Opportunity Information: Apply for TATFY25
The Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) (CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.761) that funds hands-on support and training for rural water and waste disposal organizations. The program is aimed at strengthening the day-to-day capacity of rural systems and helping communities move from identifying problems to developing workable solutions and, when needed, preparing strong funding applications for water and waste infrastructure projects.
At its core, the grant pays for the expenses tied to delivering technical assistance and training related to water and wastewater challenges. On the drinking water side, supported work can include identifying and evaluating solutions involving a system's water source, storage needs, treatment approaches, or distribution issues. On the wastewater/solid waste side, it can cover identifying and evaluating solutions tied to collection, treatment, or disposal. The program also supports helping applicants who have already filed a pre-application with RUS by assisting them in preparing full water and/or waste disposal loan and/or grant applications. Another major focus is training and technical support for water and wastewater system personnel to improve management, operations, and maintenance, which can include strengthening processes, compliance readiness, operator capability, and overall system performance.
Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under IRS rules (specifically 501(c)(3) organizations, other than institutions of higher education, per the opportunity listing). To qualify, the nonprofit must be legally established and located within a U.S. state as defined in the program regulations, and it must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs. The program explicitly excludes private businesses, federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals. Beyond basic eligibility, applicants must show they have the proven ability and real capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis. That means demonstrating relevant experience (including successful completion of similar projects), legal authority to do the work, and the practical ability to deliver services in rural areas. Capacity can be shown in a few ways: having in-house staff and resources to deliver assistance directly; partnering with an affiliate or member organization that agrees in writing to provide the support; or contracting out a portion of the work, with the important limitation that no more than 49 percent of the grant can go to a nonaffiliated contractor for the proposed assistance.
The types of projects supported are focused on enabling eligible nonprofits to assist rural associations in several specific ways: diagnosing and evaluating water system problems (source, storage, treatment, distribution), diagnosing and evaluating waste system problems (collection, treatment, disposal), helping communities prepare water and waste disposal loan/grant applications, and delivering training/technical assistance that improves how facilities are managed, operated, and maintained. The grant can pay for the expenses required to provide these services, which generally means the costs of delivering the assistance rather than building or operating infrastructure.
Just as important are the restrictions on how funds can be used. Grant dollars cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work performed by an association's existing consultant for project development. The funds also cannot support political or lobbying activities. They cannot be used for capital assets, real estate purchases, or vehicles, and they cannot be used to improve or renovate office space or repair/maintain privately owned property. The program does not pay for construction or for the improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities themselves. Finally, the grant cannot reimburse costs incurred before the grant's effective date.
From the opportunity record, the Funding Opportunity Number is TATFY25, the administering agency is the Rural Utilities Service, and the original closing date listed is 2024-12-31. The posting indicates an expectation of around 40 awards, and the award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data (which usually signals that applicants need to refer to the full notice or program guidance for practical award sizing and budget expectations). Overall, this program is best viewed as a capacity-building and application-preparation tool for rural water and waste systems, funding the expertise and training needed to diagnose issues, plan solutions, and improve operations rather than paying for construction or equipment.Apply for TATFY25
- The Rural Utilities Service in the community development, employment, labor and training, environment, oz sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.761.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program (USDA RUS) - FAQs
What is the Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program?
The Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.761). It funds hands-on technical assistance and training for rural water and waste disposal organizations to strengthen day-to-day capacity, move communities from identifying problems to workable solutions, and (when needed) prepare strong funding applications for water and waste infrastructure projects.
What does the TAT grant primarily pay for?
The grant pays for expenses tied to delivering technical assistance and training related to water and wastewater challenges. The emphasis is on providing expertise, guidance, and training rather than paying for infrastructure, construction, or ongoing facility operations.
What kinds of drinking water-related assistance can be supported?
Supported drinking water work can include identifying and evaluating solutions involving a system's water source, storage needs, treatment approaches, and distribution issues.
What kinds of wastewater/solid waste-related assistance can be supported?
On the wastewater/solid waste side, the program can support identifying and evaluating solutions tied to collection, treatment, and disposal.
Can the TAT grant support help with RUS loan and/or grant applications?
Yes. The program supports helping applicants who have already filed a pre-application with RUS by assisting them in preparing full water and/or waste disposal loan and/or grant applications.
Does the program support training for system staff and operators?
Yes. A major focus is training and technical support for water and wastewater system personnel to improve management, operations, and maintenance. This can include strengthening processes, compliance readiness, operator capability, and overall system performance.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under IRS rules, specifically 501(c)(3) organizations (other than institutions of higher education, per the opportunity listing).
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The opportunity listing specifies 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education.
What basic organizational requirements must an eligible nonprofit meet?
The nonprofit must be legally established and located within a U.S. state as defined in the program regulations, and it must be incorporated by December 31 of the year in which the application period occurs.
Who is not eligible to apply?
The program explicitly excludes private businesses, federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals.
Is eligibility limited beyond being a qualified nonprofit?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate proven ability and real capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis, including relevant experience (such as successful completion of similar projects), legal authority to do the work, and practical ability to deliver services in rural areas.
How can an applicant demonstrate capacity to provide technical assistance and training?
Capacity can be demonstrated by (1) having in-house staff and resources to deliver assistance directly, (2) partnering with an affiliate or member organization that agrees in writing to provide the support, or (3) contracting out a portion of the work, subject to the program's contracting limitation.
How much of the grant can be contracted to nonaffiliated contractors?
No more than 49 percent of the grant can go to a nonaffiliated contractor for the proposed assistance.
What types of projects and activities are supported under this program?
Supported projects focus on enabling eligible nonprofits to assist rural associations by diagnosing and evaluating water system problems (source, storage, treatment, distribution), diagnosing and evaluating waste system problems (collection, treatment, disposal), helping communities prepare water and waste disposal loan/grant applications, and delivering training/technical assistance that improves how facilities are managed, operated, and maintained.
Does the program fund construction, rehabilitation, or facility upgrades?
No. The program does not pay for construction or for the improvement, rehabilitation, modification, or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, or solid waste disposal facilities.
Can TAT funds be used to buy equipment, vehicles, or real estate?
No. Grant dollars cannot be used for capital assets, real estate purchases, or vehicles.
Can funds be used to improve or renovate office space?
No. The funds cannot be used to improve or renovate office space.
Can funds be used to repair or maintain privately owned property?
No. The funds cannot be used to repair or maintain privately owned property.
Can the grant reimburse costs incurred before the grant is effective?
No. The grant cannot reimburse costs incurred before the grant's effective date.
Can TAT funds be used for political or lobbying activities?
No. The funds cannot support political or lobbying activities.
Can TAT funds be used to duplicate services already being provided?
No. Grant dollars cannot be used to duplicate services that are already being provided, such as work performed by an association's existing consultant for project development.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is TATFY25.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
What is the listed closing date for the opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the opportunity record is 2024-12-31.
How many awards are expected?
The posting indicates an expectation of around 40 awards.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount stated?
The award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which typically means applicants should refer to the full notice or program guidance for practical award sizing and budget expectations.
What is the overall purpose or best use of this grant?
This program is best viewed as a capacity-building and application-preparation tool for rural water and waste systems. It funds the expertise and training needed to diagnose issues, plan solutions, improve operations, and prepare strong applications when communities pursue water and waste infrastructure funding.
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