AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has been notified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will receive up to $582,265.94 in Specialty Crop Block Grants for projects that help support specialty crop growers.

The DACF Division of Agricultural Resource Development has a requirement for grant proposals which, if approved, will become part of a State of Maine plan submitted for approval and funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. In accordance with State procurement practices, the Department is hereby announcing the publication of a Request for Proposals (RFP #201504060) for proposals from qualified applicants.

The Specialty Crop Block Program, administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service encourages states to develop projects pertaining to issues affecting the specialty crop industry. In addition DACF has established priority areas to include enhancement of food safety education; integrated pest management research and educations programs for specialty crops; research and demonstration of marketing and distribution systems for specialty crops; and marketing to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Maine.

Review of the RFP and Submitting a Proposal:

A copy of the RFP can be obtained by contacting the Department's RFP Coordinator for this project: Jessica Nixon, Director of Market Development. The RFP Coordinator can be reached at the following email address: Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov or mailing address: 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

The Department encourages all interested vendors to obtain a copy of the RFP and submit a competitive proposal.

Proposals must be submitted to:

State of Maine Division of Purchases
Burton M. Cross Office Building
111 Sewall Street, 4th Floor
9 State House Station
Augusta, Maine, 04333-0009

Proposals must be submitted by 2 p.m., local time, Tuesday, May 14 when they will be opened at the Division of Purchases' aforementioned address. Proposals not received at the Division of Purchases' aforementioned address by the aforementioned deadline will not be considered for contract award.

Maine and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program:

Since 2006, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service, has awarded more than $2.9 million dollars to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support the growing number of Maine specialty crop producers who are selling into local and regional markets.

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf/.