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Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program

FY 2011 Request for Applications

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

June 1, 2011 NNF Program Office:

Telephone: 202-720-1973 Email: NNF@nifa.usda.gov

Program Website: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/graduateandpostgraduatefellowshipsserd.cfm

Program Code: KK Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.210 NIFA Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-HEP-003435

U.S. Department of Agriculture

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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE;

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES NATIONAL NEEDS GRADUATE AND

POSTGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP (NNF) GRANTS PROGRAM

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.210.

DATES: Applications must be received by close of business (COB) on June 1, 2011 (5:00 p.m.

Eastern Time). 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, if applicable, and 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:

RFP-OGFM@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 Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program RFA.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA requests applications for the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to provide traineeship programs to eligible institutions for meeting the national need to develop scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences, through graduate level training programs. Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA) (see Part I, C, 2).

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an Appropriations Act for FY 2011.

Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an Appropriation Act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. It is anticipated that approximately $3.6 million will be made available to support the NNF program. Awards are made to eligible colleges and mailto:RFP-OGFM@nifa.usda.gov� universities. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their graduate education.

This notice identifies the objectives for NNF projects, the eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for a NNF grant. NIFA additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party for use in the development of the next RFA for this program.

In FY 2011, the special emphasis on Forest Resources is made possible by supplemental funds provided under a reimbursable agreement between NIFA and the U.S. Forest Service. NOTE:

Targeted Expertise Shortage Area “Forest Resources” in this RFA.

NIFA supports the development of 21st Century skills, research-based knowledge, assessment, and utilization of technology and resources to advance a first class next-generation, diverse work force in USDA mission sciences. In a separate Request for Applications, NIFA supports fellowships to individuals pursuing Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral studies in the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (see http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri_rfa.html).

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Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

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

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

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority and Background

Section 7106 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008 (P.L. 110-246) amends the legislative authority for this program contained in section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA) (99 Stat. 1548; 7 U.S.C.

3152) to include the University of the District of Columbia as an eligible applicant.

USDA/NIFA administers this Federal assistance grant program specifically designated for graduate degree programs and postgraduate training of the next generation of policy makers, researchers, and educators in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. USDA initiated the NNF Grants Program in FY 1984. This program in collaboration with eligible higher education institutions is developing intellectual capital to ensure the preeminence of U.S. food and agricultural systems. This program is subject to federal regulations [http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/7cfr3402_05.html] as outlined in administrative provisions that can be found at 7 CFR 3402.

B. Purpose and Priorities

The purpose of the NNF Grants Program is to provide funding to support students’ training and completion of Master’s and/or doctoral degree programs in identified national need areas within the food and agriculture sciences. It also provides funding support for the postdoctoral training of Fellows who have completed their doctoral degrees at colleges and universities that have demonstrable teaching and research competencies in the food and agricultural sciences. Awards made under NNF are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees or obtain postdoctoral training in areas where there is a national need for the development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences. NNF awards invest in graduate training and relevant international experiential learning for a cadre of diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the

USDA.

For the FY 2011 award cycle, NIFA intends to support graduate Fellowship training grants for both Master’s and doctoral levels of study only. Post-doctoral Fellowships will not be awarded under this grant announcement. Future funding of post-doctoral Fellowships will be dependent on the availability of funds.

Applications are being solicited for the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program under the following areas:

(1) Graduate Fellowships to support the training for and completion of Master’s and doctoral degree programs in food, agricultural and related sciences, and;

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(2) Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible Master’s and doctoral USDA Fellows or current applicants.

The objectives of the FY 2011 NNF program, working collaboratively with eligible institutions, are:

(1) To support the training of students at the Master’s and doctoral levels, in order to fill the nationally identified expertise shortage areas in the food and agricultural sciences.

(2) To encourage and recruit outstanding students, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, to enter and complete graduate training in the food and agricultural sciences.

(3) To increase the quality and diversity of students completing graduate degrees in the food and agricultural sciences.

(4) To increase the number of students with graduate degrees in the food, agricultural and related sciences awarded by at least 50 per annum.

(5) To support at least 10 eligible National Needs Fellows to build science competency and have international exposure within the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) in food and agricultural sciences through the IRTA awards.

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant Program contributes to the development of a strong STEM workforce, which is needed to keep this Nation’s competitiveness, through the research and academic training of graduate students.

