FY 2018 Agriculture Risk Management Education.pdf

Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships (ARME) Competitive Grants Program

FY 2018 Request for Applications (RFA)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 27, 2018

ELIGIBILITY: See Part III, A of RFA

ANTICIPATED TOTAL AWARD: approximately $4,483,200

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

AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS (ARME)

COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE: This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.500

DATES: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 27, 2018. Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding (see Part IV, C of this RFA). Comments regarding this request for applications (RFA) are requested within six months from the issuance of this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

STAKEHOLDER INPUT: 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 Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) RFA.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NIFA requests applications for the Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants Program (ARME) for fiscal year (FY) 2018 to provide resources for four regional risk management education centers for the purpose of developing and delivering agricultural risk management education materials. In addition, this program will also provide one grant for a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center to provide associated support to the regional centers. The anticipated amount available for applications in FY 2018 is approximately $4,483,200. Based on the FY 2018 competition, it is the intention of NIFA to provide continuation awards in FY 2019 and FY 2020. This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an appropriations act for FY 2018. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

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

mailto:Policy@nifa.usda.gov http://nifa.usda.gov/resource/extension-risk-management-education-operations-manual

Table of Contents

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

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

PART II--AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding B. Types of Applications 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 F. Potential Streamlining for Competitively Selected Sub-Award Programs

PART V—APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

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

PART VI—AWARD ADMINISTRATION

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

PART VII—AGENCY CONTACT

PART VIII—OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds; Changes B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards C. Regulatory Information D. Definitions E. Materials Available on the Internet

PART I—FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

Section 133 of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 (ARPA), (Pub. L. 106-224), amended the Federal Crop Insurance Act to add section 524(a) (3); [7 U.S.C. Section 1501 as amended by section 132(a) and section 524]; which requires the Secretary, acting through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to establish a competitive grants program for the purpose of educating agricultural producers about the full range of risk management activities. These activities include futures, options, agricultural trade options, crop insurance, cash forward contracting, debt reduction, production diversification, marketing plans and tactics, farm resources risk reduction, and other appropriate risk management strategies. The Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) program brings the existing knowledge base to bear on risk management issues faced by agricultural producers and expands the program throughout the Nation on a regional and multi-regional basis.

As amended section 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act, 7 U.S.C. 1524(a) was further amended by Section 12026 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (FCEA) (Pub. L.

110-246), which requires that the Secretary place special emphasis on risk management strategies, education, and outreach specifically targeted at: (A) beginning farmers or ranchers; (B) legal immigrant farmers or ranchers that are attempting to become established producers in the United States; (C) socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; (D) farmers or ranchers that (i) are preparing to retire; and (ii) are using transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started; and (E) new or established farmers or ranchers that are converting production and marketing systems to pursue new markets.

B. Purpose and Priorities

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

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

This work directly aligns with and helps advance:

1. USDA’s Strategic Plan for FY 2014-2018 : Goal 1, Objective 1.3;

2. USDA’S Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Action Plan: Goal 7;

3. NIFA’s Strategic Plan FY 2014-2018; Goal 1: Science: Catalyze exemplary and relevant research, education, and extension programs; and

4. NIFA’s Family & Consumer Sciences Portfolio priorities in the area of community vitality.

https://www.ocfo.usda.gov/usdasp/sp2014/usda-strategic-plan-fy-2014-2018.pdf https://www.ree.usda.gov/sites/www.ree.usda.gov/files/2017-08/2016USDA_%20REEProgressReportR2.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-strategic-plan-fy2014-fy2018 http://nifa.usda.gov/topic/community-vitality

The primary purpose of the ARME program is to provide U.S. agricultural producers and their families, as appropriate, with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to make informed risk management decisions that enhance profitability of their operations.

NIFA is soliciting applications for the ARME under the following areas:

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

• Northeast Region ARME Center

• North Central Region ARME Center

• Southern Region ARME Center

• Western Region ARME Center

• Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Regional Centers are expected to specifically target risk management as identified in the Legislative Authority (Part 1. A).

Regionally based programs and multi-regional based programs should be flexible while addressing special needs as determined by: producers and other stakeholders, listening and focus groups, and other parties knowledgeable and interested in agricultural risk management. Special emphasis areas as defined by Congress shall be included in the focus of the ARME Centers’ activities through 2020.

