FY '19 CBG RFA-REVISED.pdf

1890 Institution Teaching, Research and

Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG)

Program

MODIFICATION: Page 34 (3/12/2019)

Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Request for Applications (RFA)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 18, 2019

ELIGIBILITY: See Part III, A of RFA

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

Assistance Listing under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.216.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 18, 2019.

Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding (see Part

IV, C of this RFA). Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six (6) months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: We at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seek your comments about this RFA. We will consider your comments when we develop the next

RFA for the program, if applicable, and we’ll use them to meet the requirements of section

103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.

7613(c)(2)). Submit your written stakeholder comments by the deadline set forth in the DATES portion of this notice via email to Policy@nifa.usda.gov. (This email address is only for receiving comments regarding this RFA and not for requesting information or forms.) In your comments, please state that you are responding to the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and

Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program RFA.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA requests applications for the CBG Program for fiscal year

(FY) 2019 to strengthen research, teaching, and extension capacity needed to advance fundamental sciences, as well as translational research and development in support of agriculture; and to coordinate opportunities to build on these discoveries at the 1890 Land-Grant

Institutions.

The anticipated amount available for grants in FY 2019 is approximately $18 million.

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an appropriations act for FY 2019. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

Eligible institutions may submit up to twelve Standard/Collaborative and three Professional

Development applications per institution in FY 2019.

This notice identifies the objectives for CBG projects, deadline dates, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a CBG grant.

mailto:Policy@nifa.usda.gov

Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

B. Purpose and Priorities

C. Program Area Description

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

B. Types of Applications

C. Project and Grant Types

D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. Submission 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

E. Application Disposition

PART VI—AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General

B. Award Notice

C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

D. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

PART VII—AGENCY CONTACTS

PART VIII—OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds; Changes

B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards

C. Regulatory Information

D. Definitions

E. Materials Available on the Internet

Table of Tables

Table 1: Applications, Awards, and Project Duration (by Grant Type) Table 2: Maximum Fund Allocation

Figure 1: Expected Outcome Format

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

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.

See Part VIII, D. for definitions of “capacity building” and “food, agricultural, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences.”

B. Purpose and Priorities

CBG advances food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences, including conventional and organic food production systems. The program directly aligns with 2018-2022 USDA

Strategic Plan, Strategic Goal #4:

Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development; Objective 4.1: Expand rural business opportunity and rural quality of life with access to capital; improved infrastructure, broadband access and connectivity; and support for workforce availability.

CBG 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 major goals:

To advance the cultural diversity of the FANH sciences scientific and professional workforce by attracting and educating more students from underrepresented groups;

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

To enhance and strengthen the quality of Teaching/Education, Research, and Extension programs at the 1890 institutions to more readily establish them as full partners in the

U.S. FANH sciences higher education system.

C. Program Area Description

Key Information:

Program Codes – Research (EQ), Teaching (EP), Extension (EWE)

Program Code Name – 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program (CBG)

Code of Federal Domestic Assistance – 10.216

Requested Project Types –Research Project, Teaching/Education Project, Extension

Project, and Integrated Project

Requested Grant Types – Professional Development Grant, Standard Grant, Collaborative

Grant https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-strategic-plan-2018-2022.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-strategic-plan-2018-2022.pdf

Application Deadline – Thursday, April 18, 2019

A Letter of Intent is not required for this program.

*All applicants should consider this chart when preparing applications to the CBG program.

Program Name: CBG Program Code: EQ, EP, EWE CFDA: 10.216

Table 1: Applications, Awards, and Project Duration (by Grant Type)

Grant Type Maximum # of

Applications Per Institution

Maximum # of

Awards

Project Duration

Professional

Development

1 award per faculty member

12 months (funds may be used for salary and benefits up to one year)

Standard 12 (in combination with

Collaborative applications)

No limit, but institution cannot receive more than

10% of the available funds

Up to 36 months

Collaborative 12 (in combination with

Standard applications)

No limit, but institution cannot receive more than

10% of the available funds

Up to 36 months

Table 2: Maximum Fund Allocation

Project Types (up and down)

Grant Types (left to right)

Standard Collaborative Professional

Development

Teaching/Education $150,000 $300,000 $100,000

Research $300,000 $500,000 $100,000

Extension $250,000 $350,000 $100,000

Integrated $600,000 $600,000 N/A

Additional Information:

A single application must either be a Teaching/Education Project, a Research Project, an

Extension Project, or an Integrated Project.