The importance of this STEM workforce development could not be overemphasized, and is the focus of many education programs addressing various academic levels from P-20. In 2009, a report by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Sciences entitled “A New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Revolution,” recognized that the most effective leveraging of investments would come from a coordinated, interagency effort to encourage the emergence of a New Biology to address broad and challenging societal problems. The four societal challenges identified are: (1) Generate food plants to adapt and grow sustainably in changing environments; (2) Understand and sustain ecosystem function and biodiversity in the face of rapid change; (3) Expand sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels; and (4) Understand individual health.

In response to and building upon these societal challenges, USDA/NIFA has refocused its mission to direct agricultural sciences research, education, and extension programs on addressing the following five Priority Areas:

1. Global Food Security

2. Agriculture Science for Climate Variability and Change

3. Sustainable Bioenergy

4. Childhood Obesity Prevention

5. Food Safety

Moreover, in a separate 2009 report by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences on Agricultural Education, “Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World,” it was recommended that academic institutions with undergraduate programs in agriculture implement the following nine steps below (click to follow links) to better meet the needs of students, employers, and the broader society:

• 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

The full report may be viewed at: http://dels.nas.edu/ag_education/report.shtml.

The whitepaper published by the Academic Programs Section of APLU titled “Human Capacity Development: The Road to Global Competitiveness and Leadership in Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (FANRRS),” also provided recommendations in developing the next generation of food and agriculture scientist. This whitepaper may be read at:

http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=1639.

The NNF grant program responds to the need for expanding the intellectual capital of the STEM workforce in areas relevant to USDA priorities identified by the Secretary: (i) Promotion of a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply for all Americans and for people around the world; (ii) Sustainable agricultural policies that foster economic viability for small and mid-sized farms and rural businesses, protect natural resources, and promote value-added agriculture; (iii) National leadership in climate change mitigation and adaptation; (iv) Building a modern workplace with a modern workforce; and (v) Support for 21st century rural communities. For more information see http://www.usda.gov/documents/VilsackLetter.pdf.

NNF projects will give beneficiaries the ability to address complex issues, including food security and hunger, nutrition and obesity, renewable energy, climate change, and food safety.

The NNF grants program is an opportunity to give attention to the recommendations and influence future innovations and innovators integral to the food and agricultural systems domain.

In preparing applications in response to this FY 2011 NNF RFA, applicants are strongly encouraged to look into these publications and use them as a guide for developing approaches and strategies in the training of students; setting their program goals and objectives; and identifying their measurable outcomes.

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C. Program Area Description

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship (NNF) Grants will support Master’s and doctoral levels of study with NNF and/or IRTA awards for eligible USDA Fellows and current applicants.

The Program Code is KK and the Program Code Name is National Needs Graduate Fellowship Program for all applications submitted under this announcement.

NNF supports NIFA’s goal to increase human resource diversity in the agricultural enterprise by providing funds for eligible full-time students pursuing graduate studies at the Master’s and doctoral levels within the Food and Agricultural Science disciplines identified as national needs or expertise shortage areas. The IRTA component also supports NIFA’s goal by allowing students to have additional training through experiential learning or research opportunities and travel awards that are expected to expand the competencies and skills of USDA Fellows and eventually lead to their completion of advanced degrees in the food and agriculture sciences.

IRTA grants are provided to recipients who must be current National Needs Fellows, or those proposed under current applications to allow them to conduct thesis/dissertation research or undertake studies outside the United States.

1. Student Eligibility

a) Eligibility for NNF

– The grantee institutions develop the selection criteria and it is their responsibility to award fellowships to high caliber students in good academic standing. Only individuals who meet the eligibility requirements listed below will be awarded fellowships. In order for individuals to receive Fellowship stipend support they must:

(1) Be citizens or nationals of the United States as defined in this announcement (refer to 7 CFR

3430.202 Definitions);

(2) Have strong interest as judged by the institution, in pursuing a degree in a national targeted expertise shortage area (TESA), are preparing for a career as a food or agricultural or natural resources scientist or professional, are registered as full-time students; and

(3) Not have:

a. Completed two semesters or equivalent hours (one (1) year) of full-time study as defined by the institution, or

b. Passed candidacy/qualifying examinations, whichever is later; and

c. Been enrolled previously in the academic program at the same degree level.

b) Eligibility for IRTA

– At the time of travel under the IRTA grant award, USDA Fellows conducting research outside the United States must:

(1) Be supported under a USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship grant and be registered as a full-time student;

(2) Have completed one academic year of full-time study, as defined by the institution under the fellowship appointment;

(3) Have formalized arrangements to study and/or conduct research in the foreign location(s) (see Part IV, B, 3, (b));

(4) Have sufficient time remaining in their fellowship award to complete the proposed IRTA travel or research; and

(5) Have a completed NIFA Form 2010 – Fellowship Appointment Form on file with the funding agency (NIFA).