The ARME Center applicants will be rated using the Evaluation Criteria for this RFA (See Part V. B.) to evaluate their proficiency in demonstrating ability and expertise working in support of producers who have limited exposure to risk management concepts, tools and strategies, and who can demonstrate expertise in support of and commitment to working with producers who fall within the five special emphasis target areas. Applicants’ proposals will be evaluated for national expertise in one or more of the five identified areas of risk. Applicants are encouraged to recognize the risk management education needs of all producers, including traditionally underserved producers, regardless of the size or scale of operations, and of new and beginning farmers, as well as the other communities of producers identified in the “special emphasis” areas.

Priority will also be given to those applicants with a demonstrated relationship with 1890 land grant institutions, 1994 land grant institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other organizations serving socially disadvantaged, emerging, and underserved communities of farmers, ranchers, and producers. In addition, the host organization of the centers is required to adopt “streamlining” wherein the organization is granted the authority under a streamlining agreement to administer and manage an awards program conducted in accordance with the agreement stipulations.

The Regional ARME Centers will administer results-based, competitive programs. Program applicants at the regional level must identify the intended audience(s) and outcomes of their curricula and training, along with metrics to measure those outcomes. All curricula and training materials developed through this program to date, as well as reports on program outcomes, are archived and publicly available on the Ag Risk Library at: http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/

C. Program Area Description

One of USDA’s goals is to ensure a financially sustainable and competitive agricultural system through serving America’s agricultural producers through effective, market-based risk management tools and solutions to strengthen the economic stability of agricultural producers and rural communities. Today’s farmers and ranchers face an unprecedented risk environment. For an individual farm manager, risk management involves choosing tools and strategies designed to reduce the financial effects of the uncertainties of commodity prices, financial access, http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/ government policies, crop yields, global economies, weather, human factors and other conditions that can cause fluctuations in farm income and subsequent profits.

The Agricultural Risk Management Education program works to fulfill USDA's goal to ensure a strong farm financial safety net through informing farmers and ranchers of risk management tools and strategies, especially in underserved and emerging communities.

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

1. Regional Risk Management Education Center

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

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

Additional funding may be used to support Center activities including needs assessment, stakeholder input and guidance, regional competitive processes, and regional support of coordinated national training efforts. This also includes materials developed and other necessary activities to enhance the delivery of risk mitigation tools to appropriate audiences and conferences as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Regional ARME Centers’ advisory councils, their respective Center Directors, and USDA/NIFA.

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

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

http://nifa.usda.gov/strategic-plan

2. Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center

The USDA/NIFA, using stakeholder input, has placed a high priority on a Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center. This Center electronically stores program materials for risk management educators and professionals and other interested parties. The Center should be a source of addressing risk management education technologies, both in development and delivery.

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

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

In summary, the Risk Management Electronic Support Center shall support the regional centers in the following ways: provide user-friendly electronic applications for submission of pre-proposals and proposals to the various regional centers; archival services for all risk management materials produced through the regional centers’ grants, including a searchable database of all funded projects and the results of completed projects.

PART II—AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The total amount of funds available for five awards under this ARME request for applications is $4,483,200 for FY 2018 and each year thereafter through FY 2020 for support of five grant awards under this program.

Funding Breakdown:

North Central ARME Center: $1,082,736 Western ARME Center: $1,082,736 Southern ARME Center: $1,082,736 Northeastern Center for ARME: $845,424 Digital Center for ARME: $355,968

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of an appropriations act for FY 2018. 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

In FY 2018, you may only submit a new application to the ARME Program.

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

Note: It is the intention of NIFA to make awards for each fiscal year commencing in FY 2018 through FY 2020 based upon the FY 2018 competition. Therefore, only new proposals are being solicited, and they should contain a plan of work for each year, budget and budget narrative for each year, and a consolidated budget covering the entire period. The proposal cover page (See Part IV, this RFA, Application and Submission Information) should include the entire grant period and the total amount being requested for the entire period of the grant proposal (e.g., FY 2018 – FY 2020 or three (3) years). Note that yearly funding awards will be made on an annual basis contingent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory performance by the centers https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm in the management and oversight of regional and multi-regional ARME competitively funded projects.

