FY26-HEC-NOFO-P-MOD1.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Higher Education Challenge

Grants Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 15, 2026

ANTICIPATED FUNDING: $5,700,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.217

ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.217.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, October 15, 2026

Applicants Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice (NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to the extent permitted by law, will no longer make grants or otherwise fund programs or activities that improperly discriminate on the basis of race or sex, including discrimination in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Instead, USDA will prioritize merit and efficiency. USDA recognizes programs and initiatives will have the greatest impact when these programs and initiatives put American farmers, ranchers, and foresters first by:

• solving the most pressing challenges they face;

• protecting America’s food, fuel, and fiber supply to enhance national security;

• supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers;

• expanding and developing domestic markets;

• training the next generation of agriculturalists; and

• fueling innovation to keep American farmers at the forefront of productivity.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to advancing these principles and encourages applicants to actively engage farmers, ranchers, and foresters when applying for funding opportunities to ensure relevancy and adherence to them. NIFA also encourages agricultural leaders to engage in the peer review panel process to ensure American producers are better served through research, education, and extension activities.

Projects submitted under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) should align with USDA Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-020 Directive on Departmental Research and Development Priorities:

1. Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers

2. Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products

3. Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species

4. Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land

5. Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all NOFO so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service. NIFA considers comments to the extent possible when developing NOFOs, and uses comments to help meet the requirements https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@usda.gov. Please use the following subject line: Response to the HEC NOFO.

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

NIFA is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 HEC grants program. HEC supports U.S.

colleges and universities in delivering high quality, evidence based academic programs that prepare citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States for leadership and professional roles in the Nation’s food and agricultural sciences workforce.

Approximately $5,700,000 will be available for awards in FY 2026. This notice provides funding information, deadlines, application forms, and instructions for HEC, as well as the program’s funding objectives and eligibility requirements.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Application Restrictions C. Project and Grant Types D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Cost Sharing or Matching

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application B. Content and Form of the Application C. Funding Restrictions

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process B. Evaluation Criteria C. Organizational Management Information D. Application Disposition

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

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

PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards C. Regulatory Information D. Language Access Services

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2: Program Key Information Table 3: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 4: Help and Resources Table 5: Key Application Instructions Table 6: Application Components Table 7: Academic Codes and Disciplines Table 8: Expected Outcomes

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

Section 1417 of National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), codified at 7 U.S.C. 3152, authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to colleges and universities for the purpose of furthering education in the food and agricultural sciences. Specifically, the Secretary may make grants to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development (7 U.S.C. 3152 (b)(1)).

NIFA administers this competitive grant program specifically designated to promote and strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences. This program, in collaboration with eligible higher education institutions, is designed to develop the intellectual capital of citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States to ensure the preeminence of U.S.

food and agricultural systems. This program is subject to federal regulations as outlined in administrative provisions that can be found in 7 CFR 3405—Higher Education Challenge Grants Program.

B. Purpose and Priorities The purpose of HEC, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, and student recruitment and retention.

Specifically, applications submitted to this program must state how the funded project will address the HEC program goals to:

1. Strengthen institutional capacities (curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention) to address state, regional, or national educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, with an emphasis on building U.S. capacity to engage and lead in a global context.

2. Attract and support citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States to pursue advanced degrees in food and agricultural sciences or in rural economic, community, and business development.

3. Facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more eligible institutions, or between eligible institutions and units of the government or organizations in the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development.

4. Design and implement food and agricultural science programs, or programs emphasizing rural, economic, community, and business development, to build teaching, research, and extension capacity across a range of colleges and universities.

5. Advocate for scholarly initiatives for third and fourth year undergraduates to encourage students to consider pursuing advanced degrees to address demands for highly skilled workforce in food and agricultural sciences, as well as in rural economic, community, and business development.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3152%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3152)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3152%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3152)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-3405 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-3405

6. Expand opportunities for skills-focused education that enable students to pursue advanced degrees in the food and agricultural sciences, supporting the development of a skilled workforce.

7. Enhance the quality of instruction for graduate degrees in the food and agricultural sciences, as well as first professional degrees in the veterinary sciences to help meet current and future workforce needs in these areas.

