fy '12 capacity rfa - ready for posting - feb 7 2012.pdf

Program Solicitation

1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program

Fiscal Year 2012

Application Deadline: March 27, 2012

CBG Program:

Telephone: 202-690-4565 Internet:

http://www.NIFA.usda.gov/funding/rfas/1890_capacity.html

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA)

10.216 -- 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants

NIFA Funding Opportunity Number

USDA-NIFA-CBGP-003673

United States Department of Agriculture

National Institute of Food and Agriculture http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/1890_capacity.html

*************PLEASE READ*************

IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR THE USDA-NIFA

1890 CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS PROGRAM

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2012 PROGRAM SOLICITATION

Items to remember about this RFA:

• Number of applications which can be submitted by an institution is limited to twelve;

• The main goal of this funding program is to build and strengthen the research, teaching and extension capacity at the 1890 institutions. Therefore, this solicitation requires that applications be aligned with NIFA’s Challenge areas (see Part I, H.) as well as with the institution’s strategic plan as they relate to food and agriculture sciences;

• Use of a Logic Model is mandated for integrated applications and recommended for single and joint applications;

• Applicants may not submit more than one application with the same Project Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI); however, there is no limit on the number of applications which an individual may serve as CO-PD/CO-PI; and

• No institution will receive more than 10% of the available funds; and

• Within the 10% limitation of funds, there is no limit on the number of integrated grants an institution may receive.

Applicants who have problems with their submissions to Grants.gov are encouraged to call the Grants.gov help desk first to resolve any problems. Keep a record of any such correspondence such as case number, date and time of reporting.

Submission of multiple copies of an application is only allowable with prior NIFA approval. It is the responsibility of the PD that the final, application complete with all required documentation is submitted.

Applications for this grant program should include the following:

Document Title Required Instruction Source Additional

Instructions within this RFA

SF 424 (R&R) Cover Sheet NIFA Grants.gov

Application Guide p. 16

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.1., p. 28

(R&R) Project/Performance Site Location(s)

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 23

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.2., p. 28

(R&R) Other Project Information

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 26

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.3., p. 28

Project summary/Abstract, Bibliography/Reference Cited, Facilities & Other Resources

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 29 and P. 30

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.3., p. 28

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

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 31

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.4., p. 35

(R&R) Personal Data NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 34

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.5., p. 36

(R&R) Budget NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 36

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.6., p. 36

(R&R) Subaward Budget Attachment

Only required for joint project proposals; and for others as needed

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 36 (Follow attachment guidelines)

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.7., p. 37

USDA Cooperator Letter When applicable

No NIFA Form - PDF CBG RFA Part IV, B. 2(c), p. 35

NIFA Supplemental Information

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide p. 47

CBG RFA

Part IV, B.8., p. 37

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

1890 INSTITUTION TEACHING, RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CAPACITY

BUILDING GRANTS (CBG) PROGRAM

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.216.

DATES: Applications must be received by close of business (COB) on (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on March 27, 2012). NIFA strongly encourages applicants to submit well before the deadline. Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding.

Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is requesting comments regarding this RFA from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the development of the next RFA for the program. Such comments will be used to meet the requirements of section 103(c) (2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and consider input on a current RFA from persons who conduct or use agricultural research, education and extension for use in formulating future RFAs for competitive programs. Written stakeholder comments on this RFA should be submitted in accordance with the deadline set forth in the DATES portion of this Notice.

Written stakeholder comments should be submitted by mail to: Policy and Oversight Division;

Office of Grants and Financial Management; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; USDA;

STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2299; or via e-mail to:

Policy@nifa.usda.gov. (This e-mail address is intended only for receiving comments regarding this RFA and not requesting information or forms.) In your comments, please state that you are responding to the 1890 Institution Education, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program RFA.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA announces the availability of grant funds and requests applications for the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program for FY 2012. The intent of this program is to build and strengthen institutional capacity through stimulating the development of high quality Education, Research and Extension programs at the 1890 Land-Grant Universities to produce baccalaureate and higher level degree graduates capable of strengthening the Nation’s food and agricultural scientists and professionals, developing strong research that addresses current challenges in today’s agriculture, and delivering needed help to communities, small farms and other clients. Providing this support requires the CBG program to build and strengthen research, teaching and extension capacity needed to advance fundamental sciences as well as translational research and development in mailto:Policy@nifa.usda.gov support of agriculture; and coordinate opportunities to build on these discoveries at the 1890 Land-grant Universities. The amount available for support of this program in FY 2012 is approximately $18 million.