2. FY 2011 Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA)

Applicants should propose training projects at the Master’s and/or doctoral levels to support graduate fellowship stipends for NNF and/or IRTA in ONE

(a) Animal and Plant Production – specifically targeting Animal Well-Being (Ethologists;

Bioethicists; Turkey Reproductive Physiologists); Integrated fields of quantitative genetics, statistics, computational biology, and breeding for animals and for plants.

of the following Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA):

(b) Forest Resources – in particular within the areas of decision sciences; land use and landscape analysis; ecosystem processes and forest health; utilization technology; and communicating forest research results, new technologies, and scientific applications to resource managers.

(c) Agricultural Educators and Communicators – specifically related to: (a) training educators who will strengthen the STEM preparation of K-12 students in order to enter two- and four-year colleges and pursue degrees that will impact the USDA mission; (b) advancing research-based cyberlearning; and (c) developing branding to increase public understanding that food, agricultural and related sciences are vital to U.S. participation in the global science and technology economy.

(d) Agricultural Management and Economics – primarily in agricultural trade policy, resource economics, and economics of alternative energy.

(e) Food Science and Human Nutrition – focus will be in food and nutrition for health, and reduction of childhood obesity.

(f) Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity – particularly in animal pathology and food animal diagnostics, invasive species, and other areas impacting the security of the food systems.

(g) Integrative Biosciences for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems – (integrative training in food and agricultural, social and economic disciplines) for food, agricultural and environmental systems, particularly in sustainable ecosystems and functional integrative environmental and natural resources management.

Institutions that have not previously applied are especially encouraged to do so. (See eligibility information in Part III of this RFA.) Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the TESAs listed above. Awards are made to eligible colleges and universities. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support their graduate education.

Successful applications must select and identify Fellows and award Fellowships within eighteen (18) months of the effective date of a grant. Institutions that fail to meet this deadline will be required to refund monies associated with unawarded Fellowships to NIFA. Graduate fellowship appointments must be awarded only to registered students who are pursuing full-time study in graduate programs in the TESA and at the degree level supported by the grant.

Applicants may not request partial fellowships. A USDA Fellow at the Master’s degree level who maintains satisfactory progress is eligible to receive grant support for a maximum of twenty-four (24) months during a thirty-month period. A USDA Fellow at the doctoral degree level who maintains satisfactory progress is eligible to receive grant support for a maximum of thirty-six (36) months within a forty-two-month period.

It is the intent of this program that Graduate Fellows pursue full-time uninterrupted study or thesis/dissertation research, including time spent pursuing USDA-funded special international study or thesis/dissertation research activities. Graduate Fellows in academic institutions are not entitled to regular annual leave but are entitled to the normal student holidays observed by the institution. The time between academic semesters or quarters is to be utilized as an active part of the grant period. During the period of support, USDA Graduate Fellows, at the discretion of their institutions, may accept additional supplemental employment that would positively contribute to their training or research and would make them eligible for tuition waivers (e.g., full or partial tuition waivers with research or teaching assignments).

3. Funding preference

Funding preference will be given to applications that propose to:

(a) Establish innovative frameworks for graduate training with collaborative research and technology transfer components that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries in agriculture (NOTE: innovative means new or unique or creative approaches to training students in order for them to develop not only core competencies or skills, but also excel in their abilities and expertise to join the scientific workforce and meet the needs identified in the TESA);

(b) Establish Master’s degree programs where Fellows can pursue related summer research opportunities (especially at other colleges/universities, industry or federal agencies); or establish doctoral programs with teaching and/or extension opportunities in related topics;

(c) Establish multidisciplinary graduate training programs in areas of: bio-security; food, agricultural and environmental sustainability, including renewable energy; human nutrition and obesity;

(d) Increase the multicultural (economic, social, cultural, racial, ethnic, geographical, gender, traditionally underserved populations) diversity of the nation’s scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences;

