS Funding Number: APS OAA 16 000001 ADDENDUM PARTNER PFS Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| USDA FNS FY17 SNAP PTI Apply for USDA FNS FY17 SNAP PTI Funding Number: USDA FNS FY17 SNAP PTI Agency: Food and Nutrition Service Category: Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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