Opportunity Information: Apply for RDRUS 25 RFP
The Revolving Fund Program (Funding Opportunity Number RDRUS 25 RFP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Its main purpose is to provide grant funding to qualified private, nonprofit organizations so they can build and operate revolving loan funds. Those revolving funds are then used to finance certain water and wastewater-related costs for eligible borrowers, helping communities move projects forward and address smaller, urgent infrastructure needs.
What makes this program distinct is that USDA is not primarily funding construction directly through this grant. Instead, the grant capitalizes (seeds) a revolving fund managed by the nonprofit grantee. The nonprofit then provides financing to eligible entities for targeted, short-term needs. The program is aimed at two broad categories of costs. First, it can support pre-development expenses tied to proposed water and wastewater projects, which often include early-stage activities that must happen before a project can qualify for larger, long-term financing or construction funding. Second, it can help cover certain short-term costs for existing water and wastewater systems, specifically for replacement equipment, small extensions of service, or other small capital projects that fall outside normal operations and maintenance. In other words, it is designed to bridge gaps that can stall projects or strain small systems, without substituting for routine upkeep.
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others" in the notice, but the program description makes clear that the direct applicants for the grant are qualified private, nonprofit entities. These nonprofit recipients are responsible for establishing and administering the revolving fund and then lending to eligible entities for allowable purposes. Detailed eligibility requirements and program rules are provided by USDA Rural Development on its Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects webpage: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/revolving-funds-for-financing-water-and-wastewater-projects.
The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture, Community Development, Environment, and Health, reflecting how water and wastewater infrastructure affects public health, environmental compliance, and rural community viability. The assistance is offered as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.864. The posting indicates an expected four awards. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that the maximum award amount is not specified in the summarized listing and applicants should rely on the full program guidance or notice for any limits, typical award sizes, or funding availability details.
The application deadline shown is August 7, 2025 (Original Closing Date: 2025-08-07), and the opportunity record was created on July 9, 2025. Applicants interested in applying should be prepared to explain how they will structure and manage a revolving fund, how loans will be underwritten and repaid to keep the fund replenished, how eligible borrowers will be identified and served, and how financed activities will align with the program's focus on pre-development costs and small, non-routine capital needs for water and wastewater systems.Apply for RDRUS 25 RFP
- The Rural Utilities Service in the agriculture, community development, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Revolving Fund Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.864.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-07. (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 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Revolving Fund Program (RDRUS 25 RFP) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Revolving Fund Program (RDRUS 25 RFP)?
The Revolving Fund Program (Funding Opportunity Number RDRUS 25 RFP) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS). It provides grant funding to qualified private, nonprofit organizations so they can establish and operate revolving loan funds that finance certain water and wastewater-related costs for eligible borrowers.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This funding opportunity is offered by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS), part of USDA Rural Development.
Is this funding for construction of water and wastewater projects?
Not primarily. The program is distinct because USDA is not mainly funding construction directly through this grant. Instead, the grant capitalizes (seeds) a revolving loan fund managed by the nonprofit grantee, and that fund is then used to finance targeted, short-term needs tied to water and wastewater projects and systems.
What does it mean to "capitalize" a revolving loan fund?
In this program, "capitalize" means the USDA grant provides the initial pool of money (seed capital) that a qualified nonprofit uses to create a revolving fund. The nonprofit then lends those funds to eligible entities for allowable purposes, and as loans are repaid, the fund can lend again.
Who can apply for the USDA grant under this program?
The direct applicants for the grant are qualified private, nonprofit organizations. These nonprofit recipients are responsible for establishing, administering, and managing the revolving fund.
Who receives the loans from the revolving fund?
The nonprofit grantee makes loans to eligible borrowers (eligible entities). The specific eligibility rules for borrowers are described as part of the program rules referenced by USDA Rural Development on its Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects webpage.
What types of costs can the revolving fund loans support?
The program focuses on two broad categories of eligible costs: (1) pre-development expenses tied to proposed water and wastewater projects, and (2) certain short-term costs for existing water and wastewater systems, such as replacement equipment, small extensions of service, or other small capital projects that are outside normal operations and maintenance.
What are "pre-development" expenses in this context?
Pre-development expenses are early-stage activities tied to proposed water and wastewater projects. These are the kinds of upfront steps that often must be completed before a project can qualify for larger, long-term financing or construction funding.
Can the revolving fund be used for routine operations and maintenance?
No. The program is described as supporting small, urgent, and non-routine infrastructure needs, and it is specifically positioned as not substituting for routine upkeep (normal operations and maintenance).
What kinds of improvements to existing systems are specifically mentioned as eligible?
The opportunity description specifically mentions replacement equipment, small extensions of service, and other small capital projects that fall outside normal operations and maintenance as examples of eligible short-term costs for existing systems.
What is the role of the nonprofit grant recipient?
The nonprofit recipient is responsible for establishing and administering the revolving fund. This includes structuring how the fund will operate, making loans to eligible borrowers for allowable purposes, and managing repayment so the fund can continue to revolve.
What should applicants be prepared to explain in an application?
Applicants should be prepared to explain how they will structure and manage the revolving fund, how loans will be underwritten and repaid to keep the fund replenished, how eligible borrowers will be identified and served, and how financed activities will align with the program focus on pre-development costs and small, non-routine capital needs for water and wastewater systems.
What is the Funding Instrument Type for this opportunity?
The assistance is offered as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.864.
How many awards does USDA expect to make?
The posting indicates an expected four awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of 0. This typically signals that the maximum award amount is not specified in the summarized listing, and applicants should rely on the full program guidance or official notice for any limits, typical award sizes, or funding availability details.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline shown is August 7, 2025 (Original Closing Date: 2025-08-07).
When was this opportunity record created?
The opportunity record was created on July 9, 2025.
What subject areas does this program fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture, Community Development, Environment, and Health, reflecting the impact of water and wastewater infrastructure on public health, environmental compliance, and rural community viability.
Where can applicants find detailed eligibility requirements and program rules?
USDA indicates that detailed eligibility requirements and program rules are provided on the USDA Rural Development webpage for Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/revolving-funds-for-financing-water-and-wastewater-projects.
What is the main problem this program is designed to address?
The program is designed to help communities move projects forward and address smaller, urgent infrastructure needs by filling financing gaps that can stall projects or strain small systems, particularly for pre-development steps and small, non-routine capital needs.
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