Faculty may submit multiple Standard and/or Collaborative Grant applications, as well as one Professional Development application, but can only receive one award per this solicitation. Faculty will not receive more than one Professional Development award within a five-year period.

Eligible institutions may submit up to 12 applications per institution in FY 2019

(Professional Development applications will not count against this maximum).

Eligible institutions may submit up to three Professional Development applications per institution in FY 2019. Each application will support one faculty member from the applicant university. No more than $700,000 of the total amount of funding available will be awarded in support of Professional Development grants.

Eligible institutions may receive Teaching/Education, Research, Extension and/or

Integrated Project awards up to a maximum of 10% of the available CBG funds.

Professional Development applications will not count against this maximum. The 10% maximum may be exceeded if sufficient meritorious applications are not received from other eligible institutions.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

CBG supports social and behavioral sciences and encourages projects that integrate them with related biological sciences. Incorporating social and behavioral sciences is important for addressing many of the challenges that face agriculture and rural communities, such as increasing global demand for food production in the face of limited natural resources; improving health and reducing obesity by engaging in healthy diets; and alleviating poverty by fostering economic opportunity.

Leadership Skills Development

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. CBG teaching applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities upon graduation. Specific activities may include:

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

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

Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; or

Organizing leadership academies, workshops, trainings, and similar activities.

Metrics

Applications must describe and assess the expected products, results, outcomes, and their potential impacts on strengthening FANH Teaching/Education, Research, and Extension in the

United States.

Global Engagement

CBG supports advances in the FANH sciences. NIFA supports global engagement that advances

U.S. agricultural goals. To attain the agency's goals for U.S. agriculture, global competence of our nation’s agricultural workforce, and safe and nutritious food security in a growing world, NIFA recognizes that collaboration with international partners can contribute to advances in U.S.

agriculture. In an increasingly interconnected world, these U.S. advances may have global importance. Thus, applications in response to NIFA programs are strongly encouraged to include collaborations with international partners, but may only be submitted by eligible U.S.

institutions. Such applications may include subcontracts to international partners or other institutions and must clearly demonstrate benefits to the U.S. Additional guidance on including international activities is provided on the NIFA Global Engagement Programs webpage” https://nifa.usda.gov/program/global-engagement-programs.

eXtension

NIFA encourages (but does not require) projects that develop content suitable for delivery through eXtension (https://extension.org/).

Priority Areas

NIFA, with stakeholder input, has identified a number of high priority areas. Applications must encourage regional or national program delivery in one of the following priority areas:

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

b. Bioenergy/biofuel and natural resources;

c. Food safety;

d. Water quality;

e. Global food security and agricultural biosecurity;

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

g. Sustainable agriculture;

h. Youth development;

i. Family and consumer sciences; and/or

j. Environmental sciences.

Other Areas in General Food & Agricultural Science

This priority area is for innovative applications in Teaching/Education, Research, or

Extension in areas that address local, regional, or national issues in the FANH sciences not included in the priority areas listed above. Projects in this area may not fit any of the USDA or

NIFA Strategic Goals, but address an emerging local, regional, or national issue.

https://nifa.usda.gov/program/global-engagement-programs https://extension.org/

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The anticipated amount available for CBG grants in FY 2019 is approximately $18 million.

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an appropriations act for FY 2019. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

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

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

B. Types of Applications

NIFA will only accept the following proposals under this RFA:

New application. This is a project application that has not been previously submitted to the CBG

Program. We will review all new applications competitively using the screening for administrative requirements, review panel evaluation of proposals using evaluation criteria and selection process described in Part V—Application Review Requirements.

