Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) grant opportunity titled "Implementation of Regionally Harmonized Pesticide Regulations and Standards in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC)" is a discretionary cooperative agreement designed to reduce trade frictions caused by uneven or non-aligned pesticide and food safety rules across the region. The central issue FAS is trying to address is that, even though the United States is one of the largest trading partners for many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. agricultural exports can be delayed, restricted, or blocked when sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety measures in the destination markets do not match international norms or are applied inconsistently. In practice, these kinds of regulatory gaps often show up in pesticide-related requirements, including how countries set and enforce maximum residue limits (MRLs) and how they evaluate and register pesticides, which directly affects whether imported products can legally enter the market.
The program focuses on technical assistance rather than infrastructure or direct service delivery. FAS intends for the recipient to work with LAC government officials and relevant regional bodies to strengthen understanding and adoption of science-based, trade-facilitating pesticide regulations and standards. A major theme is alignment with approaches used by the United States and international standard-setting bodies, meaning the project is expected to encourage regulatory decisions that are transparent, risk-based, and consistent with globally recognized frameworks. At the same time, the opportunity emphasizes helping partner countries comply with their own MRL guidelines, which signals that the project is not only about changing rules on paper but also about improving practical implementation, enforcement consistency, and regulator capacity to apply existing national and regional policies correctly.
Geographically and institutionally, the effort is framed around LAC regional economic communities, specifically the Central American Regional Economic Community, the Andean Community (CAN), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). That regional emphasis suggests the work is meant to support harmonization across multiple countries at once, not just isolated national reforms. The underlying trade logic is that when pesticide rules, MRL processes, and related SPS measures become more consistent across neighboring countries and better aligned with international standards, exporters face fewer surprises, compliance costs drop, and market access becomes more predictable. For U.S. agriculture, that translates into fewer disruptions and a clearer pathway to maintain or expand exports into these markets.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 10.960. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means FAS expects to remain substantively involved during implementation (for example, through collaboration on work planning, technical direction, coordination with counterpart governments, or review of deliverables), rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement. The opportunity number is USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023. The posted award ceiling is $1,499,000, and FAS anticipated making one award, indicating a single lead implementer would likely coordinate the full regional scope. The original closing date listed for applications was September 5, 2023, and the opportunity was created on July 26, 2023.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full notice. In many FAS technical assistance opportunities, that category can include a range of capable implementers such as non-profits, universities, trade associations, research institutions, or other organizations with demonstrated expertise in pesticide regulation, SPS systems, risk analysis, regulatory harmonization, capacity building, and international agricultural trade. Regardless of the specific eligible entity types, the nature of the work clearly calls for an applicant that can operate regionally, convene and train technical regulators, translate complex standards into practical regulatory guidance, and coordinate effectively with multiple governments and regional economic communities.
Overall, the grant is aimed at improving regulatory coherence in pesticide standards across Latin America and the Caribbean by strengthening technical capacity and encouraging adoption of science-based, internationally consistent approaches. The expected result is fewer SPS and food safety-related barriers that disrupt trade, better implementation of MRL-related rules, and more stable market access conditions for agricultural products traded between the United States and LAC countries.Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023
- The Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation of Regionally Harmonized Pesticide Regulations and Standards in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 26, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 05, 2023. (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 $1,499,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: USDA FAS Cooperative Agreement - Implementation of Regionally Harmonized Pesticide Regulations and Standards in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
What is the purpose of this USDA FAS funding opportunity?
This cooperative agreement is designed to reduce trade frictions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that stem from uneven, non-aligned, or inconsistently applied pesticide and food safety rules. The focus is on improving how countries set, implement, and enforce pesticide-related requirements so sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety measures are more science-based, transparent, and aligned with internationally recognized approaches.
What problem is FAS trying to solve with this program?
U.S. agricultural exports can be delayed, restricted, or blocked when destination markets in LAC apply SPS and food safety measures that do not match international norms or that are applied inconsistently. These gaps often show up in pesticide regulation, including maximum residue limits (MRLs) and pesticide evaluation and registration processes, which can directly determine whether imported products may legally enter a market.
What does the project focus on: infrastructure, direct services, or technical assistance?
The program focuses on technical assistance rather than infrastructure projects or direct service delivery. The intent is to strengthen regulatory understanding, capacity, and consistency in pesticide regulation and related SPS systems.
What types of pesticide-related issues are specifically highlighted?