Table of Contents

PART I-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority and Background B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Description D. Program Priority Areas E. Program Need Areas

1) Teaching

2) Research

3) Extension

4) Integrated Project Grants

F. Program Code G. Discipline Codes for 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program H. USDA Priorities and NIFA Challenge Areas

PART II-AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Types of Applications C. Project Types

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

PART V-APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

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

PART VI—AWARD ADMINISTRATION

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

PART VII-AGENCY CONTACT

PART VIII-OTHER INFORMATION

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

LOGIC MODEL ……………………………………………………………………………….51

PROJECT SUMMARY

PART I-FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority and Background

Authority for this program is contained in section 1417 (b)(4) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), as amended (7 U.S.C. 3152 (b)(4)) and pursuant to annual appropriations made available specifically for the 1890 Capacity Building Program. Section 7107 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246) amended the authority for the 1890 Capacity Building Program to allow for extension capacity building, as well as teaching and research. In accordance with the statutory authority, subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary of Agriculture may make competitive grants, for a period not to exceed five (5) years, to design and implement food and agricultural programs to build Teaching, Research and Extension capacity at colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments.

For purposes of this program, the term “food and agricultural sciences” means basic, applied, and developmental research, extension, and teaching activities in the food and fiber, agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical and social sciences, in the broadest sense of these terms, including but not limited to, activities relating to the production, processing, marketing, distribution, conservation, utilization, consumption, research, and development of food and agriculturally related products and services, and inclusive of programs in agriculture, natural resources, aquaculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences (previously known as home economics), rural human ecology, rural economic, community, or business development, and closely allied disciplines.

B. Purpose and Priorities

The Department of Agriculture depends upon sound programs in the food and agricultural sciences through partnership with the Nation’s colleges and universities to produce well trained professionals for careers in the food and agricultural sciences and conducted research and extension activities that address the challenges in food and agriculture in the US.

The purpose of the 1890 Capacity Building Program is to support research, education, and extension as well as integrated research, teaching, and/or extension by awarding grants that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-institutional importance in sustaining all components of agriculture, including farm efficiency and profitability, ranching, renewable energy, forestry (both urban and agroforestry), aquaculture, rural communities and entrepreneurship, human nutrition, food safety, family and consumer sciences, biotechnology, and conventional breeding. Providing this support requires the CBG program to build and strengthen research, teaching and extension capacity needed to advance fundamental sciences as well as translational research and development in support of agriculture; and coordinate opportunities to build on these discoveries at the 1890 Land-grant Universities.

The CBG Program is intended to stimulate development of high quality education, research and extension programs at these institutions to assist USDA in its mission of providing a professional work force in the food and agricultural sciences. This CBG Program is competitive in nature and provides support to the 1890 land-grant institutions (1890s) for Teaching, Research and Extension projects in targeted high-priority areas. Cooperation with a USDA agency in developing a proposal and carrying out a project is not required, but may be useful for strengthening departmental partnerships and linkages with these important Land Grant institutions.

This program is designed specifically to build the institutional Teaching, Research and Extension capacities of the eligible institutions through cooperative programs with Federal and non-Federal entities. The program is designed to achieve three (3) major goals:

1. To advance cultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional work force by attracting and educating more students from underrepresented groups;

2. To strengthen linkages among the 1890 institutions, other colleges and universities, USDA, other federal agencies, and private industry; and

3. To enhance and strengthen the quality of Teaching, Research and Extension programs at the 1890 institutions to more readily establish them as full partners in the U.S. food and agricultural sciences higher education system.

Definitions for ‘capacity building’ and ‘food and agricultural sciences’ are listed in Part VIII, E. - Definitions.

Applications are being solicited and must follow the format provided in Part IV, B. and address all of the following five (5) items:

1. Focus on at least one (1) of the program areas described in Part I, C: Teaching in section C.1, Research in section C.2, or Extension in section C.3;

2. Address at least one (1) of the Program Priority Areas (described in Part I, D.);

3. Address at least one (1) of the Program Need Areas (described in Part I, E.);

4. Document how project accomplishments (e.g., Products, Results and Impacts) will be disseminated or otherwise published to the broadest extent throughout the academic or scientific community (described in Part IV, B, Dissemination Plans); and

5. Provide a unique application title that is different from the program code name: "1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program".

