FY21-ARME-MOD-RFA-508.pdf

Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME)

Competitive Grants Program

FY 2021 Request for Applications (RFA)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 21, 2021

ELIGIBILITY: See Part III, A of RFA

ANTICIPATED TOTAL AWARD: Approximately $9,600,000

MODIFICATION: Page 2 and 28

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

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS (ARME)

COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (Assistance Listing): This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.520

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on January 21, 2021. Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding (see Part IV, C of this RFA). 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 your comments when we develop the next RFA for the program, if applicable, and we’ll use them to meet the requirements of section 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 stakeholder 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 the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) RFA.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA requests applications for the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to provide resources for four regional risk management education centers for the purpose of developing and delivering agricultural risk management education materials. In addition, this program will provide one grant for a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center to provide associated support to the regional centers. The anticipated amount available for applications in FY 2021 is approximately $9,600,000. Based on the FY 2021 competition, it is the intention of NIFA to provide continuation awards in FY 2022 and FY 2023. This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2021. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or a full appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

This notice identifies the objectives for ARME projects, deadline dates, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for an ARME grant. Applicants should become familiar with the Regional Risk Management Education Centers Operations Manual (ARME OP Guide) https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/extension-risk-management-education-operations-manual.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/agricultural-research-extension-and-education-reform-act-1998 https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/agricultural-research-extension-and-education-reform-act-1998 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7613%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7613)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7613%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7613)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true mailto:Policy@usda.gov https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/extension-risk-management-education-operations-manual

Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

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

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Types of Applications

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 Dates and Times D. Funding Restrictions E. Other Submission Requirements F. Potential Streamlining for Competitively Selected Sub-Award Programs

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. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII—AGENCY CONTACT

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

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority 7 U.S.C. 1524(a) the Secretary, acting through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), established the competitive grants program, the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Program. Section 11125 of the 2018 Farm Bill, Public Law 115-334, reauthorized ARME and merged it with the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States Program. Previously, $5 million was provided for NIFA’s Education Risk Management Education (ERME) program; however, the 2018 Farm Bill provisions designated a total of $10 million in mandatory funds to the new merged program, with $5 million of that total dedicated to educating producers previously underserved by the RMA Crop Insurance program, defined as, “producers that are underserved by the Federal crop insurance program established under this subchapter, as determined by the Corporation” [7 U.S.C. 1524(a)(3)(E)].

B. Purpose and Priorities

The purpose of ARME, Assistance Listing 10.520, is to educate agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities. These activities include futures, options, agricultural trade options, crop insurance, cash forward contracting, debt reduction, production diversification, marketing plans and tactics, farm resources risk reduction, and other appropriate risk management strategies. The program places special emphasis on risk management strategies, education, and outreach specifically targeted at: (A) beginning farmers or ranchers; (B) legal immigrant farmers or ranchers that are attempting to become established producers in the United States; (C) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; (D) farmers or ranchers that (i) are preparing to retire; and (ii) are using transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started; and (E) new or established farmers or ranchers that are converting production and marketing systems to pursue new markets.

The Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) program brings the existing knowledge base to bear on risk management issues faced by agricultural producers and expands the program throughout the Nation on a regional and multi-regional basis.

The primary goals and objectives of the ARME program are to: 1) provide U.S. agricultural producers and their families, as appropriate, with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed risk management decisions that enhance profitability of their operations, and 2) deliver risk management education to agricultural producers underserved by the Federal crop insurance program. NIFA is soliciting applications for the ARME under the following areas:

Funds are provided for support to the four ARME Regional Centers and one Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center.

The ARME Program will fund four (4) regional centers nationwide and one (1) Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center:

• Northeast Region ARME Center

• North Central Region ARME Center

• Southern Region ARME Center

• Western Region ARME Center

• Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:1524%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section1524)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/statutes/pl/115/334.pdf

The purpose of the four (4) Regional ARME Centers is to conduct regional and multi-regional based competitive grants programs for the purpose of funding agricultural risk management organizations and individuals who are risk management experts. These organizations and individuals shall also have the knowledge and experience in developing various risk management curricula and delivering to agencies, institutions and professionals involved in risk management serving producers and their families.