8. Attract exceptionally talented citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States into research or academic careers in the food and agricultural sciences who will engage in graduate and postdoctoral fellowship programs.

The HEC program is focused on developing and improving formal master’s or doctorate degree-level food and agricultural sciences education and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine, such as a doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM). The HEC program provides eligible applicants with funding to help ensure that a competent and qualified workforce will exist to serve the food and agricultural sciences system. At the same time, HEC-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities. HEC projects address the national challenge to increase the number of advanced degree students entering the food and agricultural sciences.

HEC projects are expected to: (a) produce measurable impacts aligned with HEC program goals;

(b) promote innovative educational practices within the food and agricultural sciences that improve how students learn; and (c) include a rigorous evaluation component to assess that project outcomes are met. Institutions must demonstrate capacity for, and a significant ongoing commitment to, the teaching of the food and agricultural sciences generally, and to the specific need and/or discipline(s) for which a grant is requested. Projects should encourage academic institutions, in partnership with organizations and employers, to collectively identify and address a state or regional challenge or opportunity facing the food and agricultural sciences education to further workforce development. Virtual education and extension/outreach techniques that broaden the reach and access to audiences are encouraged.

Projects must primarily focus on advanced baccalaureate (third and fourth year), graduate, or DVM-level education. However, a project may also include an ancillary target impact on either secondary or 2-year postsecondary students who are interested in graduate education in areas related to food and agricultural sciences. Projects with a primary target audience of K-14 students or teachers consider NIFA’s Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom program.

NIFA seeks to expand and strengthen the food and agricultural sectors, including the development of workforce with the training and credentials necessary to contribute to the food and agricultural sector. Project Directors (PD) are expected to limit trainee staffing roles -undergraduate, graduate, and/or postdoctoral- to citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. This ensures that grant supported training activities directly contribute to strengthening the domestic workforce pipeline.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/k-12-higher-education-programs/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12-classroom https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/k-12-higher-education-programs/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12-classroom

The development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. HEC teaching applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities upon graduation. Specific activities may include:

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

2. Connecting the academic classroom experience with daily leadership roles and organizational activities;

3. Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and

4. Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, etc.

Table 2: Program Key Information

Title Description Program Code: ER

Program Code Name: Higher Education Challenge Grants Program

ALN: 10.217

Project Type: Education Projects Grant Type: Standard Grant

Collaborative Grant Type 1 (CG1) Collaborative Grant Type 2 (CG2)

Application Deadline 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, October 15, 2026 Grant Duration: Standard – 36 to 48 months

Collaborative 1 (CG1) – 36 to 48 months Collaborative 2 (CG2) – 36 to 48 months

Anticipated # of Awards: 18 Approximate Maximum

Award Amount:

Standard – $150,000 Collaborative 1 (CG1) – $300,000 Collaborative 2 (CG2) –$750,000

Projects must focus on one or more of the Educational Need Areas listed below and engage more than a single course or individual instructor. The rationale for selecting the Educational Need Area(s) must be explained in the context of how the project can contribute to the development of a cadre of students who will either pursue higher degrees in the food and agricultural sciences or be prepared to enter the food and agricultural sciences workforce.

Educational Need Areas

1. Curriculum Development for Promoting Student Career Opportunities

Projects should promote new and improved curricula and materials to increase the quality of, and continuously renew, the Nation's academic programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, projects should stimulate the development, and facilitate the use, of exemplary education models and materials that incorporate the most recent advances in subject matter research, research on teaching and learning theory, and instructional technology. Projects may develop students’ analytical, interpersonal, leadership, communication, problem-solving, computational, and decision-making skills and abilities.

Applicants should consider projects that focus on integrated, multidisciplinary, learner-centered instruction. Furthermore, NIFA expects projects to reach large audiences efficiently and effectively; reinforce recent research on how to motivate students to learn, retain, apply, and transfer knowledge, skills, and competencies; and integrate and synthesize knowledge from several disciplines.

Examples of eligible projects in this need area include:

a. Development of courses of study, degree programs, and instructional materials;

b. Use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects; and

c. Introduction of new subjects, or new applications of knowledge, pertaining to the food and agricultural sciences

2. Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching

Projects should advance faculty development in the areas of teaching competency, subject matter expertise, pedagogy, responsiveness to changes in student learning styles, student recruitment, and advising skills. Training of faculty must be relevant to the identified educational needs of students. Any individual recipient of Federal funds must be an "eligible participant" as defined in the definitions section of this NOFO (Appendix III). Examples of eligible projects in this need area include activities that enable teaching faculty to:

a. Develop a self-sustaining model for faculty professional development that better prepares new faculty for teaching careers, or provides retraining for experienced faculty;

b. Gain experience with recent developments or innovative technology relevant to their teaching responsibilities; expand competence with new methods of information delivery;

c. Work with scientists or professionals in government, industry, or other colleges or universities to learn new applications in a field;

d. Create assessments that document student learning outcomes or that identify conceptual areas or skills particularly challenging to students, followed by appropriate changes in instructional approaches to effectively address these issues;

e. Increase utilization of teaching methods that address the special needs of nontraditional students or students from groups that are not well represented in the food and agricultural sciences workforce; and

f. Career exploration activities that raise awareness and expose students to career options in food and agriculture and the skills required to succeed in the same.

3. Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions This need area promotes linkages between baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to maximize the use of resources supporting outstanding education in the food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, this need area supports linkages between baccalaureate degree-granting institutions and secondary, and/or 2-year postsecondary, institutions to make instruction targeted at undergraduate students available to secondary students as advanced placement credit or as transfer credit from associate-degree programs into baccalaureate-level programs. Projects that create bridges for baccalaureate level students to pursue advanced degrees (including master’s, doctorate and DVM) are also appropriate to this need area.

Examples of eligible projects in this need area may include collaborative activities to:

a. Develop and implement articulation agreements, including 2+2, 2+2+2 and other such initiatives, advanced placement credit transfer mechanisms, and shared faculty or instructional facilities;

b. Establish multi-institutional student pathway initiatives that coordinate recruitment and retention strategies for K–14 students and support their progression into four-year food and agricultural sciences programs eventually expanding the pool of students eligible for advanced degrees; and

c. Reduce duplication of educational resources across institutions by creating joint curricula, faculty sharing arrangements, cross enrollment agreements, or joint and shared degree programs.

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding In FY 2026, the total amount available for HEC is $5,700,000. USDA is not committed to fund any specific application or to make a particular number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this NOFO.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO.

Applications for FY 2026 are limited to the following application types:

1. New application. New applications will be evaluated using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO and are subject to the due dates herein (see Appendix III for definition).

2. Resubmitted application. Resubmitted applications (submitted to the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program) must include the response to the previous review panel summary and are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein. Resubmitted applicants must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously submitted application in the Federal Field (Field 4) on the application form (see Appendix III for definition). See the Project Narrative section (Part IV, B) for additional information related to resubmitted applications.

Planning Activity application resubmissions will not be accepted.

C. Project and Grant Types The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:

1. Project Types. Applicants must propose Education Projects. An Education Project must develop human capital to help meet current and future national food and agricultural sciences workplace needs.

2. Grant Types. Applicants must select the appropriate grant type from below.

a. Standard Grant

Standard Grants support targeted original Education 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. Applicants may request a maximum of $150,000 total (not per year) for a Standard Grant application.

b. Collaborative Grant Collaborative Grants support projects that strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences at the advanced baccalaureate level or above, including master’s, doctorate, and DVM programs. Funding is intended to enhance academic quality through curriculum innovation, faculty development, experiential learning, and multi-institution collaboration. Collaborative Grants do not support extension/outreach activities, 12+2 programs, or other sub-baccalaureate pathways; however, applicants may collaborate with community colleges or K–12 partners solely to build recruitment pipelines into 4-year and graduate agricultural science programs.