(e) Partner with teaching/research/extension or across colleges/institutions or public/private sectors in order to provide exceptional graduate training in the food and agricultural sciences to develop human capital while meeting the mission of the USDA (See Part VIII, Definitions);

(f) Provide relevant leadership, teaching, research, extension, management and international learning experiences for graduate training in such a way as to demonstrate the potential for USDA Fellows to effectively communicate, in any audience, and become emerging knowledge experts in food and agricultural science disciplines; and

(g) Develop performance measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of: the graduate training that USDA National Needs Fellows receive, the development of expertise in the TESAs listed above, the proficiency with which they pipeline to associated areas of the workforce or further related training; and the conveyance of identified core competencies for: (i) subject matter and related disciplines; (ii) skilled communication; and (iii) aptitude to be effective in a globally-oriented and technologically-driven world economy.

The start date for new awards under this announcement is January 12, 2012.

Applicants are required to provide a 5-year budget with a zero dollar budget for any year where support is not allocated (i.e., recruitment activities are only sponsored activities that year).

Applicants should factor into their application, a recruitment interval to meet the program requirements. The statutory limit for this program is 5 years. Due to statutory restrictions no extensions beyond the 5-year period are allowed. Any eligible institution may, however, apply for a new award with a different scope of work in any fiscal year(s) in which appropriated funds are available for this program. The title of the application should be different from the program name. As noted above the program name is National Needs Graduate Fellowship Program

NNF encourages projects that develop content suitable for delivery through eXtension (http://about.extension.org/mediawiki/files/5/51/EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY_- _March_14%2C_2006_-_YEAR_2.pdf). This content is for end users, as opposed to staff development, and must align with the eXtension Implementation Plan (available at http://about.extension.org/wiki/Planning). Funds may be used to contribute to existing Communities of Practice (COPs) (http://about.extension.org/wiki/Glossary_of_eXtension_Terms #Community_of_Practice_.28CoP.29:) or form new COPs that focus on science content development for the K-12 educational system (for examples of developing COPs and guidance on forming COPs, see http://cop.extension.org/wiki/Main_Page).

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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. This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an Appropriations Act for FY 2011. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an Appropriation Act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. It is anticipated that approximately $3.6 million will be available to fund awards in the FY 2011 funding cycle. NNF plans to award $41,000 for each Master’s level training [$18,500 per year for two (2) years as student stipend] and $79,500 for each doctoral level training [$24,500 per year for three (3) years as student stipend]. For each level of student training, there is a $2,000 per student per year cost-of-education allowance for the institution. For the IRTA awards, there will be $8,000 for doctoral level USDA Fellows and $4,500 for Master’s level USDA Fellows. In FY 2011, at the Master’s level, it is anticipated that approximately $1.25 million will be available for training and IRTA awards. Approximately $2.35 million available for doctoral training, including IRTAs.

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.

B. Types of Applications

In FY 2011, applications may be submitted to the NNF Program as one of the following types of requests:

(1) New application

. This is a project application that has not been previously submitted to the NNF 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 NNF 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 Types

A single application may propose funding under any single TESA for any of the Award Categories listed below, either singly or in any combination, up to a maximum of $262,500 per application. Applicants may not request partial fellowships.

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Award Category No. 1 -- Master’s Level Training:

Funding at $41,000 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $18,500 (minimum) per year for two years, plus $2,000 per year cost-of-education allowance.

Award Category No. 2 -- Doctoral Level Training:

Funding at $79,500 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $24,500 (minimum) per year for three years, plus $2,000 per year cost-of education allowance.

Award Category No. 3 -- Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA)

: One-time award of $4,500 for an eligible USDA National Needs Master’s Fellow and/or one-time award $8,000 for an eligible USDA National Needs Doctoral Fellow.

There is no limit to the number of applications an eligible institution may submit; however, an institution may only receive support up to a maximum of $525,000 in awards. This support may be provided through multiple grant awards.

Each application may request any combination of Award Category No. 1 (Master’s), Award Category No. 2 (doctoral) or Award Category No. 3 (IRTA) funds, not to exceed $262,500.

A separate application must be submitted for each Targeted Expertise Subject Area (see Part I, B.) for which support is requested. NIFA reserves the right to fund fewer Fellows than requested in an application, and to partially fund IRTA requests.

