Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
FSMIP program supports projects that explore and identify new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The program encourages research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and performance of the U.S. agricultural marketing system. FSMIP funds a wide range of applied research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transportation, and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
Beneficiaries
- Other
Farmer/Rancher/Agriculture Producer, Consumer, State, Anyone/general public
How to Apply
Application Procedure
The Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this program will be posted on Grants.gov. AMS ONLY accepts electronic applications which are submitted via Grants.gov in response to specific RFA. Applicants should carefully review the applicable RFA for detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit an application. Please refer to the RFA for further details for submitting applications. The most current RFAs are available at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.
Award Procedure
AMS outlines the merit review process in each grant program’s RFA. After the application deadline has passed, AMS begins a three-step process to evaluate each application. Grant agreements are established with applicants based on the results of this three-step process to ensure compliance with requirement that Federal awarding agencies maintain a fair, unbiased merit review process in selecting competitively awarded grants. The Initial Qualification Screening is Step 1. In this step, each application is reviewed for overall completeness, as well as compliance with eligibility and program requirements. Applications that met these basic requirements moved forward to Step 2. Step 2 is the Technical Review. Applications are evaluated by panels of external peer reviewers with selected expertise representing various entities with programmatic knowledge. To eliminate bias, AMS assigns applications to reviewers outside of their own geographic areas and avoid project assignments associated with reviewer businesses. Each reviewer signs a conflict of interest and confidentiality agreement. Reviewers that indicate a real or perceived conflict do not review the affected application(s) and are removed. The peer review panels evaluate their assigned applications using instructions prepared by AMS officials. Individual reviewers score applications and then confer with other panel members. The scoring and discussion serve as the basis for awarding and allocating grant funds and focuses on strengths and weaknesses of each proposal. The third step is the Administrative Review (Step 3). AMS conducts a final administrative evaluation of each application in the review panels’ top rankings and recommendations. In addition to the applications’ scores, each award is reviewed to ensure that the recommended applications align with the grant program’s statutory purpose and that the budget items were allowable and necessary. AMS also assesses the applicants’ ability to account for use of funds.
Eligible applicants should review the RFA for the application deadline. Annual application deadlines and funding opportunities are posted in Grants.gov. More information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/grants.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) is a competitive grant program that funds projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.
Mission Categories
Primary: Marketing Opportunities
Other categories:
Food Supply Chain
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Applications may deal with barriers, challenges or opportunities at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, wholesale, and retail. Applications may involve small, medium or large- scale agricultural entities but should potentially benefit multiple producers. Proprietary applications that benefit one business or individual will not be considered. Applications that address issues of importance at the State, regional or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique applications on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case studies useful as a model for others. Of particular interest are applications that reflect a collaborative approach between the States, academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and stakeholders.
Restrictions
Eligible entities may not use grant funds for the purchase of land, construction or rehabilitation of a building or structure, agricultural production related expenses, including crop production and the purchase of farm equipment, tools, materials, supplies and other related costs, the purchase of general-purpose equipment, the purchase of food for donations or resale, benefitting one agriculture producer, entity, or individual.
Required Documentation
A grant agreement is entered into between the AMS and the eligible entity that submits the application. OMB Guidance for Grants Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR § 200 and 2 CFR § 400 applies to this program. 2 CFR § 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Matching Requirements
This program requires a $1-for-$1 cost sharing .
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements