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Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS)

Fiscal Year 2015 Request for Applications (RFA)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 15, 2015

ELIGIBILITY: See Part III A of RFA

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE;

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND

MATHEMATICS FIELDS PROGRAM (WAMS)

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.318.

DATES: Applications must be received by close of business (COB) June 15, 2015 (5:00 pm Eastern Time). Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding. Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seeks your comments about this RFA. We will consider the comments when we develop the next RFA for the program, if applicable, and we’ll use them to meet the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)).

Submit written stakeholder comments by the deadline set forth in the DATES portion of this Notice to Policy and Oversight Division via e-mail to: Policy@nifa.usda.gov. (This e-mail address is intended only for receiving comments regarding this RFA and not requesting information or forms.) In your comments, please state that you are responding to the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) Grants Program RFA. Stakeholder input/feedback are also solicited through annual Project Directors’ Meetings/Conferences, webinars, electronic, formal and informal communications with clientele, federal, academic and other collaborators.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA requests applications for the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) for FY 2015 to support research and Extension activities that increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The amount available for support of this program in FY 2015 is approximately $400,000.

This notice identifies the objectives for WAMS projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a WAMS grant.

mailto:RFP-OGFM@nifa.usda.gov

Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority and Background B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Description

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Types of Applications C. Project Types D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing or Matching

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission C. Submission Date and Time D. Funding Restrictions

PART V—APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. General B. Evaluation Criteria C. Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality D. Organizational Management Information

PART VI—AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General B. Award Notice C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements D. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII—AGENCY CONTACT

PART VIII—OTHER INFORMATION

A. Access to Review Information B. Use of Funds; Changes C. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards D. Regulatory Information E. Definitions

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority and Background

Legislative Authority

This program is administered under the provisions of Section 7209 of the Agricultural Act of 2015. (Pub. L. 110-246). This authority amends Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)(49). for the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas (definition Part VIII, E) in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in higher education (7 U.S. C. section 5925 (e) (49). Priority is extended to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary.

Background

In efforts to carry out research, education and extension, the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) aligns its purpose and priorities with recommendations from the following reports: “New Biology for the 21st Century:

Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Revolution” https://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48967, 2008); National Academy of Sciences’ Report on Agricultural Education, Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) Whitepaper on Human Capacity Development (http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=1639), and “Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World” (http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Transforming-Agricultural- Education-Changing/12602), 2009. In 2012, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report attested: “At the baccalaureate level, a comprehensive array of undergraduate programs relevant to agriculture and the food industry, as well as applied social and natural sciences, must remain strong and well-supported”. The full PCAST report is available at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_agriculture_20121207.pdf.

B. Purpose and Priorities

The WAMS grants program is soliciting applications that will align to the mission and goal of REE and NIFA. The WAMS Program directly aligns with the USDA Research, Education and Economics Action Plan (http://www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_03- 2014.pdf ), and specifically addresses Goal 6 – Education and Science Literacy, by recruiting, cultivating, and developing the next generation of scientists, leaders, and highly-skilled workforce for food, agriculture, natural resources, forestry, environmental systems, and life sciences to out-educate our global competitors.

The program contributes to the USDA NIFA Strategic Goal #1 “Catalyze exemplary and relevant research, education and extension programs,” (http://nifa.usda.gov/about/pdfs/strat_plan_2014.pdf) and Sub-Goal #1.7: “Ensure the https://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48967 http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=1639 http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Transforming-Agricultural-Education-Changing/12602 http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Transforming-Agricultural-Education-Changing/12602 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_agriculture_20121207.pdf http://www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_03-2014.pdf http://www.ree.usda.gov/ree/news/USDA_REE_Action_Plan_03-2014.pdf http://nifa.usda.gov/about/pdfs/strat_plan_2014.pdf development of human capital, communities, and a diverse workforce through research, education, extension and engagement programs in food and agricultural sciences to support a sustainable agricultural system.”