Project Directors with an active NNF award from a previous year may submit application(s) requesting funds to support IRTA(s) ONLY for current, eligible National Needs Fellow(s). Such Award Category No. 3 (IRTA) applications must be clearly identified as requesting support ONLY for current, eligible National Needs Fellow(s) and will be evaluated as described in Part V, B. 2.

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Pursuant to section 1417 of the NARETPA of 1977 (99 Stat. 1548; 7 U.S.C. 3152), and administrative provisions that can be found at 7 CFR 340 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/7cfr3402_05.html) applications may be submitted by:

(1) Land-grant institutions including the University of the District of Columbia;

(2) Colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and

(3) Other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food, and agricultural sciences.

Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training proposals under this RFA. Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA). Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

There are no matching requirements and matching resources will not be factored into the review process as evaluation criteria.

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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.

Applicants are advised to submit early to the Grants.gov system.

New Users of Grants.gov

Prior to preparing an application, it is suggested that the 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 Grant.gov. If the organization is not prepared (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 much 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 “Get Registered” on the Grants.gov left navigation bar (or go to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp) for information on registering the institution/organization with Grants.gov. A quick reference guide listing the steps is available as a 4-page PDF document at the following website:

http://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf.

Steps to Obtain Application Package Materials

The steps to access application materials are as follows:

1. In order to access, complete and submit applications, applicants must download and install a version of Adobe Reader compatible with Grants.gov. This software is essential to apply for NIFA Federal assistance awards. For basic system requirements and download instructions, please see http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp.

To verify that you have a compatible version of Adobe Reader, Grants.gov established a test package that will assist you in making that determination. Grants.gov Adobe Versioning Test Package:

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/AdobeVersioningTestOnly.jsp.

2. The application package must be obtained via Grants.gov, go to http://www.grants.gov, click on “Apply for Grants” in the left-hand column, click on “Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Instructions,” enter the funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-HEP-003435 in the appropriate box and click “Download Package.”

From the search results, click “Download” to access the application package.

Contained within the application package is the “NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for Preparation and Submission of NIFA Applications via Grants.gov.” This Guide contains an introduction and general Grants.gov instructions, information about how to use a Grant Application Package in Grants.gov, and instructions on how to complete the application forms.

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If assistance is needed to access the application package (e.g., downloading or navigating Adobe forms), or submitting the application then refer to resources available on the Grants.gov Web site first (http://www.grants.gov/). Grants.gov assistance is also available as follows:

Grants.gov customer support Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726

Business Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Closed on Federal Holidays.

Email: support@grants.gov

See http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html for additional resources for applying electronically.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

Electronic applications should be prepared following Parts V and VI of the document entitled “A Guide for Preparation and Submission of NIFA Applications via Grants.gov.” This guide is part of the corresponding application package (see Section A. of this Part). The following is additional information needed in order 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., portable document format) in Part III section 3. of the Guide. ANY PROPOSALS CONTAINING NON-PDF DOCUMENTS WILL BE AT

RISK OF BEING EXCLUDED FROM NIFA REVIEW.

Partial applications will be excluded from NIFA review. With documented prior approval, resubmitted applications will be accepted until close of business on the closing date in the RFA.

If you do not own PDF-generating software, Grants.gov provides online tools to assist applicants. Users will find a link to “Convert Documents to PDF” on http://grants.gov/assets/PDFConversion.pdf.

For any questions related to the preparation of an application please review the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide and the applicable request for applications. 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, 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding

Federal holidays.

1.

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 2. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide. The anticipated start date for applications proposed under this RFA is January 12, 2012 and the duration is 60 months.

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet http://www.grants.gov/� http://www.grants.gov/aboutgrants/federal_holidays.jsp� mailto:support@grants.gov� http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html� http://grants.gov/assets/PDFConversion.pdf� http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm� mailto:electronic@nifa.usda.gov�

2.

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 3. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.

R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s)

3. R&R Other Project Information Form Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in detail in Part V, 4. of the NIFA

a. Field 7. Project Summary/Abstract.

The Project Summary must: (1) include the relevance of the project to the goals of NNF; (2) be concise and precise at approximately 250 words; (3) clearly identify the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) being addressed (below) – applicants must select only ONE TESA per application; (4) identify the major academic program or discipline being addressed (below) – applicants may indicate a single or multiple discipline code(s); (5) indicate the number of Fellows and degree level(s) to be supported under the application; and (6) indicate the number and degree level of IRTAs to be supported.