Collaborative Grants aim to expand institutional capacity, improve student https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm recruitment and retention, strengthen advanced agricultural science instruction, and build sustainable, multi-institution networks that address regional and national workforce needs.

i. Collaborative Grant Type 1 (CG1) provides up to $300,000 total for projects carried out by the applicant institution in partnership with at least one additional institution. Partners must share grant funds; however, the applicant may not transfer more than half of the total award to partner institutions. CG1 projects focus on strengthening upper division and graduate agricultural science education through activities such as curriculum modernization, faculty development, joint teaching initiatives, shared instructional resources, and recruitment-focused collaborations with lower-level partners. Expected outcomes include improved instructional quality, enhanced faculty expertise, stronger recruitment pipelines, and sustainable partnerships among degree-granting institutions.

ii. Collaborative Grant Type 2 (CG2) provides up to $750,000 total for larger, multi-partner initiatives involving the applicant and at least two additional institutions, each contributing distinct expertise. The applicant must retain 30–70 percent of the award, and each partner must receive at least 10 percent. CG2 projects must address a major state or regional challenge in agricultural science education at the baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate, or DVM level and may include activities such as developing multi-institution consortia, creating aligned and stackable academic pathways, building shared instructional infrastructure, expanding experiential learning opportunities, supporting faculty exchanges, and strengthening recruitment pipelines. CG2 projects must also report specific impacts, including: progress toward increasing the number of higher degree agricultural science graduates; documented improvements in student retention; a comprehensive evaluation with dissemination of results; identification of activities that will be sustained after the grant ends; and descriptions of related activities expected to emerge from the project. Reported impacts of CG2 projects must include (but are not limited to) the following:

(a) Assessment of significant progress toward addressing the national challenge of increasing the number of food and agricultural sciences professionals with advanced degrees, while addressing the specific state or regional opportunity identified in the grant application;

(b) Documented enhanced retention rates of students in food and agricultural sciences majors exposed to CG2 project activities;

(c) A comprehensive project evaluation, using the indicators and methods defined in this NOFO, that informs the baccalaureate, master’s, doctorate or DVM food and agricultural sciences community and others about the effectiveness of the CG2 project through the dissemination of results via publications, blogs, conferences/meetings, etc.;

(d) A description of completed or ongoing activities supported by the CG2 project accompanied with a description of those same activities that will be sustained once grant funds end; and/or

(e) A description of any related activities expected to occur as an outgrowth of the funded project.

D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects 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 must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and documentation to support the conduct of the training. See Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the HEC must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

1. Applicant Eligibility Land‑grant Institutions and other colleges and universities that demonstrate capacity to teach in the food and agricultural sciences, and offer four‑year or graduate‑level degrees in at least one food and agricultural discipline are eligible to apply. Institutions offering degrees should be accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible.

Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their own graduate education.

2. Eligible Participant

For purposes of Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching and Student Recruitment and Retention, an individual who: Is a citizen or national of the United States, as defined in § 3405.2(e); or is a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau. Where eligibility is claimed under § 3405.2(e)(2), documentary evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service as to such eligibility must be made available to NIFA upon request.

USDA will not accept applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions There is no limit on the number of applications that an institution may submit. However, under this program each institution or applicant group may receive no more than two awards per annual HEC competition. In addition, each institution or organization may receive only one CG2 grant per HEC competition. Individual academic or administrative units within an institution—such as colleges, schools of agriculture, or similar divisions—may serve as the lead institution on only one active CG2 grant at a time.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The HEC program has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion. While not required, cost share is encouraged.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-3405.2#p-3405.2(e) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section-3405.2#p-3405.2(e)(2) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/08/2025-08266/improving-the-safety-and-security-of-biological-research

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application Applicants must apply to this NOFO electronically; no other method or response is accepted.

The electronic application for this NOFO and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101. Table 3 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. The NIFA Grants Application Guide is contained in the specific funding opportunity package or a sample of the guide can be found here. When applying for a NIFA award, it is important to reference the version of the guide that is included in the specific funding opportunity application package.

Table 3: Steps to Obtain Application 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-CGP-011315, 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.

Table 4: Help and Resources

Grants.gov Support NIFA Support Grants.gov Online Support Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606- 545-5035

Email support: support@grants.gov Self-service customer-based support: Grants.gov iPortal

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

Email:

grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Business hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. ET, except Federal holidays

B. Content and Form of the Application The NIFA Grants Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this NOFO. The NOFO overrides the NIFA Grants Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. 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 NOFO. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 5 outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/register https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide

Table 5: Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the NIFA Grants Application Guide)

Attachments must be in a portable document format (PDF) format.

Part IV

Check the manifest of submitted files to verify attachments are in the correct format.

Part IV

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part IV

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R.

Part V

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 https://www.grants.gov/support

Table 6: Application Components Application Component File Name Designation Page Limit/

Max.

Grants.gov Forms SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet N/A Required N/A

SF 424 R&R

Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form

N/A Required N/A

R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded).

N/A Required N/A

R&R Personal Data N/A Recommended N/A SF-424 (Budget) N/A Required N/A R&R Sub-award Budget Attachment

N/A Required (for CG1 and CG2)

N/A

Attachment Uploads

1) Project Summary (PS) ProjectSummary.pdf Required 250 words

2) Project Narrative (PN) ProjectNarrative.pdf Required 20 pages 2a) Project Narrative Cover Page

N/A – Include as first page of PN upload.

Required 1 page

2b) Response to Previous Review

N/A – Include as first page of PN upload. See PN section for additional details.

Required (for resubmissions only)

2- pages

2c) Logic Model Include as final page of Project Narrative.

Required 1 page

3) Budget Justification BudgetJustification.pdf Required 2 pages

4) Sub-award Budget Justification

SubawardName_justification.

pdf

Required (for CG1 and CG2)

2 pages (per sub-awardee)

5) Mentoring Plan (MP) MentoringPlan.pdf Required 2 pages (per tier type)

6) Data Management Plan DMP.pdf Required 2 pages

7) Collaborative Arrangements

CollabArrangements.pdf Required N/A

8) Expected Outcomes ExpectedOutcomes.pdf Required 1 page

9) Biographical Sketch KeyPersonnel.pdf Required N/A

10) Current and Pending Support for Key Personnel

PendingCurrent.pdf Required N/A

11) Conflict of Interest PDLastName_COI.pdf Required N/A

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet.—See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.

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

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

R&R Other Project Information Form.—See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Field 7: Project Summary (PS)/Abstract.—The PS must show how the project goals align with the goals of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC). The PS is limited to 250 words. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. The use of NIFA Application Support Templates is highly encouraged.

2. Field 8: Project Narrative (PN).—The attached file, named "ProjectNarrative.pdf," contains the project narrative (PN). The maximum length for the PN is 20 pages of written text, double-spaced with 1-inch margins and a font size of 12. In addition, up to 5 double-spaced pages can be used for figures and tables. Tables and figures with accompanying written text (e.g., image caption or figure description) should have a font size of at least 11 points and can be single-spaced. Appendices to the PN are allowed if these are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN attachment should include the logic model as the final page and will not count toward the page limit. The page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. The PN attachment must include the following:

a. Narrative Cover Page

In new applications, the Narrative Cover Page should come before the table of contents. In resubmitted applications, the Response to Previous Review should precede the Narrative Cover Page. The Narrative Cover Page must include the information below and will not count towards the page limit of the PN:

i. Project Title

ii. PD and Co-PD(s) and institutional affiliation for each

iii. Educational Need Area (Part II, C)

iv. Projected number of students to be served by the project during the project period (i.e., using a new curriculum, student career opportunity; benefitting from a partnership between institutions; etc.).

v. Primary Academic Code and Discipline (Select one from Table 7)

vi. Grant Type: Standard, CG1, or CG2

vii. Total Funds Requested: List total Federal funds requested for this application.

If this project is a CG1 or CG2 proposal, also list each partner’s total funds requested next to the institution/organization’s name.

viii. Partners: If a CG1 or CG2 proposal, list all partner institutions/organizations that will share grant funding.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/application-support-templates

Table 7: Academic Codes and Disciplines Discipline(s) Code

Agricultural Biosecurity X Agricultural Marketing and Management (includes Agricultural Economics) M Agricultural Social Sciences (includes Rural Sociology) S Agricultural/Biological Engineering (includes Rangeland, Urban/Rural Technology)

E

Animal Sciences A Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology B Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (including Forestry, Parks & Recreation, Biofuels, or Biobased Products)

C

Entomology J Environmental Sciences/Management (includes Economics, Decision Management, and Biometry)

L

Food Science/Technology/Manufacturing/Safety F Human Nutrition (includes Obesity and Relevance to USDA Research and Development Goals)