The FY 2015 WAMS grant opportunity should be aligned with the six NIFA Priority Areas:

1. Agricultural & Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change

2. Food Security and Hunger

3. Food Safety

4. Water for Agriculture

5. Childhood Obesity Prevention; and,

6. Sustainable Bioenergy.

The legislative purpose of this program is to support research and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). NIFA intends this program to address educational needs, as determined by each institution, within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences and related disciplines.

7 U.S. C. section 5925(d) provides a priority to those grant proposals, found in the peer review process to be scientifically meritorious, that involve the cooperation of multiple entities. WAMS applicants are encouraged to submit applications that will result in building linkages with other institutions (including other colleges and universities, units of State government, and private sector entities) having a significant, ongoing commitment to the food and agricultural sciences generally and to the specific Need Areas(s) for which a grant is requested (see below). The goals of such joint initiative should include:

• maximizing the development and use of limited resources (including faculty, facilities, and equipment) by generating a critical mass of expertise and activity focused on a targeted Need Area(s);

• increasing cost-effectiveness through achieving economies of scale; strengthening the scope and quality of a project’s impact; and

• promoting coalition building likely to transcend the project’s lifetime and lead to future ventures.

NIFA encourages the applicant’s consideration of the recommendations in the “New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Revolution; National Academy of Sciences’ Report on Agricultural Education; Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) Whitepaper on Human Capacity Development, “Transforming Agricultural Education for the Changing World”; and, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report to the President on Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise in developing the application.

Priority will be given to those projects that ensure a competent and qualified workforce to guide the food and agricultural sciences system. WAMS funded projects should improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and Extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Hence, the goal of WAMS projects is to meet the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering food and agriculture-related STEM disciplines (i.e. having a food and agricultural sciences workforce representative of the nation’s population). Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.

WAMS encourages projects that develop content suitable for delivery through the Cooperative Extension System’s eXtension Initiative. Funds may be used to contribute to existing Communities of Practice (COPs) or form new COPs that focus on Stakeholder /Land Grant Institutions Partnership: Integrated Research, Extension and Education. Projects must align with the eXtension vision, mission and values. A letter of acknowledgment from eXtension is required, and a letter of support may be required from one or more of the Communities of Practice. For detailed guidance on how to partner with eXtension, go to http://create.extension.org/node/2057.

C. Program Area Description

A proposed project may address one or more Educational Need Areas and/or be an Applied Project that addresses research, outreach and capacity building to benefit the communities served, especially that of their students.

1. Educational Need Areas

WAMS projects should focus on the purpose of one or more of the FY 2015 Need Areas. Please note that at least one of these Need Areas must be indicated on the Project Summary (Part IV, B.3.).

a. Curriculum Design, Materials Development, and Library Resources

Promotes the development of courses of study and degree programs, new and improved curricula, and instructional materials and technology; to promote the acquisition of library resources including books and journals relating to the food and agricultural sciences; and to stimulate the use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects, new research on teaching and learning theory, and new applications of knowledge. The overall objective is to increase the quality of, and continuously renew, the academic programs of the eligible institutions in the food and agricultural sciences.

b. Faculty Preparation and Enhancement of Teaching

Advances faculty development in the areas of teaching competency and leadership, subject matter expertise, or student recruitment and advising skills. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to: obtaining experience with recent developments and new applications in a field;

expanding competence in innovative technologies and new methods of instruction delivery;

http://create.extension.org/node/2057 developing new skills in a field of science or education including student advising skills; or pursuing graduate-level study in a field related to the food and agricultural sciences.

