​​Technical Support for Ukraine’s Dairy Sector​ | USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0004

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USDA/FAS Technical Support for Ukraine's Dairy Sector

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Technical Support for Ukraine's Dairy Sector".

2) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), under Agricultural Economic Development.

3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA FAS 10960 0700 10 25 0004.

4) What type of award will be made (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This means the selected recipient should expect an active partnership with USDA/FAS rather than a hands-off grant arrangement.

5) Is this considered a new award or a continuation?

It is positioned as a new award under the Technical Agricultural Assistance Program.

6) What is the overall purpose of the program?

The purpose is to help Ukraine's dairy industry maintain and rebuild productivity and resilience in the context of the ongoing impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, using practical technical interventions that improve on-farm performance and stabilize dairy production systems under stress.

7) How does this opportunity relate to existing USDA/FAS work in Ukraine?

This opportunity is designed to complement USDA/FAS work already underway with a Ukrainian local partner focused on strengthening Ukraine's dairy sector. Applicants should expect the project to fit alongside that existing collaboration.

8) What are the main objectives of the opportunity?

The announcement identifies three principal objectives:

• Increase resilience and profitability of Ukrainian dairy farms by improving farm management practices and strengthening technical areas such as feed formulation.
• Improve veterinary care with a focus on disease prevention, disease control, and biosecurity management.
• Increase connections with U.S. industry to support relationships that can enable knowledge transfer, technology awareness, professional networks, and potentially longer-term partnerships.

9) What kinds of farm management improvements are implied by the first objective?

The first objective points toward assistance such as more efficient production planning, improved ration balancing and feed formulation, better use of available feed resources, and management approaches that reduce waste and protect margins during uncertain conditions.

10) What does the opportunity emphasize regarding veterinary care and biosecurity?

It emphasizes strengthening herd health and veterinary systems with a focus on disease prevention, disease control, and practical biosecurity measures that farms can implement consistently, especially in disrupted environments where supply chains, veterinary services, and farm labor may be constrained.

11) What does "increase connections with U.S. industry" mean in this context?

It signals interest in building relationships that could support knowledge transfer, technology awareness, and professional networks, with the possibility of longer-term commercial or technical partnerships between Ukrainian dairy stakeholders and U.S. dairy-related businesses and institutions.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based State cooperative institutions or other U.S. colleges and universities as defined at 7 USC 3103. The notice directs applicants to consult Section 2.1 of the funding opportunity announcement for the specific eligibility language and any additional conditions.

13) Are non-university organizations eligible to apply?

Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to U.S.-based State cooperative institutions or other U.S. colleges and universities (as defined at 7 USC 3103). No other eligible applicant types are listed in the provided summary.

14) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The funding is listed under CFDA 10.960.

15) What category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture.

16) How many awards are expected?

Only one award is expected, indicating a single, focused project rather than a multi-recipient program.

17) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $250,000.

18) What is the application deadline?

The original closing date listed is January 8, 2025.

19) What is the opportunity creation date?

The creation date is December 6, 2024.

20) What should an applicant expect in terms of USDA/FAS involvement during the project?

Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the recipient should expect active engagement and partnership with USDA/FAS throughout the project, rather than operating independently with minimal federal involvement.

21) What results or deliverables is the project likely to focus on?

Based on the stated objectives and framing, deliverables are likely to center on strengthening farm-level management (including feed formulation), improving animal health and biosecurity capacity, and creating structured engagement with relevant U.S. dairy industry participants.

22) What is the intended geographic/sector focus?

The sector focus is Ukraine's dairy industry, with an emphasis on practical support at the farm level and related animal health and market/industry linkages.

23) Why is the program framed around resilience and rebuilding?

The program is explicitly framed around helping maintain and rebuild productivity and resilience due to the ongoing impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which the announcement describes as creating stressed and disrupted operating conditions for dairy production systems.

24) Where is the eligibility language referenced for confirmation?

The notice directs applicants to consult Section 2.1 of the funding opportunity announcement for the specific eligibility language and any additional conditions.