FY-2020-AFRI-Education-Workforce-Development-508.pdf

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program

MODIFICATION: This RFA is an updated version of the FY 2019-FY 2020 solicitation. It includes only the references to FY 2020 funding; FY 2019 references have been eliminated.

Education and Workforce Development Program

Fiscal Year 2020 Request for Applications LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: Not Applicable APPLICATION DEADLINE: Varies by Program Area (See Parts I, C and IV, C)

ELIGIBILITY: See Part III, A of RFA

This RFA solicits applications for FY 2020. Updated information for applicants considering applying to the FY 2020 funding cycle has been added, including the FY 2020 Funding Opportunity Number and Application Kit.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE COMPETITIVE GRANTS

PROGRAM

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Assistance Listings under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.310.

DATES FOR LETTERS OF INTENT AND APPLICATIONS: The Program Area Descriptions section in Part I, C identifies the applicability of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and, if applicable, the deadline date for its submission. In these instances, it must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. This RFA solicits applications for funding cycle FY 2020. Applications for FY 2020 funding cycle must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline dates indicated in Part I, C of this RFA, Program Area Descriptions.

Applications received after these deadlines will not be considered for funding (see Part IV, C of this RFA). Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six (6) months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: We at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seek your comments about this request for applications (RFA). We will consider your 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 your written comments by the deadline set forth in the DATES portion of this notice via email to Policy@usda.gov. (This email address is only for receiving comments regarding this RFA and not for requesting information or forms.) In your comments, please state that you are responding to Education and Workforce Development RFA.

Visit the NIFA website to access a factsheet on the Center of Excellence (COE) designation process, including COE criteria, and a list of programs offering COE opportunities.

NIFA solicits proposed topics for Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) RFAs from eligible state and national commodity boards on an ongoing basis. Topics must relate to the established AFRI six priority areas. NIFA received topics from eligible commodity boards through August 5, 2019, for incorporation into FY 2020 RFAs. Topics submitted by the commodity boards that aligned with NIFA priorities were chosen for inclusion in selected program areas of this RFA. None of the topics submitted by commodity boards were included in this RFA because the topics did not fit the subject matter of this RFA. Details on general information and topic submission resources for inclusion in future AFRI RFAs can be found at:

https://nifa.usda.gov/commodity-boards.

mailto:Policy@usda.gov.

https://nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence https://nifa.usda.gov/program/agriculture-and-food-research-initiative-afri https://nifa.usda.gov/commodity-boards

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is America’s flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences. In FY 2020, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requests applications for the AFRI’s Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Program areas to support:

• professional development opportunities for K-14 educational professionals;

• workforce training at community, junior, and technical colleges;

• training of undergraduate students in research and extension; and

• fellowships for predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral scholars.

The anticipated amount available for new grants in this FY 2020 Education and Workforce Development RFA is approximately $49 million.

This RFA solicits Standard Grants and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, whereas project types solicited in this RFA are Research, Education, Extension, and Integrated Research, Education and/or Extension projects. Grant types and project types solicited vary by program area priority, and not all grant types are solicited within each program area priority. See Part I, C (Program Area Descriptions) for grant and project types solicited by each specific program area priority, and Part II, C for a description of each individual grant type and project type.

This notice identifies the objectives for the AFRI Education and Workforce Development program including program priorities, deadline dates, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for an AFRI Education and Workforce Development grant.

Changes beginning in 2019:

• Name change of Professional Development for Secondary School Teachers and Educational Professionals (PD-STEP) program to Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy (PDAL) program.

• Project funding level and duration in the Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy program.

• Addition of new Agricultural Workforce Training Grants program

• Education Coordination Network addition to the REEU program.

• Project duration in the Predoctoral Fellowship program.

Significant changes described in this RFA for FY 2020 include:

• Updated contact information for various program area priorities.

• Shifted deadlines.

Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Descriptions

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

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

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Request for Determination of Status C. Cost Sharing or Matching D. Center of Excellence

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Letter of Intent B. Electronic Application Package C. Content and Form of Application Submission D. Submission Dates and Times E. Funding Restrictions F. Other Submission Requirements

PART V—APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

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

PART VI—AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General B. Award Notice C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research E. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII—AGENCY CONTACTS

PART VIII—OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds; Changes B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards C. Regulatory Information

D. Definitions E. Materials Available on the Internet

Table 1: Program Area Priority Contacts Table 2: Administrative/Business Contacts

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

Section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (hereafter referred to as the Act) (7 U.S.C. 3157), as amended, authorizes the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), a competitive grant program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research, education, and extension to address food and agricultural sciences in the following six priority areas:

1. Plant health and production and plant products;

2. Animal health and production and animal products;

3. Food safety, nutrition, and health;

4. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment;

5. Agriculture systems and technology; and

6. Agriculture economics and rural communities.

To the maximum extent practicable, NIFA, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE), will make grants for high priority research, education, and extension, taking into consideration, when available, the determinations made by the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB) pursuant to the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C.

3157. The Secretary delegates the authority to the Under Secretary in 7 CFR 2.21 and the Under Secretary delegates it to NIFA.

B. Purpose and Priorities

The purpose of AFRI is to support research, education, and extension work by awarding grants to solve key problems of local, regional, national, and global importance in sustaining conventional, organic, and urban agricultural systems. These include farm efficiency, profitability and sustainability, ranching, bioenergy, forestry, aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, mitigating impacts of biotic and abiotic constraints on food production, food safety, mitigating food waste and food loss, physical and social sciences, home economics and rural human ecology, biotechnology, and classical breeding. Through this support, AFRI advances knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. It also allows AFRI to support education and extension activities that deliver science-based knowledge to end users, allowing them to make informed, practical decisions. This AFRI RFA provides funding for research-only, education-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education, and/or extension projects addressing the six priorities identified in Part I, A.

Food and agricultural systems are under the constraints of a growing population, pressure on natural resources, challenges of climate variability and change, and complex demands of ensuring nutritional security and food safety in a global economy. Addressing these challenges requires research, education, extension, and integrated programs in concert with agroecological approaches that increase agricultural and natural resource sustainability. The term ''sustainable agriculture'' (7 U.S.C. 3103) means a combined 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 agricultural 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.

AFRI encourages projects addressing enhancement of sustainability of agricultural systems.

NIFA supports global engagement that advances U.S. agricultural goals. To attain the agency's goals for U.S. agriculture, global competence of our nation’s agricultural workforce, and safe and nutritious food security in a growing world, NIFA recognizes that collaboration with international partners through AFRI can contribute to advances in U.S. agriculture. In an increasingly interconnected world, these U.S. advances may have global importance. Thus, applications in response to this RFA may include collaborations with international partners, but may only be submitted by eligible U.S. institutions. Such applications may include subcontracts to international partners or other institutions and must clearly demonstrate benefits to the U.S. Additional guidance on including international activities is provided on the AFRI International Partnerships website.

Stakeholder Input For information on stakeholder input related to AFRI program, visit https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-stakeholder-feedback.

Background AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grants programs for food and agricultural sciences, and funding is offered through the Foundational and Applied Science, Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and Education and Workforce Development Requests for Applications for addressing critical societal issues.

This AFRI RFA aligns with the following USDA Strategic Goals:

• Strategic Goal 2: Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers To Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World;

• Strategic Goal 3: Promote American Agricultural Products and Exports;

• Strategic Goal 4: Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development;

• Strategic Goal 5: Strengthen the Stewardship of Private Lands Through Technology and Research;

• Strategic Goal 6: Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of Our National Forest

System Lands; and

• Strategic Goal 7: Provide All Americans Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food

Supply https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-stakeholder-feedback

C. Program Area Descriptions

The AFRI EWD RFA addresses projected shortfalls of qualified graduates in the agricultural, food, and renewable natural resources sectors of the U.S. economy (Employment Opportunities for College Graduates). This RFA seeks applications for education and training grants that focus on further enhancing the distinct components of the pipeline for developing the workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. Thus, the AFRI EWD has four overarching goals:

1. Growing Agricultural Literacy and Workforce Development for the Future offers institutional grants to provide K-14 teachers and administrators with increased knowledge of food and agricultural sciences and help them develop improved curricula to train the agricultural workforce for the future. See Program Area Description in Part 1, C, 1 for “Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy” (Program Code A7501).

