In the RFSI Program Scope and Requirements (below), USDA states: “Critical resources and infrastructure can be facilities, land, structure, use of city street/parks, shared-used kitchen, and/or other resources that are essential for the proposed project activities.” You can think of critical resources and infrastructure as prerequisites to your project that must be in place before you would be able to complete your project. Not all applications will require Evidence of Critical Infrastructure and Resources Letter(s).
In the RFSI Program Scope and Requirements (below), USDA states: “Critical resources and infrastructure can be facilities, land, structure, use of city street/parks, shared-used kitchen, and/or other resources that are essential for the proposed project activities.” You can think of critical resources and infrastructure as prerequisites to your project that must be in place before you would be able to complete your project. Not all applications will require Evidence of Critical Infrastructure and Resources Letter(s).
We expect that grant contract agreements will begin sometime in late summer or fall 2024. The project timeline and acquisition dates you provide in your grant application should be your best estimate for your project. We recommend beginning your project timeline no earlier than August 2024, with the understanding that your timeline may need to be pushed back if the USDA review process or the environmental review process cause grant awards to be delayed.
We expect that grant contract agreements will begin sometime in late summer or fall 2024. The project timeline and acquisition dates you provide in your grant application should be your best estimate for your project. We recommend beginning your project timeline no earlier than August 2024, with the understanding that your timeline may need to be pushed back if the USDA review process or the environmental review process cause grant awards to be delayed.
You can request reimbursement after you have paid for expenses that are part of your grant budget. Typically, requests are made quarterly, but exceptions to this schedule can be made if needed. More information can be found in this MDA Reimbursement Guide, but note there may be additional or different requirements because RFSI grants are federal funds.
You can request reimbursement after you have paid for expenses that are part of your grant budget. Typically, requests are made quarterly, but exceptions to this schedule can be made if needed. More information can be found in this MDA Reimbursement Guide, but note there may be additional or different requirements because RFSI grants are federal funds.
On our RFSI Grant Reviewers web page, there is information about the grant review committee selection process and an interest form for those interested in serving as a reviewer for the RFSI grant.
On our RFSI Grant Reviewers web page, there is information about the grant review committee selection process and an interest form for those interested in serving as a reviewer for the RFSI grant.
While you should do your best to accurately estimate your costs in your grant application, we understand that your actual costs may differ from what you originally proposed. If your costs change significantly, you can request approval from us to amend your budget. If your amendment is approved, you would be able to move funds between categories within your budget, but the overall amount of funds you are awarded will not be increased.
For example, if your costs for constructing your facility came in higher than expected, you could request to purchase less equipment in order to cover the full construction costs. Your total award amount would not be increased to accommodate your increased construction costs.
While you should do your best to accurately estimate your costs in your grant application, we understand that your actual costs may differ from what you originally proposed. If your costs change significantly, you can request approval from us to amend your budget. If your amendment is approved, you would be able to move funds between categories within your budget, but the overall amount of funds you are awarded will not be increased.
For example, if your costs for constructing your facility came in higher than expected, you could request to purchase less equipment in order to cover the full construction costs. Your total award amount would not be increased to accommodate your increased construction costs.