Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives

 

The Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives connects the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) with eligible entities to host DBI Initiatives to manage the program by supporting dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. These initiatives specifically focus on: (1) Diversifying dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher-value uses for dairy products; (2) Promoting business development that diversifies farmer income through processing and marketing innovation; and (3) Encouraging the use of regional milk production.

Active 10.176 Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2022 Please see https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/dbi/awards Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Section 12513, Public Law 115-343, 7 U.S.C. 1623(b)
Authorized by section 204(b) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 as supplemented by section 12513 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115—334), (7 U.S.C. § 1632d). Additional funds are authorized under Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act. EEligible entities include State departments of agriculture or other state entities, cooperative extension services, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Entities must have the capacity to provide consultation and expertise necessary to advance the purpose and activities of the DBI Initiatives, and expertise in grant distribution and tracking to be considered eligible for this program. Dairy Promotion Programs are ineligible to host an initiative. Projects that benefit dairy businesses, producers and regional dairy processors. 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. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. AMS outlines the application requirements and merit review process in each grant program's RFA. Applicants are required to use the RFA to apply for grant funds. After the application deadline has passed, AMS begins a three-step process to evaluate each application submitted to the grant program and select applications for funding. 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, the application is reviewed to ensure that they met the RFA's basic requirements. Applications that met these basic requirements moved forward to Step 2. Step 2 (only for competitive grants) is the Competitive Review. Applications are evaluated by panels of external peer reviewers. Selected reviewers have diverse 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 also 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 from those application discussions. The panels analyze each application using the RFA's evaluation criteria and instructions prepared by AMS. 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 outlines the application requirements and merit review process in each grant program's RFA. Applicants are required to use the RFA to apply for grant funds. After the application deadline has passed, AMS begins a three-step process to evaluate each application submitted to the grant program and select applications for funding. 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, the application is reviewed to ensure that they met the RFA's basic requirements. Applications that met these basic requirements moved forward to Step 2. Step 2 is the Competitive Review. Applications are evaluated by panels of external peer reviewers. Selected reviewers have diverse 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 also 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 from those application discussions. The panels analyze each application using the RFA's evaluation criteria and instructions prepared by AMS. Individual reviewers evaluate and score their assigned applications and then confer with their team to derive a consensus review. The consensus review serves as the basis for awarding grant funds and focuses on the applications' strengths and weaknesses. 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 the use of Federal funds and monitor the performance associated with these monies. Non-competitive grant programs implemented by AMS are limited to Step 3 in the application review process. Go to https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants or contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines. From 120 to 180 days. Eligible applicants should contact the headquarters office for application deadlines. Annual application deadlines are posted in Grants.gov. More information can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/grants. Not applicable. Not applicable. Criteria for selecting proposals are within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFA. The most current RFA is available via Grants.gov or www.ams.usda.gov/grants. Funds must be used to support one or more of the following project types as identified in the Request for Applications. Funds must be used in accordance with the requirements of the Request for Applications and 2 CFR 200.Funds must be used to support one or more of the following project types as identified in the Request for Applications. Funds must be used in accordance with the requirements of the Request for Applications and 2 CFR 200. Performance Reports: Annual performance and financial reports are required. A final performance and financial report are required within 120 days after the expiration date of the grant period. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR ? 200.503 For each year that a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall conduct an audit of the expenditures of grant funds by the State in accordance with 2 CFR ? 200, Subpart F- Audit Requirements. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Not Applicable. Awards are for 3 years in length. A one- year extension to complete the project may be requested. Statutory Formula: Subpart Annual performance and financial reports are required 90 days after the expiration date of the grant period. A final performance and financial report are required within 120 days after the expiration date of the grant period. See www.ams.usda.gov/grants for more information. Public Law Annual performance and financial reports are required 90 days after the expiration date of the grant period. A final performance and financial report are required within 120 days after the expiration date of the grant period. See www.ams.usda.gov/grants for more information. Annual performance and financial reports are required 90 days after the expiration date of the grant period. A final performance and financial report are required within 120 days after the expiration date of the grant period. See www.ams.usda.gov/grants for more information.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds are advanced or reimbursed. Applicants have up to 3 calendar years to use the funds. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: See www.ams.usda.gov/grants for grant agreement award terms and conditions to obtain information on how assistance is awarded/released. USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Room 1510 South Building, Stop 0264 Washington, DC 20250-0264 DBI Initiatives
Room 1510 South Building
Stop 0264
Washington, DC 20250 USA
IPPGrants@usda.gov
Phone: 2026901300 https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/dbi 12-0408-1-2-605 (Project Grants) FY 22$24,950,000.00; FY 23 est $25,000,000.00; FY 24 est $25,000,000.00; FY 21$22,000,000.00; FY 20 Estimate Not Available FY 19$1,500,000.00; FY 18 Estimate Not Available - DBI Initiatives (Appropriated Funds)(Project Grants) FY 22$80,000,000.00; FY 23 est $4,000,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$0.00; FY 20$20,000,000.00; FY 19$0.00; - American Rescue Plan Supplemental Funds are distributed equally among the current recipients. An RFA is announced each fiscal year via www.grants.gov. Additional information about this program is available at www.ams.usda.gov/grants. Fiscal Year 2020 https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/dbi
Fiscal Year 2021 https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/dbi