2. Training or Retraining of Agricultural Workers provides institutional training grants to develop a technology- and data-savvy workforce, ready for the field and industrial jobs. These include opportunities for the development of new workforce training programs, and the expansion, improvement, or renewal of existing workforce training programs and curriculum. See Program Area Description in Part 1, C, 1 for “Agricultural Workforce Training Grants” (Program Code A7601).

3. Developing Pathways offers undergraduates in food, agriculture, or allied disciplines, the technical and leadership skills required for employment in the food and agricultural sectors or in graduate programs. NIFA will award institutional grants that offer experiential learning opportunities, beyond traditional classroom experience or course work that include but are not limited to internships, externships, practicums, global leadership, and study abroad, in research and extension. These opportunities must be designed to help students develop the critical thinking, problem solving, digital competency, international experiences, and communication skills needed for future employment and/or higher education. See Program Area Description in Part 1, C, 2 for “Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates” (Program Code A7401).

4. Advancing Science supports graduate and post-graduate education in agriculture and related disciplines. NIFA Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship program areas will continue to support predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees respectively.

These Fellowship awards can also enable interested predoctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees to obtain training in industry and international research on issues relevant to U.S. agriculture. See Program Area Description in Part 1, C, 3 and Part 1, C, 4 for “Predoctoral Fellowships” (Program Code A7101) and “Postdoctoral Fellowships” (Program Code A7201), respectively.

The Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy (PDAL) program area seeks to increase the number of K-14 educational professionals trained in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. Participants are expected to develop skills necessary for integrating food and https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/ https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/ agricultural science concepts in their classes; explore the opportunities available in food and agricultural science career paths; and/or forge mentorships with professional and business leaders, and faculty.

The Agricultural Workforce Training (AWT) Grants program area seeks to develop a technology- and data-savvy workforce, ready for the field and industrial jobs within the food and agricultural sciences. Through the development of new workforce training programs, or the expansion, improvement, or renewal of existing workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges/institutes, this program will expand job-based, experiential learning opportunities for students to enable a work-ready labor force for 21st century agricultural jobs.

The Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program area promotes research and extension learning experiences for undergraduates such that upon graduation they may enter the agricultural workforce with exceptional skills. This initiative allows colleges and universities to provide fellowship opportunities for undergraduate students, including those from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups, minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and universities. Projects must provide students opportunities to: 1) obtain hands-on experience in research and extension to develop skills necessary to join the agricultural workforce or pursue graduate studies in the food and agricultural sciences; 2) receive a strong mentoring experience required for success in the food and agricultural sciences; and 3) participate in research and extension projects or programs that deliver science-based knowledge to individuals and communities to develop leadership skills, including communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, necessary to support decision making and planning. Program delivery may include students located at eligible institutions locally or nationally, and may use in-person, electronic, or a combination of both, as methods of communication. Extension Projects may also include related matters such as certification programs, in-service training, client recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, problem identification and program development and delivery, and innovative instructional methodologies appropriate to informal educational programs.

The Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships program areas help to develop new scientists and professionals to enter research, education, and/or extension fields within the food and agricultural sciences within the private sector, government, or academia. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who are able to solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century.

Total Program Funds – Approximately $49 million

Key Information Applicable to all EWD Program Areas:

1. All applications must adhere to the requirements in Part IV.

2. Applications from, and collaborations with, minority-serving institutions, small to mid-sized institutions, and/or Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) states are welcome to apply to these program areas. Applications that include collaborations with international partners are also welcome. For information on NIFA international partnerships that may be of interest to applicants, see the AFRI International Partnerships website.

3. All applications to the AFRI EWD program areas must be aligned with one of the six AFRI Farm Bill priorities and must address the stated Program Area Priorities described subsequently.

4. All AFRI EWD projects are required to provide opportunities for development of leadership skills, which are necessary for preparing students for agriculture related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. Projects must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to ensure that students are equipped with both technical and leadership abilities. Specific activities provided through mentoring must include, but are not limited to, incorporation of leadership skills, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, communication skills, and training in ethics and professionalism.

5. The AFRI EWD program areas anticipate funding projects that demonstrate output and outcome measures, such as number of students that are supported directly or undertaking internships, externships, certifications, and other experiential learning and international experiences. Additional measures of success include, but are not limited to: 1) publications, patents, and workshops; 2) development of curricula materials, academic programs, recruitment and retention programs, and experiential learning opportunities; 3) collaborations developed among institutions; 4) K-14 teachers, educational professionals, and/or students who benefit from the projects; 5) measurable changes in student learning or engagement; and 6) measurable changes in the number of graduates in food and agricultural science disciplines.

6. The AFRI EWD Program Areas encourage projects that train participants with the skills to develop and apply Artificial Intelligence technologies to prepare them for today’s economy and jobs of the future.

7. The AFRI EWD Program Areas encourage projects that train participants with the skills relevant to develop and ensure rural prosperity including e-connectivity, quality of life, a rural workforce, technological innovation, and economic development.

8. Extension Projects or Integrated Projects with an extension component that partner with eXtension must include financial support for the Community of Practice core functions as well as project-specific activities.

Applications are solicited in the following five Program Area Priorities:

1. Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy Program Area Code: A7501 Proposed Budget Requests:

• Budgets, including indirect costs, for Standard Grants and Strengthening Standard Grants must not exceed $300,000 total per project for project periods of up to four years.

• Funds requested may include, but are not limited to, support participant stipends and travel; costs of continuing education units; provider personnel salaries; software; and curricula.

• Limit of two awards per lead institution.

• Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) (Strengthening Standard) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, C(2).

• Applications with budget requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

Requested Project Types: Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Types: Standard Grants and FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants only Application Deadline:

• Fiscal Year 2020: July 16, 2020 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Program Area Contact: Dr. Ray Ali at (816) 926-1453 or nifa-education@usda.gov

Program Area Priority:

• Research, Education, Extension or Integrated Projects must promote faculty expertise and encourage widespread implementation of educational innovation at K-14 levels in the food and agricultural Sciences. This includes projects that contain elements of the human sciences (e.g., disciplines that address issues challenging individuals, youth, families, and communities).

• Projects should provide immersive learning experiences for K-14 educational professionals (teachers, counselors, administrators, etc.) to create and replicate best practices to improve student success outcomes within the food and agricultural sciences.

• Non-exhaustive examples of projects include:

o Developing self-sustaining models for professional development that better prepare education professionals to provide outstanding teaching, guidance, institutional structures, etc., that enhance student outcomes in the food and agricultural sciences.

o Changing instructional approaches to effectively identify skill gaps and address conceptual areas particularly challenging to students.

o Integrating innovations in science and pedagogy into existing professional development programs (e.g., through hands-on research and extension experiences with partner institutions and laboratories).

o Exploring self-sustaining web-based approaches for professional development for education professionals.

o Develop improved curricula to train or retrain agricultural workforce for the future.

o Other methods to fill the existing gap of professional development in advanced food and agricultural sciences for educational professionals at the K-14 education level.

Program Area Priority Additional Information:

• See Part IV, C of this RFA for the REQUIRED Project Summary and Project Narrative format. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be excluded from review and consideration of funding.

mailto:K-14@nifa.usda.gov

• Projects that involve participation from industry and nonprofit organizations through collaborating mentors and/or that connect education professionals, particularly those from low-resource schools, to existing USDA and Federal resources (e.g., USDA Agricultural Research Service, Forest Service, Federal laboratories, open data resources) to enhance student outcomes in the food and agricultural sciences are encouraged.

• As applicable, if the majority of project activities are taking place off-site, off-campus indirect cost rates should be charged.

• If organized by the program, the Project Director (PD) will be required to attend one NIFA AFRI EWD PD meeting during the performance period of the award. Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.

• This program area accepts new and resubmitted applications only. Renewal applications are not accepted in this program area.

2. Agricultural Workforce Training Grants Program Area Code: A7601 Proposed Budget Requests:

• Budgets, including indirect costs, for Standard Grants and Strengthening Standard Grants must not exceed $500,000 total per project for project periods of up to five years. Funds requested may include, but are not limited to, support participant stipends and travel;

costs of continuing education units; provider personnel salaries; software; and curricula.

• Limit of one award per lead institution.

• Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Strengthening Standard Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined beginning in Part II, C(2). Applications with budget requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

Requested Project Types: Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Types: Standard Grants, and FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants only Application Deadline:

• Fiscal Year 2020: September 24, 2020 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Program Area Contact: Dr. Ray Ali at (816) 926-1453 or nifa-education@usda.gov

Program Area Priority:

Research, Education, Extension or Integrated Projects must address the following:

• All applications to this program area must provide workforce training in at least one of the six AFRI priority areas.

• Projects should develop new workforce training programs or expand and improve existing workforce training programs in the food and agricultural sciences at community, junior, and technical colleges/institutes to develop a technology- and data-savvy workforce.

o Workforce training includes and is not limited to the creation of new curriculum and instructional delivery systems, pilot testing/implementation of curriculum and delivery methods, development of assessment tools, and evaluation.

• Projects of interest include but are not limited to:

o Industry-based training programs/apprenticeships allowing students to ‘earn while they learn’ o Job-based, experiential learning opportunities that allow students more time working in job simulation or ‘on-the-job’ training environments mailto:K-14@nifa.usda.gov o Refreshing existing workforce development curriculum to meet the needs of 21st century agricultural industry o Opportunities for students to utilize appropriate cutting-edge technology and advanced data skills in their learning experiences.

• See Part IV, C of this RFA for the REQUIRED Project Summary and Project Narrative format. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be excluded from review and consideration of funding. Projects that involve partnerships with local government, economic development organizations, and workforce-focused nonprofit organizations are encouraged.

• Applications that target low-employment geographic areas or groups are encouraged.

• Applications should include the substantial mentoring of program participants.

• Self-sustaining projects that will continue after grants funds expire are encouraged.

• Curriculum for workforce training developed under this program area for a technical certificate, 2-year associates or technical degree or other industry accepted credential is acceptable. (Certificates, training or coursework for/part of baccalaureate or post-graduate degrees IS NOT supported under this program area priority).

• Programs must be developed by or for community/junior/technical colleges/institutes and their industry partners. All applications to this program area must demonstrate committed and active partnership with and/or relevance to industry.

• As applicable, if the majority of project activities are taking place off-site, off-campus indirect cost rates should be charged.

• If organized by the program, the Project Director (PD) will be required to attend one NIFA AFRI EWD PD meeting during the performance period of the award. Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.

3. Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) Program Area Code: A7401 Proposed Budget Requests:

• Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) budgets, including indirect costs, for both Standard Grants and Strengthening Standard Grants must not exceed $400,000 total per project for project periods of four years, or $500,000 total per project for project periods of five years.

• Education Coordinated Network for Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU-ECN) budgets, including indirect costs, for Standard Grants, and Strengthening Standard Grants addressing the education coordination network priority must not exceed $400,000 total per project for project periods of five years.

• Project costs for REEU projects must be predominantly for student support, including items such as participant stipends, housing, meals, travel, and laboratory use fees. Costs in budget categories outside Participant Support must be modest and reasonable (and may include justified support for the coordination of the program).

• Tuition for course credit and promotional items ARE NOT allowable costs in this program.

• Limit of two awards per lead institution.

• FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants must adhere to the guidelines outlined in Part II, C(2) of this RFA.

• Applications with budget requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

Requested Project Types: Research, Education, Extension or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Types: Standard Grants and FASE (Strengthening Standard) Grants only Application Deadline:

• Fiscal Year 2020: July 23, 2020 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

• Note: Education Coordinated Network for Research and Extension Experiences for

Undergraduates (REEU-ECN) applications will be accepted in FY 2020.

Program Area Contact: Dr. Ray Ali at (816) 926-1453 or nifa-education@usda.gov

Program Area Priority:

Projects must provide undergraduate students with experiential learning opportunities that include significant research and/or extension components in the food and agricultural sciences.

• Projects must be aligned with one or more of the six AFRI priority areas.

• Within the Farm Bill priority areas, the REEU program area may also include opportunities for digital and data competency development within the undergraduate research and extension learning experiences.

o The Food and Agriculture Cyberinformatics and Tools (FACT) initiative recognizes that data in agricultural systems is used to identify solutions and often involves high-dimensional and multi-scale data, machine learning, data visualization, and predictive modeling. Approaches to using data also can require transdisciplinary teams to work across scientific, economic, environmental, and industrial spheres. The FACT Initiative invests in efforts that integrate information technology, computer science, engineering, statistics, business, economics, and social sciences communities with traditional agricultural research, education, extension, as well as agricultural producers and food-system participants. NOTE: If a FACT component is included in the proposal, include the acronym “FACT” in the title.

Education Coordinated Network for Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU-ECN) In addition to the priorities listed above, applications are solicited to develop a network of REEU projects and personnel that will foster national-level coordination of opportunities for students and to enhance collaboration among projects. The REEU program will award a single grant to an institution to maintain the education-coordinated network. The REEU- ECN will provide a clearinghouse for project outputs, data, and documents and it will create and maintain any number of collaboration spaces for REEU project directors and other key personnel to interact and share information, including but not limited to a listserve. The network will also be responsible for organizing the PD meeting in association with NIFA Program Leadership every 18 months to two years. Additionally, the network will create and maintain a portable public facing website, to include information on all funded REEU programs and links to the program websites. Coordination education network proposals should include the acronym “REEU-ECN” in the title. REEU-ECN will only award a single grant.

mailto:undergraduate@nifa.usda.gov

• See Part IV, C of this RFA for the REQUIRED Project Summary and Project Narrative format. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be excluded from review and consideration of funding.

• Projects must provide opportunities to include hands-on experiences for undergraduate students at colleges and universities, including those from underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups, veterans, first generation college students, students at minority-serving institutions and community colleges.

• Non-exhaustive examples of experiential projects include:

o Research and extension apprenticeships, internships, or similar participatory learning within the six AFRI Farm Bill priority areas.

o Practicums in agricultural laboratories, farms, or Cooperative Extension Programs.

o Externships in the private or public sector.

o Study abroad focused on global food security issues to develop global competency skills.

• Participating students could also build their skills necessary for graduate studies; explore the opportunities available in academia, business, government and other career paths;

and forge mentorships with professional and business leaders and faculty.

• Applications that involve new collaborations or enhance existing partnerships with community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and other institutions where limited research and extension opportunities in mission-relevant STEM fields are encouraged.

• Applications that involve industry participation (e.g., through collaborating mentors) and/or that target a food and agricultural science industry where there is a documented shortage of talent or lack of adequate skills preparation for the needs of the industry are encouraged.

• Projects that will catalyze and result in the implementation of a self-sustaining model for increased/enhanced experiential learning for a diverse undergraduate student population at the host and partner institutions are encouraged.

• Projects should develop a plan for tracking students, beyond their participation in the program that demonstrates the impacts of the program on career choices and post-graduation employment and/or enrollment in higher education.

• If organized by the program or the coordination network, the PD will be required to attend one NIFA AFRI EWD PD meeting during the performance period of the award.

Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.

• Awarded projects are required to maintain a website, linked to a central REEU webpage to be hosted by the REEU Coordinated Education Network, which describes the program, eligibility for student participation, and application guidelines.

• This program area accepts new and resubmitted applications. Renewal applications are disallowed.

• Previously awarded REEU projects that wish to continue their program, should reapply as a new application and include a progress report detailed in Part IV, C. These applications will be competed with new and resubmitted applications.

4. Predoctoral Fellowships Program Area Code: A7101 Proposed Budget Requests:

• Predoctoral Fellowship requests, including institutional allowance, must not exceed $180,000 total per project for project periods of up to three years. Predoctoral Fellowship Grants are not renewable and are limited to a total of $60,000 per year, for the following:

o Stipend – up to $35,000 per year;

o Tuition, fees, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications – up to

$22,000 per year;

o Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) – up to $3,000 per year; indirect costs are not permitted on Predoctoral Fellowship Grant awards;

o With the exception of the stipend, awarded funds in other budget categories may be carried over from year one to other years. The stipend is capped at $35,000 per year, and cannot be carried over from year one to the next.

