FY22-Capacity-Bldg-Grants-NLGCA-RFA-508-Modification-V2-Updated-Close-Date-11.24.2021.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program

FUNDING YEAR:

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE:

FY 2022 AVAILABLE FUNDING:

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER:

MODIFICATION: Page 22

Fiscal Year 2022

November 24, 2021

Not Required

$4.8 Million

10.326

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. The Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program (NLGCA) is listed in the Assistance Listings under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.326.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. EST, November 24, 2021

Letter of Intent: Not Required

Applicants Comments:

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

Stakeholder Input. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) seeks comments on all request for applications (RFAs) so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service. NIFA considers comments, to the extent possible when developing RFAs and use comments to help 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)).

Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@ usda.gov (email is for comments only).

Please use the following subject line: Response to the Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program (NLGCA) RFA.

https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Agricultural%20Research%2C%20Extension%2C%20and%20Education%20Reform%20Act%20of%20%201998.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Agricultural%20Research%2C%20Extension%2C%20and%20Education%20Reform%20Act%20of%20%201998.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Agricultural%20Research%2C%20Extension%2C%20and%20Education%20Reform%20Act%20of%20%201998.pdf mailto:Policy@nifa.usda.gov

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This notice identifies the objectives for NLGCA projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.

NIFA requests applications for the Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program (NLGCA) for FY 2022 to make competitive grants to NLGCA Institutions to assist in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach/extension activities related to the food and agricultural sciences. The anticipated FY 2022 funding level is approximately $4.8 million. The FY 2021 funds also available for grants is $2,277,028. The start dates of the projects receiving funds appropriated in FY 2021 and FY 2022 may have different start dates depending on the availability of FY 2022 funds.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF FIGURES

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

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

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements B. Cost Sharing or Matching

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

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

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

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

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

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

PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

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

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF TABLES

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

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Expected Outcomes

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority This program is administered under the provisions of Section 1473F of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), as added by Section 7138 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (7 USC 3319i). Section 7102 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334) amended the definition of Non-Land- Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCA). On May 16, 2019, NIFA implemented those changes and invited new requests for NLGCA designation (see the Federal Register Notice for additional information). All institutions certified as NLGCA prior to December 21, 2018 must reapply for certification and meet the new criteria for NLGCA certification contained in the Federal Register Notice.

B. Purpose and Priorities The National Institute of Food & Agriculture (NIFA) is designated as the lead Federal Agency that supports higher education in the food and agricultural sciences. In this context, NIFA has specific responsibility to initiate and support projects to strengthen higher education teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences.

The purpose of this program is to assist NLGCA Institutions in maintaining and expanding their capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach/extension activities relating to agriculture, renewable resources, and other similar disciplines. NLGCA Institutions may use the funds to maintain and expand capacity:

1. To successfully compete for funds from Federal grants and other sources to carry out educational, research, and outreach/extension activities that address priority concerns of national, regional, State, and local interest.

2. To disseminate information relating to priority concerns to:

a. interested members of the agriculture, renewable resources, and other relevant communities

b. the public

c. any other interested entity

3. To encourage members of the agriculture, renewable resources, and other relevant communities to participate in priority education, research, and outreach/extension activities by providing matching funding to leverage grant funds

4. Through:

a. the purchase or other acquisition of equipment and other infrastructure (not including alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of buildings)

b. the professional growth and development of the faculty of the NLGCA Institution

c. the development of graduate assistantships

Program Priorities. Applications that address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering food and agriculture-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are encouraged.

Applications are encouraged that will result in building linkages with other institutions (including other colleges and universities, units of State governments, and private sector entities) having a significant ongoing commitment to the food and agricultural sciences generally and to the specific Need Area(s) for which a grant is requested (see part II.C.). The goals of such joint https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2419/text https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3319i%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3319i)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2/text https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/16/2019-10105/designation-as-a-non-land-grant-college-of-agriculture?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= https://nifa.usda.gov/webform/request-non-land-grant-college-agriculture-designation https://nifa.usda.gov/webform/request-non-land-grant-college-agriculture-designation https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/16/2019-10105/designation-as-a-non-land-grant-college-of-agriculture?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= initiative should include maximizing the development and use of limited resources (including faculty, facilities, and equipment) by generating a critical mass of expertise and activity focused on a targeted Need Area(s); increasing cost-effectiveness through achieving economies of scale;

strengthening the scope and quality of a project’s impact; and promoting coalition building likely to transcend the project’s lifetime and lead to future ventures.