The purpose of the Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center is to provide supporting services to the four regional centers. Support to the four regional ARME centers will include electronic, on-line submission of proposals to the four regional centers sub-awards competitive grants programs, provision of a results verification system that includes both progress report and final report templates for the sub-awards process, national communications planning and execution for the program, coordination of events and conferences, and archival support for all materials and curriculum developed through the regional center sub-awards competitive grants programs.

The Regional ARME Centers are expected to address the risk management needs of agricultural producers and their families in the following five (5) risk management categories:

1. Production Risk: A production risk is any production related activity to achieve or event that has a range of possible outcomes, such as uncertain natural growth processes of crops and livestock.

2. Marketing Risk: Marketing risk is any related activity or event that leads to the variability of prices farmers receive for their products or pay for production inputs.

3. Financial Risk: Financial risk encompasses those risks that threaten the financial health or the business, such as the volatility of prices, yields and income as well as changing interest rates, credit rules, and the availability of credit.

4. Legal Risk: Legal risk is generated by uncertainties surrounding and resulting from government policies and regulations related to tax laws, food safety, labeling and marketing, protected species, water use, animal health and welfare, chemical use, animal waste, other environmental issues such as clean air and water, government commodity and income support programs, and the legal liabilities of a variety of litigious issues faced by farms and ranches.

5. Human Risk: Human Risk refers to human relationships that impact the viability of farm and ranch businesses including communication, labor management and supply, intergenerational transition, estate planning, heir’s property, and human health and relationship issues including accidents, illness, disability, death and divorce.

The Regional Centers are expected to specifically target risk management as identified in the Legislative Authority (Part 1. A), with 50% of sub-award funding to target results/outcome-based risk management education and training programs to agricultural producers and their families underserved by the Federal crop insurance program.

Regionally based programs and multi-regional based programs should be flexible while addressing special needs as determined by producers and other stakeholders, listening and focus groups, and other parties knowledgeable and interested in agricultural risk management. Special emphasis areas as defined by Congress shall be included in the focus of the ARME Centers’ activities through 2023.

The ARME Center applicants will be rated using the Evaluation Criteria for this RFA (See Part V.

B.) to assess their proficiency in demonstrating ability and expertise working in support of producers who have limited exposure to risk management concepts, tools and strategies, and who can demonstrate expertise in support of and commitment to working with producers who fall within the five special emphasis categories. Applicants’ proposals will be evaluated for national expertise in one or more of the five identified areas of risk. Applicants are encouraged to recognize the risk management education needs of all producers, including traditionally underserved producers, regardless of the size or scale of operations, those underserved by the Federal crop insurance program, new and beginning farmers, and other communities of producers identified in the “special emphasis” categories. Priority will also be given to those applicants with a demonstrated relationship with 1890 land grant institutions, 1994 land grant institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other organizations serving socially disadvantaged, emerging, and underserved communities of farmers, ranchers, and producers. In addition, the host organization of the centers is required to adopt “streamlining” practices wherein the organization is granted the authority under a streamlining agreement to administer and manage an awards program conducted in accordance with the agreement stipulations.

The Regional ARME Centers will administer results-based, competitive programs. Program applicants at the regional level must identify the intended audience(s) and outcomes of their curricula and training, along with metrics to measure those outcomes. All curricula and training materials developed through this program to date, as well as reports on program outcomes, are archived and publicly available on the Ag Risk Library at: http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/. Handling of baseline data and data collection will be addressed in the Data Management Plan (DMP) in accordance with the Part IV(B) of this RFA.

The ARME Program aligns with the USDA Strategic Goals FYs 2018-2022 https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/strategic-goals:

Goal 2: Maximize the ability of American agricultural producers to prosper by feeding and clothing the world.

Objective 2.1: Provide an effective financial safety net for farmers and ranchers to sustain economically viable agricultural production and support rural jobs and economic growth.

The ARME program aligns with the USDA Science Blueprint Theme 1: Sustainable Ag Intensification

Objectives:

1) Develop crop production systems and alternative strategies to intensify plant and forest production with continuous improvements and adoption of new technology and innovative practices while reducing environmental impacts.