C. Program Area Description

1) Teaching Applications must focus on one (1) or more of the following:

a) Degree Levels: Teaching improvement and research training projects in the food and agricultural sciences (Part VIII, E. Definitions) at the

i) Baccalaureate degree-level, or

ii) Graduate degree-level

b) Faculty Development in Food and Agricultural Sciences

c) Outreach Programs: to expose K-12 students and teachers to agricultural topics and generate interest in agricultural careers. Programs that may be considered include agriculture-based high schools, urban-agricultural education programs, summer high-school or youth programs in agriculture, and partnerships with youth-focused programs, such as 4-H.

2) Research Applications must focus upon one (1) or more of the following:

a) Fundamental research to provide basic knowledge that enables advances in applied research and from which major conceptual breakthroughs are expected to occur.

b) Applied research to expand the findings of fundamental research in order to uncover practical ways in which new knowledge can be advanced to benefit individuals and society.

c) Multidisciplinary Research to provide close collaboration between two (2) or more disciplines. These collaborations, where appropriate, may integrate the biological, physical, chemical, or social sciences.

3) Extension Applications must focus upon one (1) or more of the following:

a) 4-H Youth Development: cultivates important life skills in youth that build character and assist them in making appropriate life and career choices, addresses at-risk youth challenges such as school retention and academic achievement, engages youth in STEM education, social skills, and much more, through hands-on projects and activities;

b) Agriculture: research and educational programs help individuals learn new ways to produce income through alternative enterprises, improved marketing strategies, and management skills and help farmers, ranchers, and foresters improve productivity through resource management, controlling crop pests, soil testing, livestock production practices, and marketing. The 1890 institutions are also involved in aquaculture, small ruminant production, small fruits and vegetable production, and many other niche crops that are important to small-scale producers;

c) Leadership Development: trains extension professionals and volunteers to deliver programs in agriculture, gardening, health and safety, family and consumer issues, and 4-H youth development and serve in leadership roles in the community;

d) Natural Resources: informs landowners and homeowners how to use natural resources wisely and protect the environment with educational programs in water quality, timber management, composting, lawn waste management, and recycling;

e) Family and Consumer Sciences: helps families become resilient and healthy by teaching nutrition, food preparation skills, positive child care, parenting, family communication, financial management, and health care strategies; and/or

Community and Economic Development: helps local governments, community and non-profit organizations to investigate and create viable options for economic and community development, such as improved job creation and retention, small medium-sized and family-owned business development, effective and coordinated emergency response, solid waste disposal, tourism development, workforce education, and land use planning.

D. Program Priority Areas

The Department of Agriculture and stakeholders identified a number of high priority areas.

Applicants must address at least one (1) of the following FY 2012 Priorities for the 1890 Capacity Building Grant Program.

1) CBG Program Priority Areas

These high priority areas are for Education, Research or Extension applications. The application should have the potential to encourage regional or national program delivery in one (1) of the priority areas. Applications must address one (1) or more of the following priority areas:

a) Human health, obesity as it relates to nutrition, and human sciences;

b) Bio-energy/biofuel and natural resources:

c) Food safety;

d) Water quality;

e) Global food security and agricultural bio-security:

f) Rural communities for 21st century (expanded opportunities for small businesses and small farms);

g) Sustainable agriculture;

h) Youth development;

i) Family and consumer sciences; and/or

j) Global climate change including environmental sciences.

2) Other Areas in General Food & Agricultural Science

This Priority is for innovative applications in Education, Research or Extension in areas that address local, regional, or national issues in food and agricultural sciences not included in priority areas listed in Part I, D.1. Projects in this area may not fit any of the USDA or NIFA Strategic Goals but address an emerging local, regional or national issue.

E. Program Need Areas

1) Teaching Education applications must address one (1) or more of the following Need Areas identified below. The applications may include activities to institute academic coursework that may be offered for-credit. Applicants are encouraged to design innovative projects that have broad-based applicability beyond a single course or an individual instructor and include a library enhancement or digital component. These projects must be related to subject matter within the broadly defined food and agricultural sciences (Part VIII, E. - Definitions).