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; they also must contain a Progress Report (see Project Narrative, Part IV). Renewal applications must be received by the relevant due dates, will be evaluated in competition with other pending applications in the area to which they are assigned, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications.

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 applications in appropriate area to which they are assigned, and will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new applications.

C. Project and Grant Types

1. Project Types

NIFA is soliciting applications for CBG under the following project types:

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

Teaching/Education;

Research;

Extension; or

Integrated (includes two or three of the above project types)

See below for descriptions of Project Types and their applicable Need Areas.

Teaching/Education Projects

a. Project Type Description

A teaching or education project should develop human capital in order to help meet current and future national FANH sciences workplace needs. Examples of relevant activities under this project type include (but are not limited to) the following: formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and practicum experience such as faculty development, student recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative teaching methodologies.

b. Need Areas for Teaching/Education Projects

Teaching/Education applications must demonstrate how the chosen Priority Area is addressed when selecting one of the following Teaching/Education Need Areas.

i. Curricula Design and Materials Development

This Need Area promotes developing new (or adapting existing) curricula and related materials to meet changes anticipated within the FANH sciences. Projects must 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.

ii. 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 teaching competency (subject matter expertise and pedagogy), or developing student recruitment and advising skills (career opportunities in emerging agricultural sciences fields). Training of targeted faculty recipient(s) must be intentional and relevant to the identified educational needs of the students, who will be the beneficiaries of such faculty development.

iii. 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 teaching 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/laboratories and individualized learning centers. Multi-institutional, regional, or national collaborations are encouraged. Emphasis should be on improving the art of teaching by faculty.

iv. Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching

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

FANH sciences and to prepare them for work or further graduate/professional training. Additionally, this Need Area will support the acquisition of instructional laboratory and classroom equipment.

v. 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 will be given priority.

vi. Student Recruitment and Retention

This Need Area aims to enhance student recruitment and retention programs in order to strengthen the Nation's scientific and professional workforce. 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).

Research Projects

Single-function research projects support fundamental or applied research conducted by individual investigators, co-investigators within the same discipline, or multidisciplinary teams.

The following must be considered when developing research applications:

1) Fundamental research means research that: (i) increases knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and has the potential for broad application and, (ii) has an effect on agriculture, food, nutrition, or the environment;

2) Applied research means research that includes expansion of the findings of fundamental research to uncover practical ways in which new knowledge can be advanced to benefit individuals and society; and/or

3) Multi-disciplinary projects are those in which investigators from two or more disciplines collaborate closely to address a common problem. These collaborations, where appropriate, may integrate the biological, physical, chemical, or social sciences.

b. Need Areas for Research Projects

Research applications must demonstrate how the chosen Priority Area is addressed when selecting one of the following Research Need Areas.

i. Studies and Experimentation in Food, Agricultural, Natural Resources, and

Human Sciences

The purpose of this Need Area is to advance the body of knowledge in basic and applied natural and social sciences that comprise the FANH 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.

ii. 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 does not have access to such support; or

(2) provide research support more economically, thereby freeing up resources for other research uses. You must demonstrate how your chosen Priority Area is addressed when selecting this Need Area.

Extension Projects

Single-function Extension Projects conduct programs and activities that deliver science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to people, enabling them to make practical decisions. Program delivery may range from community-based to national audiences and use communication methods from face-to-face to electronic or combinations thereof. Extension Projects may also include related matters such as certification programs, in-service training, client recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative instructional methodologies appropriate to informal educational programs. These projects must lead to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions, or conditions in an identified audience or stakeholder group. These projects must synthesize and incorporate a wide range of the latest relevant research results.

b. Need Areas for Extension Projects

Extension applications must demonstrate how the chosen Priority Area is addressed when selecting one of the following Extension Need Areas.

i. Extension Program Development Support Systems

The purpose of this Need Area is to increase the quality of extension education 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 Need 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.

ii. Extension Technology Upgrades

The purpose of this Need Area is to provide funds to upgrade traditional equipment and instruments, establish 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).

iii. 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; establish program centers, experiential learning programs, or after-school programs; and utilize research results for effective community-based programs.

iv. Other Extension Initiatives

The purpose of this Need Area is to support projects that may not fit the Need Areas above, but are creative initiatives designed to provide enhancement of the institutions’

Extension capacity.