2) Develop animal production systems and alternative strategies to maximize animal, human, environmental, and economic health to include continuous improvements, adoption of new technology and innovative practices while maintaining sustainability.

http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/ https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/strategic-goals https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-blueprint.pdf

The ARME program aligns with USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda (https://www.usda.gov/aia) by working with existing regional outreach networks and other partnerships to identify innovation opportunities in order to rapidly integrate the latest technologies into our programs and understand how those technologies can best serve our customers.

Additional requirements on expected performance goals, indicators and targets may be required as a condition of award.

C. Program Area Description

Providing America’s agricultural producers with effective, market-based risk management tools and solutions is a cornerstone of USDA’s intention to ensure a financially sustainable and competitive agricultural system. Today’s farmers and ranchers face an unprecedented risk environment. For an individual farm manager, risk management involves choosing tools and strategies designed to reduce the financial effects of the uncertainties of commodity prices, financial access, government policies, crop yields, global economies, weather, human factors and other conditions that can cause fluctuations in farm income and subsequent profits.

The Agricultural Risk Management Education program works to fulfill USDA's Goal 2, Objective

2.1 to ensure a strong farm financial safety net through informing farmers and ranchers of risk management tools and strategies, especially in underserved and emerging communities.

In the four regions of the United States (Northeast, North Central, Southern and Western) one award will be made to one Regional Risk Management Education Center in each geographic area. In addition, a single award will be made to a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center. Proposals should make clear that the applicant organization has the potential capacity to organize, coordinate, and lead centers in carrying out the activities required to address this program’s priorities across the entire region, including any U.S. territories. Regional Center awardees will receive, review and fund proposals, and process awards under a competitive grants program protocol as a part of the Grant Award Terms and Conditions. Center awardees are required to join with USDA/NIFA in a “streamlining agreement’. There are specific compliance requirements under this agreement. See the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for details.

1. Regional Risk Management Education Center

Quality proposals for a Regional Risk Management Education Center will demonstrate the ability to provide the following: 1) focused development and implementation of relevant Risk Management Education programs to agricultural producers, including those underserved by crop insurance; 2) management capacity to develop and maintain a Regional Risk Management Education Center with networks to deliver programs; 3) verification of program outcomes and impacts; and 4) effective regional communication networks and linkage to a national network.

Proposed budgets for the Regional ARME Center grants may include funding for the Center Director and support staff. Center Directors must be actively employed and engaged with the host institution and must demonstrate significant expertise in some area of risk management through their curriculum vitae.

https://www.usda.gov/aia https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide-location

Additional funding may be used to support Center activities including needs assessment, stakeholder input and guidance, regional competitive processes, and regional support of coordinated national training efforts. This also includes materials developed and other necessary activities to enhance the delivery of risk mitigation tools to appropriate audiences and conferences as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Regional ARME Centers’ advisory councils, their respective Center Directors, and USDA/NIFA. At least 50% of funding made available for sub-awards shall be specifically designated for the delivery of risk management education to agricultural producers underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance program; with proposed educational programming that aligns with one or more of the five areas of risk: production, marketing, financial, legal or human.

The ARME program is designed to develop a competitive sub-award grants program that is regionally or multi-regionally based, producer focused, results based and, when possible, incorporates public and private partnerships. Any funded project must have verifiable results.

The Regional ARME Center Directors shall collaborate regarding sub-awards grants program management activities and release requests for applications in a coordinated, simultaneous manner. Regional ARME Center Directors must ensure that the integrity of the competitive process is always maintained.

2. Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center

USDA/NIFA places a high priority on a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center.

This Center electronically stores program materials for risk management educators and professionals and other interested parties. The Center should be a source of addressing risk management education technologies, both in development and delivery.

It is critical that the Center communicates effectively and works closely with the directors of the four Regional Centers. It is expected that the Center will provide support to the Regional Centers by receiving pre-proposals, proposals, annual progress reports, and final reports on an electronic basis, and be able to retransmit the pre-proposals and proposals to the various Regional Centers, as necessary. Applicants for the Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center should present plans and other information that demonstrate their program and administrative capacity to organize and operate such a center. Specific information on meeting the needs of underserved, disadvantaged, minority groups and other risk management audiences, including special emphasis communities of producers, should also be addressed in terms of possible outreach and assistance efforts.

Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center proposals will be expected to demonstrate the ability to provide, facilitate, and/or demonstrate: 1) management capacity to develop and maintain a Risk Management Electronic Support Center; 2) national source for access to Risk Management Education materials, and promoting and coordinating risk management education to include an annual conference; 3) electronic support to the Regional Risk Management Education Centers; and, 4) collaboration with the four Regional Centers to identify and address regional risk management education priorities, including a lead role in organizing annual ARME conferences in 2022 and 2023.

In summary, the Risk Management Electronic Support Center shall support the regional centers in the following ways: provide user-friendly electronic applications for submission of pre-proposals and proposals to the various regional centers; archival services for all risk management materials produced through the regional centers’ grants, including a searchable database of all funded projects and the results of completed projects, and conference leadership and support. The database shall include a category/filter specifically designated for the risk management education of agricultural producers underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance program.

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The total amount of funds available for five awards under this ARME request for applications is $9,600,000 for FY 2021 and each year thereafter through FY 2023 for support of five grant awards under this program.

Funding Breakdown:

• North Central ARME Center: $2,250,000

• Western ARME Center: $2,250,000

• Southern ARME Center: $2,250,000

• Northeastern Center for ARME: $2,250,000

• Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center for ARME: $600,000

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2021. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or a full appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application.

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 2021, only a new application may be submitted to the ARME Program.

New application. This is a project application that has not been previously submitted to the ARME Program. We will review all new applications competitively using the screening for administrative requirements, review panel evaluation of proposals using evaluation criteria and selection process described in Part V—Application Review Requirements.

Note: It is the intention of NIFA to make awards for each fiscal year commencing in FY 2021 through FY 2023 based upon the FY 2021 competition. Therefore, only new proposals are being solicited, and they should contain a plan of work for each year, budget and budget narrative for each year, and a consolidated budget covering the entire period. The proposal cover page (See Part IV, this RFA, Application and Submission Information) should include the entire grant period and the total amount being requested for the entire period of the grant proposal (e.g., FY 2021 – FY 2023 or three (3) years). Note that yearly funding awards will be made on an annual basis contingent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory performance by the centers in the management and oversight of regional and multi-regional ARME competitively funded projects.

https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm

ARME project periods must be three (3) years. In FY 2021, NIFA plans to make awards for an initial project period of one year to grantees that have requested funding for 3 years. A continuation grant will be issued for years two and three, provided that grantee 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. If these three elements are met, NIFA will provide additional support in FYs 2022 and 2023. NIFA will provide applicants funded in FY 2021 with further instructions about submitting the continuation applications in FYs 2022 and 2023.

C. Project and Grant Types

Project Types

Extension Projects Single-function Extension Projects conduct programs and activities that deliver science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to people, enabling them to make practical decisions. Program delivery may range from community-based to national audiences and use communication methods from face-to-face to electronic or combinations thereof, Extension Projects may also include related matters such as certification programs, in-service training, client recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative instructional methodologies appropriate to informal educational programs.

Extension Projects address one or more of the following key strategic actions:

Support informal education to increase food and agricultural literacy of youth and adults;

Promote science-based agricultural literacy by increasing understanding and use of food and agricultural science data, information, and programs;

Build science-based capability in people to engage audiences and enable informed decision making;

Develop new applications of instructional tools and curriculum structures that increase technical competency and ensure global competitiveness;

Offer non-formal learning programs that increase accessibility to new audiences at the rate at which new ideas and technologies are tested and/or developed at the community-scale; and Develop programs that increase public knowledge and citizen engagement leading to actions that protect or enhance the nations’ food supply, agricultural productivity, environmental quality, community vitality, and/or public health and well-being.

These projects should lead to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions, or conditions in an identified audience or stakeholder group. These projects should synthesize and incorporate a wide range of the latest relevant research results.

In response to the FY 2021 ARME RFA, ARME will continue to support two types of extension projects – (a) The Regional Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) Centers and (b) the Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center (RMEESC). One award will be made for each of the four Regional ARME Centers and one for the Regional Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center. Therefore, there will be a total of five (5) awards. Project periods shall not exceed three years (36 months).

