Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice SCMP_NOFO_Approved_Final_accessible_081426.pdf (29 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.

Award size and project length

• Award amounts here are for the whole project · p. 16

  “(If a State has $50.00 budgeted for a specialty crop program and the Federal government awards a $100.00 grant for the same specialty crop program, the total project must expend $150.00 – the State cannot remove the original $50.00 and use it for something…” Open page 16

• Project period: 36 months · p. 18

  “The project period cannot be more than 36 months (3 years) in length. *Dates are approximate.” Open page 18

Registrations you need first (2)

• SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI), Grants.gov · p. 6

  “To submit your application electronically using Grants.gov, you must: o Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); o Be registered in SAM.gov; o Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and o Maintain an…” Open page 6

• Login.gov · p. 22

  “Applicants are required to use Login.gov to sign into Grants.gov.” Open page 22

Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

• Form SF-424 · p. 5

  “The applicant must indicate the start date and end date on Block 17 of the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance.” Applicants may not request less than or more than the respective minimum/maximum amounts.” Open page 5

• Letters of support or commitment · p. 9

  “Regardless of whether there is a financial subcontract or subaward relationship, applications must show evidence of existing community or industry engagement (see section 4.6 Letters of Commitment from Partner and Collaborator Organizations).” Open page 9

• Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 14

  “Presenting Direct and Indirect Costs Consistently Applicants are responsible for presenting direct and indirect costs appropriately and consistently and must not include costs associated with their organization’s indirect cost rate agreement as direct costs.” Open page 14

• Budget narrative / justification · p. 15

  “Benefit of Using Indirect Costs for Grant Administration AMS encourages all grant applicants to include the grant administrative funds, up to 8 percent of their total Federal award, in their budget narrative, which can be used for costs such as monitoring…” Open page 15

• Form SF-424A · p. 18

  “The SF-424A is available via the opportunity at Grants.gov.” Open page 18

Length limits

• Page limit (see quote): 30 pages max · p. 19

  “For example, if the Project Narrative form is 15 pages before you begin entering your project information into the form, your narrative may be up to 30 pages (15 original form pages + 15 pages of applicant content).” Open page 19

Formatting rules

• 11-point font, single-spaced · p. 19

  “The Project Narrative must be typed and single-spaced in an 11-point font.” Open page 19

Cost share or match

• Cost share / match · p. 5

  “This year’s applications must include a mandatory cost share from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions, equal to 25% of the amount of Federal funds being requested.” Open page 5

• Cost share / match · p. 5

  “A cost share is required, from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions, equal to 25% of the amount of Federal funds being requested.” Open page 5

• Cost share / match · p. 5

  “There is no cost share requirement for State costs to manage the program as a Participating State. 1.4 FEDERAL AWARD PERIOD DURATION AND SIZE AMS expects applicants to complete their projects within the required performance period of the grant.” Open page 5

• Cost share / match · p. 10

  “However, the participating state must ensure that each subaward application meets the required cost share from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions, equal to 25% of the Federal funds being requested, including subawards that…” Open page 10

Dates in the notice

• August 14, 2026 · p. 1

  “August 14, 2026 Application Due Date (Multi-State Partners to Participating States): 5:00 PM Eastern time on October 16, 2026 Application Due Date (Participating States and Entities in Nonparticipating States to AMS): 11:59 PM Eastern Time on December 4, 2026” Open page 1

• October 16, 2026 · p. 4

  “The application deadline for Multi-State Partners to Participating States is 5:00 PM Eastern time on October 16, 2026.” Open page 4

• December 4, 2026 · p. 4

  “The application deadline for Participating States and Entities in Nonparticipating States to AMS is 11:59 PM Eastern Time on December 4, 2026.” Open page 4

Mistakes that get applications rejected (8)

• Could get your application rejected: Applications received after these deadlines will not be considered for funding. 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S. · p. 4

  “Applications received after these deadlines will not be considered for funding. 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S.” Open page 4

• Sent the wrong way or format: Boxes will not be accepted. · p. 17

  “Boxes will not be accepted.” Open page 17

• Sent the wrong way or format: Handwritten applications or applications submitted in MS Word will not be accepted. · p. 19

  “Handwritten applications or applications submitted in MS Word will not be accepted.” Open page 19

• Missing a required part: Applications not submitted in the required narrative template and missing critical information will be... · p. 19

  “Applications not submitted in the required narrative template and missing critical information will be disqualified.” Open page 19

• Sent the wrong way or format: Emails will not be accepted. · p. 20

  “Emails will not be accepted.” Open page 20

• Could get your application rejected: Negotiated indirect cost rates that exceed 8 percent will not be accepted. · p. 21

  “Negotiated indirect cost rates that exceed 8 percent will not be accepted.” Open page 21

• Not registered in time: Applicants without a current SAM.gov registration will be rejected. 4. · p. 22

  “Applicants without a current SAM.gov registration will be rejected. 4.” Open page 22

• Could get your application rejected: Applications that will not be considered include, but are not limited to: · p. 25

  “Applications that will not be considered include, but are not limited to:” Open page 25