Notice of Upcoming Request for Proposal: Life cycle assessment of US regenerative, grass-fed hides

Growing GRASS: A USDA Funded Advancing Markets for Producers Project

RFP EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED: September 2026

Project Overview

The Growing GRASS Project grant is looking to partner with a skilled life cycle assessment (LCA) partner to perform an ISO 14040/44 and Higg MSI compliant life cycle assessment of US regenerative beef, with an output of emission factors per kg whole animal and per kg hide. The study will be cradle-to-farm gate for grass-fed cattle, using primary data from ranches enrolled in the Growing GRASS project. Information on the number of farms included in the study will be available in the request for proposals.

The LCA has three main components:

  1. On farm emissions/impact using at least three years of historical grazing and other farm data. This analysis will comply with ISO 14040/44 and Higg MSI Methodology with the intent to submit to the Higg MSI database.

  2. On farm soil carbon sequestration analysis using historical samples and samples to be taken during this project.

  3. Development of an economic allocation factor using three years of slaughterhouse primary data.

Key to the success of the project is the ability of the LCA partner to work well with the GGRASS team and its partners. The GGRASS team directly manages relationships with GRASS farmers and slaughterhouses and will support the LCA partner in the data collection process.

Expected deliverables include:

1.     A Higg MSI Type 2 compliant LCA report with separate sections for emissions/impact and carbon sequestration. Methodology and submission details are available in the most recent version of the Higg MSI Methodology Document.

2.     Excel workbook with all farm data and calculations, such that the workbook can be updated with on farm primary data in the future

Timeline and Budget

●      Expected RFP Release Date: September 1, 2026

●      Q&A Period: September 1-30, 2026

●      Closing Date, RFPs due: October 15, 2026

●      Expected Project Start Date: December 1, 2026

●      Project End Date: spring 2028; date to be announced in the RFP

●      Project budget will be announced in the RFP.

 

Eligibility & Minimum Requirements

The LCA partner has the following experience and/or expertise, can meet the timeline and remain within the budgetary requirements.

●      History of completed projects of similar size and complexity

●      Expertise in modeling the carbon emissions from animal grazing

●      Is located in the US

The ideal LCA partner also has:

●      Completed an LCA that is in the Higg MSI

●      Expertise with soil carbon sequestration data analysis and interpretation

 

Contact

Reach out to lca@ggrass.org to be notified when the RFP is available.