HFFI Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund Grants & Technical Assistance

What the official notice requires

Pulled from the official notice HFFI-2026-FARE-Fund-Grant-TA-RFA-FINAL.pdf (43 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

• Project period: 12 months · p. 24

  “Performance Period Projects may take up to 12 months if their HFFI use of funds does not involve construction; projects that include construction (real property improvements) in their HFFI use of funds may take up to 24 months.” Open page 24

Registrations you need first (1)

• SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 11

  “System for Award Management (SAM) Registration Applicants are required to maintain an active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) throughout the application process and must upload proof of active registration and the applicant entity’s…” Open page 11

New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early. Get-ready checklist

What to submit

• Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 19

  “If the business model is not yet operating, or the operations were temporarily or permanently discontinued, the applicant must describe any factors affecting the timeline to begin operations (150 words).” Open page 19

• Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 30

  “However, you must comply with any approved negotiated indirect cost rate that you have received from the Federal government, so if you have a NICRA, you must use that rate to calculate your indirect costs.” Open page 30

• Environmental documentation · p. 36

  “Environmental Review of Eligible Projects To facilitate compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Program Regulations, as amended, 7 CFR Part 1b, projects may be required to complete and submit…” Open page 36

• Project abstract or summary · p. 38

  “Technical Assistance Application Requirements When invited to submit, applicants will be required to provide the following information, as a supplement to the project summary and other information submitted during the Funding Inquiry phase, as a full…” Open page 38

• Letters of support or commitment · p. 40

  “If applicable, applicants can attach a one-page letter of commitment and/or quote from their preferred TA provider(s) detailing the cost and scope of requested services.” Open page 40

How applications are scored (4 points listed)

• Projects located in and/or serve Rural Areas (as defined earlier in this RFA): 4 points · p. 34

  “Projects located in and/or serve Rural Areas (as defined earlier in this RFA) (4 points).” Open page 34

Cost share or match

• Cost share / match · p. 34

  “Matching contributions or cost-sharing is not required for awarded funds.” Open page 34

Dates in the notice

• July 31, 2026 · p. 23

  “Grants Funding Inquiry Form Submission Deadline 11:59 PM ET on July 31, 2026 Funding Inquiry Eligibility Determination Notification By September 4, 2026 Application Submission Deadline (if eligible) 11:59 PM ET on October 30, 2026 Award Notification* No…” Open page 23

Mistakes that get applications rejected (8)

• Could get your application rejected: Inquiry Form and application submissions primarily focused on these activities will not be considered... · p. 14

  “Inquiry Form and application submissions primarily focused on these activities will not be considered eligible or funded:” Open page 14

• Could get your application rejected: Applicants seeking funding to start, operate, or expand regranting or lending programs to improve Healthy... · p. 15

  “Applicants seeking funding to start, operate, or expand regranting or lending programs to improve Healthy Food access will not be considered eligible for the FARE Fund.” Open page 15

• Could get your application rejected: Applicants seeking funding to administer programs and initiatives that are primarily consulting, technical... · p. 15

  “Applicants seeking funding to administer programs and initiatives that are primarily consulting, technical assistance services, educational services, or other activities that are focused on supporting or coordinating Food Retailers or Food Enterprises will…” Open page 15

• Could get your application rejected: Additional Funding Inquiry submissions after the initial submission will not be reviewed and will be... · p. 16

  “Additional Funding Inquiry submissions after the initial submission will not be reviewed and will be withdrawn from the 2026 Grants and Technical Assistance funding cycle.” Open page 16

• Sent the wrong way or format: Applications received by email, mail, or fax will not be reviewed. · p. 18

  “Applications received by email, mail, or fax will not be reviewed.” Open page 18

• Not an eligible applicant: Projects that solely request grant funds for operational or pilot costs, or request grant funds for more... · p. 23

  “Projects that solely request grant funds for operational or pilot costs, or request grant funds for more than 25% of allowable operational and pilot costs, will be considered ineligible.” Open page 23

• Could get your application rejected: Funding Inquiry Funding Inquiries requesting Grants and Technical Assistance will not be considered after... · p. 24

  “Funding Inquiry Funding Inquiries requesting Grants and Technical Assistance will not be considered after July 31, 2026.” Open page 24

• Not an eligible applicant: Projects that solely request grant funds for operational or pilot costs will be considered ineligible. · p. 29

  “Projects that solely request grant funds for operational or pilot costs will be considered ineligible.” Open page 29