Each faculty recipient of support for developmental activities must be an “eligible participant’ as defined in Part VIII, E. Definitions.

c. Instruction Delivery Systems

Encourages the use of alternative methods of delivering instruction to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and cost efficiency of teaching programs. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to: incorporating alternative instructional methodologies that respond to differences in student learning styles; inter-institutional collaborations that deliver instruction in ways that maximize program quality and reduce unnecessary duplication; and consideration and implementation of innovative instructional techniques, methodologies, and delivery systems in response to advances in knowledge and technology.

d. Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching and Research

Provides students and faculty in science-oriented courses with suitable, up-to-date equipment in order to involve them in work central to scientific understanding and progress. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to acquiring new, state-of-the-art instructional, laboratory, classroom, and research scientific equipment to help assure the achievement and maintenance of outstanding food and agricultural sciences education programs, upgrading existing equipment, or replacing non-functional or clearly obsolete equipment.

e. Student Experiential Learning

Furthers the development of student scientific and professional competencies through experiential learning programs that provide students with opportunities to solve complex problems in the context of real-world situations. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to: preparing future graduates to advance knowledge and technology, enhancing quality of life, conserve resources, and addressing community and economic development issues.

Projects should focus on advancing student decision-making and communications skills, and improving real-life technological expertise. Activities may include, but are not limited to, internships, practicum experiences, study abroad opportunities, and participation with faculty on applied research and related community development projects. For example, Leadership Skills Development:

The development of leadership skills, knowledge and qualities are necessary for preparing students for agricultural related careers in private sector, government and academia. CBG teaching applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to ensure that students are equipped with both technical and leadership abilities upon graduation.

Specific activities may include:

• Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, ethics and professionalism, and working in teams,

• Connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities,

• Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing, and

• Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.

f. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Educational Equity (including the provision of student financial assistance)

Enhances educational equity for under-represented students, and to strengthen student recruitment and retention programs in order to promote the future strength of the Nation’s scientific, professional, and technical workforce in the food and agricultural sciences.

Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to:

• initiating new projects or supplementing current efforts to attract increased number of students from under-represented groups, their families, and communities to engage in a robust exchange of ideas on more effective use of the full breadth of the Nation’s intellectual resources;

• agricultural and science literacy program at the high school level to attract students to college and careers in the food and agricultural sciences; mentoring programs and other initiatives for student retention; and the provision of student financial support to attend college.

Each student recipient of monetary support for educational costs or developmental purposes must be enrolled at an eligible institution and meet the requirement of an “eligible participant’ as defined in Part VIII, E. Definitions.

2. Applied Projects

In addition to the Education Need Areas, applications may choose to develop studies that have relevancy and application within the communities that these institutions serve. The purpose of each initiative is defined.

a. Applied Studies in the Food and Agricultural Sciences

Apply the body of knowledge in those natural and social sciences that comprise the food and agricultural sciences to address real-world problems, including applied research activities focusing on community and economic development issues related to food, nutrition, conservation, and renewable natural resources. Examples include:

(i) Conducting plant or animal breeding programs to develop better crops, forests, or livestock (e.g., more disease resistant, more productive, yielding higher quality products);

(ii) Conceiving, designing, and evaluating new bio-processing techniques for eliminating undesirable constituents from or adding desirable ones to food products;

(iii) Proposing and evaluating ways to enhance utilization of the capabilities and resources of WAMS institutions to promote rural development (e.g., exploitation of new technologies by small rural businesses);

(iv) Identifying control factors influencing consumer demand for agricultural products;

(v) Analyzing social, economic, and physiological aspects of nutrition, housing, and lifestyle choices, and of community strategies for meeting the changing needs of different population groups; and,

(vi) Studying other identified State, regional, community, national and global problems such as human nutrition and obesity prevention, sustainable agriculture, bio-energy, climate change, food safety, food security, biotechnology, agribusiness management and marketing, and aquaculture.

b. Applied Research Support Systems

Establish centralized support systems to meet State, regional, or community needs, or serve clientele that cannot otherwise afford or do not have ready access to the support in question, or to provide such support more economically thereby freeing up resources for other applied research uses. Examples include:

(i) Storage, maintenance, characterization, evaluation, and enhancement of germ plasm for use by animal and plant breeders (including those using the techniques of biotechnology);

