Washington Commodities Donation Grant Program.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Food Assistance Division is seeking a minimum of two nonprofit organizations to participate in the Washington Commodities Donation Grant Program, designed to acquire and distribute Washington-grown produce, grains, and protein that are at risk of becoming food waste. The solicitation (RFP K5871) prioritizes organizations with at least five years of experience coordinating collection and transportation of donated agricultural products to food bank distributors and distribution centers. Eligible organizations must be Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with active tax-exempt status, registered with the Washington Secretary of State, and capable of becoming a licensed statewide vendor within 30 days of selection. Proposals will be evaluated using a comprehensive scoring rubric that assesses organizational experience (up to 24 points), work plan implementation (up to 60 points), and desirable qualifications (up to 16 points). The RFP is scheduled with a pre-proposal virtual conference available on December 10, 2024, and proposals are due by January 3, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST, with an initial contract term running from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, and a potential one-year extension contingent on legislative approval.

The program emphasizes support for minority, veteran, women, and tribal-owned food producers, with a strong focus on organizations that can establish relationships with food producers of varying sizes and types throughout Washington state. Proposers must demonstrate financial capability to work on a reimbursement basis and provide comprehensive monthly and quarterly reporting, tracking both first-tier and last-mile food distribution. The total program budget is approximately $3,000,000, funded through the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), with a requirement that 60% or more of grant funds be spent on food purchases. Eligible organizations must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and provide detailed documentation of food waste risk identification and mitigation strategies. The program is structured to support agricultural producers at risk of losing product while simultaneously addressing hunger relief needs across Washington's diverse counties, with a particular emphasis on reaching tribal communities and supporting underrepresented food producers.