Deadline: 8-Sep-23
The Rural Development (RD or the Agency) is accepting proposals to evaluate the impact of RD’s grants and loan programs on regional food supply chains.
This funding opportunity will be administered by the RD Innovation Center, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA). The Agency may select one (1) or no Cooperator. RD reserves the right to withhold the awarding of any funds.
Purpose of the Program
- The Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking called on Federal agencies to use the best science and data available for decision-making, and to build more evidence when it does not exist to tackle complex, dynamic public policy challenges. Efforts to restore trust in Government can succeed only if Government programs deliver results and do so effectively and equitably. The use of rigorous evidence on what works and investments that build evidence where it is lacking underpin the Federal Government’s ability to design and implement programs that are equitable, effective, and accountable. To ensure that the Government delivers on its commitments to all Americans, the Federal Government has an obligation to bring evidence to bear on decision-making and to evaluate what is working, for whom, and under what circumstances.
- The United States (U.S.) food and agricultural system is highly concentrated, both geographically and commercially. Most food consumed by Americans is grown on large farms and aggregated, processed, and distributed by a few multinational companies. While the U.S. food system is a highly efficient one, COVID-19 exposed the risks of a centralized system. The crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chains across the U.S. and the world exposed the risks a highly concentrated food system that has worked to the detriment of the small- and medium-sized farmers who serve local and regional food systems.
- While USDA has long invested in local and regional food systems, the pandemic made clear that more needs to be done to withstand future pandemics, cyberattacks, and other threats that have hobbled portions of the food supply system in recent years.
- This evaluation will provide USDA an evidence-based understanding of how and to what extent these programs have achieved their goal of a more resilient food supply chain and created market opportunities for small- and mid-size farmers and independent agricultural businesses up and down the food supply chain. The body of evidence and findings produced through this evaluation will guide the department as it takes these programs into the future.
Available Funds
- The amount available for this evaluation in FY 2023 is up to $750,000. RD reserves the right to withhold the awarding of any funds. Applications must receive a minimum score of at least 60 points to be considered.
- Applicants may not submit more than one application.
- Anticipated Award Date: No later than September 30, 2023.
- Performance Period: The maximum Period of Performance is 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations eligible to apply include public and private sector institutions with five or more years of experience conducting research on U.S. food systems or evaluations of federally funded programs in support of strengthening food supply chains. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants must demonstrate they have the capacity and resources to carry out the evaluation and complete all tasks and deliverables within the Period of Performance. Applicants must specifically demonstrate past experience and current capacity to design and implement formative, performance, and impact evaluations.
- Entities are not eligible if they have been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from, or ineligible for, participation in federal assistance programs.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.