• Applications with budget requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

Requested Project Types: Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Type: Predoctoral Fellowship (FASE) Grants only Application Deadline:

• Fiscal Year 2020: August 13, 2020 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Program Area Contacts: Dr. Ray Ali at (816) 926-1453 or nifafellows@usda.gov

Program Area Priority:

Research, education, extension and integrated research, education and/or extension projects must address all of the following:

• Objectives that are aligned with one or more of the six AFRI priority areas;

• Well-developed academic experiences and global competencies;

• Productive and interactive mentoring plans;

• Appropriate and applicable training/career development activities; and

• Substantive evaluation plans.

Eligible Predoctoral Fellows – The individual predoctoral Project Director (PD) must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States and, as per CFR 3430.303, have advanced to candidacy, as per institutional requirements, by:

• Fiscal Year 2020 competition: August 13, 2020 and provide documentation from the graduate advisor or the institution by the application deadline. The intent of the NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship Program is to support current doctoral students who are at the stage of conducting dissertation research, ultimately leading to completion of the dissertation and respective terminal degree. Predoctoral students, inclusive of those with baccalaureate and/or masters degrees, who meet the above criteria, may apply.

mailto:nifafellows@usda.gov

• See Part IV, C of this RFA for the REQUIRED Project Summary and Project Narrative format. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be excluded from review and consideration of funding.

• The predoctoral candidate must be the sole PD listed on the Key Personnel form of the application. The mentor should not be listed as a Co-PD. Select “Graduate Student” for the Predoctoral Fellowship applicant and “Other (Specify)” for the corresponding scientific mentor(s).

• As part of the Fellows’ professional development, attendance at scientific or professional meetings and experiences in industry or at field locations aimed at the development of skills in the applied sciences are encouraged.

• At the time of the award and release of funds from NIFA to sponsoring institution, Fellows are required to carry out their projects on a full-time basis (i.e., 100% effort), as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies.

• We highly recommend that applications be submitted through the mentor's institution with the mentor institution listed as the applicant.

• The applicant must identify the functional focus of the fellowship (Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated) leading to a doctoral degree.

• The selection of disciplines to address an issue is to be determined by the prospective applicant in consultation with appropriate mentors.

• Evidence of scholastic achievement should be demonstrated through current doctoral transcript, program of study, and/or other academic successes.

• Priority will be given to applications that show a novel and innovative approach that will advance knowledge in targeted discipline(s).

• Multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and applied approaches are encouraged.

• Applications that involve industry participation are encouraged.

• Applications that involve international experiences (e.g., through collaborating mentors) are encouraged.

• Fellows are expected to build the professional skills necessary for career agility; explore opportunities available in academia, industry, government and other career paths; and forge mentorships with professional and business leaders and faculty.

• If organized by the program, the PD will be required to attend one NIFA AFRI EWD PD meeting during the performance period of the award. Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.

• This program area only accepts new and resubmitted applications. Renewal applications are disallowed.

• Consistent with the program goal of fostering career independence, NIFA Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships can be converted to Standard Grants under certain circumstances (e.g., if the Fellow obtains a faculty position). One condition is that the Fellow substantively completes at least 50% of the fellowship performance period (e.g., 12 months for a 24-month award, 18 months for a 36-month award). Note that actual performance may occur prior to the official award start date and must be validated by the AR. The conversion process includes the following:

o A letter (PDF) from the Project Director indicating objectives completed, funds remaining, timeline involved, etc. Said letter must be signed by the AOR.

o A letter (PDF) from the mentor attesting to the fellowship accomplishments that might be considered towards the substantive fellowship performance period requirements (i.e., commencement date of actual performance, time spent on career development and planning/training, mentoring, project planning, etc.).

Email both letters to the National Program Leader. If initially agreed upon by the National Program Leader, additional administrative processes take place (e.g., submission of an application, revised budget, etc.). NIFA reserves the right to approve or deny the conversion request. Note: Predoctoral Fellowships cannot be converted into Postdoctoral Fellowships.

5. Postdoctoral Fellowships Program Area Code: A7201 Proposed Budget Requests:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship requests, including institutional allowance, must not exceed $165,000 total per project for project periods of up to two years. These requests are not renewable.

o Funds must be requested primarily for salary or stipend, and be properly justified.

o Other expenditures (e.g., fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications) may not exceed $30,000 per year and must be itemized and properly justified.

o Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) – up to $3,000 per year. Indirect costs are not permitted on Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant awards.