(ii) Computerized data banks of important scientific information (e.g., epidemiological, demographic, nutrition, weather, economic, crop yields, animal migration patterns); and,

(iii) Expert service centers for sophisticated and highly specialized methodologies (e.g., evaluation of nutritional quality of foods, toxicology, taxonomic identifications, consumer preferences and demographics).

c. Technology-based Information Delivery Systems

Promote innovations and improvements in the delivery of benefits of food and agricultural sciences to producers and consumers, particularly those who are currently disproportionately low in receipt of such benefits. Examples include:

(i) Computer-based decision support systems to assist small scale farmers, ranchers, headers, or fishermen to take advantage of relevant technologies, programs, policies, etc.; and,

(ii) Efficacious delivery systems for nutrition information or for resource management assistance for low-income families and individuals.

d. Other Applied Research and Community Development Applications

Encourage other creative projects, outside the areas previously outlined, that are designed to provide needed enhancement to the capacity of WAMS institutions to conduct applied research and related community development projects.

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The amount available for NIFA support of this program in FY 2015 is $400,000. The funds will be awarded competitively through a peer panel review process. There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.

Awards issued as a result of this RFA will have designated the Automated Standard Applications for Payment System (ASAP), operated by the Department of Treasury’s Financial Management Service, as the payment system for funds. For more information see http://www.nifa.usda.gov/business/method_of_payment.html.

B. Types of Applications

This WAMS RFA is requesting applications supportive of integrated research, education, and/or extension projects; increase participation of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM fields; and address one or more of the Educational Need Areas or Applied Projects.

Supporting the many components of agriculture under the constraints of a growing population, pressure on natural resources, and the challenges of climate variability and change, requires research, education, extension, and integrated programs that increase agricultural and natural resource sustainability. The term ''sustainable agriculture'' (National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( NARETPA), (7 U.S.C. 3103) means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term achieve the following goals: 1) Satisfy human food and fiber needs; 2) Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends; 3) Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; 4) Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and 5) Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.

In FY 2015, applications may be submitted to the WAMS program as one of the following types of requests:

(1) New application. This is a project application that has not been previously submitted to the WAMS Program. All new applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection process and evaluation criteria described in Part V—Application Review Requirements.

(2) Resubmitted application. This is an application that had previously been submitted to the

WAMS Program but not funded. Applicants must respond to the previous review panel summary, (see Responses to Previous Review, Part IV). Resubmitted applications must be received by the relevant due dates, will be evaluated in competition with other pending http://www.nifa.usda.gov/business/method_of_payment.html applications in appropriate area to which they are assigned, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications.

C. Project Types

1. Regular Grant

An eligible institution, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system may submit a Regular Grant application for project activities to be undertaken principally on behalf of its own students or faculty and to be managed primarily by its own personnel.

2. Consortium Grant

To facilitate inter-institutional cooperation and collaborative initiatives, two or more eligible, individual institutions, independent branch campuses, or branch institutions of a State system within a State may form a consortium, or use an existing consortium of which they are members, and submit a Consortium Grant application under a consortium agreement. In such cases, one institution or fiscal agent is to be designated as the “lead institution”. The designated lead institution, fiscal agent, and PD, will receive the award on behalf of all the consortium members, will be responsible for managing the grant, and may allocate awarded funds among the consortia members. Eligible consortium members may be sub-grantees of the primary award. Other entities not eligible to receive an award directly from NIFA under this program may also participate in fulfilling grant objectives and receive a sub-grant via he designated lead institution.

A Consortium Grant application must contain a separate plan of work and a separate budget for each consortium member receiving funds as a sub-grantee, as well as an overall project plan of work and overall budget from the lead institution. Sub-grantees may not normally receive less than 10 percent of total grant funds. Applications proposing that sub-grantees receive less than 10 percent of total grant funds must be fully justified. Only in exceptional instances will NIFA approve involvement by sub-grantees at a lower level.