Integrated Projects

An Integrated Project includes at least two of the three functions of the agricultural knowledge system (i.e., research, teaching/education, and extension) within a project. The project must name one of the project types (teaching/education, research or extension) as the Primary Project Type. The primary project type is defined as the area which will receive most of the funding (up to two-thirds of the total funding). There is no program code for the integrated application. Therefore, it is imperative that the applicants clearly identify the primary project type in their summary and select the appropriate program code for this area.

The functions addressed in the project must be focused around a problem or issue and be interwoven throughout the life of the project to complement and reinforce one another. The functions must be interdependent and necessary for the success of the project and no more than two-thirds of the project’s budget may be focused on a single component. Integrated applications must include individuals on the project team with significant expertise in each component of the project (research, teaching/education, and/or extension). Integrated applications may be submitted by a single eligible institution where the expertise for all areas

(research, teaching/education, and/or extension) are within the Project Director’s (PD) institution or multi-institutions where the expertise for one or two of the areas are from another institution(s).

For additional information on integrated programs, including tips for writing Integrated

Project applications and an example of an integrated application, see https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-application-information. You are also encouraged to contact the Program Contact to discuss the anticipated project parameters and outcomes to ensure the application content appropriately meets the requirements of an

Integrated Project.

Discipline Codes

Eligible institutions may, within the Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension Project Need

Areas identified for support, propose projects in any discipline(s) or subject matter area(s) of the

FANH sciences noted below.

For Teaching/Education Proposals:

Code Discipline

T1 Agribusiness Management & Marketing

T2 Agricultural Engineering

T3 Animal Sciences

T4 Aquaculture

T5 Data Science

T6 Entomology

T7 Environmental Science & Natural Resource Conservation

T8 Food Science/Technology

T9 General Agricultural Science https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-application-information

T10 Human Sciences

T11 Human Nutrition

T12 International Education

T13 Plant Sciences

T14 Related Biological Sciences

T15 Rural Development/Social Science

T16 Veterinary Science

For Research Proposals:

R1 Agribusiness Management & Marketing

R2 Agricultural Engineering

R3 Agricultural Social Sciences

R4 Animal Sciences

R5 Aquaculture

R6 Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources

R7 Data Science

R8 Entomology

R9 Environmental Sciences/Management

R10 Food Science/Technology

R11 Human Nutrition

R12 International Education/Research

R13 Plant Sciences

R14 Related Biological Sciences

R15 Soil Sciences

R16 Human Sciences

For Extension Proposals:

E1 4-H Youth Development

E2 Agriculture

E3 Leadership Development

E4 Natural Resources

E5 Family and Consumer Sciences

E6 Community and Economic Development

E7 International Extension

Applicants are to identify a primary discipline code and may identify one additional discipline code that categorizes the project application. At review, each application is evaluated by three peer reviewers. The discipline codes selected by the applicants are used to match reviewers’ education and expertise to the applications.

2. Grant Types

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

Standard Grant:

This is an award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined project period without the announced intention of providing additional support at a future date. Standard Grants support targeted original scientific Teaching/Education, Research, Extension, or Integrated Projects. An eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system may submit a grant application for project activities to be undertaken principally on behalf of its own students or faculty, and to be managed primarily by its own personnel. The project is to be executed, without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners (subaward budgets are not allowable). Applications for Standard

Grants must address local or regional problems or opportunities in one of the listed Priority

Areas (Part I, C.). The application must have the potential to encourage regional or national program delivery in one of the selected priority areas. A Project Director may receive only one new award as the lead individual in a Need Area that focuses on a single subject or discipline.

Funds do not have to be equally divided among project years.