ARME project periods may range between one (1) and three (3) years. In FY 2018, NIFA plans to make continuation grants for an initial project period of one year to grantees that have requested funding for up to 3 years. A continuation grant is a grant instrument by which the Department agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined project period with a statement of intention to provide additional support at a future date, provided that grantee performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best interest of the Federal government and the public. If these three elements are met, NIFA plans to provide additional support in FYs 2019 and 2020. NIFA will provide applicants funded in FY 2018 with further instructions about submitting applications in FYs 2019 and 2020.

C. Project and Grant Types

1. Project Types

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Offer non-formal learning programs that increase accessibility to new audiences at the rate at which new ideas and technologies are tested and/or developed at the community-scale; and

6. Develop programs that increase public knowledge and citizen engagement leading to actions that protect or enhance the nations’ food supply, agricultural productivity, environmental quality, community vitality, and/or public health and well-being.

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

In response to the FY 2018 ARME RFA, ARME will continue to support two types of extension projects – (a) The Regional Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) Centers and (b) the Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center (RMEESC). One award will be made for each of the four Regional ARME Centers and one for the Regional Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center. Therefore, there will be a total of five (5) awards. Project periods shall not exceed three years (36 months).

(a) Regional Agriculture Risk Management Education (ARME) Centers

Four grants to four separate Regional ARME Centers will be provided as a result of this FY 2018 competition: one each in the Northeast Region, North Central Region, Southern Region, and the Western Region.

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

(b) Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center (RMEESC)

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

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

(a) Regular Grant supports targeted original scientific Research, Education/Teaching, Extension, or Integrated Projects. An eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system may submit a grant application for project activities to be undertaken principally on behalf of its own students or faculty, and to be managed primarily by its own personnel. The applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners.

D. Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

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

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

PART III—ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants

Applications may only be submitted by qualified public and private entities. This includes all colleges and universities, Federal, State, and local agencies, nonprofit and for-profit private organization or corporations, and other entities. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

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

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

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

PART IV—APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Electronic Application Package

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 http://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 http://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 http://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 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/download-application-package.html and enter the funding opportunity number where appropriate

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-ARPA-006535

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 submit an application ONLY 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 about http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://get.adobe.com/reader/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/download-application-package.html 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:

• Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

• Name of agency you are applying to

• 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. EST, 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/ 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 2.18 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 Grants.gov Application Guide.

a. Field 7. Project Summary/Abstract.

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

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

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

• Statement of Need: Describe how this overall project will address relevant issues and the audience(s) to be served.

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

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

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

• Evaluation: Describe how the program structure and procedures/methodologies selected, based on project objectives which will be used to measure the extent to which the objectives are met. Bibliography & References Cited – PDF Attachment. This RFA does not require a bibliography and references cited.

c. Field 12. Add Other Attachments See Part V. Section 4.12 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Field 12 on the form) for instructions regarding mandatory Felony Convictions or Tax Delinquent Status.

4. R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part V, 5 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide. This section of the guide includes instructions about senior/key person profile requirements, and details about the biographical sketch and the current and pending support, including a link to a suggested template for the current and pending support.

5. R&R Personal Data – As noted in Part V, 6 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide, the submission of this information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award. Part V.6 also notes the importance and use of the information.

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

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

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

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

a. Field 2. Program to which you are applying. Enter the program code name (i.e., enter

“ARME – Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships”) and the program code (i.e., enter “OC”). Note that accurate entry of the program code is very important for proper and timely processing of an application.

b. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part VI, 1.8 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for further instructions and a link to a suggested template.

C. Submission Dates and Times

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

Instructions for submitting an application are included in Part IV, Section 1.9 of the NIFA

Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on April 27, 2018.

Applications received after this deadline will normally not be considered for funding.

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

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

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

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

D. Funding Restrictions

Section 715 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-

235) limits indirect costs to 30 percent of the total Federal funds provided under each award.

Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution’s official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 30 percent of total Federal funds awarded. See Part V section 7.9 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide for further indirect cost information.

You may not use grant funds awarded under this authority to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or plan, repair;

rehabilitate, acquire, or construction of buildings or facilities.

Project periods cannot exceed the statutory time limit of five (5) years. The funding period will commence on the effective date cited in the award instrument. Any such limitation also applies to subcontracts made under awards subject to a funding period limitation.

