Welcome to the Regional Food System Partnerships Review Page! Thank you for serving as a reviewer for the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP), a grant program administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This page contains all the resources you need to complete your review assignments, including program-specific materials, system access instructions, timelines, and required forms.
If you have been assigned to review applications under this program, please carefully review each section below and reach out to the listed point(s) of contact with any questions.
General Information
The Regional Food System Partnerships Program (RFSP) supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The RFSP focuses on building and strengthening the viability and resilience of the local or regional food economy. Applicants must partner to promote the development of local or regional food systems. Applicants will coordinate efforts within the partnership to set priorities, connect resources and services, and measure progress towards common goals.
Guidance and Resources
Critical Dates
- August 5, 2025: Mandatory Orientation Training ARM Training and RFSP Grant Review Programmatic Training with the Federal Staff (Panel Chairs and Reviewers) | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET) Webinar link and conference line will be provided
- August 7, 2025: Arm Session Opens at 6pm for Reviews. Applications are made available to reviewers electronically via the ARM system
- August 12, 2025: Office hours for Chairpersons and Reviewers - link to be provided by email | 1:00 PM (ET)
- August 12, 2025: Scores and comments for applications 1-3 due in the ARM system | 11:59 PM (ET)
- August 14, 2025: Chairperson Submits the Panel Summary Report for Applications 1-3 to the Panel Manager | 3:00 PM (ET)
- August 18, 2025: Scores and comments for applications 4-6 due in the ARM system (All scores and comments must be entered in the ARM system | 11:59 PM (ET)
- August 20, 2025:
- Chairpersons submit the Panel Summary Report for Applications 4-6 to the Panel Manager | 3:00 PM (ET)
- Reviewers submit to Panel Chair scores and comments for Application 7 in the ARM system by 11:59 PM (ET)
- August 22, 2025: Panel Managers provide feedback on Panel Summary Reports
- August 23-27, 2025: Chairpersons and Reviewers revisit all scores and comments and resubmit, as necessary
- August 28, 2025: Review Directors approve all Panel Summary Reports and ARM Session Closes | 5:00 PM (ET)
Points of Contact
Regional Food System Partnership Grant Review Team email: LAMPReview@grantreview.com
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 7AM – 8PM ET (closed on Federal holidays).
Phone: 1-866-577-0771
Email: help@grantsolutions.gov
ARM Technical Assistance Help Desk
For any issues with entering and managing information in the ARM system.
Hours of Operations: Monday through Friday 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. ET
Telephone: 1-866-424-2637
Email: Reviews@grantsolutions.gov
Website: login.gov/help
Phone: 1-844-875-6446
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday available between 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET
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- ARM Manuals are available in ARM (pdf)
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Document Destruction Form
After completion of the application reviews, please ensure to destroy and/or delete any application materials. Complete and submit the Document Destruction Form (pdf).
Close-out Instructions
We continually enhance the remote review experience and welcome feedback on the process. We value your perspectives and strongly encourage the completion of our feedback survey, which should take about 10 minutes to complete.
To access the RFSP Post-Review survey, please go to: FY2025 - USDA, AMS, Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) Post-Review Survey | Grant Review Information