Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS 10182 LFPA0000 25 0001
The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA25) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) funding opportunity that supports States, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Tribal Governments in buying locally produced food and moving it into communities that have been historically underserved. The program is designed to build on earlier rounds of LFPA and LFPA Plus while also opening the door for governments that did not participate before to launch new LFPA25 projects. The basic idea is straightforward: public entities use federal funds to purchase local, domestic foods that are unprocessed or only minimally processed, with a strong emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved farmers, producers, and fishers, as well as small businesses that help move food through the supply chain, such as processors, aggregators, and distributors. The food purchased through these agreements is then distributed with the intent to reach underserved communities, especially those that are not typically served through standard or established food distribution networks.
A key focus of LFPA25 is strengthening local and regional food systems in a way that creates durable economic opportunity. Beyond increasing access to nutritious local food, AMS is clearly aiming to expand market access and revenue for smaller and historically underserved producers and the small businesses that support them. The program encourages projects that intentionally incorporate culturally relevant foods based on community needs and preferences, including options such as kosher and halal when appropriate. Another important expectation is relationship-building: AMS signals that applicants should actively engage the intended beneficiaries and partners when developing the required Project Summary, and that USDA would like the purchasing relationships and distribution channels created through the project to continue after the cooperative agreement ends.
LFPA25 is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant, which means recipients should expect ongoing involvement from USDA. AMS indicates it will provide not only funding for eligible food purchases, but also guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring across the full life cycle of the agreement. At the same time, the allowable spending is tightly limited. LFPA25 funds can only be used for food procurement. Recipients are not allowed to charge the program for direct or indirect costs tied to developing, managing, or administering the project, so budgets must be built around purchases of eligible food items only. In addition, all food must meet the program definitions for local and domestic and must be unprocessed or minimally processed as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (specifically referenced as section 1.2.1, with further detail on allowable and unallowable costs in section 4.6.2).
Funding is substantial and is divided between Tribal and State/territory agreements. A total of 100 million dollars is reserved for Tribal cooperative agreements, split evenly so that 50 million is allocated for Tribes that participated in past LFPA rounds and 50 million is reserved for Tribes that have not previously participated. Separate from that, 371.5 million dollars is available to States and territories. Awards are described as non-competitive, but they are still conditioned on the acceptability of the Project Summary and the recipient government entity demonstrating the ability to carry out the program goals. For States and territories, the amount each receives is based on the statutory Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funding formula, which takes into account poverty rates and unemployment levels so that funding aligns with relative need.
Eligibility is limited to governmental entities: State governments, U.S. territory governments, and federally recognized Tribal governments, including the specific agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, procurement, food distribution, emergency response, or similar public functions. AMS will make only one award per State or territory, which means each State/territory must coordinate internally to submit a single application/Project Summary that covers the intended approach. Tribal awards are handled separately and do not count as a State agency award, and USDA anticipates making additional awards to Tribal Governments under the Tribal allocation. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.182, uses a cooperative agreement instrument, and is identified as a mandatory opportunity. The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS 10182 LFPA0000 25 0001, and the posted closing date is April 30, 2025 (with the opportunity created December 10, 2024).Apply for USDA AMS 10182 LFPA0000 25 0001
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture, food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.182.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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LFPA25 (Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program) FAQs
1) What is LFPA25?
LFPA25 is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) funding opportunity that supports States, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Tribal Governments in purchasing locally produced food and distributing it into communities that have been historically underserved.
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to strengthen local and regional food systems by using federal funds to buy local, domestic foods (unprocessed or minimally processed) and move those foods into underserved communities, including communities not typically reached through standard or established food distribution networks. It also aims to create durable economic opportunity by expanding market access and revenue for smaller and historically underserved producers and the small businesses that support supply chain movement.
3) Who is the funder and administering agency?
The program is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
4) Is LFPA25 a grant or something else?
LFPA25 is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant. This means recipients should expect ongoing involvement from USDA/AMS across the life cycle of the agreement, including guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring.
5) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to governmental entities: State governments, U.S. territory governments, and federally recognized Tribal Governments. This includes the specific agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, procurement, food distribution, emergency response, or similar public functions.
6) Can local governments, nonprofits, or private organizations apply directly?
Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to State governments, U.S. territory governments, and federally recognized Tribal Governments. Other entities are not listed as eligible applicants.
7) How many awards will be made per State or territory?
AMS will make only one award per State or territory. Each State or territory must coordinate internally to submit a single application/Project Summary that covers the intended approach.
8) Are Tribal awards included within a State award?
No. Tribal awards are handled separately and do not count as a State agency award. USDA anticipates making additional awards to Tribal Governments under the Tribal allocation.
9) Is this opportunity competitive?
Awards are described as non-competitive, but they are still conditioned on the acceptability of the Project Summary and the recipient government entity demonstrating the ability to carry out the program goals.
10) What can LFPA25 funds be used for?
LFPA25 funds can only be used for food procurement. Budgets must be built around purchases of eligible food items only.
11) What costs are not allowed under LFPA25?
Recipients are not allowed to charge the program for direct or indirect costs tied to developing, managing, or administering the project. Allowable and unallowable costs are referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (including section 4.6.2, as cited in the provided description).
12) What types of food are eligible for purchase?
All food must meet the program definitions for local and domestic and must be unprocessed or minimally processed, as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (with program definitions referenced as section 1.2.1 in the provided description).
13) Does the program prioritize certain producers or suppliers?
Yes. LFPA25 places strong emphasis on purchasing from historically underserved farmers, producers, and fishers, as well as small businesses that support supply chain movement (such as processors, aggregators, and distributors).
14) Who is the intended beneficiary of the purchased food?
The food is distributed with the intent to reach underserved communities, especially those not typically served through standard or established food distribution networks.
15) Does LFPA25 encourage culturally relevant foods?
Yes. The program encourages projects that intentionally incorporate culturally relevant foods based on community needs and preferences. The description specifically notes examples such as kosher and halal when appropriate.
16) What is expected during project planning and application development?
AMS signals that applicants should actively engage intended beneficiaries and partners when developing the required Project Summary. Relationship-building is an important expectation.
17) Does USDA expect the purchasing and distribution relationships to continue after the agreement ends?
Yes. USDA indicates it would like the purchasing relationships and distribution channels created through the project to continue after the cooperative agreement ends.
18) How much funding is available in total?
Funding is divided between Tribal and State/territory agreements. A total of $100 million is reserved for Tribal cooperative agreements, and $371.5 million is available to States and territories.
19) How is Tribal funding divided?
The $100 million reserved for Tribal cooperative agreements is split evenly: $50 million is allocated for Tribes that participated in past LFPA rounds and $50 million is reserved for Tribes that have not previously participated.
20) How are State and territory award amounts determined?
For States and territories, the amount each receives is based on the statutory Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) funding formula, which takes into account poverty rates and unemployment levels so funding aligns with relative need.
21) What does it mean that LFPA25 builds on earlier rounds?
LFPA25 is designed to build on earlier rounds of LFPA and LFPA Plus, while also allowing governments that did not participate before to launch new LFPA25 projects.
22) What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.182.
23) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA AMS 10182 LFPA0000 25 0001.
24) What is the application deadline?
The posted closing date is April 30, 2025.
25) When was the opportunity created/posted?
The opportunity was created December 10, 2024.
26) What type of opportunity is this described as?
It is identified as a mandatory opportunity and uses a cooperative agreement instrument.
27) What role will AMS/USDA play after an award is made?
AMS indicates it will provide funding for eligible food purchases and will also provide guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring throughout the full life cycle of the cooperative agreement.
28) Where are the detailed rules about definitions and costs located?
Key requirements referenced in the description point to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including program definitions (referenced as section 1.2.1) and allowable/unallowable costs (referenced as section 4.6.2).
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