Incorporation of Social Sciences and Enhancing Impacts. The NLGCA Program supports social and behavioral science disciplines and applications that embrace multi-disciplinary efforts that integrate biological and social sciences. The social and behavioral sciences are important for addressing many of the challenges facing agriculture and rural communities, such as increasing global demand for food production in the face of limited natural resources; improving health and reducing obesity by engaging in heathy diets; and alleviating poverty by fostering economic opportunity. The incorporation of social sciences can result in relevant expertise and professional skills employers anticipate and value.

Extension Foundation (formerly eXtension) NLGCA encourages (but does not require) projects that develop content suitable for delivery through Extension Foundation.

Global Engagement. NIFA supports global engagement that advances U.S. agricultural goals.

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

Therefore, although application to this RFA is limited to eligible U.S. institutions, applicants may collaborate with international partners, to include subcontracts to international partners or other institutions. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the United States.

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

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

and working in teams.

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

3. Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and

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

The NLGCA is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Goals:

1. Strategic Goal 4: Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development; Objective 4.1:

Expand rural business opportunity and rural quality of life with access to capital; improved infrastructure, broadband access, and connectivity; and support for workforce availability.

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

Table 2: Program Key Information Title Description

Program Code: NLGCA Program Code Name: Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture CFDA Number 10.326

Project Type: Research, Education, Extension, Integrated Grant Type: Regular; Planning/Conference; Collaborative-Joint;

Collaborative-Large-scale Comprehensive Initiative

(LCI)

Application Deadline November 24, 2021 Grant Duration: Regular 24-36 months; Planning/Conference 24-36 months; Collaborative-Joint 36 months; Collaborative-large-scale Comprehensive Initiative (LCI) 36 months

Anticipated # of Awards: 2 per Institution Maximum Award Amount: Regular $150,000; Planning/Conference $30,000;

Collaborative-Joint $300,000, Collaborative large-scale Comprehensive Initiative (LCI) $750,000

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The anticipated FY 2022 funding level is approximately $4.8 million. The FY 2021 funds also available for grants is $2,277,028. The start dates of the projects receiving funds appropriated in FY 2021 and FY 2022 may have different start dates depending on the availability of FY 2022 funds. USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards. The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this RFA.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA. Application for FY2022 is limited to the following applications types:

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

2. Resubmitted application: Resubmitted applications must include the respond to the previous review panel summary and are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein.

Resubmitted applicants must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously submitted application in the Federal Field (Field 4) on the application form (see Appendix III for definition).

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

1. Project Types. Applicants must propose one of the following project types. Each of the project types include need areas. Applications must demonstrate how the chosen project type and need area will support the legislatively authorized purpose of this program, listed in Part I B of this RFA. Projects must address a demonstrated and/or documented issue/problem/challenge of national, regional, state, or local interest within the food and agricultural sciences. This can be undertaken through a variety of mechanisms, approaches, or strategies within the Activity Type.

a. Education. Applications with an education/teaching focus must address at least one of the Education Need Areas within this subsection. Proposed education focused activities must support for-credit coursework (academic curriculum), leading to a degree within the broadly defined food and agricultural sciences.

Projects must be innovative; have potential for adoption by other academic institutions; exhibit broad-based applicability beyond a single course or an individual instructor; have a strong potential for institutionalization; and must be supported by evidence-based studies, publications, or practices. Education Need Areas include:

i. Curriculum Design, Materials Development, Library Resources, and Instruction Delivery Systems. To enhance the NLGCA Institution’s capacity to promote new and improved curricula, instructional materials, and other learning resources to increase the quality of curricula in order to attract, recruit, and retain students in the food and agricultural sciences fields. The objective of the need area is to stimulate the development and https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm use of exemplary education models and materials incorporating the most recent advances in subject matter and research on teaching and learning theory. Projects can include integration of research, education and extension/outreach and be multidisciplinary. Learner-centered instructional techniques, or other improvements in teaching and student learning are encouraged. Projects must demonstrate how the product or education program will reach large audiences efficiently and effectively, provide hands-on learning experiences, extend learning beyond the classroom, reinforce recent research on how to motivate students to learn, retain, apply, and transfer knowledge, skills, and competencies, and/ or integrate and synthesize knowledge. The choice for which strategy to employ must be based on the most current research or studies and references must be included.

Projects may emphasize, but are not limited to: the development of courses of study, degree programs, and instructional materials;

incorporating alternative instructional methodologies that respond to differences in student learning styles; inter-institutional collaborations that deliver instruction in ways that maximize program quality and reduce unnecessary duplication; the use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects; the introduction of new subjects; or new applications of knowledge pertaining to Agri-science and agri-business content. The end goal is to have these activities fully institutionalized so they can be sustained and not just a one-time activity, in order to show impacts on the institution’s educational capacity.

ii. Scientific Instrumentation for Education. To provide students and faculty in science-oriented courses with suitable and modern equipment that involves them in work essential for food and agricultural sciences education and research programs. Applications may include but are not limited to acquiring new, state-of-the-art instructional, laboratory, classroom, and research scientific equipment, upgrading existing equipment, or replacing non-functional or obsolete equipment. See section IV § C of this RFA for additional funding restrictions.

iii. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Educational Equity. To enhance educational equity for under-represented students, and to strengthen student recruitment and retention programs in order to promote the future strength of the Nation’s professional and technical workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. Applications may include but are not limited to projects to attract increased numbers of students from under-represented groups; engagement with communities/collaborators/or other partners in utilizing or employing students and graduates; development and/or implementation of agricultural and science literacy programs at the high school level; and mentoring programs and other initiatives for student retention.

iv. Experiential Learning. To further the development of student scientific and professional competencies through experiential learning programs.

The projects might include but are not limited to experiential learning in laboratory research or field-based internships that support topics in food and agricultural sciences; establish instructional methodologies which engage students in experiential learning opportunities (i.e., service learning, case studies, or undergraduate research projects); or career and higher education counseling.

v. Professional Development for Faculty Members. To enhance the NLGCA Institution’s capacity to advance faculty development in the areas of teaching competency and leadership, subject matter expertise, or student recruitment and advising skills, in order to better advise and provide students the experience or knowledge that will encourage them to pursue advanced postsecondary degrees in the food and agricultural sciences or prepare them for the food and agricultural sciences workforce. Training of targeted faculty recipients can be formal or informal and must be relevant to the identified educational needs of the students, who will be the beneficiaries of such faculty development. Any faculty recipient of support must meet the requirements of an eligible participant.

vi. Collaborative Interaction with Other Academic Institutions. To enhance the NLGCA institution’s capacity to promote partnerships with secondary, two-year postsecondary, or other postsecondary academic institutions to support postsecondary instruction (i.e., providing coursework targeted at undergraduate students, but that may also be available for advanced placement credit for secondary students; for transfer credit from associate-degree programs into baccalaureate-level programs; or for postsecondary faculty development that includes research sabbaticals), in order to encourage and facilitate transfer and matriculation into postsecondary programs within the food and agricultural sciences. Emphasis between secondary and higher education institutions may focus on, but is not limited to, the development and use of articulation agreements, 2+2 or 2+2+2 arrangements, advanced placement credit transfer, or the sharing of faculty and facilities. Partnerships, collaborative arrangements, and shared resources between institutions (including course credit sharing arrangements) are encouraged.

Projects must contribute to the academic community’s understanding about how new strategies are transferred to diverse settings and about how they impact student learning. Evaluation plans shall explore opportunities for adapting new strategies in diverse educational settings. Projects that specifically address challenges to achieving widespread adoption of proven practice are especially encouraged. Note: NLGCA grant funding cannot be used to provide student scholarships or other tuition-remission activity.