Collaborative Grant:

Collaborative Grants support projects with at least one additional partner or a multi-partner approach to enhance Teaching/Education, Research, and Extension programs. Collaborative

Grants should build linkages to generate a critical mass of expertise, skill and technology to address programs related to the FANH sciences (applicants should address one of the listed

Priority Areas (Part I, C.). Projects should be multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary and should address issues at the local, state, regional, and/or national level(s). Grants can reduce duplication of efforts and/or build capacity and should be organized and led by a strong project director with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative. Collaborative Grants are expected to be larger than Standard Grants (refer to Part I, C. for the maximum fund amounts). The partners must share grant funds (the applicant institution will transfer no more than 50% of the awarded funds to the other institutions participating in the project). A separate subaward budget is to be included in the application for each of the identified project partners. The award of grant funds through subawards is limited to the eligible applicant institutions and collaborating institutions.

Professional Development Grant:

Professional Development Grants are intended to provide an opportunity for individual faculty members (i.e., each award is to support one faculty member at the applicant university) to enhance the quality of their Teaching/Education, Research, and/or Extension work. Examples of projects addressing this area include, but are not limited to:

Gaining experience with recent developments or innovative technology relevant to their professional responsibilities;

Working under the guidance and direction of experts who have substantial expertise in an area related to project/career goals;

Working with professionals or peers in government, industry, or colleges or universities to learn new applications and enhance networks within a field; and/or

Expanding competence with new methods of information delivery related to

Teaching/Education and Extension.

Professional Development applications that support Teaching/Education, Research, and/or

Extension faculty, may include approaches such as:

Sabbaticals;

Mini-sabbaticals for short-term training;

Faculty exchanges; and/or

Continuing education.

The training must address critical U.S. FANH sciences issues at the local, state, regional, and national level(s). The application should align with the university’s strategic plan for FANH sciences. Applications should also address FANH sciences priority areas identified in Part I, C.

Funds may be used for salary and benefits (up to one year), travel, supplies and training/course fees. Funds will not be awarded to support activities in fulfillment of degree requirements or travel to make presentations at conferences or meetings.

A Professional Development project must name one of the project types (Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension) as the Primary Project Type. It is imperative that the applicants clearly identify the primary area in their summary and select the appropriate program code for this area.

D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

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

For information about the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research, see https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research.

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

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Applications may only be submitted by eligible 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including

Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University (per Section

7129 of Pub. L. 113-79). The eligible institutions are:

Alabama A&M University Prairie View A&M University

Alcorn State University South Carolina State University

Central State University Southern University and A&M College

Delaware State University Tennessee State University

Florida A&M University Tuskegee University

Fort Valley State University University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Kentucky State University University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

Langston University Virginia State University

Lincoln University (MO) West Virginia State University

North Carolina A&T State University

Faculty and students receiving support for developmental activities or educational costs must be an eligible participant (citizen or national of the United States as defined in Part VIII, E. –

Definitions). Students must be enrolled at institutions that are eligible to receive CBG awards

(see above paragraphs). Where student or faculty eligibility is claimed under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)

(22), documentary evidence from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS) as to such eligibility must be made available to NIFA upon request.

United States citizenship is not required of faculty that wishes to serve as a PD, co-PD, or key personnel on a Standard or Collaborative project. United States citizenship is required for faculty who serve as PDs on Professional Development projects.

Faculty may not serve as PD on more than two active CBG projects. If an applicant has two active projects, at least one project must be scheduled to expire by the end of the current fiscal year. Faculty may submit multiple Standard and/or Collaborative Grant applications as the lead

PD to the CBG program in FY 2019. Additionally, there is no limit on the number of applications for which faculty may be listed as co-PD or key personnel. NOTE: All key personnel must submit a current and pending support form. Key personnel may not commit more than 100% effort on concurrent projects.

Collaborative and Integrated Project award recipients may subcontract, as deemed appropriate, to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary to conduct a successful project. The subcontract must advance capacity building at the 1890 institution in the area of the submitted application.

Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

For those new to Federal financial assistance, a grants overview page is available on the NIFA website. This page includes information about free Grants 101 Training and other resources that are highly recommended for those seeking an understanding of Federal awards.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package

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

We urge you to submit early to the Grants.gov system. For information about the pre-award phase of the grant lifecycle, see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html.