Sub-grantee arrangements by the lead institution with consortium members and others must be approved in advance by NIFA. The cumulative amounts of any such arrangements may not be for more than 70 percent of total grant funds.

3. Project Duration

A project duration may request funding for a project period from 12 months to 36 months duration (from one to three years.

4. Number and Size of Awards

The number of grants awarded in FY 2015 will depend on the number of applications recommended for funding in response to this notice.

NIFA estimates that awards for Regular Grant applications will be in the range of $75,000 to $150,000 (total amount – not per year) for a Regular Project. Budget forms submitted with the grant applications should reflect this estimate. In a Regular Project, the applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners.

NIFA estimates that awards for Consortium Grant applications will be in the range of $300,000 (total, not per year). Note that the amount of grant funds going to eligible consortium members as sub-grantees does NOT have to be the same for each sub-grantee; however, a sub-grantee will not normally receive less than 10 percent and the applicant institution submitting an application must retain at least 30 percent but not more than 70 percent of the awarded funds. Requests for deviations from these restrictions must be fully justified for review and approval by the panel of reviewers and NIFA before a final decision is made on the application. Such approval will be made only under the most exceptional circumstances.

Note the actual amounts awarded by NIFA under the WAMS program may differ from the amounts requested in the application submitted to the program, and the revised budgets can revised plans of work may be required by NIFA before an award is made.

5. Proposal Submission Limitations

Each eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, and branch institution of a State system may submit, or be a party to, a maximum of two applications for funding. An institution (or its fiscal agent) may submit one application as an individual institution (see Part II, C.1., Regular Grant) and also may be a party to one other application as a part of a consortium arrangement (see Part II, C.2., Consortium Grant). Institutions may not apply as part of more than one consortium arrangement.

6. Grant Limitations per Institution

For the FY 2015 program, each eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, and branch institution of a State system may receive, or be a party to, a maximum of two grant awards – one Regular Grant and one Consortium Grant – under the WAMS program. This ceiling includes sub-grant awards made under a consortium arrangement (i.e., an institution may participate as the lead institution or as a sub-grantee on a Consortium Grant, and also receive one Regular Grant on its own). USDA may fund an institution simultaneously under both applications. Institutions that received a grant under this program in a prior year are still eligible to receive a grant this year.

7. Funding Limitations per Institution

For FY 2015, there are no limits on the total funds that may be awarded to any one institution.

However, applicants should take note of the proposal submission limitations (see C.5.) and anticipated range of awards (see C.4.).

D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

The responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. Consequently, education in RCR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists. In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 7 CFR Part 3022, institutions that conduct extramural research funded by USDA must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct and are to maintain and effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an application to NIFA results in an award, the AOR assures, through acceptance of the award that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Per award terms and conditions, grant recipients shall, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies and procedures as well as documentation to support the conduct of the training.

Note that the training referred to herein shall be either on-campus or off-campus training. The general content of the ethics training, at a minimum, will emphasize three key areas of research ethics: authorship and plagiarism, data and research integration and reporting misconduct. Each institution will be responsible for developing its own training system, as schools will need flexibility to develop training tailored to their specific student needs. Grantees should consider the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program for RCR (www.citiprogram.org/rcrpage.asp). Typically this RCR education addresses the topics of: Data Acquisition and Management - collection, accuracy, security, access; Authorship and Publication; Peer Review; Mentor/Trainee Responsibilities; Collaboration; Conflict of Interest;

Research Misconduct; Human Subject Research; and Use of Animals in Research.

http://www.citiprogram.org/rcrpage.asp

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

1. Individual Applicants

As contained in Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub.

