Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM SPRS G 21 0012
The Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), designed to push pandemic-related relief dollars through state governments and into the seafood processing sector. Rather than having individual seafood businesses apply directly to USDA, the program structure relies on state agencies to administer the funding, set specific award amounts based on local conditions, and actively publicize the program so that eligible processors and processing vessels know the assistance exists and understand how to meet the requirements. The overarching purpose is to help seafood processors address COVID-19 impacts by paying for practical safety upgrades, operational changes, and health-related expenses that reduced risk and kept facilities and vessels functioning.
Only state governments are eligible applicants at the federal level (CFDA 10.181), meaning the state agency receives the grant and then provides funds onward to seafood processors and processing vessels within that state. The program anticipates a broad national rollout, with an expected 25 awards, reflecting multiple states and jurisdictions receiving grants to run their own pass-through funding efforts. The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $30,694,746, indicating the maximum federal amount available under the grant framework for a single award, while the actual amounts distributed to individual processors are left to the state agency to determine based on industry needs and conditions on the ground.
A key operational rule is that each processing facility or vessel may apply separately for funding, which matters for companies that operate more than one plant or more than one vessel. At the same time, processors are limited to one application per location or per vessel, so the same facility cannot submit multiple requests for the same site. This approach is meant to keep funding distribution straightforward and prevent duplicate funding for the same operation while still recognizing that multi-site businesses may have different needs at different locations.
Allowable uses of funds focus on expenses directly tied to pandemic response, continuity of operations, and worker and consumer safety. Workplace safety measures are explicitly eligible and include common protective and sanitation supplies and equipment such as personal protective equipment, sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, and similar items that reduce transmission risk in processing environments. The program also supports market pivots, acknowledging that many processors had to change how they sold product during the pandemic. Examples include costs associated with moving into virtual or online sales, such as building or subscribing to an online platform, paying platform fees, online marketing, credit card processing fees, as well as related supplies and new signage needed to support new sales channels or customer-facing adjustments.
Another major eligible category is retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety. This can cover modifications that make workplaces safer or enable safer transactions, including plexiglass barriers, walk-up windows, and various physical setup changes. The description also calls out retrofitting harvester vessels for onboard vessel processing in ways that maximize open-air activities, reflecting the reality that open-air work can reduce risk compared with enclosed spaces. Additional examples of eligible retrofit-related items include heat lamps, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, and chairs, which can support outdoor or reconfigured work and service areas.
The program recognizes that pandemic safety often increased logistical and housing costs, so it allows funds to cover additional transportation expenses incurred to maintain social distancing, as well as additional worker housing costs needed to spread out living arrangements or to quarantine new or exposed employees. Finally, it covers certain medical-related expenses that were unreimbursed, including costs associated with providing or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment for infected employees, and it can include paid leave tied to those health needs. In practical terms, the eligible cost categories collectively target the most common pandemic-related pressure points for seafood processors: keeping workers safe, keeping operations compliant and functional, adapting to disrupted markets, and absorbing added costs from distancing and health precautions.
The opportunity was created on September 23, 2021, under funding opportunity number USDA AMS TM SPRS G 21 0012, with an original closing date of November 22, 2021. Even though those dates reflect the federal application window for state governments, the program’s impact at the business level depends on each state’s rollout, outreach, and subaward process, since states are responsible for communicating eligibility, collecting applications from processors and vessels, and setting funding levels that align with local industry needs.Apply for USDA AMS TM SPRS G 21 0012
- The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.181.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 23, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 22, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,694,746.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program (SPRS) - FAQs
What is the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program?
The Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). It is designed to move pandemic-related relief dollars through state governments and into the seafood processing sector to address COVID-19 impacts.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to help seafood processors and processing vessels respond to COVID-19 impacts by paying for practical safety upgrades, operational changes, and health-related expenses that reduced risk and helped facilities and vessels keep operating.
Who applies to USDA for this funding?
State governments apply to USDA at the federal level. The state agency receives the federal grant and then administers the funding within the state by making subawards to eligible seafood processors and processing vessels.
Can individual seafood businesses apply directly to USDA?
No. The program is structured so that individual seafood businesses do not apply directly to USDA. Instead, state agencies administer the funds and run the subaward process for processors and processing vessels in their state.
Who is eligible to be the federal-level applicant?
Only state governments are eligible applicants at the federal level under CFDA 10.181.
How many awards are expected nationally?
The program anticipates an expected 25 awards nationwide, reflecting multiple states and jurisdictions receiving grants to run their own pass-through funding efforts.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $30,694,746. This reflects the maximum federal amount available under the grant framework for a single award to a state, not the amount a single processor would necessarily receive.
Who decides how much funding individual processors or vessels receive?
The state agency administering the program determines the actual award amounts distributed to individual processors and processing vessels based on local industry needs and conditions.
How will seafood processors and vessels find out about the funding?