In support of the proposal and to improve the submitted project, applicants are strongly encouraged to reference recommendations from the National Academy of Science 2009 report entitled, Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World. This report recommends that academic institutions with undergraduate programs in agriculture implement the following nine steps to better meet the needs of students, employers, and the broader society. For information on the full report, please refer to http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/report.shtml and click on recommendations. The list of recommendations (http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#plan) follows:

• Implement Strategic Planning

• Broaden Treatment of Agriculture in the Overall Curriculum

• Broaden the Student Experience

• Prepare Faculty to Teach Effectively

• Reward Exemplary Teaching

• Build Stronger Connections among Institutions

• Start Early—K-12 Outreach

• Build Strategic Partnerships

• Focus Reviews of Undergraduate Programs in Agriculture

Applications must demonstrate how their chosen Program Priority Area is addressed when selecting a Need Area.

a) Curricula Design and Materials Development This Need Area promotes developing new (or adapting existing) curricula and related materials to meet changes anticipated within the food and agricultural sciences system. Projects should be integrated and multidisciplinary, and possess learner-centered instruction which will demonstrate an improvement in teaching and student learning against core course objectives. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how the project will reach large audiences efficiently and effectively, provide hands-on learning experiences, extend learning beyond the classroom, reinforce recent research on how to motivate students to learn, retain, apply, and transfer knowledge, skills, and competencies, and integrate and synthesize knowledge.

b) Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Education This Need Area prepares academic faculty for sustainable change to address emerging student clientele (demographic composition, learning styles, digital applicability), improving Education competency (subject matter expertise and pedagogy), or developing student recruitment and advising skills (career opportunities in emerging agricultural sciences fields). It is envisioned that efforts under this area will allow faculty to be better prepared to teach future courses related to building human capital in the food and agricultural sciences.

Examples of projects addressing this Area include, but are not limited to, initiatives that enable Education faculty to: gain experience with recent developments or innovative technology relevant to their Education responsibilities; work under the guidance and direction of experts who have substantial expertise in an area related to project goals; work with professionals or peers in government, industry, or colleges or universities to learn new applications in a field; expand competence with new methods of information delivery related to Education; or increase understanding of the special needs of non-traditional students or students from groups that are underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences workforce.

http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/report.shtml http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#plan http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#plan http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#curr http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#stud http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#prep http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#teach http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#connect http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#early http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#partner http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/recommendations.shtml#review

c) Instructional Delivery Systems This Need Area encourages the development and use of alternative methods of delivering instruction to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and cost efficiency of Education programs. Examples of alternative methods of delivering instruction include, but are not limited to: using state-of the-art digital technology; faculty sharing, cross enrollments, joint degrees, teleconferencing; networking via satellite communications; e-learning and online instruction or utilizing mobile classrooms and laboratories and individualized learning centers. Multi-institutional, regional or national collaborations are encouraged. Emphasis should be on improving the art of Education by faculty.

d) Scientific Instrumentation for Education This Need Area provides students with the necessary experience with suitable, up-to-date equipment to involve them in work central to understanding advances in the food and agricultural sciences and to prepare them for work or further graduate/professional training.

This program initiative will support the acquisition of instructional laboratory and classroom equipment to assure the achievement and maintenance of outstanding food and agricultural sciences higher education programs. An application may request support for: (1) acquiring new, state-of-the-art instructional equipment; (2) upgrading existing equipment; (3) replacing non-functional or obsolete equipment; or (4) establishing equipment-sharing capabilities via consortia or centers that develop innovative opportunities such as mobile laboratories or satellite access to industry or government laboratories.

e) Student Experiential Learning This Need Area encourages the development of new student learning opportunities where students are placed in team-oriented, problem-solving, decision-making situations in the context of real-world experiences. Experiential learning in laboratory research or other internships with business and industry, community organizations, federal agencies and other domains that provide knowledge and skills for graduate study should be given priority.

