Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
USDA is offering a grant program focused on addressing labor shortages in agriculture, reducing irregular migration through expansion of legal pathways, and improving labor protections for farmworkers in order to improve the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain. . Furthermore, The program aims to improve the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain and advance several major administration priorities:
Driving U.S. economic recovery and safeguarding domestic food security by addressing current labor shortages in agriculture. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural employers were struggling to secure a stable workforce. The pandemic has only exacerbated this problem, threatening our domestic capacity to produce a safe and robust food supply. This pilot program will help address this shortage by expanding the potential pool of workers.
Reducing irregular migration through the expansion of legal pathways. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken numerous steps to address the elevated levels of irregular migration from Northern Central America. The H-2A visa program offers a lawful pathway for individuals from these countries to come to the United States to engage in temporary or seasonal agricultural work. An effective H-2A visa program is critical to the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain. This pilot program will aim to address challenges that both workers and employers face in utilizing the program.
Improving working conditions for farmworkers. Strong working conditions are critical to the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain. Through this pilot program, USDA will support efforts to improve working conditions for both U.S. and H-2A workers and ensure that H-2A workers are not subjected to unfair recruitment practices.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Small Business Person
- For-Profit Organization
- Other
How to Apply
Award Procedure
The agency will conduct merit and risk reviews for all applications submitted in accordance with the NFO and will provide recommendations to the selection official. The selection official will make final award determinations. The agency reserves the option to negotiate with applicants tentatively selected for award but may issue awards without negotiations. The agency will provide award documents to selected applicants for execution, including a Notice of Grant and Agreement Award (ADS-093). When fully executed, the ADS-93 and attachments will constitute the final award.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 60 to 90 days
Program details & compliance
Description
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $65,000,000 available for the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Grant Program. This program will provide support for agricultural employers in implementing robust health and safety standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired from Northern Central American countries under the seasonal H-2A visa program.
Mission Categories
Primary: Production and Operation
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Except as otherwise indicated in specific Notices of Funding Opportunities under the program, assistance funds may be used for project costs in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E – Cost Principles. Pre-award costs incurred dating back to March 15, 2024 (2 CFR § 200.458) may be allowable. In such instances, grant recipients must notify FLSP staff in writing that they plan to use funds for such expenses. Costs related to the hiring and onboarding of U.S. and H-2A workers including, for example but not limited to recruitment, applications, attorneys, and other consulting fees, etc. Costs related to the operations related to labor costs, such as but not limited to wages, business and
administrative costs related to compliance with the program commitments, etc.
Housing maintenance plan costs
Allowable for rental costs of land and building space. However, lease agreements to own (i.e.,
lease-to-own or rent-to-own) are not allowable. The lease or rental agreement must terminate at the end of the grant FLSP period of performance.
Rearrangement and reconversion costs are allowable, including those incurred in restoring or
rehabilitating the awardee’s facilities to approximately the same condition existing before the
start of the grant agreement, less costs related to normal wear and tear (2 CFR § 200.462).
Any alterations to housing, or reconversion must ensure compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - 7 CFR § 1(b).
Contractor/consultant employee costs/rates that do not exceed the salary of a GS-15 step 10 Federal employee in the area (for more information, visit the OPM website) and travel that is reasonable and necessary. This does not include fringe benefits, indirect costs, or other expenses. If rates exceed this amount, the awardee is required to justify the allowability of the cost aligning with 2 CFR §§ 200.317-327.
Required Documentation
Each applicant (unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting its application; (ii) Provide a valid UEI number in its application; and (iii) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. It also must state that the Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program (2 CFR 200.206(d)). Applicants must also furnish the information required in the Notices of Funding Opportunities (NFO) associated with this assistance listing and published on Grants.gov.
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