b. Research. Applications with a research focus must address at least one of the Research Need Areas discussed in this subsection. Research Need Areas may encourage student assistantships. Such student learning opportunities must emphasize team-oriented, problem-solving, decision-making situations in the context of addressing real-world research experiences. Projects addressing student assistantships must: (1) demonstrate how the experience will produce qualified and well-trained graduates; (2) contain an evaluation process involving both the faculty or mentor to assure that students meet project objectives; and (3) document that the field of science under consideration is experiencing a shortage of scientific and professional personnel, and how the project plans to address this deficiency. Individual students may be supported under this opportunity for up to three years (including summers, semesters, or semester breaks). Requested project funds may be used as stipends for students while they are working in research/field settings. (NLGCA funds cannot be used to fund student scholarships or other tuition-remission activity). Students will be required to prepare written and oral summaries of the experiential learning gained through this opportunity. To attract high-caliber students, stipends should be competitive with alternative employment options. A modest amount of funds may be requested for materials/supplies to facilitate a student’s broad exposure to research/field techniques and methodologies. Recipients are encouraged to take advantage of any related paid internship opportunities provided by County, State, Federal, business and industry sources. Research Need Areas include:

i. Studies and Experimentation in Food and Agricultural Sciences. To advance the body of knowledge within the food and agricultural sciences, projects addressing this need area are encouraged to focus on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities addressing systems oriented, critical issues, rather than single, discipline-specific research studies.

ii. Applied Studies in the Food and Agricultural Sciences. To apply the body of knowledge in those natural and social sciences that comprise the food and agricultural sciences to address real-world problems, including applied research activities focusing on community and economic development issues related to food, nutrition, conservation, and renewable natural resources.

iii. Centralized Research Support Systems. To innovate and establish centralized research support systems (including but not limited to technology-based information delivery systems, digital or physical storage and maintenance of data, and expert service centers) that meet national needs or serve regions of NLGCA institutions, or provide research support more economically, thereby freeing up resources for other research uses.

c. Outreach/Extension. Applications with an outreach/extension focus must address at least one of the Outreach/Extension Need Areas discussed in this subsection.

Outreach/Extension projects generally focus on a primary, targeted, beneficiary consisting of individuals and communities outside of a formal, academic program setting. Applications may choose to develop studies that have relevancy and application within the communities that these institutions serve.

Outreach/Extension Need Areas include the following:

i. 4-H, or Other, Similar Youth Development Activity. To cultivate important life skills in youth that build character and assist them in making appropriate life and career choices. At-risk youth targeted in such projects must be encouraged to participate in academic retention and enrichment programs.

ii. Food and Agricultural Sciences. To improve research and educational programs that help individuals learn new ways to produce income through alternative enterprises; improve marketing strategies and management skills; and assist farmers, ranchers, and foresters to improve productivity through sound resource management strategies and marketing.

iii. Leadership Development. To train outreach/extension professionals and volunteers to deliver programs in agriculture, gardening, health and safety, family, and consumer issues; and to support Agriculture in the Classroom, 4-H youth development, or other similar programs that encourage greater involvement and leadership roles within the community.

iv. Natural Resources. To inform landowners and homeowners how to use natural resources wisely and to protect the environment with educational programs.

v. Human, Family, and Consumer Sciences. To help families become resilient and healthy by teaching nutrition, food preparation skills, positive childcare, parenting, family communication, financial management, and health care strategies.

vi. Community and Economic Development. To assist local governments, community, and non-profit organizations to investigate and create viable options for economic and community development.

vii. Technology-based Information Delivery Systems. To promote improvements in the delivery of benefits of food and agricultural sciences to producers and consumers, particularly those who are currently disproportionately low in receipt of such benefits.

d. Integrated. An Integrated Project includes at least two of the three functions of the agricultural knowledge system (i.e., education, research, and outreach/extension) within a project. The functions addressed in the project must be focused around a problem or issue and must be interwoven throughout the life of the project to complement and reinforce one another. The functions must be interdependent and necessary for the success of the project and no more than two-thirds of the project’s budget may be focused on a single component.

For Integrated projects that include an Education component, note that routine use of graduate and postdoctoral students as personnel on research projects is not considered education for the purposes of this program. Only students actively engaged in the scholarship of research or outreach/extension projects are considered as education. Actively engaged students may contribute to presentations, articles, posters, and other expressions of scholarship that reflect their own work on the PD’s project.