New Users of Grants.gov

Prior to preparing an application, we recommend that the Project Director/Principal Investigator

(PD/PI) first contact an Authorized Representative (AR, also referred to as Authorized

Organizational Representative, or AOR) to determine if the organization is prepared to submit electronic applications through Grants.gov. If not (e.g., the institution/organization is new to the electronic grant application process through Grants.gov), then the one-time registration process must be completed PRIOR to submitting an application. It can take as long as two weeks to complete the registration process so it is critical to begin as soon as possible. In such situations, the AR should go to “Register,” in the top right corner of the Grants.gov web page (or go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html), for information on registering the institution/organization with Grants.gov. Part II, 1 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the registration process. Refer to item 2, below, to locate the “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.”

Steps to Obtain Application Package Materials

To receive application materials:

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

2. To obtain the application package from Grants.gov, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/search-opportunity-package.html and enter the funding opportunity number where appropriate

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-CBGP-006696.

Click “Search.” On the displayed page, click the corresponding link to continue. A Grant

Application Package is tied to a particular funding opportunity. You may move forms amongst different Grant Application Packages but you may ONLY submit an application to the particular funding opportunity to which the Grant Application Package is associated.

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

This guide contains an introduction and general Grants.gov instructions, information https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/search-opportunity-package.html about how to use a Grant Application Package in Grants.gov, and instructions on how to complete the application forms.

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

Grants.gov customer support

800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035

Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on federal holidays.

Email: support@grants.gov

Grants.gov iPortal (see https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants):

Top 10 requested help topics (FAQs), Searchable knowledge base, self-service ticketing and ticket status, and live web chat (available 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST).

Have the following information available when contacting Grants.gov:

o Funding Opportunity Number (FON) o Name of agency you are applying to o Specific area of concern

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

Electronic applications are to be prepared following Parts V and VI of the NIFA Grants.gov

Application Guide. This guide is part of the corresponding application package (see Section A of this part). The following is additional information you need to prepare an application in response to this RFA. If there is discrepancy between the two documents, the information contained in this RFA is overriding.

Note the attachment requirements (e.g., PDF) in Part III, Section 3 of the guide. ANY

PROPOSALS THAT ARE NON-COMPLIANT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS (e.g., content format, PDF file format, file name restrictions, and no password protected files)

WILL BE AT RISK OF BEING EXCLUDED FROM NIFA REVIEW. Grants.gov does not check for NIFA required attachments or whether attachments are in PDF format; see

Part III, Section 6.1 of the guide for how to check the manifest of submitted files. Partial applications will be excluded from NIFA review. We will accept subsequent submissions of an application until close of business on the closing date in the RFA (see Part V, 2.1 of the

NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for further information).

For any questions related to the preparation of an application, review the NIFA Grants.gov

Application Guide and the applicable RFA. If assistance is still needed for preparing application forms content, contact:

Email: electronic@nifa.usda.gov

Phone: 202-401-5048

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

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

1. SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 2 of the NIFA

Grants.gov Application Guide. See Part V, Section 2.17 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application

Guide for the required certifications and assurances (e.g., Prohibition Against Entities Requiring

Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements).

2. SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s)

Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part V, 3 of the NIFA

Grants.gov Application Guide.

3. R&R Other Project Information Form

Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part V, 4 of the NIFA

a. Field 7. Project Summary/Abstract.

The summary should also include the relevance of the project to the goals of the CBG program.

An application that is submitted without the project summary will not be accepted for review.

Applications will not be accepted for review if the project summary is not included or not in PDF format.

See Part V. 4.7 of NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for further instructions and a link to a suggested template.

b. Field 8. Project Narrative.

NOTE: The Project Narrative must not exceed 20 pages of written text and up to 5 additional pages for figures and tables (for Standard and Collaborative grant applications). Figures and tables may come after the 20 pages of text, or be intertwined with the text (but they should not exceed 5 pages). We have established this maximum (25 pages) to ensure fair and equitable competition. The Project Narrative section for Professional Development applications may not exceed eight pages, including figures and tables. You are encouraged to include a table of contents in the project narrative, which will not count toward the narrative’s page limitation.