E. Other Submission Requirements

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

For information about the status of a submitted application, see Part III, Section 6 of the NIFA

F. Potential Streamlining for Competitively Selected Sub-Award Programs

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

For those organizations requesting a streamlining process the following items must be included in the proposal which is submitted to NIFA for consideration on or before April 27, 2018:

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

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

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

• A description of the proposal review process;

• A list of reviewers (include their areas of expertise); and

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

If the streamlining process is approved by NIFA, it will be noted on the Provisions section of the Award Face Sheet, Form NIFA-2009 and the organization will no longer be required to submit sub-award proposals and budgets to NIFA Awards Management Division for approval.

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

• A table of sub-awards to be made that includes the project number, project director’s name, institution, amount of the award, and the title of the project. A template table will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader. The table is to be signed by the AOR.

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

A checklist template will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader.

• A checklist of program and budget expectations for each community. These shall be submitted as community projects are identified and developed (which should be within approximately 2 months after the organizations have been notified of funding). The check list must be signed by the project manager and their immediate supervisor or the AOR.

Signatures certify the organization’s responsibility for program and budget implementation standards. A checklist template will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader. A table that lists each community project and an abstract of each project. The abstract should be about 150 words in length and clearly state the issue and how it will be addressed. The table should be submitted with the individual community check lists. A template table will be provided by the NIFA National Program Leader.

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

This streamlining process was established as a trial effort starting with FY 2009 funding and will be fully implemented in FY 2018. The NIFA National Program Leader may revoke an approved streamlining agreement if the program or budget administration by a grantee is deemed sub-standard.

PART V—APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. General

We evaluate each application in a two-part process. First, we screen each application to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements as set forth in this RFA. Second, a technical review panel will evaluate applications that meet the administrative requirements.

We select reviewers based upon their training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors--the:

• Level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities;

• Need to include experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields;

• Need to include other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs;

• Need to include experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and federal agencies, and private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations;

• Need to maintain a balanced composition with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and

• Need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness of each application to producers and the general public.

After each peer review panel has completed its deliberations, the responsible program staff of ARME will recommend that your project be approved for support from currently available funds or be declined due to insufficient funds or unfavorable review.

ARME reserves the right to negotiate with the PD/PI and/or with the submitting organization or institution regarding project revisions (e.g., reductions in the scope of work, funding level, period, or method of support) prior to recommending any project for funding.

We will send copies of reviews, not including the identity of reviewers, and a summary of the panel comments to the PD after the review process has been completed.

B. Evaluation Criteria

A reviewer’s written evaluation entails two levels of assessment. First, the reviewer summarizes how well the application addressed each evaluation criterion. After the application has been assessed for strengths and weaknesses of each criterion, the reviewer then evaluates the overall likelihood that the project will have significant outcome and impact. These written reviews are used to begin panel discussions with other reviewers serving on the peer review panel. Through these discussions, peer review panelists come to consensus on the final rating and ranking of proposals. A complete description of NIFA’s peer review process can be found at the NIFA website https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/NIFA-Peer-Review-Process-for-Competitive-Grant- Applications_0.pdf

The four Regional ARME Centers will be evaluated on one set of criteria and the Risk Management Education Electronic Support Center will be evaluated with a separate set of criteria. We will use the evaluation criteria below to review applications submitted in response to this RFA:

Proposals for Regional ARME Centers will be evaluated based on the criteria described below.

1. Development and Delivery of Relevant ARME Programs to Agricultural Producers 25 points

Focus on Producers Factors include demonstrated understanding of agricultural RME needs including use of feedback mechanisms that identify emerging needs of producers and indicate program relevance and effectiveness. How does your organization gain information from producers that identify current and emerging ARME needs? It is important to note the role of the advisory councils/board in such an effort. Also, to the extent possible reviewers must clearly have an idea of the submitting entities particular expertise and experience in the area of focus on producers.

Programs Targeted to Agricultural Risk Management Education Needs Identify how ARME programming will address multi-regional, regional, state, and local risk management issues. Recognize the risk management education needs of all producers, including traditionally underserved producers, regardless of the size or scale of operations, and of each of the five “special emphasis” communities of producers, including new and beginning farmers, and the types of agricultural risks associated with specialty…