For Integrated projects that include an Outreach/Extension component, activities will synthesize and incorporate a wide range of relevant research results.

However, research-related activities such as publication of papers or speaking at scientific meetings are not considered “Outreach/Extension” for the purpose of an Integrated Project.

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

a. Regular. Applicants in this grant type may request up to $150,000. This is an award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined project period without the announced intention of providing additional support at a future date.

b. Planning Activity/Conference. Applicants in this grant type may request up to $30,000 (total conference, not per year) to facilitate strategic planning session(s) required of faculty, industry, professional association, community leaders, or other necessary participants for the specific purpose of developing a formal plan leading to a subsequent submission of a collaborative grant. A Planning Activity/Conference grant application may not be submitted in the same year for which a collaborative grant application for the same project is also submitted.

c. Collaborative. Collaborative grants support projects with at least one additional partner or a multi-partner approach Collaborative grants should build linkages to generate a critical mass of expertise, skill, and technology to address education/teaching programs related to the food and agricultural sciences. Grants can reduce duplication of efforts and/or build capacity and must be organized and led by a strong applicant with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative. The partners must share grant funds (see explanation of required funds distribution percentage among partners in the definition).

i. Joint Grants (Applicant + One or more partners). Applicants may request up to

$300,000 (total, not per year) for a Joint Project Proposal. In a joint grant, the applicant executes the project with assistance from at least one additional partner.

The partner(s) must share grant funds (see explanation of required funds distribution percentage among partners in the definition of a Joint Grant Proposal in Appendix III).

ii. Large-scale Comprehensive Initiatives (LCI) (Applicant + two or more partners).

Applicants may request up to $750,000 (total, not per year) for a large-comprehensive initiative (LCI) Project Proposal. In an LCI Grant, the applicant executes the project with assistance from at least two additional partners.

Additional partners must share grant funds (see explanation of required funds distribution percentage among partners in the definition of a LCI Grant Proposal in Appendix III). An LCI project differs from a Joint Project Proposal in project scope and impact. LCI Project Proposals must support a multi- partner approach to solving a major state or regional challenge facing the agricultural sciences at the postsecondary level. LCI Project Proposals are characterized by multiple partners (each providing a specific expertise) organized and led by a strong applicant with documented project management ability to organize and carry out the initiative.

Note: LCI Projects must include both the Research & Related Budget and the Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment Forms. The forms must clearly identify the total grant funding anticipated for the applicant and each partner to demonstrate the required sharing percentage. All expenditures for the applicant and all partners must be further itemized in the Budget Justification.

LCI Project Proposal funds do not have to be divided equally among project years, nor do they need to be divided equally among project partners. LCI projects must include a statement on expected impacts of the project as well as an Evaluation Plan to measure success.

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=62d65a8b49671dbbe21a70f9d1e6c4d6&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5 https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the NLGCA must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Applications may only be submitted by a Non-Land Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCAs) certified as such by the NIFA at the time of application. A current list of NLGCA’s certified by NIFA can be found at the NLGCA List Resource webpage. Award recipients may subaward to organizations not eligible to apply to this grants program, providing such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. All institutions certified as NLGCA prior to December 21, 2018 must reapply for certification and meet the new criteria for NLGCA certification contained in the Federal Register Notice.

In order for an institution to qualify as a NLGCA, it must be a public college or university offering a baccalaureate or higher degree in the study of agricultural sciences, forestry, or both, which is any of the 32 specified Areas of Study: Agricultural and domestic animal services;

Agricultural and extension education services; Agricultural and food products processing;

Agricultural business and management; Agricultural communication or agricultural journalism;

Agricultural economics; Agricultural engineering; Agricultural mechanization; Agricultural production operations; Agricultural public services; Agriculture; Animal sciences; Applied horticulture or horticulture operations; Aquaculture; Equestrian/Equine Studies; Floriculture or floristry operations and management; Food science; Forest sciences and biology; Forestry;

Greenhouse operations and management; International agriculture; Natural resource economics;

Natural resources management and policy; Natural resources or conservation; Ornamental horticulture; Plant nursery operations and management; Plant sciences; Range science and management; Soil sciences; Turf and turfgrass management; Urban forestry; and Wood science and wood products or pulp or paper technology. If you are not sure if you are eligible to request NLGCA designation, you can look at the NLGCA Eligibility Flow Chart.

