Request for Approval under the Generic Clearance for the Collection of Solution for Funding Opportunity Announcement

Request for Approval under the “Generic Clearance for the Collection of Solution for Funding Opportunity Announcement” (0503-XXXX)

TITLE: FSA Urban Ag Office Cooperative Agreements.

USDA Agency: Farm Service Agency (FSA).

PURPOSE: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) leads the effort to create Urban Agriculture Outreach and Education cooperative agreements in collaboration with the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). FSA will invest $40 million of American Rescue Plan funding (Section 1001 - BBB/Food Systems Transformation Effort) to transform the food system through support for urban agriculture. This funding will complement the establishment of 17 pilot service centers and county committees across the United States by the end of fiscal year 2023. USDA is working to increase urban agriculture as it plays an important role in growing not only fresh, healthy produce, but also providing jobs, and offering access to fresh, healthy food in areas where grocery stores are scarce. Urban farmers and gardeners work among diverse populations to expand access to nutritious foods, foster community engagement, provide jobs, educate communities about farming, and expand green spaces to increase supply chain resiliency.

A. Non-competitive cooperative agreements: Farm Service Agency (FSA) state offices will award non-competitive cooperative agreements to entities that work within the 17 selected pilot locations to immediately support urban agriculture food systems. These agreements will invest in urban ag outreach, training, technical assistance, and education through a collaboration with local organizations uniquely situated to support urban ag producers. The cooperators will expand FSA’s existing outreach and education efforts to urban producers on FSA programs, support technical assistance to help producers access FSA programs, and will allocate resources to urban agricultural producers to implement conservation and climate-friendly farming practices that reduce susceptibility to natural disasters and increase supply chain resiliency. The agreement targets historically underserved (HU) producers in urban county committee and service center pilot locations. With the complex nature of some of FSA’s programs, FSA is focusing on additional outreach and education to producers in areas who could benefit from additional outreach in order to:

(1) increase access and participation of HUs in FSA programs and services in urban areas

(2) improve technical assistance related to FSA farm and farm loan programs, and

(3) assist urban producers in developing successful business plans, and implementing climate-friendly practices on their farms that can mitigate their susceptibility to natural disasters.

FSA will also award non-competitive cooperative agreements to two Research Institutions, Virginia State University (VSU) and Cornell University (Cornell), to continue conducting unique and innovative research and create urban agricultural outreach, technical assistance, and education materials.

These cooperative agreements will expand FSA’s existing urban ag program outreach, technical assistance, education, and allocate resources to VSU and Cornell to support and further the institution’s urban agricultural and innovative production research. VSU and Cornell will develop creative solutions to enhance urban agricultural producers’ access to FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other USDA programs and services.

B. Competitive cooperative agreements: FSA will award competitive funding for urban agriculture projects within the 17 selected pilot locations and serve urban agricultural producers. These competitive cooperative agreements will ensure organizations, including Community Based Organizations (CBOs), non-profits, and extension centers, the resources to successfully implement urban ag outreach, training, technical assistance, and education.

These competitive cooperative agreements will target HU producers in urban county committee and service center pilot locations. With the complex nature of some of FSA’s programs, FSA will focus additional outreach and education to producers in areas that could benefit from additional outreach in order to:

(1) increase access and participation of HUs in FSA programs and services in urban areas

(2) improve technical assistance related to FSA farm and farm loan programs, and

(3) assist urban producers in developing successful business plans, and implementing climate-friendly practices on their farms that can mitigate their susceptibility to natural disasters.

ANNOUNCEMENT DATES:

Non-Competitive agreements: Award/announce on September 15, 2022.

Competitive Agreements: Announce NOFO on September 15, 2022 and award first round of agreements by December 15, 2022.

TYPE OF COLLECTION: (Check one)

[ ] Grant.

[X] Cooperative agreement.

[ ] Other: ____________________________________________

Announcement:

[X] Notice of Funding of Opportunity (NOFO).

[X] Grants.gov

[ ] Other: __________________________________

CERTIFICATION:

I certify this grant or cooperative agreement to be true:

[X] Yes. [ ] No.

BURDEN HOURS/FORMATS/REPORTING

	Forms number	Number of Respondents	Number of Responses per respondent	Total Annual Responses	Burden hours per responses
Progress Reports	None	120	1	120	17.00
Project Summary	None	300	1	300	10.00
Negotiated Indirect Rate Cost Agreement -NICRA/De Minimus – an applicant with an existing NICRA would not need to negotiate a new one, merely submit their existing one. An applicant claiming indirect costs who does not have a NICRA may need to sign a statement confirming they will use the de minimus rate (last I heard from GAD they were still considering waiving this and simply assuming the de minimus was in effect)	None	98	1	98	0.50
Notification of Award (signature only)	FSA-ADS-093	120	1	120	0.50
TOTAL				638

Request For Common Forms (Grants.gov)

Request for Advance or Reimbursement (OMB # 4040-0012)	SF-270
Application for Federal Assistance** (OMB #4040-0020)	SF-424
Budget Information for Non-Construction (4040-0006)	SF-424A
Federal Financial Report*** (OMB # 4040-0014)	SF-425
Certificate Regarding Lobbying (OMB # 4040-0013)	None
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (OMB # 4040-0013)	SF-LLL, if applicable

4