Tribal Seafood Pandemic Response and Safety 

Grant Program (TSPRS)

Request for Applications

Application Due Date: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 18, 2022 

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-AMS-TM-22-0004 

Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) Number: 10.181 

A . WHAT IS THE TRIBAL SEAFOOD PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND SAFETY GRANT

PROGRAM?

The Tribal Seafood Pandemic Response and Safety (TSPRS) Grant Program provides grants to seafood 

processors, including at-sea processors and dealers, owned and operated by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, 

as defined in the List Act of 1994. The grant program provides funds to respond to coronavirus, including for 

measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19). This program is authorized and funded 

under section 751 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) (Pub. L. No. 116—260). USDA 

developed grant programs under the CAA in response to extensive stakeholder feedback during a series of 

listening sessions in March 2021, and written comments provided through March 30, 2021. Two listening 

sessions were specifically designated for Tribal representatives to provide information and feedback. 

Information from the listening sessions is available online at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/ams-covidstimulus. To address the needs of seafood processors owned and operated by Federally Recognized Indian 

Tribes, USDA also held a Tribal listening session in October 2021 to seek input from tribal-owned processors on 

the development of this grant program. 

B . HOW MUCH FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND WHAT CAN IT BE USED FOR?

Approximately $1,000,000, minus administrative expenses, is available to fund applications through the Tribal 

Seafood Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program (TSPRS). Funds will be used to issue grants for costs 

incurred between January 27, 2020, the date upon which the public health emergency was declared by U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, and

December 31, 2021. Grants will cover the activities associated with the following activities, when those activities 

occurred exclusively in response to changing market conditions and/or safety requirements that resulted from 

the COVID-19 pandemic: 
USDA PRS RFA 2 

Workplace Safety Measures: Workplace safety measures, including, but not limited to, personal 

protective equipment, sanitizer, hand washing stations, air filters, thermometers, cleaning supplies, or 

similar items.

Market Pivots: Shifts from markets reduced or eliminated by COVID-19 to other markets, such as 

transition from restaurant or food service to retail customers, shifts from fresh to frozen seafood,

moving to virtual/online sales costs (online platform development and fees, online marketing, credit 

card processing fees), building cold storage, or purchasing retail packaging. 

Retrofitting Facilities: Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, such as installing new 

production equipment to maximize social distancing. 

Transportation: Additional transportation costs incurred to maintain social distancing or implement new 

distribution routes. 

Worker Housing: Additional worker housing costs incurred to comply with quarantine mandates for new 

or seasonal employees, to maintain social distancing, or to allow for quarantining of exposed 

employees. 

Medical: Unreimbursed costs associated with providing or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare 

treatment of infected employees, including any paid leave. 

The minimum funding request amount is $100,000. The maximum funding request amount is $500,000. USDA 

may prorate funding awards, if the total amount of funds requested exceeds the total amount of funding 

available. 

C . WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDS?

USDA is targeting support to tribally-owned seafood processors, including at-sea processors and dealers, owned 

and operated by Indian Tribes, as defined by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List Act) of 1994 

(Pub. L. No. 103—454). According to stakeholder feedback, tribally-owned seafood processors were both 

significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and received insufficient federal support to address the costs 

they incurred to keep workers safe and help keep the U.S. food supply intact during the crisis. 

Tribally-owned seafood processors who have already applied to State agencies for federal aid under the Seafood 

Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program are not eligible to apply again to the TSPRS program. 

To be eligible for TSPRS funding, entities must 1) be wholly owned by a Tribal government listed on the most 

recent list of Indian Tribal Entities as defined by the List Act of 1994 at

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-01/pdf/2019-00897.pdf, and 2) must own and operate a 

seafood processing operation, including at-sea processing vessels or dealers. 

No cost sharing or matching funds are required. All TSPRS awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost 

principles, and other considerations described in the TSPRS General Terms and Conditions. 

D . HOW AND WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED?

TSPRS applications are submitted via e-mail to TSPRSgrants@usda.gov. All applicants must obtain a DUNS

number and register in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying. Information on how to 

obtain a DUNS number and registering in SAM.gov can be found on the AMS website at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/apply-for-a-grant. Applicants must submit via email to 

TSPRSgrants@usda.gov a complete application package, which consists of the following forms: 
USDA PRS RFA 3 

• TSPRS Appendix B: Application and Funding Request Form

• Application for Federal Assistance: SF-424 (See application website)

• Tribal Documents of Incorporation (Copy of Tribal Charter)

All applications must be received by USDA no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 18, 2022. 

E . WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AN APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED?

Once the application period closes, USDA will conduct the eligibility review process. Each application is reviewed 

using the following criteria: 

• The application was submitted and received by USDA before the application deadline.

• The applicant is an eligible seafood processing entity that demonstrates proof of ownership by a

Federally Recognized Indian Tribe. Official email correspondence from elected leaders providing a copy

of the Tribal Charter will be accepted. Files should be named “Tribal Charter,” and submitted via email.

AMS will consider any application that does not include this documentation as non-responsive, and it

will not receive further review.

• The application includes the required forms noted in Section D.

• The required forms are complete and accurate.

Applications that meet the abovementioned criteria will be deemed eligible for funding consideration. If an 

application does not meet these requirements, it will be removed from consideration.

Funding will be awarded after the close of the application and review periods. USDA reserves the right to 

prorate individual award amounts if the cumulative amount of funds requested is greater than the funds 

available. In addition, funds not applied for may be equitably reallocated to the applications received through 

this funding announcement at the time of award. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost 

principles, and other considerations described in the TSPRS General Terms and Conditions. 

F . HOW ARE FUNDS ADMINISTERED?

If an application is approved for funding, USDA will send a Notice of Award to the application point of contact, 

using a secure link sent via email. The Notice of Awards will include instructions for accepting funds. 

Note: Applicants must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) before applying. For more 

information, visit the SAM.gov website at https://sam.gov/content/home. 

G . IS THERE A CONTACT FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS OR HELPING WITH THE

APPLICATION?

Yes, if you have questions about applying, obtaining a DUNS number, or registering in SAM, visit the TSPRS 

application website www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/tsprs or contact the USDA by emailing 

TSPRSgrants@usda.gov.