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Local and Regional Procurement Project

The Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Project (USDA LRP Project) was authorized as a pilot program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The Farm Bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a local and regional purchase pilot program in developing countries from fiscal year (FY) 2009 through 2012. CCC funding totaling $60 million will be made available as follows:

• $5 million in FY2009; 
• $25 million in FY2010;
• $25 million in FY2011; and 
• $5 million in FY2012.

The primary purpose of the USDA LRP Project is to examine the timeliness and efficiency of local and regional procurement (LRP) as a tool to enhance USG food assistance programs. LRP is based on the premise that providing cash grants to purchase food in surplus-producing areas of the country or region where it will be distributed is a more time and cost efficient approach to providing food aid in the aftermath of a natural disaster or other food crisis.  This will protect against a decline in food consumption, save lives, and reduce suffering.

The Pilot Program has four phases:

• Study prior local and regional procurement programs (FY2008 - FY 2009).
• Develop guidelines (FY2009).
• Implement field-based projects (FY2009 - FY2011). 
• Independent evaluation (FY2012). 

On January 16, 2009, the Secretary of Agriculture sent phase one of the USDA study on local and regional procurement to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees (full report can be found below).  USDA has drafted interim program implementation guidelines (phase two). These Interim Guidelines were published in the Federal Register on September 21, 2009 and were open for public comment for 30 days (please see below for more information on the Interim Guidelines). 

In FY2010 and FY2011, USDA accepted applications for qualification and proposals for field-based projects under the Interim Guidelines (phase three).  All field-based projects were completed by the end of FY2011.  In FY2012, USDA contracted an independent contractor to complete an evaluation of the USDA LRP Project (phase four).

 

Local and Regional Procurement Project Resources

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Applying for the Program (no longer accepting applications)

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Implementation: Budget, Reports, and Policies

Active Programs and Implementing Partners

Success Stories

Authorizing Legislation and Interim Guidelines — Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Sec. 3206) — Interim Guidelines for the Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Pilot Project — Interim Guidelines Federal Register Notice

Reports on Local and Regional Procurement — USDA LRP Project Independent Evaluation Report (December 2012) — USDA LRP Project Independent Evaluation Report: Annexes (December 2012) — USDA LRP Project Evaluation Report Data and Data Dictionary — USDA Report on Local and Regional Procurement (January 2009) — GAO Report on Local and Regional Procurement (May 2009)

News and Events Request for Quotation (RFQ) issued for the USDA LRP Project Final Evaluation (closed May 10, 2011) — RFQ and Scope of Work Information Session: Local and Regional Procurement Project Overview and Interim Guidelines — Agenda for Information Session (.pdf) — Audio Webcast Part 1: Welcome, Program: Purpose and Main Elements, Program: Applicable Conditions related to Beneficiaries and Purchases, Guidelines: Eligibility and Application Procedures — Audio Webcast Part 2: Analytical and Methodological Considerations and Operational Considerations for Conducting Field Projects and Agreements — Slide Show (for online viewing, only; download MS PowerPoint presentation or .pdf version) Federal Register Notice to Close Application Period for USDA LRP Project (pdf)

Questions or comments can be directed to the Food Aid Division at 202-720-4221
or via e-mail at LRP@fas.usda.gov.