Projects addressing this Area must: (1) demonstrate how the experience will produce qualified and well trained graduates, (2) contain an evaluation process involving both the faculty or mentor to assure that students meet project objectives, and (3) document that the field of science under consideration is experiencing a shortage of scientific and professional personnel, and how the project plans to address this deficiency. Individual students may be supported under this experiential learning opportunity for up to three (3) years (including summers, semesters, or semester breaks). Requested grant funds may be used as stipends for students while they are working in research/field settings. Students should be required to prepare written and oral summaries of the experiential learning gained through this opportunity. To attract high-caliber students, stipends should be competitive with alternative employment options. A modest amount of funds may be requested for materials/supplies to facilitate a student’s broad exposure to research/field techniques and methodologies. Grant recipients are encouraged to take advantage of any related paid internship opportunities provided by state, county, federal, business and industry sources.

f) Student Recruitment and Retention This Need Area is to enhance student recruitment and retention programs in order to strengthen the Nation's scientific and professional workforce.

Examples of projects that address this Area include, but are not limited to: special outreach programs for enhancing the academic pipeline for elementary and secondary students; outreach to parents, counselors, and the general public to broaden awareness of the extensive nature and diversity of career opportunities for graduates in the food and agricultural sciences; developing curriculum and learning modules for state Ag in the Classroom teachers that establish more effective linkages with high school science classes and promote general agricultural literacy. Unique or innovative student recruitment activities, materials, and personnel; special retention programs to assure student progression through and completion of an educational program; development and dissemination of stimulating career information materials; use of regional or national media to promote food and agricultural sciences higher education; or provision of financial assistance to enable and encourage students to pursue and complete an undergraduate or graduate degree in an area of the food and agricultural sciences. Recruitment and retention efforts should be summarized quantitatively (i.e., numbers of students recruited against those contacted) and qualitatively (i.e., lessons learned that improve future recruitment strategies).

NOTE: Please refer to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-21 (codified at 2 CFR Part 220); Cost Principles for Educational Institutions for specific details regarding allowable costs.

2) Research Research applications must address one (1) or more of the following Need Areas where there is a present or anticipated need for increased science-based knowledge to address emerging state, regional, national and global issues. Applicants are encouraged to include a library enhancement component related to the Area in their applications. In addition, these projects must be related to subject matter within the broadly defined food and agricultural sciences (see Part VIII, E. - Definitions).

In support of the proposal and to improve the submitted project, applicants are strongly encouraged to reference recommendations from the National Academy of Science 2010 report entitled, New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Revolution,” (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12764&page=1). The report contained a set of recommendations that recognize that the most effective leveraging of investments would come from a coordinated, interagency effort to encourage the emergence of a New Biology that would enunciate and address broad and challenging societal problems.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12764&page=1

Applications must demonstrate how their chosen Program Priority Area is addressed when selecting a Need Area.

a) Studies and Experimentation in Food and Agricultural Sciences The purpose of this Need Area is to advance the body of knowledge in those basic and applied natural and social sciences that comprise the food and agricultural sciences. Projects addressing this Area are encouraged to focus on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities addressing critical issues rather than single discipline-specific research studies.

Examples of studies and experiments that address this Area include, but are not limited to: conceiving, designing, and evaluating new bio-processing techniques for eliminating undesirable constituents from or adding desirable ones to food products;

development of bio-energy/fuel alternatives, conducting plant or animal breeding programs to develop higher yielding and improved quality products and improved diseases resistance; proposing and evaluating methods to enhance utilization of the capabilities and resources of food and agricultural institutions to promote rural development (e.g., exploitation of new technologies by small rural businesses);

identifying control factors that influence consumer demand for agricultural products;

analyzing social, economic, and physiological aspects of nutrition and health, food choices, and life-style choices, and community strategies for meeting the changing needs of different population groups; or advancing the body of knowledge in highly important scientific, food and agriculture program areas such as human nutrition, food safety, sustainable agriculture, global climate change, biotechnology and genomics, newly developed research areas, such as proteomics, metabolimics and nano-technology.

b) Centralized Research Support Systems The purpose of this Need Area is to establish centralized research support systems that: (1) meet national needs or serve regions or 1890 institution clientele that cannot otherwise afford, or do not have access to such support; or (2) provide research support more economically, thereby freeing up resources for other research uses.

Applicants must demonstrate how their chosen Program Priority Area is addressed when selecting this Area. Examples of projects that address this Area include but are not limited to: storage, maintenance, characterization, evaluation and enhancement of germplasm for use by animal and plant breeders, including those using the techniques of biotechnology; establishment of computerized data banks of important scientific information (e.g., human nutrition, epidemiological, demographic, weather, economic, crop yields); or establishment of expert service centers for sophisticated and highly specialized methodologies (e.g., evaluation of organoleptic and nutritional quality of foods, toxicology, taxonomic identifications and consumer preferences demographics).

