Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 26 0006
The Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) Fiscal Year 2026 grant opportunity is a competitive funding program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The central goal of RFSP is to strengthen local and regional food systems by supporting partnerships that bring together public and private resources. Rather than focusing on a single organization acting alone, the program is built around collaboration and coordinated planning and development efforts that improve how food is produced, processed, distributed, marketed, and accessed within a region.
RFSP sits under USDA AMSs larger Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) umbrella. In practice, that means projects are expected to align with LAMP priorities, especially efforts that help build and expand direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels, strengthen local and regional food markets and enterprises, and support the development of value-added agricultural products. The emphasis is on developing stronger market connections and regional coordination that can help producers reach buyers, improve market infrastructure and relationships, and make regional food economies more resilient.
For FY 2026, AMS expects to make around 4.71 million dollars available through this solicitation. The notice also provides recent context for the scale of the program: in FY 2025, AMS awarded a total of 4,712,934 dollars across 7 funded projects. For FY 2026, the opportunity anticipates roughly 10 awards, with an award ceiling (maximum award amount) of 1,000,000 dollars per grant, indicating that both mid-sized and relatively large partnership-driven projects may be competitive depending on the programs final award decisions and the quality of applications received.
This is a discretionary grant program, and applications will be evaluated competitively using established merit review and scoring procedures. The announcement makes clear that AMS is looking for well-designed, high-quality proposals that clearly match RFSPs purpose and meet all stated program requirements. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains the detailed eligibility rules, including who can apply and what kinds of entities can participate as partners; applicants are directed specifically to the NOFO eligibility section (Section 2.2) for the complete list of eligible applicants and eligible partner entities.
Key administrative details from the posting include the funding opportunity number (USDA AMS TM RFSP G 26 0006), the CFDA/Assistance Listing number (10.177), and the application deadline of June 5, 2026. The opportunity category is discretionary, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is agriculture. In short, this program is aimed at funding regional, partnership-based projects that can demonstrate a strong plan for improving local and regional food system coordination, market development, and value-chain connections in ways that align with broader LAMP objectives.Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 26 0006
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Food System Partnership Fiscal Year 2026" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.177.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-05. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) FY 2026 Grant - FAQs
What is the Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) grant program?
The Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) is a competitive grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Its central goal is to strengthen local and regional food systems by supporting partnership-based projects that coordinate planning and development efforts across a region.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What is the main purpose of RFSP?
RFSP is designed to improve local and regional food systems by supporting coordinated partnerships that enhance how food is produced, processed, distributed, marketed, and accessed within a region. The program emphasizes collaboration rather than a single organization working alone.
Is RFSP focused on individual organizations or partnerships?
RFSP is built around collaboration. The program is intended to support partnerships that bring together public and private resources to carry out coordinated regional planning and development.
How does RFSP relate to the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)?
RFSP sits under AMS's larger Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) umbrella. Projects are expected to align with LAMP priorities, particularly those that strengthen local and regional markets and help expand direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels.
What types of activities or outcomes are expected to align with LAMP priorities?
Based on the opportunity description, alignment with LAMP priorities can include efforts to build and expand direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels, strengthen local and regional food markets and enterprises, and support the development of value-added agricultural products. Projects should also aim to improve market connections, infrastructure and relationships, and regional coordination.
What is the funding availability for RFSP in Fiscal Year 2026?
For FY 2026, AMS expects to make approximately $4.71 million available through this solicitation.
How many awards does AMS anticipate making in FY 2026?
The solicitation anticipates roughly 10 awards for FY 2026.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per grant?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per grant.
What does the FY 2025 award history suggest about the program scale?
The notice provides context that in FY 2025, AMS awarded a total of $4,712,934 across 7 funded projects, indicating the program typically supports a limited number of competitively selected projects with meaningful award amounts.
Is RFSP a competitive grant?
Yes. RFSP is a discretionary grant program and applications are evaluated competitively using established merit review and scoring procedures.
What does it mean that this is a discretionary grant program?
It means funding decisions are made through a competitive process and awards are not guaranteed. Applications must score well under the program's merit review criteria and meet all requirements stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
What kinds of proposals is AMS looking for?
AMS is looking for well-designed, high-quality proposals that clearly match RFSP's purpose and meet all stated program requirements, including eligibility rules and any other requirements outlined in the NOFO.
Where can applicants find the official eligibility requirements?
The posting directs applicants to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), specifically the eligibility section (Section 2.2), for the complete list of eligible applicants and eligible partner entities.
What is the application deadline for RFSP FY 2026?
The application deadline is June 5, 2026.
What is the funding opportunity number for this RFSP solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS TM RFSP G 26 0006.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for RFSP?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 10.177.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is agriculture.
What is the program trying to improve within a region's food system?
RFSP aims to improve coordinated regional food system functions, including production, processing, distribution, marketing, and access, with a strong emphasis on building stronger market connections and value-chain coordination.
Does RFSP prioritize market development and value-chain connections?
Yes. The description emphasizes developing stronger market connections and regional coordination that helps producers reach buyers, improves market infrastructure and relationships, and makes regional food economies more resilient.
Is this opportunity intended to support direct producer-to-consumer channels?
Yes. Because RFSP aligns with LAMP priorities, the opportunity highlights building and expanding direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels as a key area of emphasis.
What role do value-added agricultural products play in RFSP priorities?
The opportunity description notes that projects are expected to align with LAMP priorities, which include supporting the development of value-added agricultural products as part of strengthening local and regional markets.
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