Coordinating Agricultural Development & Innovation (CADI) Uzbekistan Exchanges: Promotion of U.S. Distilled Spirits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Foreign Agricultural Service within the Agricultural Economic Development division, is offering a funding opportunity under the Coordinating Agricultural Development and Innovation Uzbekistan Exchanges program. This initiative is designed to support the Technical Agricultural Assistance Program by awarding a cooperative agreement to an eligible U.S. institution. The overarching purpose of the program is to strengthen international agricultural trade relationships by promoting U.S. distilled spirits exports to Uzbekistan. The agency seeks to increase awareness and demand for U.S. distilled spirits by educating Uzbek buyers while also exposing U.S. companies to emerging market opportunities in Central Asia. The program centers on the design and delivery of a short-term training exchange for nine Uzbek private sector participants who are involved in the importation, marketing, and sales of distilled spirits. These individuals will be recruited and selected directly by USDA. The selected U.S. host institution will be responsible for organizing and implementing a one- to two-week training program within the United States. The training must cover a wide range of technical and commercial topics, including U.S. alcohol regulations, production practices, quality standards, packaging, storage, and innovation in distilled spirits. The program should also incorporate site visits, industry meetings, and participation in trade events to provide participants with practical exposure to U.S. industry operations. Funding for this opportunity totals 115000 dollars, with one anticipated award. USDA reserves the option to issue additional awards if funding becomes available within six months of the initial selection. The funding is structured as a cost-reimbursable agreement, which includes statutory limitations such as a cap on indirect costs at 10 percent of direct costs. Allowable uses of funds include program delivery expenses such as domestic travel, lodging, and training activities. However, funds may not be used for prohibited purposes such as lobbying, litigation against government entities, or as matching funds for other federal awards. Compensation limits also apply, with personnel costs restricted to the equivalent of Executive Schedule Level III rates. Eligibility is limited to state cooperative institutions and other colleges and universities in the United States, as defined by federal statute. Applicants must maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management prior to submission and throughout the lifecycle of the award. Only one application per institution is permitted. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Applications must demonstrate substantial compliance with all submission requirements, including the provision of required forms, a detailed project narrative, and a comprehensive budget with justification. The application process requires submission through the USDA ezFedGrants system. A complete application includes standard federal forms, a detailed budget narrative, and a project narrative outlining program design, institutional qualifications, logistical planning, and evaluation methods. The project narrative must clearly describe how the training objectives will be achieved, including curriculum content, site visits, cultural considerations, and participant outcomes. Applications are evaluated based on technical expertise, experience with international training, quality of the training plan, budget justification, and overall clarity and completeness. Key dates for this funding opportunity include a deadline for submitting questions on May 6, 2026, and an application submission deadline of May 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. The agency will conduct an eligibility screening followed by a merit-based review process conducted by a panel. Final selection decisions are made by an authorized official and are not subject to appeal. Selected applicants will receive notification via email, and final awards will be issued after completion of all required administrative steps. The program includes specific performance and reporting requirements following award. Recipients must submit financial and performance reports within 120 days after the end of the performance period. They are also responsible for ensuring participant engagement through pre- and post-training evaluations, development of individual action plans, and ongoing monitoring of outcomes. The training program is expected to support long-term trade relationships and contribute to increased U.S. exports to Uzbekistan. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact Benjamin Kairn at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service via email or phone.

Focus on demonstrating strong international training experience and a detailed, realistic training plan aligned with Uzbek market needs; ensure budget justification is clear and cost effective; prioritize clarity and completeness in proposal writing