Opportunity Information: Apply for RD BCP 23 TAG REAP
The Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program is a USDA Rural Development funding opportunity run through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). For fiscal year 2023, the agency opened this program to fund organizations that can help agricultural producers and rural small businesses successfully apply for REAP support. In practical terms, these grants are not meant to pay for renewable energy systems or energy efficiency upgrades directly; they are meant to pay for the hands-on guidance that applicants often need to prepare strong REAP applications, assemble required documentation, and move projects from an idea to a fundable submission.
This opportunity is listed as a mandatory grant (Funding Opportunity Number RD BCP 23 TAG REAP) and falls under the Agriculture, Business and Commerce, and Energy activity areas (CFDA 10.868). The application window for this FY 2023 announcement opened July 18, 2023, and originally closed August 15, 2023. The program set an award ceiling of up to $500,000 per award and anticipated making roughly 200 awards, signaling an intent to fund a substantial number of technical assistance providers across different regions and applicant types.
The core purpose of the TAG funding is to expand and strengthen technical assistance capacity for REAP applicants. That can include helping clients understand REAP eligibility and requirements, identify viable renewable energy or energy efficiency opportunities, gather supporting information, and prepare the application package. The target beneficiaries of the assistance are agricultural producers and rural small businesses, which are the groups that typically seek REAP support for projects like energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy installations in rural areas.
USDA also identifies clear policy priorities for how these technical assistance dollars should be aimed. Preference is given to applicants that will serve distressed or disadvantaged communities, which generally reflects an emphasis on ensuring rural communities with fewer resources are not left behind in accessing federal clean energy and efficiency programs. Additional priority is given to applicants supporting projects that rely on underutilized technologies, encouraging innovation or wider adoption of solutions that have not yet reached broad market penetration in rural settings. The notice also highlights smaller projects, stating priority for applicants pursuing projects under 20,000 (as stated in the source description), which suggests the program is particularly interested in helping smaller, potentially harder-to-serve projects that may not have the internal capacity or funding to hire consultants.
Eligibility is broad and designed to attract a wide range of technical assistance providers. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The listing also includes an "Others" category, with a note to consult the opportunity text for additional eligibility details or clarifications, implying there may be specific conditions or examples in the full announcement.
Overall, this REAP TAG opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building grant: USDA funds intermediaries (governments, nonprofits, schools, tribes, and certain for-profits) so they can provide structured, practical support to rural energy applicants. By prioritizing disadvantaged areas, underused technologies, and smaller-dollar projects, the program aims to broaden access to REAP and help more rural producers and businesses navigate the application process and compete successfully for energy-related funding.Apply for RD BCP 23 TAG REAP
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Business-Cooperative Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.868.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 18, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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REAP Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program (FY 2023) - FAQs
1) What is the REAP Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program?
The Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program is a USDA Rural Development funding opportunity run through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). It provides funding to organizations so they can deliver technical assistance that helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses put together strong REAP applications.
2) What is the purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to expand and strengthen the capacity of organizations that provide hands-on technical assistance to REAP applicants. The focus is on helping eligible applicants understand REAP requirements, identify viable project opportunities, collect supporting information, and prepare complete application packages that are ready for submission.
3) Does this grant pay for renewable energy systems or energy efficiency upgrades directly?
No. These grants are not intended to directly fund renewable energy systems or energy efficiency improvements. They are intended to fund the technical assistance and guidance that helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses successfully apply for REAP support.
4) Who is this funding meant to help in the end?
The funded organizations provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses. These are the primary groups that typically seek REAP support for energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy installations in rural areas.
5) What kinds of activities can a TAG-funded organization provide?
Based on the description provided, technical assistance can include helping clients:
- Understand REAP eligibility and application requirements
- Identify viable renewable energy or energy efficiency opportunities
- Gather and organize required supporting documentation
- Prepare a complete application package
- Move a project from an initial idea to a fundable submission
6) Which USDA office runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is run by USDA Rural Development through the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS).
7) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RD BCP 23 TAG REAP.
8) What CFDA number (Assistance Listing) is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.868.
9) What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls under Agriculture, Business and Commerce, and Energy activity areas.
10) Is this a mandatory or discretionary grant opportunity?
It is listed as a mandatory grant opportunity.
11) When did the FY 2023 application window open and close?
For fiscal year 2023, the application window opened on July 18, 2023 and originally closed on August 15, 2023.
12) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $500,000 per award.
13) How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making roughly 200 awards.
14) Who can apply for REAP TAG funding?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state-controlled colleges and universities
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
15) Are small businesses eligible to apply as the technical assistance provider?
The eligibility list includes "for-profit organizations other than small businesses," which indicates small businesses are not included in the for-profit eligibility category as described in the provided information.
16) What does the "Others" eligibility category mean?
The listing includes an "Others" category and notes that applicants should consult the opportunity text for additional eligibility details or clarifications. This suggests there may be specific conditions, examples, or additional eligible entity types described in the full announcement.
17) What policy priorities affect how applications are reviewed or preferred?
USDA identifies preferences and priorities for how TAG dollars should be aimed. Preference is given to applicants that will serve distressed or disadvantaged communities. Additional priority is given to applicants supporting projects that rely on underutilized technologies. The notice also highlights smaller projects, stating a priority for applicants pursuing projects under 20,000 (as stated in the source description).
18) What does "distressed or disadvantaged communities" mean in this context?
In the information provided, USDA indicates a preference for applicants that will serve distressed or disadvantaged communities, reflecting an emphasis on ensuring rural communities with fewer resources can access federal clean energy and efficiency programs. No further definition is provided in the description.
19) What are "underutilized technologies" in this program?
The notice indicates additional priority for applicants supporting projects that rely on underutilized technologies, with the intent to encourage innovation or broader adoption of solutions that have not yet reached wide market penetration in rural settings. The description does not specify which technologies qualify.
20) What does the program mean by prioritizing "smaller projects under 20,000"?
The opportunity description highlights smaller projects and states a priority for applicants pursuing projects under 20,000 (as stated in the source description). This suggests a focus on helping smaller, potentially harder-to-serve projects that may not have the internal capacity or resources to navigate the application process without support.
21) What is the overall goal of funding technical assistance providers?
Overall, the grant is designed as a capacity-building effort: USDA funds intermediary organizations (such as governments, nonprofits, universities, tribes, and certain for-profits) so they can provide structured, practical support to rural energy applicants and broaden access to REAP.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RD BCP 23 TAG REAP) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Rural Energy for America (REAP) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program Apply for RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP Funding Number: RDBCP 2024 TAG REAP Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service Category: Agriculture, Business and Commerce, Energy Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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