L. 110-246 which amends Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925)), applications may only be submitted by eligible applicants and may be a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of public or private entities. Eligible applicants are: (a) State agricultural experiment stations; (b) colleges and universities; (c) university research foundations; (d) other research institutions and organizations;

(e) Federal agencies; (f) national laboratories; (g) private organizations or corporations; (h) individuals; or (i) any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs

(a) through (h). Priority will be given to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary.

An applicant’s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will result in NIFA failing to review, or even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

2. Consortium Arrangements

For a Consortium Project (with two or more partners), only the applicant institution/organization must meet the definition of an eligible institution/organization as specified in this RFA; other entities participating in a Consortium Project are not required to meet the definition of an eligible institution/organization. Award recipients may subcontract portions of the project to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

For institutions of higher education, individual branches of a State university system, or other system of higher education, separately accredited as degree granting institutions, are treated as separate and are therefore eligible to apply for WAMS Program awards. Accreditation must be by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

3. Certification of Eligibility

At the time of application, primary applicants (lead applicants or Project Directors) must demonstrate their institution of higher education is accredited as a degree granting institution. If an institution currently has a Title III, Part A grant from the U.S. Department of Education that does not end prior to September 30, 2015, the institution shall submit a copy of the “Notice of Award” letter for that grant along with its application to satisfy the demonstration of eligibility requirement.

Otherwise, an institution must submit a letter, signed by the institution’s Authorized Representative (AR) certifying that it meets the requirements of WAMS as defined above.

The AR must certify that:

a. The institution, or parent institution in the case of an independent branch campus, is legally authorized by the State in which it is located to provide an educational program for which it awards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or that it is a junior or community college;

b. The institution, or parent institution in the case of an independent branch campus, is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered, or making reasonable progress toward such accreditation;

c. At least 50 percent of enrolled degree students are receiving need-based assistance under Title IV of the Higher Education Act, or that a substantial percentage of students are receiving Pell Grants in comparison with the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants at all similar institutions (institution of higher education, or junior or community college);

d. Unless waived by the Secretary of Education, the average educational and general expenditure per full-time equivalent undergraduate student are low in comparison with the average educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent student at institutions that offer similar instructions; and, Eligibility documentation must be submitted with the application. See Part III, A5.

4. Fiscal Agent

If an institution cannot accept Federal funds directly, it must admit a letter stating that it will accept the award, but that funds must be administered through a fiscal agent. This agent must be identified in the letter for the applicant and the letter must be countersigned by a representative of the fiscal agent organization. The letter should include the fiscal agent’s point of contact, address, telephone number, fax number and email address. Both the fiscal agent and the applicant institution must submit complete management information (see Part V, D.).

Nevertheless, the legal recipient of the award must be an eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a Sate system, or a consortium of eligible institutions. Submission of fiscal agent information (above) is not requested now, but will be required, before an award is made.

Please note that consortia may designate fiscal agents for the members of the consortia and allocate funds among the consortia members.

Examples of fiscal agent arrangements include, but are not limited to the following scenarios:

a. A State university system or a public system of higher education may apply on behalf of an eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution in the State. In such cases, the State system will act as fiscal agent for the eligible institution under a Regular Grant award to advance the purposes of the WAMS grants program.

b. A State university system or a public system of higher education may apply on behalf of two or more eligible, individual institutions, independent branch campuses, or branch institutions in its Sate under the consortium arrangement. In such cases, the State system will act as fiscal agent for the eligible institutions under a Consortium Grant award to advance the purposes of the WAMS grants program.

c. A research foundation, or other similar foundation established and maintained by an eligible, individual institution to facilitate the application and management of externally-funded grant awards may apply on behalf of tis eligible, parent institution. In such cases, the foundation will act as fiscal agent for the eligible, individual institution under a Regular Grant award to advance the purposes of the WAMS grants program.

d. A research foundation, or other similar foundation established and maintained by an eligible, individual institution to facilitate the application and management of externally-funded grant awards may apply on behalf of its parent institution and at least one additional eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system under a consortium arrangement. In such cases, the foundation will act as fiscal agent for the eligible institutions under a Consortium Grant award to advance the purposes of the WAMs grants program.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

In accordance with section 1492 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3371), as added by section 7128 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79), for grants awarded after October 1, 2014, the recipient of an award from the [WAMS] program must provide funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both, from sources other than funds provided through such grant in an amount that is at least equal to the amount awarded by NIFA.