Regional Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) Centers

Four grants, one each to four separate Regional ARME Centers will be provided as a result of this FY 2021 competition corresponding to the following regions: Northeast, North Central Southern, and Western.

The Regional ARME Centers are expected to conduct projects within their region and multi-regional projects with other Centers. These projects are to be solicited and selected for funding by the ARME Center through a sub-award competitive process that parallels the competitive process utilized by NIFA, is specifically approved by NIFA National Program Leader and other relevant personnel, and is contained within the Operational Guide for ARME Centers. It is anticipated that the Centers will support special projects for training, coordination and communication networks, including outreach and assistance to disadvantaged or underserved customers, and other clientele groups with particular risk management education needs that are developed, with stakeholder input, and conducted by or on behalf of the Centers, and with specific prior approval by NIFA.

Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center (RMEESC)

One award will fund the RMEESC. The RMEESC can be located in any region

Grant Types. The following is a list of available grant types under this RFA.

(a) Regular Grant supports targeted original scientific Research, Education/Teaching, Extension, or Integrated Projects. An eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system may submit a 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. The applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners.

D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 2 CFR Part 422, institutions that conduct USDA-funded extramural research must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct, and maintain and effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an application to NIFA results in an award, the Authorized Representative (AR) assures, through acceptance of the award that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Award recipients shall, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and documentation to support the conduct of the training. See http://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research for more information.

https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Applications may only be submitted by qualified public and private entities (including land grant colleges, cooperative extension services, and colleges or universities). This includes all colleges and universities, Federal, State, and local agencies, nonprofit and for-profit private organization or corporations, and other entities. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

USDA/NIFA does not require matching support for this program, and matching resources will not be factored into the review process as evaluation criteria.

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically; no other method or response is accepted. The electronic application for this RFA and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants

101. Part II § 1 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Application Guide) contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process.

Steps to Obtain Application Package Materials Steps Action

Step One: Register New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application (Register Here).

Step Two:

Download Adobe

Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility for basic system requirements)

Step Three: Find Application Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-ARPA-008013, search for application here: Opportunity Package.

Step Four: Assess Readiness

Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

Help and Resources Grants.gov support NIFA Support

Grants.gov Online Support Telephone support: 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: support@grants.gov Self-Service Customer Based support:

Grants.gov iPortal

Key Information: Customer service business Hours 24/7, except federal holidays.

Email: Policy@usda.gov Key Information: Business hours:

Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

The Application Guide- is part of the corresponding application package for this RFA. The RFA overrides the Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. NIFA will accept subsequent submissions to an application until the application deadline. However, applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this RFA. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Other key instructions for applicants are identified below.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/search-opportunity-package.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

Key Application Instructions Instruction References (All references are to the

Application Guide)

Attachments must be in a portable document format (PDF) format. Part III § 3 Check the manifest of submitted files to verify attachments are in the correct format. Part III § 6.1

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission. Part VII

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV § 1.5

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R. Part IV § 1.5

Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence.

N/A

Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an application within 30 days of the application deadline.

N/A

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. See Part V § 2 and Part V § 2.17of the Application Guide Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.

SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). See Part V § 3 of the Application Guide

R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V § 4 of the Application Guide

1. Field 7. Project Summary (PS) /Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the goals of ARME. See Part V. 4.7 of Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.

2. Field 8. Project Narrative.

The Project Narrative (PN) shall not exceed 6 pages of written text and up to 6 additional pages for figures and tables. We have established this maximum (12 pages) to ensure fair and equitable competition. The Project Narrative must include all the following:

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

a. Introduction: Include a brief summary of work proposed to complete under the current increment of funding requested with this application. Also state specific program aims which must align with the overall objectives outlined in the RFA.

b. Statement of Need: Describe how this overall project will address relevant issues and the audience(s) to be served. Include a description of the risks faced by agricultural producers underserved by the Federal crop insurance program.

c. Program Delivery: Describe the methods or procedures to be applied to the proposed efforts.

d. Communication Plan: Describe how progress, results, and other relevant information will be communicated to stakeholders and to the public.

e. Capacity: Describe the organization’s administrative/management/expert capacity to develop and maintain a Regional Risk Management Education Center with Networks to deliver regional ARME programs OR to develop and maintain a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center.

f. Evaluation: Describe how the program structure and procedures/methodologies selected, based on project objectives which will be used to measure the extent to which the objectives are met

Bibliography & References Cited – PDF Attachment. This RFA does not require a bibliography and references cited.