In addition, Section 7102 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed the opt-in, opt-out language that had previously required Hispanic Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) and McIntire-Stennis Colleges and Universities to relinquish that status if they wanted to pursue NLGCA designation. There are no longer any such limitations.

To request that NIFA provide certification of NLGCA status, an Authorized Representative must go to the Non-Land-Grant University designation webpage and submit a NLGCA Certification Memo indicating the institution meets the NLGCA qualifications. Within 30 days of submission, NIFA will provide the administrative point of contact specified on the request, with a certification of NLGCA designation or a response indicating why the request for certification is being denied.

For the purposes of this program, the individual branches of a college or university that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions as indicated per the Official List of Certified Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture, are treated as separate institutions, and are therefore eligible to apply for NLGCA Program awards. Separate branches or campuses of a college or university that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions and are therefore not eligible to submit an application. Accreditation must be conferred by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nlgca-list https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/16/2019-10105/designation-as-a-non-land-grant-college-of-agriculture?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term= https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nlgca-eligibility-flow-chart https://nifa.usda.gov/webform/request-non-land-grant-college-agriculture-designation https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/NLGCA-Certification-Memo-20200727.pdf

NLGCA applicants may submit (as the lead applicant) any number of applications in response to this RFA; however, your institution will be limited to a maximum of two grant awards as the lead (applicant) institution. Your institution may participate in any number of NLGCA-funded projects as a partner institution in any given year. However, a Project Director is limited to one funded project, for which they are the lead Project Director in the FY competition.

Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – duplicate or multiple submissions of the same application are not allowed to different programs. Duplicate or substantially similar applications that are submitted concurrently for review by more than one program will be excluded from consideration. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The NLGCA has NO matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

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

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application Applicants must apply to this RFA electronically; no other method or response is accepted. The electronic application for this RFA and additional resources are available on Grants.gov and Grants 101. Table 3 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part II § 1 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Application Guide) contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process.

Table 3. Steps to Obtain Application Materials Steps Action

Step One: Register New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application (Register Here).

Step Two:

Download Adobe

Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility for basic system requirements)

Step Three: Find Application

Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-NLGCA-008581, search for application here: Opportunity Package.

Step Four: Assess Readiness

Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.

Table 4: Help and Resources Grants.gov Support NIFA Support

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

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

Grants.gov iPortal

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

Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays

B. Content and Form of the Application The Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this RFA. The RFA overrides the Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. NIFA will accept subsequent submissions to an application until the application deadline. However, applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this RFA. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 5 outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/learn-grants/grants-101/pre-award-phase.html/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/search-opportunity-package.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

Table 5: Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the Application Guide)

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

Part III § 3

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

Part III § 6.1

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part VII

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV § 1.5

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R.

Part IV § 1.5

Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence.

N/A

Contact NIFA if applicant does not received correspondence from NIFA regarding an application within 30 days of the application deadline.

N/A

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. See Part V § 2 and Part V § 2.17of the Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.

SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). See Part V § 3 of the Application Guide.

R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V § 4 of the Application Guide.

1. Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The 250-word PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals of the NLGCA and should indicate project type (research, education, extension or integrated) and the relevant need area. The summary should also include one or two codes from the following list of discipline codes (if your project includes an international component you must include I as one of the codes). See Part V § 4.7 of the Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.

Table 6: Academic Codes and Disciplines Code Discipline

A Animal Sciences B Related Biological Sciences (includes General/Basic Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology) C Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (includes Forestry) D Soil Sciences E Agricultural/Biological Engineering F Food Science/Technology and Manufacturing G General Food, agricultural and human sciences (includes multidisciplinary projects) H Human Sciences/Family and Consumer Sciences (excludes Human Nutrition) https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/opportunities/instructions/PKG00249520-instructions.pdf

I International Education/Research (enhancement of U.S. programs) J Entomology – Animal L Environmental Sciences/Management M Agribusiness (includes Management, Marketing, and Agricultural Economics) N Human Nutrition O Other (Describe only if not listed above) P Plant Sciences and Horticulture Q Aquaculture S Agricultural Social Sciences (includes Agricultural Education, Agricultural

Communications, and Rural Sociology) T Entomology – Plant V Veterinary Medicine/Science W Water Science

Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed a total page limit of 25 pages. The total page limit will include double spaced pages of written text, figures, and tables (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11points, Times New Roman). Tables could be single-spaced.