The matching funds requirement does not apply to grants awarded:

1. To a research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); or

2. To an entity eligible to receive funds under a capacity and infrastructure program (as defined in section 251(f) (1) (C) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, 7 U.S.C. 6971(f) (1) (C)), including a partner (see Part VIII, E. Definitions for definition of partnership) of such an entity.

Entities eligible to receive funds under a capacity and infrastructure program and exempt from the matching funds requirement include:

a. 1862 Land-grant Institutions, including State Agricultural Experiment Stations receiving funding under the Hatch Act of 1887

b. 1890 Land-grant Institutions

c. 1994 Land-grant Institutions

d. Recipients of Continuing Animal Health and Disease, Food Security, and Stewardship Research, Education, and Extension Program Funds — Capacity and Infrastructure Program (CIP)

e. Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU)

f. Insular Area Schools Eligible to Receive Funds from the Distance Education/Resident Instruction Grant Programs

g. Recipients of McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Program Funds

h. Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) - (for exemption from the new matching requirement, these applications must include NLGCA certification, see instructions for requesting certification at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/form/form.html, and for attaching the certification in Part IV, C. of this RFA)

i. Recipients of funds under a program established under section 1417(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)), including: (1) 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program; (2) Higher Education Challenge Grants Program; (3) Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program; and (4) Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Grants Program.

j. Individual public or private, nonprofit Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions of higher education (see 20 U.S.C. 1059d).

A proposal submitted in response to this RFA may indicate that the work will be completed by multiple entities as a collaborative partnership. All partners must have a substantial involvement in the project throughout the life of the project. If a partnership among multiple entities is proposed, the proposal must clearly identify the following:

1. A narrative of each entity’s clearly established role in the project;

2. How each entity involved as a partner on the project will contribute to execution of project objectives, determination of experimental design, development of the project work plan and time table, and submission of collaborative, timely reports; and

3. A comprehensive project budget that reflects each entity’s financial or third party in-kind contribution (see section 2 of 7 CFR 3430 or section 96 of 2 CFR part 200) to the total project budget costs.

If a proposal indicates that the work on the project will be completed by multiple entities as partners, and at least one entity is exempt from the matching requirement under #2 above, the entire project will be exempt from the matching requirement regardless of whether all entities involved are otherwise exempt. Any partner entity can serve as the lead entity on the project. All partners must be significantly involved in the project.

After proposals have been recommended for award, NIFA will determine if the submitted proposal and proposed division of work reflects substantial involvement of all entities involved.

If a proposal is recommended for award to a lead entity not otherwise exempt from the matching requirement and the proposal does not reflect substantial involvement of at least one partner that is exempt under #2 above, then the matching requirement will apply. Exemption from the matching requirement for an entity not otherwise exempt is limited to the project for which it is a partner.

Waiver of Match - NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a recipient for one year with respect to a competitive grant that involves research or extension activities that are consistent with the priorities established by the National Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Economics Advisory Board for the year involved.

To determine whether proposed activities are consistent with the priorities of The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB), please refer to the 2014 Research, Education and Economics Action Plan

Instructions for requesting a waiver are included in Part IV, C. of this RFA.

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package

Only electronic applications may be submitted via Grants.gov to NIFA in response to this RFA.

We urge you to submit early to the Grants.gov system. For an overview of the Grants.gov application process see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/grant-application-process.html.