In addition to the above, the Project Summary should:

(1) Provide a clear description of the type of project proposed (fellowships and/or IRTA), succinctly providing information about its major features and a specific description of the activities to be undertaken;

(2) State the overall project goal(s) and supporting measurable objectives;

(3) Give a concise overview of plans for training project to accomplish project goal(s) for national targeted expertise shortage area, include measurable targets, in specified timeline, to meet proposed objectives;

(4) State the relevance of the project to the NNF program goals, and the USDA Strategic Goals and Objectives http://www.NIFA.usda.gov/about/strat_plan.html; and

(5) State the anticipated, measurable national impact(s) on the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESAs).

The importance of a concise, informative Project Summary cannot be overemphasized. If the Project Summary does not include the information above and specifically address relevance, merit, and broader impacts on the USDA Fellows’ research program for meeting the TESAs, the proposal will not be reviewed

The TESA addressed by the application should be identified in the Project Summary.

Applicants should also select one of the disciplines listed below that best describes the major academic program area addressed by the application. This information is important to assigning qualified subject area experts for peer review.

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan.html�

Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) FY 2011 Funding Cycle

Animal and Plant Production – specifically targeting animal well-being (ethologists; bioethicists; turkey reproductive physiologists); integrated fields of quantitative genetics, statistics, computational biology, and breeding for animals and for plants.

Forest Resources – in particular within the areas of decision sciences; land use and landscape analysis;

ecosystem processes and forest health; utilization technology; and communicating forest research results, new technologies, and scientific applications to resource managers.

Agricultural Educators and Communicators – specifically related to: (a) training educators who will strengthen the STEM preparation of K-12 students in order to enter two- and four-year colleges and pursue degrees that will impact the USDA mission; (b) advancing research-based cyberlearning; and (c) developing branding to increase public understanding that food, agricultural and related sciences are vital to U.S. participation in the global science and technology economy.

Agricultural Management and Economics – primarily in agricultural trade policy, resource economics, and economics of alternative energy.

Food Science and Human Nutrition – focus will be in food and nutrition for health, and reduction of childhood obesity.

Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity – particularly in animal pathology and food animal diagnostics;

invasive species; and other areas impacting the security of the food systems.

Integrative Biosciences for Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems – (integrative training in food and agricultural, social and economic disciplines) for food, agricultural and environmental systems, particularly in sustainable ecosystems and functional integrative environmental and natural resources management.

Relevant Disciplines for the FY 2011 Funding Cycle Code

Animal Science A General/Basic Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology B Plant Sciences and Horticulture (includes Turf Grass/Weed Science/Plant Breeding) P Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (includes any aspect of Forestry, Air Quality, Sustainable Agriculture, or Biofuels) C Environmental Sciences/Management (includes Economics, Decision Management and Biometry) L Soil Sciences (includes Soil Quality; Processes) D Water Sciences/Resources (includes Water Quality) W Agricultural/Biological Engineering (includes Rangeland, Urban/Rural Technology) E Agricultural Marketing and Management (includes Agricultural Economics) M Food Science/Technology/Manufacturing/Safety F Human Nutrition (includes obesity and relevant to USDA Strategic Goals) N International Agriculture (includes Disciplines Related to Global Food and Agricultural Systems and Competitiveness) I Agricultural Social Sciences (includes Rural Sociology) S Veterinary Medicine (graduate degree training) V Interdisciplinary, Sustainable Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences and Economics Graduate Degree Programs G

Agricultural Biosecurity X

b. Field 8. Project Narrative.

The Project Narrative should not exceed twenty-five (25) pages of written text and up to five (5) additional pages for figures and tables. This maximum of thirty (30) pages has been established to ensure fair and equitable competition. One-inch margins, using no type smaller than 12 point font and double spaced. Acceptable fonts are Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, Arial, Geneva, or Helvetica. Applications that do not conform to these preparation requirements will not be reviewed.

Appendices to the Project Narrative are allowed if they are directly relevant to the proposed project but should not exceed five (5) pages. Appendices should not be used to circumvent the page limit. Reviewers are instructed not to review appended materials in excess of this limit. The Table of Contents must be the first page(s) of the Project Narrative and is not included in the page limit.

