Food for Progress Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Fiscal Year 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) has released its Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Food for Progress (FFPr) Program. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and expand trade in developing countries and emerging democracies by leveraging U.S. agricultural commodities and investing in sustainable agricultural development. The program operates under the authority of the Food Security Act of 1985 and relevant regulations in 7 CFR 1499. Its overarching objectives are to support free enterprise in the agricultural sector, facilitate access to competitive markets, ensure timely availability of production inputs, improve technology access, and develop infrastructure for agricultural trade and productivity. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, ensuring close collaboration between USDA/FAS and recipients throughout the award lifecycle. Approximately $208 million is available in total federal funding, with individual awards expected to range from $5 million to $35 million. USDA anticipates making between six to ten awards, with a period of performance ranging from three to five years, beginning on or around October 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted through the Food Aid Information System (FAIS) by July 31, 2025 at 5:00 P.M. EDT. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted. Prior to submission, applicants may submit questions until July 15, 2025, via email to ppded@usda.gov, with the subject line “FY25 FFPr NOFO.” Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities: governments of emerging agricultural countries, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private voluntary organizations, nonprofit agricultural cooperatives, colleges and universities, and other private entities. All applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov at the time of application. There is no matching or cost-share requirement, but applicants may voluntarily include one for up to two bonus evaluation points. Eligibility documentation, such as proof of 501(c)(3) status, is required if applicable. The application must include several core components: a strategic analysis (8-page limit), a plan of operation (12-page limit), organizational capacity and staffing (4-page limit), and monitoring and evaluation documentation (18-page limit). Additionally, applicants must address commodity management in detail, including monetization plans that demonstrate a minimum of 70% cost recovery. Budget documents required include a summary, detailed budget in Excel, narrative, and the most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) or justification for not having one. All forms and attachments must follow specified formatting and page limits. Applications will be evaluated based on multiple criteria: strategic analysis (15 points), plan of operation (35 points), organizational capacity and staffing (12 points), monitoring and evaluation (18 points), commodity management (5 points), and budget (15 points, with 2 bonus points for cost-share). The anticipated award date is September 26, 2025, and award notifications will be sent via email and posted in FAIS. Following notification, selected applicants will enter negotiations with USDA/FAS to finalize the cooperative agreement. For questions or clarifications, applicants should contact Ingrid Ardjosoediro, Food for Progress Branch Director, at ingrid.ardjosoediro@usda.gov or +1 (202) 531-0216, Monday to Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EDT. Unsuccessful applicants may request written feedback by September 30, 2025. Comprehensive information about the NOFO, including templates and guidance documents, is available on Grants.gov and the FAIS homepage. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin account setup and registration processes immediately due to the technical requirements of the FAIS platform.

Ensure alignment with the FFPr program’s strategic objectives; adhere strictly to page limits; include clear commodity monetization plans with a minimum 70% return rate; integrate cost-effective, fraud-resistant program design.