Opportunity Information: Apply for 2023 02
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant program that helps U.S. agricultural organizations maintain, expand, and develop overseas markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and value-added products. The program operates on a cost-share model, meaning the recipient is expected to contribute resources alongside federal funds to carry out eligible market development activities. Nearly all U.S. agricultural commodities can be supported under this opportunity, with tobacco explicitly excluded.
Funding decisions are made competitively, and proposals are evaluated against criteria in the program regulations and the notice itself. A central theme in the evaluation is whether the proposed work will realistically create, expand, or maintain export markets over the long term rather than produce short-lived promotional wins. FAS places strong emphasis on applicants that can present a clear, long-range agricultural trade strategy, demonstrate broad producer representation and meaningful participation from affiliated industry partners tied to the commodity being promoted, and lay out a practical program timeline with measurable checkpoints. Applications are expected to specify quantifiable goals, such as product- or country-specific targets, and to show how progress will be assessed at defined intervals.
The program is aligned with federal performance management requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In practice, this means FAS prioritizes projects that are built around results and can demonstrate performance in a way that supports USDA and FAS objectives. Applicants are expected to follow GPRA-related expectations as well as USDA monitoring and evaluation guidance, indicating that reporting, measurement, and documentation of outcomes are not optional add-ons but core obligations of participation.
FAS also weighs how well a proposal targets markets with the strongest growth potential. This reflects an allocation strategy aimed at directing limited resources toward projects most likely to deliver measurable export gains and durable market presence for U.S. agriculture. In other words, the strongest proposals tend to connect a clear strategy, broad industry backing, and credible metrics to a thoughtful choice of international markets where the commodity has a realistic path to growth.
From the source details provided, this opportunity is a discretionary grant (not a formula program), listed under CFDA number 10.600 and administered by the Department of Agriculture under Global Programs. The funding opportunity number is 2023 02. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $10,000,000, with an estimated 30 awards anticipated. The notice was created on March 18, 2022, with an original closing date of May 20, 2022. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with the expectation that specific eligible applicant types are further defined in the full eligibility section of the announcement.Apply for 2023 02
- The Department of Agriculture, Global Programs in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.600.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 18, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program (USDA FAS) - FAQs
1) What is the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program?
The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program is a competitive grant program run by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). It helps U.S. agricultural organizations maintain, expand, and develop overseas markets for U.S. agricultural commodities and value-added products.
2) Is this a competitive grant or an automatic/formula allocation?
This is a discretionary, competitive grant program. Funding decisions are made competitively based on the program regulations and the specific notice requirements.
3) What types of products or commodities can be supported?
Nearly all U.S. agricultural commodities can be supported under this opportunity. Tobacco is explicitly excluded.
4) What does the cost-share model mean for applicants?
The program operates on a cost-share model, meaning recipients are expected to contribute resources alongside federal funds to carry out eligible market development activities.
5) What is the primary goal of projects funded under FMD?
A central priority is whether the proposed work will realistically create, expand, or maintain export markets over the long term. Proposals that appear focused on short-lived promotional wins, without durable market impact, are less aligned with how FAS evaluates value.
6) How does USDA FAS evaluate proposals?
Proposals are evaluated against criteria set in the program regulations and in the notice itself. A major theme in evaluation is long-term market development potential, supported by a clear strategy, meaningful industry participation, practical timelines, and measurable results.
7) What does FAS mean by a "long-range agricultural trade strategy"?
Based on the notice description, FAS emphasizes applications that present a clear, long-range trade strategy for the commodity and demonstrate how activities will contribute to sustained export market outcomes rather than short-term gains.
8) How important is industry representation and partner participation?
FAS places strong emphasis on broad producer representation and meaningful participation from affiliated industry partners tied to the commodity being promoted.
9) What kind of planning details are expected in the application?
Applications are expected to include a practical program timeline with measurable checkpoints. Applicants should describe how progress will be assessed at defined intervals.
10) Are applicants expected to include measurable goals?
Yes. Applications are expected to specify quantifiable goals, such as product- or country-specific targets, and explain how progress will be measured over time.
11) What is GPRA and why does it matter for this program?
The program is aligned with federal performance management requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993. In practice, FAS prioritizes projects that are results-driven and can demonstrate performance in ways that support USDA and FAS objectives.
12) What reporting, monitoring, or evaluation expectations apply?
Applicants are expected to follow GPRA-related expectations and USDA monitoring and evaluation guidance. The notice indicates that reporting, measurement, and documentation of outcomes are core obligations of participation, not optional extras.
13) How does FAS think about which international markets to target?
FAS weighs how well a proposal targets markets with the strongest growth potential. This reflects an effort to direct limited resources toward projects most likely to generate measurable export gains and durable overseas market presence.
14) What makes a proposal stronger under this notice description?
Stronger proposals tend to connect: (a) a clear strategy, (b) broad industry backing and meaningful partner participation, (c) credible metrics and checkpoints, and (d) thoughtful selection of overseas markets where the commodity has a realistic path to growth.
15) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.600.
16) Which agency administers the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), under Global Programs (as listed in the source details provided).
17) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 2023 02.
18) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The posting indicates an award ceiling of $10,000,000.
19) How many awards are expected?
The posting estimates approximately 30 awards.
20) When was the notice created and what was the original closing date?
The notice was created on March 18, 2022, and the original closing date listed was May 20, 2022.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others." The posting indicates that the specific eligible applicant types are further defined in the full eligibility section of the announcement.
22) Are value-added products included, or only raw commodities?
The program description explicitly includes both U.S. agricultural commodities and value-added products.
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| FY 2022 Faculty Exchange Program-Philippine and Vietnamese Veterinary Science Apply for USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 22 0001 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10613 0700 10 22 0001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Faculty Exchange Program 10.613 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Engagement with Asia and Regional Economic Communities to Promote Alignment of MRL Standard Setting Bodies Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 22 0023 Funding Number: USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 22 0023 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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