What does this program do?

The Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program is intended to expand, or bring into operation new, independent domestic fertilizer production capacity in order to provide agricultural producers with additional domestic fertilizer options and strengthen the U. S. fertilizer supply chain. Program funding is intended to support projects that significantly increase domestic process manufacturing capacity and fertilizer availability, including expansions or upgrades of existing facilities, construction of new domestic production facility, shovel-ready projects capable of rapidly increasing domestic supply, and on-site fertilizer terminals and transportation infrastructure that improve supply chain efficiency.

Who may apply?

Entities are eligible regardless of legal structure and may include Tribes, Tribal Entities, Alaska Native Corporations, for-profit entities, corporations, non-profit entities, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated.

Are there other requirements?

Eligible applicants must:

• Operate within the U.S. and its territories and propose projects that are physically located within the U.S. and its territories ; and

• Be Domestically Owned; and

• Process manufacture or plan to process manufacture in accordance with all federal, state, Tribal and local regulations governing fertilizer process manufacturing; and

• Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and must maintain annual SAM registration while an application is active and through the term of an award.

• Additionally, eligible applicants, including affiliates of the eligible applicant, must not hold a market share in production greater than or equal to the entity that holds the fourth largest share of that market for any of the following nutrients or components: nitrogen, sulfur, phosphate, potash, or any combination thereof.

• Multiple applications from affiliated applicant entities (with ‘‘affiliation’’ defined by the Small Business Administration regulation 13 CFR 121.103, or successor regulation) are not permitted. Multiple projects owned by the same applicant entity should be combined into one application before submission.

• Pre-development costs including but not limited to, engineering and other professional fees;
• Working capital to support expanding capacity or increased outputs. While working capital is an eligible use of funds, it cannot be the primary use of funds;
• Modernizing or expanding an existing facility, including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and construction of new buildings at existing facilities;
• Purchasing new, or modernizing existing process manufacturing equipment;
• Customizing and installing equipment, devices, and technology that improves processing functions, worker conditions, or safety;

• Ensuring compliance with occupational and other safety requirements under applicable law; and
• Improving fertilizer logistics (e.g., distribution, transportation, and storage) to benefit producers in a cost-efficient manner. While an expenditure for logistics is an eligible use of funds, it cannot be the primary use of funds.

What is an eligible area?

All areas within the United States and its territories or on Tribal Lands

How do we get started?

Applications submitted in response to this Notice must be filed electronically through Grants.gov unless the applicant has received a prior waiver from the Agency.

Who can answer questions?

Questions can be emailed to [email protected]

What law governs this program?

The FIELDS Program is authorized by section 5(b) of the CCC Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(b) which allows CCC funds to be used to make available materials and facilities required in the production and marketing of agricultural commodities.

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is utilizing the services of the Rural Business Cooperative Services to implement the Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program.