• Applications with budget requests exceeding the budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.

Requested Project Types: Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects Requested Grant Type: Postdoctoral Fellowship (FASE) Grants only Application Deadline:

• Fiscal Year 2020: August 13, 2020 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) Program Area Contact: Dr. Ray Ali at (816) 926-1453 or nifafellows@usda.gov

Program Area Priority:

Research, education, extension and integrated research, education and/or extension projects must address all of the following:

• Objectives that are aligned with one or more of the six AFRI priority areas;

• Well-developed academic experiences and global competencies;

• Productive and interactive mentoring;

• Appropriate and applicable training/career development activities; and

• Substantive evaluation plans.

Eligible Postdoctoral Fellows – As per CFR 3430.303, all doctoral degree requirements must be satisfied by:

• Fiscal Year 2020 competition: no earlier than January 1, 2017, and no later than May 13, 2021

Documentation from the graduate advisor, graduate committee, or the institution must be provided by the application deadline. The postdoctoral project director (PD) must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States.

• See Part IV, C of this RFA for the REQUIRED Project Summary and Project Narrative format. Proposals that do not comply with these instructions may be excluded from review and consideration of funding.

• The postdoctoral scholar must be the sole PD listed on the Key Personnel form of the application. The mentor should not be listed as a Co-PD. Select “Post Doctoral” for the Postdoctoral Fellowship applicant. Select “Other (Specify)” for the corresponding scientific mentor(s). Enter “Mentor” for corresponding scientific mentor(s) in the Other Project Role Category Field.

• At the time of the award and release of funds from NIFA to sponsoring institution, Fellows are required to carry out their projects on a full-time basis (i.e., 100% effort), as specified by the sponsoring institution in accordance with its own policies.

• Note that the Program Area Priority Additional Information identified for Predoctoral Fellowships also applies to Postdoctoral Fellowships.

• Although a proposed project may fit in the context of the mentor's existing scientific area, the Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant should initiate an independent scientific program, rather than serve as an extension of ongoing projects in the mentor's laboratory.

• Multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and applied approaches are encouraged.

• Applications that involve industry participation are encouraged.

• Applications that involve international experiences (e.g., through collaborating mentors) are encouraged.

• If organized by the program, the PD will be required to attend one NIFA AFRI EWD PD meeting during the performance period of the award. The PD is also required to attend a PD meeting of the Foundational and Applied Science Program Areas or the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program Area with which the project is most closely aligned during the performance period of the award. Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The anticipated amount available to support the AFRI program in FY 2020 is approximately $415 million. NIFA anticipates $49 million will be available to support program areas in this AFRI RFA for FY 2020.

Of the total amount available to make awards for the AFRI program, no less than 30 percent will be made available to fund integrated research, education, and extension projects. Of the AFRI funds allocated to research activities, no less than 60 percent will be directed toward grants for fundamental (or basic) research and 40 percent toward grants for applied research.

Of the AFRI funds allocated to fundamental research, not less than 30 percent will be directed toward research by multidisciplinary teams. It is expected that no less than 15 percent of FY 2020 funds will be made available for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants, and no more than two percent of the funds available for fundamental research will be made available for Equipment Grants (see Part II, C for information about FASE Grants including Equipment Grants).

Of the $49 million available to support the program areas in this RFA, no less than 11.25% will be made available for FASE grant types under the FASE program.

The funds will be awarded through a grant for performance periods of up to five years. NIFA may choose to issue a grant on a continuation basis. A continuation award is an award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined period of time with a statement of intention to provide additional support at a future date, provided that performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best interest of the federal government and the public.

There is no commitment by NIFA to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Applications for Payment System (ASAP), operated by the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this RFA. For more information, see https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm.

B. Types of Applications

In FY 2020, you may submit applications to one of the program areas in this RFA as one of two types of requests: (1) New Application or (2) Resubmitted Application.

(1) New application. This is a project application that has not been previously submitted to NIFA.