State agencies are responsible for actively publicizing the program so eligible processors and processing vessels know the assistance exists and understand how to meet requirements.
Can a company with multiple facilities or vessels submit more than one application?
Yes. Each processing facility or vessel may apply separately for funding. This is important for companies that operate more than one plant or more than one vessel.
Is a facility or vessel allowed to submit multiple applications for the same location or vessel?
No. Processors are limited to one application per location or per vessel, meaning the same facility cannot submit multiple requests for the same site.
What kinds of costs are allowable under this program?
Allowable uses focus on expenses directly tied to pandemic response, continuity of operations, and worker and consumer safety. Examples include workplace safety supplies and equipment, market pivot costs (such as online sales and related fees), retrofits to improve safety, certain transportation and housing costs related to distancing and quarantine needs, and certain unreimbursed medical-related expenses.
What workplace safety items are explicitly mentioned as eligible?
Eligible workplace safety measures include items such as personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, and similar items that reduce transmission risk in processing environments.
Does the program support moving to online or virtual sales?
Yes. The program supports market pivots, including costs associated with moving into virtual or online sales. Examples mentioned include building or subscribing to an online platform, platform fees, online marketing, credit card processing fees, and related supplies and new signage needed to support new sales channels or customer-facing adjustments.
What types of facility retrofits can be covered?
The program supports retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety. Examples include plexiglass barriers, walk-up windows, and other physical setup changes intended to make workplaces safer or enable safer transactions.
Are vessel-related retrofits eligible?
Yes. The program calls out retrofitting harvester vessels for onboard vessel processing in ways that maximize open-air activities, recognizing that open-air work can reduce risk compared with enclosed spaces.
What are examples of retrofit-related items for outdoor or reconfigured work and service areas?
Examples mentioned include heat lamps, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, and chairs, which can support outdoor or reconfigured work and service areas.
Can the grant cover increased transportation costs due to social distancing?
Yes. Funds can be used to cover additional transportation expenses incurred to maintain social distancing.
Can the grant cover additional worker housing costs related to COVID-19 safety?
Yes. The program allows coverage of additional worker housing costs needed to spread out living arrangements or to quarantine new or exposed employees.
Are medical-related expenses eligible?
Yes. The program covers certain unreimbursed medical-related expenses, including costs associated with providing or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment for infected employees.
Can paid leave related to COVID-19 health needs be covered?
Yes. The description indicates the program can include paid leave tied to vaccination, testing, or treatment-related health needs, as part of eligible unreimbursed medical-related expenses.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS TM SPRS G 21 0012.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close at the federal level?
The opportunity was created on September 23, 2021, with an original federal closing date of November 22, 2021. These dates reflect the federal application window for state governments.
Do the federal dates determine when seafood businesses can apply?
Not necessarily. The business-level impact depends on each state's rollout, outreach, and subaward process, because states are responsible for communicating eligibility, collecting applications from processors and vessels, and setting funding levels aligned with local needs.
Who administers the program at the federal level?
The program is a USDA initiative administered through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What is the general intent behind limiting one application per location or vessel?
The limitation is meant to keep distribution straightforward and prevent duplicate funding for the same operation, while still allowing multi-site businesses to apply for different facilities or vessels that have different needs.
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| USAID/Nepal Agriculture Higher Education Activity Apply for 72036722APS00001 Funding Number: 72036722APS00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ghana USAID-Accra Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Market Based Resilience for Marginalized Populations (MB-RMP) Activity Apply for 720623RFA00003 Funding Number: 720623RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, East Africa USAID-Kenya Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $65,000,000 |
| Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program Apply for USDA AMS TM FFWR G 21 0013 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FFWR G 21 0013 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $50,000,000 |
| Food Security, Nutrition and Resilience in Liberia Apply for RFI 720 669 FS 11222021 Funding Number: RFI 720 669 FS 11222021 Agency: Agency for International Development, Liberia USAID-Monrovia Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program Apply for TM SPRS 21 001 Funding Number: TM SPRS 21 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $30,694,746 |
| Non-Profit Transfer Technical Assistance Grant Apply for USDA RD HCFP NPTA 2022 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP NPTA 2022 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $350,000 |
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| FY 2022 McGovern-Dole Standing Supplemental NOFO Apply for USDA FAS 0700 10608 22 S Funding Number: USDA FAS 0700 10608 22 S Agency: Department of Agriculture, McGovern-Dole Food for Education 10.608 Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
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| Tribal Seafood Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program (TSPRS) Request for Applications Apply for USDA AMS TM 22 0004 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM 22 0004 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| USDA-AMS-TM-FSMIP-G-22-0004 Apply for USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 22 0004 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM FSMIP G 22 0004 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| USDA-AMS-TM-ACER-G-22-0006 Apply for USDA AMS TM ACER G 22 0006 Funding Number: USDA AMS TM ACER G 22 0006 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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