2027 Quality Samples Program
🏛 Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 28, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for U.S. entities that export or support export of agricultural commodities. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, universities, cooperatives, state agencies, local government, and private companies. FAS Posts are excluded. Applicants must have active SAM.gov registration at submission deadline. Organizations can use grant funds to provide commodity samples to foreign importers to demonstrate U.S. agricultural quality.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The QSP is designed to encourage the development and expansion of export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities by assisting U.S. entities in providing commodity samples to potential foreign importers to promote a better understanding and appreciation for the high quality of U.S. agricultural commodities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget Narrative and Budget Form
- SAM.gov Registration Proof
- Organizational Documentation
- Letters of Intent or Commitment from Importers
Program contact
- 👤 Kendra Arrington Grantor
- 📧 curt.alt@usda.gov
- 📞 202-690-5503
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 10.605 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$75,000
-
$69,000
-
$52,956
-
$45,500
-
$35,300
-
$34,800
-
$34,500
-
$32,770
-
$32,540
-
$31,469
Top States by Funding
- MO 46 awards $0.9M
- DC 4 awards $0.1M
- CA 1 awards $0.1M
- WI 1 awards $0.1M
- ID 2 awards $0.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 10.605). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,500,000 | |
| 2025 | $2,500,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,500,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the Quality Samples Program?
U.S. nonprofits, universities, cooperatives, state/local government agencies, and private companies that export or support export of agricultural commodities. FAS Posts are not eligible.
Is SAM.gov registration required?
Yes, you must have active SAM.gov registration before the application deadline. Inactive, expired, pending, or excluded registrations make you ineligible.
What are the samples for?
Commodity samples sent to potential foreign importers to showcase U.S. agricultural quality and encourage market development.
What is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is August 14, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, cost sharing is required but the specific percentage was not detailed in the program documentation.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Register on SAM.gov early and verify active status at least one week before the deadline. Rejected registrations cause automatic ineligibility.
- Clearly document your organization's prior export experience or existing relationships with foreign importers in your narrative.
- Explain how the commodity samples will lead to new or expanded market opportunities, not just general promotion.
- Budget realistically for sample preparation, shipping, and distribution costs to meet cost-sharing requirements.
- Coordinate with multiple potential importers before applying to show genuine market demand for your samples.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Incomplete or inactive SAM.gov registration at submission time. Applications without clear evidence of existing export activity or foreign buyer relationships. Vague descriptions of how samples target specific market opportunities rather than addressing actual buyer demand.
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