Field 12. Add Other Attachments. See Part V. Section 4.12 of the Application Guide for instructions regarding mandatory Felony Convictions or Tax Delinquent Status.

• Collaborative Arrangements – PDF Attachment. Title the attachment as “Collaborative Arrangements” in the document header and save file as “Collaborative Arrangement”. If it is necessary to enter into formal consulting or collaborative arrangements with others, such arrangements should be fully explained and justified. If the consultant(s) or collaborator(s) are known at the time of the application, a vitae or resume should be provided. In addition, evidence (e.g., letter of support signed by the AR of the consultant/collaborating organization) should be provided that the collaborators involved have agreed to render these services. The applicant also will be required to provide additional information on consultants and collaborators in the budget portion of the application.

• Letters of Commitment should be included for all individuals, 1890 consortia members, and other organizations included in the proposal.

R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) See Part V, 5 of the Application Guide for profile requirements, details about the biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.

R&R Personal Data This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part V § 6 of the Application Guide. . R&R Budget. See Part V § 7 of the Application Guide.

1. Match – Not Required.

https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

USDA/NIFA does not require matching support for this program and matching resources will not be factored into the review process as evaluation criteria.

2. Indirect costs (IDC) – See Part IV § C of this RFA for funding restrictions regarding indirect cost, and Part V 7.9 of the Application Guide for additional information.

Data Management Plan. A DMP is required for this program. Applicants should clearly articulate how the project director (PD) and co-PDs plan to manage and disseminate the data generated by the project. The DMP will be considered during the merit review process (see Part V § B of this RFA, Part III § 3.1 of the Application Guide and NIFA's Data Management Plan).

Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part V, 7 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

For further information and instructions regarding indirect costs, refer to Part V, section 7.9 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide. For indirect cost funding restrictions, refer to Part IV, D. of this RFA.

Supplemental Information Form Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part VI, 1 of Application Guide .

1. Field 2. Program to which you are applying. Enter the program code name (i.e., enter “ARME – Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships”) and the program code (i.e., enter “OC”). Note that accurate entry of the program code is very important for proper and timely processing of an application.

2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part VI, 1.8 of the Application Guide .

Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants. This is required for corporate applicants. See Part VI § 2 of the Application Guide for a description of the term, “corporation.”

C. Submission Dates and Times

We recommend that you conduct an administrative review of the application before submission of it via Grants.gov to ensure that it complies with all preparation instructions. An application checklist is included in Part VII of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide to assist with this review.

Instructions for submitting an application are included in Part IV, Section 1.9 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 5 p.m. Standard Eastern Time (SET) on January 21, 2021. Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding.

If you have trouble submitting an application to Grants.gov, you should FIRST contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to resolve any problems. Keep a record of any such correspondence.

See Part IV. A for Grants.gov contact information.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/data-management-plan-nifa-funded-research-projects https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

We send email correspondence to the AR regarding the status of submitted applications. We strongly encourage you to provide accurate email addresses, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R Application for Federal Assistance.

If the AR has not received correspondence from NIFA regarding a submitted application within 30 days of the established deadline, contact the Agency Contact identified in Part VII of the RFA and request the proposal number assigned to the application. Failure to do so may result in the application not being considered for funding by the peer review panel. Once the application has been assigned a proposal number, please cite this number on all future correspondence.

D. Funding Restrictions Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible under the program provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Indirect Cost (IDC) not to exceed 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) of the recipient. Section 1462(a) and (c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) limits IDC for the overall award to 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) under a research, education, or extension grant. The maximum IDC rate allowed under the award is determined by calculating the amount of IDC using:

1. the sum of an institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate and the indirect cost rate charged by sub-awardees, if any; or

2. 30 percent of TFFA.

The maximum allowable IDC rate under the award, including the IDC charged by the subawardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the two rates.

