PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) is to provide funding for projects that enhance the competitiveness of Washington's specialty crops.  Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, floriculture, and nursery products.

Watch this video for a better understanding of the SCBGP:  About the SCBGP

Eligible plants must be cultivated or managed and used by people for food, medicinal purposes, and/or aesthetic gratification to be considered specialty crops. For a complete list of eligible and ineligible commodities, see Definition of Specialty Crops [external link].

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) conducts an annual competitive 2-phase process to award grant funds, starting with the Concept Proposal.  Our Request for Concept Proposals (RFCP) will be available September 20, 2023 and proposals will be due October 24, 2023.

2024 Request for Proposals

TIMELINE FOR 2024 FUNDING (Subject to Change)

Phase I Concept Proposal

• Request for Concept Proposals Released by WSDA - September 20, 2023
• Concept Proposals Due - October 24, 2023, 12:00 p.m. PST
• Notifications to Applicants - November, 2023

Phase II Full Proposal 

• Request for Grant Proposals Released (by invitation only) - November, 2023
• Full Grant Proposals Due - February 01, 2024, 12:00 p.m. PST
• Notification to Applicants - March, 2024
• WSDA Application Due to USDA for Approval - May, 2024

Grant Award

• USDA to Announce Awards - September-October, 2024

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The project must clearly and directly impact Washington state specialty crop producers or processors.  - Eligible organizations include industry associations; producer groups; commodity commissions; non-profit organizations; for-profit organizations; local, state and federal government entities; and educational institutions.

The SCBGP will not award grant funds for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual. This means that the program will not provide funds to start or expand a farm or other business venture.

Projects must enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Consider carefully whether your project is likely to have benefit to non-specialty crops. If so, the project is not likely to be funded.

Funding requests must fall between $25,000 and $250,000 per project.  WSDA reserves the right to offer an award amount more or less than the amount requested.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

UEI # (this replaces the DUNS#): Please provide UEI #. 

On April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped using the DUNS Number to uniquely identify entities. Now, entities doing business with the federal government use the Unique Entity ID created in SAM.gov. They no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their identifier. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government.

To receive an award under the SCBGP, applicants are required to register with System for Award Management (SAM)  and, in doing so, to designate an e-Business Point of Contact (e-Business POC). SAM registration must be updated annually and be active and maintained with current information at all times during which the State Department of Agriculture has an active award or an application under consideration.

The e-Business POC authorizes individuals to submit grant and cooperative agreement applications on behalf of the organization and creates a special password called a Marketing Partner ID Number (M-PIN) to verify individuals authorized to submit grant applications for the organization.

Organizations that need to register in SAM for the first time or need to update their SAM registration will visit https://www.sam.gov/. Questions about SAM may be directed to askSAM@gsa.gov.

SAM is a centrally maintained government-wide database that includes the names of organizations and individuals that have been debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or been voluntarily excluded; the reasons for that status; and the duration of that status. You can search exclusion records on SAM at www.sam.gov to identify those parties excluded from receiving federal funds. The State department of agriculture must document the results of the search and must disclose unfavorable information to the SCBGP before awarding funds. The SCBGP will consider the information as part of the determination of whether the State department of agriculture may award funds to that particular sub-applicant.

Delinquency on Federal Debt

Any organization or individual that is indebted to the United States, and has a judgment lien filed against it for a debt to the United States, is ineligible to receive a Federal grant. Applicants are required to indicate in their applications (on the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance”) if they are delinquent on any Federal debt. If the applicant discloses a delinquency, the SCBGP may not award the grant until the debt is satisfied or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to which the debt is owed.

Anyone who has been judged to be in default on a Federal debt and who has had a judgment lien filed against him or her should not be listed as a participant in an application for a SCBGP grant until the judgment is paid in full or is otherwise satisfied. No funds may be rebudgeted following an award to pay such an individual. The Federal Agency will disallow costs charged to awards that provide funds to individuals in violation of this requirement.

Debarment and Suspension  

Regulations published in 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 417 describe the government-wide debarment and suspension requirements for non-procurement programs and activities. “Non-procurement” transactions include, among other things, grant agreements. SCBGP implements these regulations as a term and condition of award. State department  of agriculture recipients must check the System for Award Management located at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ prior to entering into a “lower-tier” transaction. “Lower tier” transactions include contracts (including individual consultants) under grants (where the contract requires the provision of goods or services that will equal or exceed $25,000) and all subawards.

Industry Support

If invited to submit a full proposal, you will be required to submit two (2) letters of support from industry.

Ongoing Projects/Sustainable Funding

If the project is a continuation of a previously-funded project and is of an ongoing nature, a plan for sustainable funding will be required if invited to submit a Full Grant Proposal.  Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds are not intended to support projects indefinitely.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs are unallowable under Washington’s grant program.  Indirect costs are those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefiting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved.  Indirect costs, including administrative overhead, are not allowed as part of your grant request. 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 Budget as direct costs:

• Information technology services
• Rent
• Utilities and internet service
• Telephone service (mobile and land-line)
• General office supplies
• Insurance
• Maintenance

Bibliography and References Cited (Research Projects Only) 

If invited to submit a Full Grant Proposal all applicants submitting a research project are encouraged to provide a bibliography of any references cited in their proposal. The Bibliography and References Cited should be uploaded to this application site, separate from the application. Each reference should include names, article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers and year of publication.

Grant Management

Award Recipients will sign a Grant Agreement with WSDA and must follow all applicable federal and state rules and regulations, including those for insurance coverage, procurement practices, and accounting procedures. In addition, recipients will submit detailed performance reports quarterly, annually, and at project completion; must keep thorough records; and closely monitor the project against expected outcomes. Failure to properly manage a grant award may result in the obligation to repay grant funds and/or exclusion from future grant opportunities.

WSDA will continually review an Award Recipient’s administrative performance/management of the Grant Agreement. Untimely or insufficient submittals and untimely communications may be the basis for (1) reducing the amount of the award, (2) requiring new obligations or limitations to assure adequate performance, and (3) will affect consideration of Grantee’s future applications to WSDA for SCBG funding.

Timely drawdown and use of grant funds

WSDA may reduce grant agreement funds without further cause if the recipient does not draw down funds within the first year of the grant period and at reasonable intervals thereafter.  The recipient may be required to submit a full accounting of unspent funds for the remainder of the project period if so requested.  This request may occur if grant funds are less than 30% spent down within the first year or 60% spent down within the second year of the project.

Reimbursement of Grant Funds

Grant funds will be paid to recipients for approved expenditures on a reimbursement basis. Grant recipients must have the financial capability to pay project costs up-front, and may not request reimbursement more frequently than monthly.

PHASE I -  CONCEPT PROPOSAL

The following sections will be required for a Concept Proposal:

• Cover Page
• Project Summary
• Project Purpose/Objectives
• Project Beneficiaries

PHASE II -  FULL GRANT PROPOSAL (by invitation only)

The following sections will be required (if invited) to submit a Full Grant Proposal

• Cover Page
• Project Summary
• Project Purpose/Objectives
• Project Beneficiaries
• External Project Support
• Expected Measurable Outcomes
• Budget Table with Detailed Narrative
• Workplan
• Two (2) Letters of Support