The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN must include all the following:

a. Introduction; Include a clear statement of the long-term goal(s) and supporting objectives of the proposed activities. Summarize the body of knowledge or other past activities that substantiate the need for the proposed project. Describe ongoing or recently completed significant activities that relate to the proposed project including the work of key project personnel. Include preliminary data/information pertinent to the proposed project. In addition, this section is to include in-depth information on the following, when applicable:

i. Estimates of the magnitude of the issues and the relevance to stakeholders and ongoing state-federal food and agricultural research, education, and extension programs.

ii. Reasons for performing the work at the proposing institution; and

iii. If international activities are included in this application, you must describe the indicators you will use to assess proposed international activities (e.g., partnerships, exchanges, travel); see Part I. B.

b. Objectives: All applications must include a statement(s) of specific aims of the proposed effort in clear, concise, complete, and logically arranged terms.

c. Methods: explicitly state the procedures or methodology you will apply to the proposed effort. This section is to include, but not necessarily be limited to, descriptions of:

i. Stakeholder involvement in problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

ii. Proposed project activities listed sequentially.

iii. Techniques to be employed in this project, including their feasibility and rationale.

iv. Expected results.

v. How extension and education activities will be evaluated.

vi. How data will be analyzed or interpreted.

vii. Plans to communicate results to stakeholders and the public.

viii. Pitfalls that might be encountered; and

ix. Limitations to proposed procedures

d. Project Timetable: The proposal outline is to include all important phases as a function of time, year by year, for the entire project, including periods beyond the grant funding period.

e. Evaluation Plan: All projects, with the exception of planning grants, must have an evaluation plan as part of the Project Narrative (see Part IV, B). The evaluation plan must include both a strategy for monitoring the project as it evolves (to provide feedback to guide these efforts), as well as a strategy for evaluating the effectiveness of the project in achieving its goals and for identifying positive and negative findings when the project is completed.

The project budget must contain funding to either hire an outside project evaluator, or to present convincing evidence that an appropriate evaluator is already on staff and available to provide assistance with assessment and evaluation throughout the life of the project. As a guide, up to 10 percent of grant funds may be used to support this purpose.

The evaluation results will be reported both annually and in the final performance report (Part VI.). In addition to other measures that are project specific, the evaluation must include:

i. Student/faculty or other stakeholder learning and engagement.

ii. The number of students/faculty or other stakeholders impacted by the project as a result of the proposed activities, either directly (through stipends, experiential learning opportunities, workshops, teaching experiences, etc.) or indirectly (through taking a developed course or program or participating in a recruitment or retention program).

iii. A summation of who benefited the most (and the least) from the project

iv. An explanation of what revisions, improvements, or enhancements you would make, funding permitting, to increase the value of this project in the future;

and

v. Ideas about how to make projects like yours more cost-effective.

f. Logic Model: Applications must include a logic model detailing the activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. This information should be formatted into a logic model chart. The logic model planning process is a tool that should be used in developing projects before writing the proposal. Up to two additional pages are allowed for this information. More information and resources related to the logic model planning process are provided at Logic model Planning Process.

g. Response to Previous Review (if Applicable); This requirement only applies to Resubmitted Applications or Resubmitted Renewal Applications as described in Part II, B. The Project Narrative attachment is to include two components: 1) a one-page response to the previous review (containing the previous proposal number in the first line) titled “Response to Previous Review” as the first page of the attachment and 2) https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/logic-model-planning-process the 25 page Project Narrative, as required (see Part IV). The one-page “Response to Previous Review” does not count against the 25 page limit of the Project Narrative.

2. Field 12, Add Other Attachments. See Part V § 4.12 of the Application Guide.

Expected Outcomes – PDF Attachment. Title the attachment “Expected Outcomes” in the document header and save file as “ExpectedOutcomes.” Please use a format, similar to what is provided below, to submit expected impacts and attach it as the last page of the application.