3) Extension Extension applications must address one (1) or more of the following Need Areas where there is a present or anticipated need for increased science-based knowledge to address emerging state, regional, national and global issues.

a) Extension Program Development Support Systems The purpose of this area is to increase the quality of extension educational programs to clientele through training of Extension specialists, educators, para-professionals, technicians and volunteers. The training may focus on professional development, leadership development, application of the extension program development model, development of train the trainer models, volunteer development, volunteer delivery systems, etc. This area will also include program accountability support systems which will translate into the delivery of more effective programs by enhancing the expertise and instruments available to effectively report impacts and evaluate extension programs.

b) Extension Technology Upgrades The purpose of this area is to provide funds to upgrade traditional equipment and instruments, establishing mobile delivery systems (laboratories and food safety kitchens, etc.) and offer emerging delivery technologies (e.g., IT applications such as distance education, web conferencing, podcasting, and facebook interfaces).

c) Extension Delivery/Methodology The purpose of this need area is to develop effective methodologies, strategies, or delivery systems to enhance services to the underserved, including developing new or modifying existing curriculums; establishing program centers, experiential learning programs, or after-school programs; and utilizing research results for effective programs and innovations based on the “Demonstrations Method”.

4) Integrated Project Grants

The primary intent of this initiative is to increase and/or strengthen food and agriculture sciences at the 1890 institutions through integration of research, education, and/or extension. One (1) of the founding pillars of NIFA is to bring together research, education, and extension in a coordinated manner to address high-priority national, multistate, or regional agricultural issues.

Please keep in mind that, the CBG defined integrated application as a proposal type and not program type. The 1890 CBG congressional legislation authorized three program areas;

research, teaching and extension. Because of the importance of integration of the three areas in strengthening the effectiveness in building capacity of the 1890 universities, this type of proposal was added to the 1890 CBG program. Integrated applications must include at least two (2) of the three (3) program areas. The applications will be placed in appropriate funding program area (Research, Teaching, or Extension) based on the defined primary area. The primary area is defined as the area which will receive most of the funding (up to two thirds of the total funding).

The program code that will be used for the integrated applications must be selected based solely on the primary area of an application (see section F. of this part).

NIFA places high value on integration in program design and implementation in order to address the many and complex problems facing U.S. agriculture. Research, education, and extension integration may be done at the project level or more generally at the program level. A project or application is optimally integrated if the components complement each other and are truly necessary for its ultimate success. Research is expected to address knowledge gaps that are critical to the development of practices and programs to address a problem. Extension activities will lead to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions, or conditions in an identified audience or stakeholder group. Education initiatives will strengthen institutional capacities and result in curricula and related products that provide sustained impact.

Applicants are encouraged to see http://www.NIFA.usda.gov/funding/integrated/integrated.html for an example of an integrated proposal and other grant-writing resources.

F. Program Code

Based on the congressional authorization, each application must be self-designated as teaching, research or extension in the Project Summary [see Part IV, B. 3.a.]. Applications that are not so designated with the codes below will be assigned to a category by NIFA.

o Program Code: EP (Education) o Program Code: EQ (Research) o Program Code: EWE (Extension)

Only one code must be used when applicants are completing the NIFA Supplemental Information form (See Part IV B.8). The applicant must select the correct code that responds to type of application (research, teaching, or extension). Selecting the incorrect code will result in the application being directed to the wrong review panel.

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/integrated/integrated.html

G. Discipline Codes for 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program

Eligible institutions may, within the Education, Research, or Extension Project Need Areas identified for support, propose projects in any discipline(s) or subject matter area(s) of the food and agricultural sciences noted below:

For Education Proposals (1) For Research Proposals (2) For Extension Proposals (3)

Code Discipline Code Discipline Code Discipline

M1 Agribusiness Management & Marketing L2 Agribusiness Management &

Marketing A3 4-H Youth Development

E1 Agricultural Engineering E2 Agricultural Engineering B3 Agriculture

A1 Animal Sciences Q2 Agricultural Social Sciences C3 Leadership Development

Q1 Aquaculture A2 Animal Sciences D3 Natural Resources

T1 Entomology P2 Aquaculture E3 Family and Consumer Sciences

C1 Environmental Science & Natural Resource Conservation

C2 Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources F3 Community and Economic