This portion of the application should describe how the proposed project offers unique opportunities for achieving the national objective of engaging outstanding students who will pursue and complete graduate degrees in an area of food and agricultural sciences, and when applicable forest resources, where there is a national need for the development of scientific and professional expertise. The Project Narrative must include and be organized into the four sections identified. A description of the information that must be included in each section is outlined below.

The Project Narrative must include a Table of Contents and all of the following:

(a) Section 1:

Institutional Data and Profile

(1) Discuss the quality of education for all students in the graduate program, describe aligned data, accountability and knowledge management to support graduate training program development for improvement in practice, policy, and strategy to increase achievement, graduation and post-graduation success in the targeted expertise shortage areas. Provide supporting data with numbers, demographics, and results from Program Quality Review(s);

Describe curriculum and instructional approaches, the availability of research training opportunities, and strategies or activities for developing the leadership, management, critical thinking and problem-solving skills of students or unique mentoring experiences that may assist in preparing students for placement following graduation. Where applicant is a past recipient of an NNF award, information is required about progress and outcomes from prior funding, including impacts on workforce expertise. Failure to provide this information about prior NNF awards will result in the application not being reviewed.

(2) Present evidence that the overall academic program has an established record that recognizes and addresses current trends and future needs, and prepares students for the national targeted expertise shortage area of the application and successful careers in the food and agricultural sciences professional and scientific workplaces; (Education Reporting Logic Model is a resource:

http://www.NIFA.usda.gov/funding/nnf/pdf/education_logic_model.pdf)

(3) Discuss current or planned programs at the institution designed to engage outstanding graduate students, especially from traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue and complete further graduate/professional studies to pipeline into the workforce, filling areas of management and leadership in food and agricultural sciences disciplines and how these programs will be synergistic or augment the current application.

(4) Substantiate clearly, with data indicating prior graduate training success in the TESA, the quality of graduate training and/or international experiential learning available through the institution's graduate teaching, research and experiential program(s) in the food and agricultural sciences in the discipline(s) for which Fellows are being recruited.

(5) Supportive information should also include the following institutional data and may be presented in table format:

(a) Student enrollment, retention and graduation rates by gender, racial groups, socio-economic groups, and ethnic groups for the past five years;

(b) Mean standardized college entrance exam scores of students from traditionally underrepresented groups and of other students admitted to the institution(s) for the past five years;

(c) Placement of graduates during the past five years; and

(d) Enrollment, graduation rates and placement of students from traditionally underserved groups and first generation college students and/or past Fellows.

(b) Additional Information for Section 1

(1) Identify the national targeted expertise shortage area (TESA) addressed by the application;

(2) Identify the Award Category(ies) – Master’s, Doctoral, and/or IRTA – and the discipline addressed by the application.

(3) Demonstrate the likelihood that the proposed program of graduate study will result in the development of outstanding graduates with effective leadership and communication skills and the technical and functional competence to meet the future needs of a globally interconnected, technologically advanced, rapidly diversifying and stakeholder-driven food and agricultural industry.

(4) If funds under Award Category 3 (International Research and/or Thesis/Dissertation Allowance) are requested, please include the information below:

When applying for the IRTA type of award for a Current Eligible USDA Graduate Fellow, the Project Narrative should include all of the following

(a) The anticipated, specific destination(s) and duration of the travel;

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/nnf/pdf/education_logic_model.pdf�

(b) Information about the objectives, timeline, expected outcomes and deliverables from the participating, eligible USDA Fellow(s);

(c) The specific study or thesis/dissertation research activities (specific tasks) in which USDA Fellows will be engaged;

d) The NIFA award number which supports the Fellowship activities of the student;

(e) Explanation about how the international experience will contribute to the USDA Fellow’s program of study;

(f) A budget narrative specifying and justifying the dollar amount requested for the travel;

(g) The contact personnel where Fellowship and/or IRTA activity will be undertaken;

include the summary credentials of both the U.S. and international faculty or other professionals with whom the USDA Fellow will be working during the international experience and the nature of support to be provided to insure success of the Fellow’s international experience;

(h) A letter from the dean of the USDA Fellow’s college or equivalent administrative unit supporting the USDA Fellow’s travel request and certifying that the travel experience will not jeopardize the USDA Fellow’s satisfactory progress toward degree completion;

(i) A letter from the fellowship’s grant project director certifying the USDA Fellow’s eligibility, the accuracy of the USDA Fellow’s travel request, and the…