Assisting Specialty Crop Exports: Low Oxygen Storage and Packaging Systems for U.S. Tree Nuts with Phytosanitary Traceability

Closed Posted

Opportunity number
USDA-FAS-10621-0750-106-27-0001
Agency
Applications due
Award size
Up to $2,000,000

Opportunity facts

Assistance listings
Funding instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Category
  • Agriculture
Eligible applicants
  • Other
Points of contact

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service is soliciting cooperative agreement applications to develop low-oxygen storage and packaging systems for U.S. tree nuts with phytosanitary traceability, with applications due October 26, 2026. This opportunity is available to U.S. academic institutions, state governments, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) designation, U.S. trade associations, U.S. agricultural cooperatives, international organizations, foreign entities, and private sector businesses; all applicants must maintain active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before the date of award, with no exceptions or waivers for inactive, expired, pending, or excluded listings.

The funding addresses phytosanitary and maximum residue limit (MRL) barriers that impede tree nut exports. Modified atmosphere and controlled atmosphere technologies using low-oxygen conditions offer an alternative to costly fumigation and freezing treatments that currently create marketing bottlenecks. The project seeks tools that universally meet importing countries' unique phytosanitary and MRL requirements while preserving product quality and maximizing grower returns.

Awards under the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports program (CFDA 10.621) have ranged from $477,693 to $5 million, with individual awards extending up to five years. The review panel evaluates applications on Technical Expertise and Experience, Overall Program Plan, Cost Effectiveness, and Quality of Submission. The selecting official may award out of rank order based on strategic priorities including geographic distribution, minority-serving institution incorporation, or congressional directive. Allowable costs include personal compensation for technical experts, travel and subsistence, materials and supplies, consumables, and equipment.

Synopsis

The occurrence of insects as well as pesticide residuals can be significant barriers for U.S. horticultural exports. Each importing country can have unique phytosanitary and maximum residue limit (MRL) requirements, which creates operational and logistical challenges. To maximize return to growers, U.S. shippers need tools that can universally address all such requirements while maintaining product quality. Currently, tree nuts and many other durable specialty crops require fumigations or freezing, which are both expensive and create bottlenecks in marketing.

More and more tree nut handlers are using a modified atmosphere (MA) or controlled atmosphere (CA) technology in which low-oxygen conditions (

Eligibility

This opportunity is available to U.S. academic institutions, state governments, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) designation, U.S. trade associations, U.S. agricultural cooperatives, international organizations, foreign entities, and any other entity including private sector businesses.All applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) before the date of award. Applicants with inactive, expired, pending, or excluded listings will be deemed ineligible. Exceptions, waivers, or extensions will not be considered. More information about SAM.gov registration can be found in this document in Section 9, Other Information.

Files

File Type Posted
USDA-FAS-10621-0750-106-27-0001FINAL NOFO.pdf PDF

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