The opportunity highlights pesticide-related requirements such as how countries set and enforce maximum residue limits (MRLs) and how they evaluate and register pesticides. These areas are emphasized because they strongly affect market access and can become significant non-tariff barriers if not science-based or consistently implemented.
What is meant by “regionally harmonized pesticide regulations and standards” in this context?
It refers to making pesticide rules and processes more consistent across multiple countries in the region, particularly through work with regional economic communities. Harmonization aims to reduce variation in MRL processes and related SPS measures so exporters face fewer unexpected requirements and compliance burdens when trading across neighboring markets.
Which geographic regions and regional bodies are emphasized?
The effort is framed around Latin America and the Caribbean and is organized around LAC regional economic communities: the Central American Regional Economic Community, the Andean Community (CAN), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM).
Is this opportunity intended to support a single country or multiple countries at once?
The regional emphasis suggests the work is intended to support harmonization across multiple countries at once, rather than isolated national reforms. The approach centers on regional economic communities and cross-border consistency.
What is the expected approach to regulatory decision-making promoted by the program?
The project is expected to encourage regulatory decisions that are transparent, risk-based, and consistent with globally recognized frameworks, including approaches used by the United States and international standard-setting bodies.
Does the project aim to change partner-country rules, or improve implementation of existing rules?
Based on the description, it targets both alignment and implementation. In addition to encouraging adoption of science-based, internationally consistent approaches, the opportunity also emphasizes helping partner countries comply with their own MRL guidelines, pointing to improved practical implementation, enforcement consistency, and regulator capacity.
How does this program relate to international standards?
A major theme is alignment with international standard-setting bodies and U.S.-aligned approaches, with an emphasis on science-based and trade-facilitating standards. The goal is to reduce friction caused by rules that diverge from international norms or are applied inconsistently.
Why are MRLs (maximum residue limits) important for trade in this opportunity?
MRLs can determine whether imported agricultural products can legally enter a market. When MRLs are set or enforced in ways that are inconsistent with international norms, or when countries apply them unevenly, shipments can be delayed, restricted, or blocked, creating trade disruptions.
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
What is the Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number provided is 10.960.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 23 0023.
What type of award is this: grant or cooperative agreement?
It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantive involvement by FAS during implementation (such as collaboration on work planning, technical direction, coordination, and/or review of deliverables).
What does FAS involvement likely look like in a cooperative agreement?
The description indicates FAS expects to remain substantively involved during implementation, potentially through collaboration on work planning, technical direction, coordination with counterpart governments, or review of deliverables, rather than issuing a grant with minimal engagement.
How much funding is available?
The posted award ceiling is $1,499,000.
How many awards does FAS expect to make?
FAS anticipated making one award, implying a single lead implementer would coordinate the work across the regional scope described.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on July 26, 2023. The original closing date for applications was listed as September 5, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as “Others,” with additional clarification referenced in the full notice. The description suggests this category may include capable implementers such as non-profits, universities, trade associations, research institutions, or other organizations with demonstrated expertise in pesticide regulation, SPS systems, risk analysis, regulatory harmonization, capacity building, and international agricultural trade.
What kind of experience or capacity would a strong applicant likely need?
The work calls for an applicant able to operate regionally, convene and train technical regulators, translate complex standards into practical regulatory guidance, and coordinate effectively with multiple governments and regional economic communities. Subject-matter depth in pesticide regulation, SPS systems, MRL processes, and regulatory harmonization is central to the purpose described.
What are the intended outcomes of the project?
The expected results include fewer SPS and food safety-related barriers that disrupt trade, improved implementation of MRL-related rules, stronger regulator capacity, and more stable and predictable market access conditions for agricultural products traded between the United States and LAC countries.
How does this opportunity benefit trade and exporters?
When pesticide rules, MRL processes, and SPS measures become more consistent across neighboring countries and better aligned with international standards, exporters face fewer surprises, compliance costs drop, and market access becomes more predictable, reducing the risk of shipment disruptions.
Is the program primarily intended to benefit U.S. agricultural exports?
The trade logic described centers on reducing barriers that disrupt U.S. agricultural exports into LAC markets. By improving regulatory coherence and implementation, the program aims to help maintain or expand U.S. exports and reduce SPS-related trade disruptions.
Does the description specify exact activities, deliverables, or a workplan format?
The summary emphasizes technical assistance, capacity building, and regional coordination, but it does not list specific required activities, deliverables, or a workplan format in the information provided. Additional details are referenced as being in the full notice.
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