N

Human Sciences/Family and Consumer Sciences H Interdisciplinary, Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Economics

G

Plant Sciences and Horticulture (includes Turf Grass/Weed Science/Plant Breeding)

P

Soil Sciences (includes Soil Quality, Processes) D Veterinary Medicine (graduate degree training) V Water Sciences/Resources (includes Water Quality) W Other (Describe only if not listed above) O

An application must convince a peer panel of a compelling educational challenge, clearly indicate how the methodology is both unique and with merit, offer significant promise of adoption by others, and include a plan for how the project impacts will be sustained once grant funds end.

b. Response to Previous Review

This requirement only applies to resubmitted applications as described in Part II, B. The Project Narrative attachment is to include two components: (1) a double-spaced, 2-page maximum of two-page response to the previous review. Title the first page, “Response to Previous Review” and include the previous proposal number in the first line (see Part IV, B. above). The Response to Previous Review does not count against the 20-page limit of the PN.

c. Potential for Advancing the Quality of Education; Significance of the Problem

1) Identification of Educational Problem and Project Impact. Briefly state: (a) the specific instructional problem/challenge (or opportunity) to be addressed; (b) the anticipated project audience; and (c) the project’s target objectives (what change in education is proposed?) and its anticipated, overall impact on improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education.

2) Project Justification. Summarize the body of knowledge justifying the need for the proposed project. Discuss how the project’s Educational Need Area (Part II, C) will be of value at the state, regional, national, or international level(s). Where applicable, explain how it will improve the food and agricultural science capabilities of students. Describe any previously funded projects that are ongoing or recently completed that are related to the proposed project.

3) Institutional Long-Range Goals. Explain how the project will help satisfy the institution/organization's high-priority objectives, or how the project is linked to and supported by the institution/organization's strategic plan.

4) Innovation. Describe the proposal’s creative approach to improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education, solving an educational problem, or promoting programs that advance equal opportunity for all students. Support your choice, with actual experiences or literature.

5) Multidisciplinary and/or Problem-based Focus. Indicate how the project is relevant to multiple disciplines in food and agricultural sciences education and how the project will enhance students’ understanding of complex agricultural systems. Also, discuss whether the project may be adapted or serve as a model for other institutions.

d. Proposed Approach and Cooperative Linkages

1) Plan of Operation and Methodology. Describe procedures for accomplishing the project objectives. Describe project management plans to ensure proper and efficient administration. Describe the way in which resources and personnel will be used to conduct the project.

2) Timetable. Identify all important project milestones (performance targets that indicate when project goals will be met) and dates as they relate to project startup, execution, evaluation, dissemination, and closeout.

3) Evaluation Plans. State the methodologies to be used in assessing the accomplishment of the project’s stated products, results, and measurable impacts.

Discuss the strategies and metrics for evaluating progress toward meeting the two HEC goals from Part I, B. Describe any data to be collected and analyzed.

Demonstrate how the project will improve education. This section must clearly indicate how you plan to measure impacts. The following guidance will assist you in developing your evaluation plan:

i. The evaluation may also include assessment of other outcomes, particularly if the project aims to change organizational structures, create cost-efficiencies, or achieve other ends. Explain the data gathering procedures that will be used to monitor and assess progress toward intended project goals. When describing the measurement instruments you plan to use (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, assessments of e-portfolios or capstone projects, measures of class performance, scores on standardized tests, cost- benefit analyses, etc.), be sure to mention why these are appropriate for gauging success.

ii. The evaluation plan section should make a convincing case to reviewers that the grantee could report, at the conclusion of the grant, the extent to which learning and engagement outcomes, professional development goals, and/or organizational outcomes have been achieved. Reviewers will be looking for evidence that the applicant thought about how to measure both successes and failures and what adjustments could be made to enhance program outcomes in the future. Collection of this evidence is critical to achieving HEC’s goal of making data about educational improvements and innovations available to the education community.

iii. The project budget must include funds to hire an external evaluator, or the evaluation plan must provide compelling evidence that a qualified evaluator is already on staff and available to support assessment and evaluation activities throughout the duration of the project. As a guide, applicants may allocate up to 10 percent of grant funds for this purpose. Applicants choosing to use an internal evaluator must ensure that no conflicts of interest exist.