Development

F1 Food Science/Technology S2 Entomology I3 International Extension

G1 General Agricultural Science J2 Environmental

Sciences/Management

H1 Human Sciences F2 Food Science/Technology N1 Human Nutrition M2 Human Nutrition

I1 International Education I2 International Education/Research

P1 Plant Sciences N2 Plant Sciences B1 Related Biological Sciences B2 Related Biological Sciences R1 Rural Development / Social

Science O2 Soil Sciences

V1 Veterinary Science H2 Human Sciences

These discipline codes are used to identify the reviewers’ expertise needed to review the applications. Keeping in mind that each application is reviewed by three panelists and an Ad hoc reviewer, applicants may use no more than three discipline codes. However, it is important to identify a primary discipline code.

Since the discipline codes are specific to CBG, the Grants.gov application forms do not include any of the above-referenced discipline codes. In the keywords portion of the application package, applicants should include words that clearly designate which of the Challenge areas, Program Priority Areas, Need Areas, and Discipline(s) are addressed in the application.

H. USDA Priorities and NIFA Challenge Areas

The FY 2008 Farm Bill identified the following priorities for the United States agriculture:

1. Plant health and production and plant products;

2. Animal health and production and animal products;

3. Food safety, nutrition, and health;

4. Renewable energy, natural resources, and environment;

5. Agriculture systems and technology; and

6. Agriculture economics and rural communities.

From those priority areas, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture identified the following challenge areas as a focus and all applications must address at least one (1) of the Challenge Areas:

a. Childhood Obesity Prevention

b. Climate Change

c. Food Safety

d. Food Security

e. Sustainable Bioenergy

PART II-AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards. Approximately $18 million is available to fund applications in FY 2012.

Further, NIFA plans to ensure that CBG Program funds are equitably distributed between Education, Research and Extension awards.

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

Funding and Award Restrictions

a) A single application must be either: a Teaching Project, a Research Project, an Extension Project, or an Integrated Project;

b) Eligible institutions may submit up to 12 applications per institution in FY 2012;

c) An eligible institution may receive education, research, extension and/or integrated awards up to a maximum of 10 percent (10%) of the available 1890 CBG funds.

d) Keeping in mind that funds will be distributed equally between research, teaching and extension program areas, awards will be made based on quality of applications. In the absence of enough qualified applications submitted for funding to a particular area, the remaining funds will be redistributed among the other areas based on the quality of applications.

B. Types of Applications

In FY 2012, applications may be submitted to the CBG Program as one (1) of the following three

(3) types of requests:

1. New application A project application not previously submitted to the CBG Program. All new applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection process and evaluation criteria described in Part V—Application Review Requirements.

2. Resubmitted application This is an application that had previously been submitted to the CBG Program but not funded.

Project Directors (PDs) must respond to the previous review panel summary (see Response to Previous Review, Part IV). Resubmitted applications must be received by the relevant due dates, will be evaluated in competition with other pending and new applications in the appropriate area to which they are assigned, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications.

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/business/method_of_payment.html

3. Renewal application This is a project application that requests additional funding for a project beyond the period that was approved in an original or amended award. Applications for renewed funding must contain the same information as required for new applications, and additionally must contain a Progress Report (see Project Narrative, Part IV.B). Grantees are to submit the Progress Report to NIFA’s electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects (see Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements, Part VI.D). PDs should thoroughly demonstrate in their application how the proposed project expands substantially upon a previously funded project (i.e., demonstrate how the new project will advance the former project to the next level of attainment or will achieve expanded goals). The proposal must also show the degree to which the new phase promotes innovativeness and creativity beyond the scope of the previously funded project. Renewal applications must be received by the relevant due date, will be evaluated in competition with other pending and new applications in the appropriate area to which they are assigned, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications.

C. Project Types

Project periods will be up to 36 months in duration. Including potential no-cost extension(s), the project period must not exceed the statutory maximum of 60 months. (See Award Terms and Conditions for further details.)

NIFA has limited the amount of funding for which Single, Joint and Integrated Project Proposals may apply.