If the result of number one is the lesser of the two rates, the grant recipient is allowed to charge the negotiated IDC rate on the prime award and the sub-award(s), if any. Any sub-awards would be subject to the sub-awardee’s negotiated IDC rate. The sub-awardee may charge its negotiated IDC rate on its portion of the award, provided the sum of the IDC rate charged under the award by the prime awardee and the sub-awardee(s) does not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.

If the result of number two is the lesser of the two rates, then the maximum IDC rate allowed for the overall award, including any sub-award(s), is limited to 30 percent of the TFFA. That is, the IDC of the prime awardee plus the sum of the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, may not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.

In the event of an award, the prime awardee is responsible for ensuring the maximum indirect cost allowed for the award is not exceeded when combining IDC for the Federal portion (i.e., prime and sub-awardee(s)) and any applicable cost-sharing (see 7 CFR 3430.52(b)). Amounts exceeding the maximum allowable IDC are considered unallowable. See sections 408 and 410 of 2 CFR 200.

Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this RFA to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or to plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities.

The funding period will commence on the effective date cited in the award instrument. Any such limitation also applies to subcontracts made under awards subject to a funding period limitation.

https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf

E. Other Submission Requirements

You should follow the submission requirements noted in Part IV, Section 1.9 in the document entitled “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.”

For information about the status of a submitted application, see Part III, Section 6 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

F. Potential Streamlining for Competitively Selected Sub-Award Programs

NIFA may agree to modify the requirements for the administration of the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Grants Competitive sub-awards granted by the four regions (Northeast, North Central, Southern, and Western).

For those organizations requesting a streamlining process the following items must be included in the proposal which is submitted to NIFA for consideration on or before January 14, 2021:

• A description of the sub-award program and the process that will be used to ensure effective management of the ARME fiscal resources (i.e., compliance with federal regulations and guidelines, no unallowable costs, documentation of expenditures, auditing procedures, adequate explanation and justification of budget items, reviewing and approving budgets, monitoring);

• A description of the approach that will be used to ensure that a fair and open decision-making process will be used to solicit and select potential applicants for each funding opportunity;

• Copies of Requests for Applications for all sub-award programs for which streamlining is requested;

• A description of the proposal review process;

• A list of the review pool (include related areas of expertise); and

• Criteria used to rank the applications during the selection process.

If the streamlining process is approved by NIFA, it will be noted on the Provisions section of the Award Face Sheet, and the organization will no longer be required to submit sub-award proposals and budgets to NIFA Awards Management Division for approval.

However, the organization will be required to obtain NIFA National Program Leader (NPL) approval for projects selected under the Competitive Program prior to issuing sub-awards or releasing funds for the projects. To obtain NPL approval the following information is to be submitted electronically:

• A table of sub-awards to be made that includes the project number, project director’s name, institution, amount of the award, title of the project, and if the project targets risk management education to agricultural producers underserved by the Federal Crop Insurance program. A template table will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader or designee. The table is to be signed by the AOR.

• A checklist of program and budget expectations for each sub-award. The check list must be signed by the project manager and their immediate supervisor or their AOR. Signatures certify the organization’s responsibility for program and budget implementation standards. A checklist template will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader.

• A checklist of program and budget expectations for each community. These shall be submitted as community projects are identified and developed (which should be within approximately 2 months after the organizations have been notified of funding). The check list must be signed by the project manager and their immediate supervisor or the AOR. Signatures certify the organization’s responsibility for program and budget implementation standards. A checklist template will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader or designee. A table that lists each community project, an abstract of each project, and if the project targets risk management education to agricultural producers underserved by the Federal crop insurance program. The abstract should be about 150 words in length and clearly state the issue and how it will be addressed. The table should be submitted with the individual community check lists. A template table will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader or designee.

The NPL retains the right to review all or a random sample of full sub-award proposals and ranking to insure the fidelity of program and budget standards and administration of the projects.

This streamlining process was fully implemented in FY 2020. The NIFA National Program Leader may revoke an approved streamlining agreement if the program or budget administration by a grantee is deemed sub-standard.

PART V—APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. General

We evaluate each application in a two-part process.