Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, is offering the Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance program under Assistance Listing Number 10.197 and Funding Opportunity Number USDA-AMS-TM-CCG-G-26-0001. Legislative authority is provided by Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which authorizes USDA grants to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Approximately $7.5 million is available through this one-time competitive program, with an anticipated one to four Federal awards. USDA intends to select at least one eligible organization with expertise consistent with the program purpose and the capacity to administer a competitive subaward program over a broad, relevant geographic area. The program is intended to improve the ability of emergency food assistance organizations to temporarily store, effectively package, and distribute fresh and minimally processed foods. Selected prime recipients will design, manage, and oversee competitive subaward programs supporting cold chain investments for food banks, food pantries, faith-based organizations, and other eligible public or private nonprofit organizations providing nutrition assistance to people with low incomes or challenging financial circumstances. Investments are intended to increase access to nutrient-dense foods such as meat, eggs, seafood, dairy, and fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables, improve utilization of donated food, reduce food waste, and strengthen food and agricultural supply chain resilience. Prime recipients must allocate at least 80 percent of their total Federal award to competitive subawards, while program administration costs, including direct and indirect costs, are limited to 20 percent of total Federal funds provided under the prime award. Eligible subaward activities are limited to the purchase, delivery, and installation of cold storage equipment, refrigerated mobile units and vehicles, and essential ancillary equipment and supplies. Examples include refrigerators, freezers, walk-in coolers and freezers, refrigerated vehicles, mobile cooling units and trailers, shelving, pallet jacks, forklifts, backup generators, external battery systems, temperature monitoring devices, stainless steel tables, scales, labeling equipment, and one-time packaging and labeling supplies. Subawards must range from $10,000 to $200,000 and may have a performance period of no more than 12 months. Ineligible subaward activities include purchasing land or buildings, new construction, structural changes, concrete pads or ground-disturbing activities, routine maintenance, staffing and operating costs, food purchases, most food safety systems and training, agricultural production expenses, marketing, duplicative government-funded expenses, and large-scale food processing equipment. Subaward applicants must have necessary critical resources and infrastructure in place before applying. Prime applicants must be domestic nonprofit corporations owned, operated, and located within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. This includes organizations or institutions, including nonprofits with State or Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) status, where no part of net earnings benefits a private shareholder or individual, and may include charitable organizations and private foundations. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to implement and manage competitive subawards, including solicitation, review, award, oversight, monitoring, and reporting. No cost share is required from prime applicants. At the subaward level, however, each subrecipient must provide a cash contribution equal to 10 percent of the Federal funds received. Subrecipients must also have operated for at least two years, possess an existing facility and infrastructure necessary for the requested equipment, and demonstrate organizational stability and sustainability. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier, active SAM.gov registration, Taxpayer Identification Number, Grants.gov account, and an appropriately authorized organizational representative. Mandatory application documents are the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, and the required CCG Project Narrative Form. A current approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement must also be submitted when applicable. The Project Narrative must use the required template, contain an executive summary of no more than 250 words, be typed and single-spaced in 11-point font, and contain no more than 15 pages of applicant content in addition to the existing template content. It must be submitted as a PDF. The narrative must describe objectives and goals, project activities, monitoring and evaluation strategies, management of the project and subaward competition, and fiscal and resource plans. AMS recommends submitting applications at least two weeks before the deadline. Applications first undergo screening for completeness, eligibility, compliance with program requirements, required documentation, funding range, and timely submission. Applications passing screening are evaluated by a USDA review panel. Alignment and Intent is worth 30 points, Technical Merit and Expertise is worth 40 points, and Fiscal Plan and Performance Accountability is worth 30 points. AMS then conducts an administrative review of top-scoring applications considering scope alignment, budget allowability, available funding, geographic coverage and variety, USDA priorities, and organizational risk. Risk review considers financial stability, management systems, Federal grant performance, audits, policies, procedures, and responsibility and qualification records. Successful applicants receive an electronic Notice of Award, while unsuccessful applicants are notified by email and receive anonymous consensus review panel comments. The application deadline is October 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. The anticipated prime award performance period is approximately September 30, 2026 through September 29, 2028, with actual start dates established at award. Prime awards range from $2,000,000 to $7,500,000. Competitive subawards must be made within the first year, leaving at least one year for equipment purchases, reimbursement requests, and reporting. Recipients must submit semi-annual performance reports and Federal financial reports and submit final performance, financial, and closeout documentation after the performance period. Program questions may be directed to AMS.CCG@usda.gov. Grants.gov technical assistance is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. The NOFO identifies this as a one-time program, so no recurring future application cycle is established.

Demonstrate a clear geographic need and strong alignment with emergency food distribution goals; provide a measurable and realistic implementation plan; show proven capacity for competitive subaward solicitation, selection, oversight, monitoring, and reporting; explain outreach to intended subaward applicants; identify qualified key staff and technical resources; ensure SF-424, SF-424A, and narrative budgets logically align; document accounting and performance monitoring systems; use the required Project Narrative template without modification; exclude unallowable costs and remain within the required funding range; verify every required attachment before submission; submit early, with AMS recommending at least two weeks before the deadline.