Applicants may submit:

1. Single Institution Proposals (see Part VIII, E. - Definitions):

Education, Research or Extension applications that support single institution approaches to local or regional problems or opportunities in one (1) of the selected areas listed under the priority areas (Part I, D.). The application should have the potential to encourage regional or national program delivery in one (1) of the selected priority areas. In Single Institution Proposals, grant funds are limited to the applicant institution (i.e., sub-award budgets are not allowable). A Project Director may receive only one (1) new award as the lead individual in a

Project Type Teaching Research Extension

Maximum Project Budget

Maximum Project Budget

Maximum Project Budget

Single Institution Applications1 $150,000

$300,000

$250,000

Joint Project Proposals2 $300,000

$500,000

$350,000 Integrated Project Applications3 $600,000

Need Area that focuses on a single subject or discipline. Funds do not have to be equally divided among project years.

2. Joint Project Proposals (see Part VIII, E. - Definitions):

Education, Research and/or Extension applications that support joint projects (Part VIII, E.

Definitions), including approaches to: scientific investigations (Research); curriculum development, student training, or faculty development (Education); or program delivery (Extension) that are multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary and that address critical U.S. food and agricultural issues at the local, state, regional and national level(s). The applications should address food and agricultural priority areas identified in Parts I, D. In Joint Project Proposals, the applicant institution will transfer no more than one-half (1/2) of the awarded funds to the other institutions participating in the project.

3. Integrated Project Proposals An integrated application includes at least two (2) of the three (3) components of the agricultural knowledge system (i.e., research, education, and extension) within an application. An integrated project must name one (1) of the program areas (education, research or extension) as the Primary Program Area. The functions addressed in the application should be interwoven throughout the life of the project and act to complement and reinforce each other. In other words, the functions should be interdependent and necessary for the success of the project.

There is no program code for the integrated application. Therefore, it is imperative that the applicants clearly identify the primary area in their abstract/summary and select the appropriate program code for this area.

The application may address one (1) of the food and agricultural program areas identified in Part I, C. and one (1) of the Priority program areas (Part I, D.). Integrated Project Applications that do not address one (1) of the Priority Program Areas and do not support one (1) of the NIFA Challenge areas (Part I, H.) will not be accepted by the National Program Leader (NPL) for consideration of funding.

The following criteria are applicable:

a) The proposed research component of an integrated project application should address knowledge gaps that are critical to the development of practices and programs to address the stated problem;

b) The proposed extension component of an integrated project application should lead to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions, or conditions in an identified audience or stakeholder group. Extension related activities designed to build institutional capacity are also allowable. The extension component should incorporate a wide range of research results, not just those of the current project application. Please note that research-related activities such as publication of papers, or speaking at scientific meetings are not considered extension for the purposes of this program;

c) The proposed education (teaching and teaching-related) component of an integrated project application should strengthen institutional capacities and result in curricula and related products that will be sustained beyond the life of the project. The following activities are appropriate for the education component of an integrated project application: curriculum development; instructional materials development; education delivery systems; student experiential learning (internships, externships, clinics); student recruitment and retention efforts; career planning materials and counseling; pedagogy;

student learning styles and student-centered instruction; faculty development programs;

student study abroad and international research opportunities relevant to overall program goals for U.S. agriculture; and faculty and student exchanges;

d) Integrated project applications should aim to resolve today’s problems through the application of science-based knowledge;

e) Integrated project applications should address needs identified by stakeholders.

Stakeholder involvement in project application development, implementation, and evaluation is strongly encouraged, where appropriate;

f) Integrated project applications should clearly identify anticipated outcomes and must have a plan for evaluating and documenting the success of the project. The applicant is strongly advised to consult with an evaluation specialist to develop appropriate measures of success;

g) Applications proposing integrated projects must include the elements of a logic model detailing the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. This information may be provided as a narrative or formatted into a logic model chart. More information and resources related to the logic model planning process are provided at http://www.NIFA.usda.gov/funding/integrated/integrated_logic_model.html;

h) Integrated applications should contain objectives for each function included in the project. Please note that extension and education activities are expected to differ and should be described in separate project objectives;

i) Integrated project applications must budget sufficient resources to carry out the set of extension, research, and/or education activities that will lead to the desired outcomes.

No more than two-thirds (2/3) of a project’s budget may be focused on a single component. In other words, no more than two-thirds of the project’s budget may be allocated to research (or education, or extension);

j) Integrated applications must include individuals on the project team with significant…