Technical Assistance for Rural Cooperatives

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CDF invites qualified technical assistance providers to apply for inclusion in our Technical Assistance for Rural Cooperatives Program under CDF’s USDA-funded Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) initiative.

CDF seeks experienced practitioners capable of delivering short- to mid-term technical assistance engagements that strengthen rural cooperative enterprises, businesses, and community-based economic initiatives. Engagements are designed to respond to local momentum, opportunities, and challenges across rural communities in the United States.

While this solicitation is open to a broad range of cooperative development activities, preference will be given to projects supporting food and agriculture-related enterprises and projects serving Persistent Poverty Counties.

Purpose: CDF seeks to identify and contract with experienced technical assistance providers who can support rural cooperative development and rural economic resilience. Selected partners will provide specialized assistance through time-limited engagements aligned with CDF and USDA RCDG objectives.

Eligible Geography: All activities must take place in USDA-defined rural areas. Projects or programs that are located in, or primarily benefit, USDA-designated Persistent Poverty Counties or Underserved and Economically Distressed Areas will receive bonus points during application review. Serving Persistent Poverty Counties or Underserved and Economically Distressed Areas is not a requirement for eligibility.

Eligible Organizations: This solicitation is open to:

  • Cooperative Development Centers (CDCs), or
  • Nonprofit organizations, mission-aligned firms, or consultants with a demonstrated track record of providing cooperative development or technical assistance in USDA-defined rural areas.

To ensure complementary coverage and avoid duplication of effort, organizations that are currently direct recipients or sub-awardees under CDF’s 2025 – 2026 USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant are not eligible to apply under this solicitation.

Eligible Activities: Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Cooperative development and startup support
  • Feasibility studies and opportunity assessments
  • Business planning and financial analysis
  • Governance, leadership, and financial training
  • Market development and value-chain support
  • Convenings, workshops, or peer-learning events that strengthen rural economic ecosystems

Activity Preference: Projects that support food and agriculture-related cooperatives or enterprises will receive bonus points during evaluation but are not required.

Ineligible Activities: Housing-related activities are not eligible under this solicitation.

Award Size and Duration: Typical awards range from $20,000–$30,000. Engagements will last approximately 8–10 months.

Organizations must demonstrate the capacity to deliver an 8 – 10-month technical assistance engagement and to track and report outcomes aligned with CDF and USDA performance metrics. 

 Application Timeline:

  • Application opens: January 23
  • Application closes: February 23
  • Questions accepted through: February 13

All questions and answers will be posted publicly on the CDF website.

Performance Metrics and Evaluation: Applicants must describe how proposed activities will contribute to CDF’s USDA RCDG performance measures, which include:

  • Number of rural groups assisted
  • Number of cooperatives assisted
  • Number of mutually owned businesses assisted
  • Number of businesses assisted
  • Number of business plans developed
  • Number of feasibility studies completed
  • Number of cooperatives incorporated
  • Number of conferences or convenings held
  • Number of economic stabilization or avoided financial loss

 Depending on the project, applicants need not have targets for all metrics.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Alignment with rural economic and cooperative development goals
  • Anticipated contribution to CDF and USDA performance metrics
  • Experience working in rural communities
  • Quality, feasibility, and clarity of the proposed workplan
  • Cost effectiveness
  • Capacity to track, document, and report outcomes

Bonus points will be awarded for:

  • Projects serving Persistent Poverty Counties or Underserved and Economically Distressed Areas
  • Projects  supporting food and agriculture-related enterprises

Reporting Expectations: Selected vendors must provide periodic reports aligned with CDF and USDA reporting requirements.

We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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