After converting the narrative to PDF format and making the necessary adjustments, you should verify that you have not exceeded the applicable page limit. Project narratives that exceed the page limit requirement will not be accepted for review.

Response to Previous Review (if applicable)

This requirement only applies to Resubmitted Applications or Resubmitted Renewal

Applications as described in Part II, C. The Project Narrative attachment is to include two components: 1) a one-page response to the previous review (containing the previous proposal number in the first line) titled “Response to Previous Review” as the first page of the attachment and 2) the 25 page Project Narrative, as required (see Part IV, B., 3., b., above). The one-page

“Response to Previous Review” does not count against the 25-page limit of the Project Narrative.

The Cover Page (first page of the narrative) should include the information below, and will not count towards the page limit of the Project Narrative.

1) Project Type (see Part II, C.)

2) Grant Type (see Part II, C.)

3) Need Area addressed (see Part II, C.)

4) Program Code (see Part 1, C.)

a. For integrated project applications, the program code for the primary component must be listed. For example, if the primary component of an integrated project is research, then the applicant must indicate “EQ” as the program code.

5) Primary CBG Priority Area (see Part I, C.)

6) Discipline Code (see Part II, C.)

Prepare the application using standard size (8 1/2” x 11”) page, one-inch margins, no type smaller than 12 point font, and 1.5 line spacing. Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman). The formatting and quality of the presentation of the whole application are a part of the evaluation criteria (see Part V, B). Information may not be appended to an application to circumvent page limitations prescribed for the Project Narrative. Extraneous materials will not be used during the peer review process. In new applications, the cover page should come before the table of contents. In resubmitted applications, please use this order: 1) response to previous review, 2) cover page, 3) table of contents.

The logic model is required for Integrated Project applications, and recommended for

Teaching/Education, Research, and Extension Project applications. The logic model planning process is a tool that should be used to develop your project before writing your proposal. It should detail the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. Two additional pages are allowed to be used solely for logic model information. The logic model does not count towards the page limit of the narrative, and it should be placed directly after the 25-page narrative section in the application. More information and resources related to the logic model planning process are provided at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/logic-model-planning-process.

Applicants must address all components of the Evaluation Criteria in their Project Narrative (see

Part V, B).

Standard and Collaborative Grant Applications

To facilitate application review and evaluation, the applicant must include the following headings in the Project Narrative (A. through D.), followed by the applicant’s response for each numbered item under A. through D. below.

A. Potential for Building and Strengthening Capacity and Advancing the Quality of

Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension

1. Significance of the Problem and Opportunity Clearly state the specific instructional, research, or extension problem or opportunity to be addressed and the connection(s) with the institutional goals or strategic plan or Plan of

Work.

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

2. Project Justification Summarize the body of knowledge justifying the need for the proposed project using graphical and tabulated format when possible. Discuss how the project will be of value at the state, regional, national, or international level(s). Describe any ongoing or recently completed significant activities related to the proposed project for which previous funding was received under this program or other funding programs (including projects supported under the NIFA 1890 Facilities Grants Program and 1890

Formula Programs).

3. Impact on Building and Strengthening Capacity Describe the institution's capability to perform the project and the degree to which the project will strengthen its teaching/education, research, or extension capacity. Include a description of baseline information/preliminary data. Additionally, include the project’s potential for adoption by other institutions.

4. Continuation Plans Describe the likelihood of, or specific plans for, continuation or expansion of the project beyond the period of USDA support. Applicants must indicate if eventual self-support is built into the project and if plans are being made to institutionalize the program if it is successful.

5. Innovation Describe the creative approach to 1) improving the quality of food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences, 2) the approach to solving a scientific problem or advancing a field of science that address objective(s) that are of high importance at the

1890 institution, and 3) the potential results in institutional capacity building.

6. Multidisciplinary and/or Problem-based Focus Indicate 1) how the teaching/education project is relevant to multiple disciplines in the food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences, or with other academic curricula and 2) how the research or extension project is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, and/or involves integrated (teaching/education, research and extension) activities.