New Users of Grants.gov

Prior to preparing an application, it is suggested that the PD/PI first contact an Authorized Representative (AR) (also referred to as Authorized Organizational Representative or AOR) to determine if the organization is prepared to submit electronic applications through Grant.gov. If not (e.g., the institution/organization is new to the electronic grant application process through Grants.gov), then the one-time registration process must be completed PRIOR to submitting an application. It can take as long as 2 weeks to complete the registration process so it is critical to begin as soon as possible. In such situations, the AR should go to “Register” in the top right corner of the Grants.gov web page (or go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants//register.html) for information on registering the institution/organization with Grants.gov. Item 2. below mentions the “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.” Part II.1. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide contains additional explanatory language regarding the registration process.

Steps to Obtain Application Package Materials

To receive application materials:

1. You must download and install a version of Adobe Reader compatible with Grants.gov to access, complete, and submit applications. For basic system requirements and download instructions, see http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/adobe-reader-compatibility.html. Grants.gov has a test package that will help you determine whether your current version of Adobe Reader is compatible.

2. To obtain the application from Grants.gov, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html. Under Step 1, click on “Download a Grant Application Package” and enter the funding opportunity number

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-WAMS-005116 in the appropriate box and click “Download Package.” From the search results, click “Download” to access the application package.

Contained within the application package is the “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide”.

This guide contains an introduction and general Grants.gov instructions, information about how to use a Grant Application Package in Grants.gov, and instructions on how to complete the application forms.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/grant-application-process.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

If you require assistance to access the application package (e.g., downloading or navigating Adobe forms), or submitting the application, refer to resources available on the Grants.gov website http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/grant-application-process.html. Grants.gov assistance is also available at:

Grants.gov customer support 1-800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035 Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on Federal Holidays.

Email: support@grants.gov

Grants.gov iPortal: Top 10 requested help topics (FAQs), Searchable knowledge base, self service ticketing and ticket status, and live web chat (available 7:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. ET). Get help now!

Have the following information available when contacting Grants.gov:

• Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

• Name of Agency You Are Applying To

• Specific Area of Concern

See http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html for additional resources for applying electronically.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

You should prepare electronic applications following Parts V and VI of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guided. This guide is part of the corresponding application package (see Section A.

of this Part). The following is additional information needed in order to prepare an application in response to this RFA. If there is discrepancy between the two documents, the information contained in this RFA is overriding.

Note the attachment requirements (e.g., portable document format) in Part III section 3. of the Guide. ANY PROPOSALS THAT ARE NON-COMPLIANT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS (i.e., content format, pdf file format, file name restrictions, and no password protected files) WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR NIFA REVIEW. Grants.gov does not check for NIFA required attachments or that attachments are in PDF format, see Part III section 6.1 of the guide for how to check the manifest of submitted files. Partial applications will be excluded from NIFA review. We w will accept subsequent submissions of an application until close of business on the closing date in the RFA (see Part V, 2.1 of NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for further information).

Grants.gov provides online tools to assist if you do not own PDF-generating software. You will find PDF conversion software at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/pdf-conversion-software.html.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/pdf-conversion-software.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/software/pdf-conversion-software.html

For any questions related to the preparation of an application, review the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide and the applicable request for applications. If assistance is still needed for preparing application forms content, contact:

• Email: electronic@nifa.usda.gov

• Phone: 202-401-5048

• Business hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding Federal holidays.

1. SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 2. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

2. SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s) Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 3. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

3. R&R Other Project Information Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 4. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

a. Field 7. Project Summary/Abstract – (Required Attachment – Must be PDF format) Project Summary/Abstract is required in all applications and is limited to 2 pages. Applicants are encouraged to revisit the page numbers after converting the narrative to PDF format and make the necessary adjustments if the required page limit has been exceeded. Project Summary/Abstract that exceeds this page limit requirement will not be accepted for review.

b. Field 8. Project Narrative – (Required Attachment – Must be PDF format). Applications will not be accepted for review if the project narrative is not included or not in PDF format.

NOTE: The Project Narrative shall not exceed 20 pages of written text (excluding up to a maximum of…