4) Dissemination Plans. The application must document how project accomplishments (products, results, impacts, etc.) will be published or otherwise disseminated to the broadest extent throughout the academic community. This may include educational journals or other professional discipline publications, and presentations at regional or national conferences and workshops, including the HEC Project Directors’ Meeting. Discuss the institution/organization’s commitment to disseminate project results and products and the potential for institutionalization. Identify target audiences and explain methods of communication.

5) Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts. Explain how the project will maximize partnership and collaborative efforts to strengthen food and agricultural sciences education (e.g., involvement of faculty in related disciplines at the same institution, CG1 or CG2 projects with other educational institution/organizations, or cooperative activities with business or industry). Provide evidence via letters from parties involved in the partnership or collaborative arrangement.

6) Potential Pitfalls, Limitations, and Alternatives (if applicable). Identify and explain any potential challenges that might impede progress during the project’s duration. Additionally, describe any potential strategies or alternatives that might be implemented to address such challenges. This section is optional for all applications and therefore, it will not count against the applicant during the evaluation process.

e. Institutional Capability and Capacity Building

1) Institutional/Organizational Commitment and Capability. Demonstrate that the program administration is committed to this project and has the capability to ensure its completion.

2) Institutional/Organizational Resources. Document the necessary institutional/ organizational resources (administrative, facilities, equipment, and/or materials), and other appropriate resources that will be made available to the project.

Demonstrate how these resources, when combined with the requested USDA support, will be adequate to carry out the project’s activities.

3) Academic Enhancement. Document how this project will improve and strengthen teaching at the institution (including any partner institutions/organizations).

Include how any project performance target(s) identified above (b.2, Timetable) will be incorporated into academic instruction at the institution. Discuss how the benefits to be derived from the project will transcend the applicant institution/organization or the grant period.

4) Continuation Plans. Discuss the likelihood of, or specific plans for, continuation or expansion of the project beyond the period of USDA support. Describe how the institutions/organization's long-range budget or academic plan provides for the realistic continuation or expansion of the initiative undertaken by this project after the grant period ends. Explain the plans for eventual self-support built into the project, and the plans to institutionalize the program if it is successful. Describe any indications of other continuing non-Federal support. Provide details of the expected outcomes and the target audience that would benefit from the continuation of this project.

f. Key Personnel Discuss the adequacy, specific attributes, and project responsibilities of each key person associated with the project. Also include the background and qualifications of those personnel who will be responsible for assessing project results and administering the project evaluation and reporting process.

g. Budget and Cost-effectiveness

1) Budget. In addition to the separate, required budget forms and budget justification, discuss how the budget specifically supports the proposed project activities.

Explain how budget items such as professional or technical staff time and salary, travel, equipment, etc., are necessary and reasonable to achieve project objectives.

Justify that all funds requested from USDA are allocated adequately between the applicant and any collaborating institution/organization(s) and will be appropriate to carry out the project’s activities. If the application addresses more than one Educational Need Area (see Part II, C), you must include estimates of the proportion of the funds requested from USDA that will support each respective area.

2) Cost-effectiveness. Justify the project's cost-effectiveness. Show how the project maximizes the use of limited resources, optimizes educational value for the dollar, achieves economies of scale, or leverages additional funds. For example, discuss how the project has the potential to generate a critical mass of expertise and activity focused on a need area.

h. Logic Model Applications must include a logic model detailing the proposed project’s inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes, as well as potential external factors that may affect progress on the proposed project. This information should be formatted into a 1-page logic model chart. The logic model planning process is a tool that should be used in developing projects before writing the proposal. More information and resources related to the NIFA logic model are provided at Logic Model Planning Process. The logic model should be the final page of the Project Narrative and will not count towards the page limit.

3. Field 12: Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/logic-model-planning-process

a. Appendices to Project Narrative (PDF Attachment). Title the attachment as “Appendices” in the document header and save file as “Appendices.” Appendices to the Project Narrative are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project.

The addition of appendices may not be used to circumvent the text and/or figures and tables page limitations.

b. Mentoring Plan (PDF…