FY24-1890-CBG-TRE-RFA-MOD1-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and

Extension Capacity Building Grants Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 6, 2024

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $28,000,000

AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

RANGE:

$100,000 - $750,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-CBGP-010814

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.216

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.216.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, August 6, 2024 [Ref to Part I, C of this RFA]

Letter of Intent: Not Applicable Applicants Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice

(NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)

Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recognizes research, education, and extension efforts will have the greatest impacts when programs are grounded in DEIA. NIFA is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of programs and encourages individuals, institutions, and organizations from underserved communities to apply to funding opportunities as lead, co-lead, or subaward recipient(s), and to engage as leaders in the peer panel review process to support the development of strong networks and collaborations. NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

Stakeholder Input. 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 uses 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. Please use the following subject line: Response to the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program RFA.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7613%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section7613)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true mailto:Policy@usda.gov

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

NIFA requests applications for the 1890 Institution Teaching, Research, and Extension Capacity Building Grants (CBG) Program for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to strengthen research, teaching, and extension capacity needed to advance fundamental sciences as well as applied research and development in support of food and agricultural sciences at the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions.

The amount available for grants in FY 2024 is approximately $28,000,000.

Eligible institutions may submit up to twelve Standard/Collaborative and three Professional Development applications per institution in FY 2024.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY INFORMATION

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 D. Limited English Proficiency

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACTS

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

KEY INFORMATION

Key Information 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Key Information 2: CBG Priority Areas Key Information 3: Capacity Building Grants Program Key Information Key Information 4: Applications, Awards, and Project Duration Key Information 5: Maximum Request Allocation (by Project and Grant Types) Key Information 6: Discipline Codes Key Information 7: Eligible Institutions Key Information 8: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Key Information 9: Help and Resources Key Information 10: Key Application Instructions Key Information 11: Expected Outcome Format

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority This program is authorized in 7 U.S.C. 3152 (b)(4) and pursuant to annual appropriations made available specifically for the 1890 Capacity Building Program. Section 7107 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub. L. 110-246) amended the authority for the 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program to allow for extension capacity building, as well as teaching and research.

See Appendix III for definitions of “Capacity Building” and “Food and Agricultural Sciences.”

B. Purpose and Priorities The CBG Program, under Assistance Listing Number 10.216 is designed specifically to build the institutional teaching, research, and extension capacities of the eligible institutions through cooperative programs with Federal and non-Federal entities.

The CBG Program is designed to achieve three major goals:

1. Advance the cultural diversity of the food and agricultural sciences scientific and professional workforce by attracting and educating more students from underrepresented groups;

2. Strengthen linkages among the 1890 Institutions, other colleges and universities, USDA, other Federal agencies, and private industry; and

3. Enhance and strengthen the quality of teaching/education, research, and extension programs at the 1890 Institutions to establish them as full partners in the U.S. food and agricultural sciences higher education system.

The CBG Program is aligned with the following:

USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 goals:

1. Goal 1: Combat Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources, and Communities

2. Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and Prosperous

3. Goal 4: Make Safe, Nutritious Food Available to All Americans

4. Goal 6: Attract, Inspire, and Retain an Engaged and Motivated Workforce that’s Proud to

Represent USDA USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023–2026 priorities:

1. Priority 1: Accelerating Innovative Technologies and Practices

2. Priority 2: Driving Climate-Smart Solutions

3. Priority 3: Bolstering Nutrition Security and Health

4. Priority 4: Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems

5. Priority 5: Translating Research into Action

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 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section3152&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU3LXNlY3Rpb24zMTUxYg%3D%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pl110-246.pdf https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pl110-246.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-research-strategy.pdf may collaborate with international partners, to include subcontracts to international partners or other institutions. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the U.S. (see International Partnerships).

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

1. Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal 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, and trainings.

Building Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning Capacity for Education, Research, and Extension at 1890 Institutions. FY 2024 1890 CBG Program is seeking proposals that strengthen artificial intelligence and machine learning capacity in food and agricultural sciences.

Examples of relevant activities under this Need Area for Education/Teaching proposals could include (but are not limited to) curricula design and materials development; scientific instrumentation for teaching; student experiential learning; and student recruitment and retention. Research proposals could include application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for (including but not limited to) monitoring, analytics and automation in all food and agricultural disciplines, including precision crop agriculture, precision livestock farming, and advanced food manufacturing. Extension proposals could address how artificial intelligence and machine learning tools can be applied to improve access to information and enhance extension services. USDA NIFA and NSF have recently established a nationwide network of artificial intelligence research institutes (https://nifa.usda.gov/press-release/artificial-intelligence-research).

Special emphasis area. FY 2024 1890 CBG Program is seeking proposals that will lead to better management strategies for both conventional and organic production systems to enhance production efficiency, improve animal health and welfare, and develop high quality animal products for human use.

CBG Priority Areas

1. Human health, nutrition security, obesity as it relates to nutrition, and human sciences

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

3. Bioenergy/biofuel and natural resources

4. Sustainable agriculture

5. Food safety

6. Positive youth development

7. Water quality

8. Family and consumer sciences https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/afri-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/press-release/artificial-intelligence-research https://nifa.usda.gov/press-release/artificial-intelligence-research

9. Global food security and agricultural biosecurity

10. Environmental sciences and climate change

11. Workforce development

12. Climate smart agriculture

Other Areas in General Food & Agricultural Sciences This priority area is for innovative applications in Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension in areas that address local, regional, or national issues in the food and agricultural sciences not included in the priority areas listed above. Projects in this area may not fit any of the USDA or NIFA Strategic Goals, but address an emerging local, regional, or national issue.

Metrics. Applications must describe and assess the expected products, results, outcomes, and their potential impacts on strengthening food and agriculture teaching/education, research, and extension in the U.S. In addition to the text, quantified metrics are to be summarized in table format.

For a program informational webinar please visit the NIFA calendar for dates, event registration, and link. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of the informational webinars listed, please contact the event host listed no later than 10 days prior to the event.

Capacity Building Grants Program Key Information

1) Program, Project, and Grant Information

1. Program Codes:

a. Research (EQ)

b. Teaching (EP)

c. Extension (EWE)

2. Program Code Name: 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program

3. ALN: 10.216

4. Project Types:

a. Research Project

b. Teaching/Education Project

c. Extension Project

d. Integrated Project

5. Grant Types:

a. Professional Development Grant

b. Standard Grant

c. Collaborative Grant

6. Application Deadline: August 6, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET

7. Anticipated Number of Awards: 60

2) Applications, Awards, and Project Duration

1. Professional Development

a. Maximum Number of Applications Per Institution: 3

b. Maximum Number of Awards: 1 award per faculty member

c. Project Duration: 12 months (Funds may be used for salary and benefits up to one year) https://nifa.usda.gov/calendar

2. Standard/Collaborative

a. Maximum Number of Applications Per Institution: 12

b. Maximum Number of Awards: No limit, but institution cannot receive more than

10% of the available funds

c. Project Duration: Up to 36 months

3) Maximum Request Allocation (by Project and Grant Types)

1. Teaching/Education

a. Standard: $150,000

b. Collaborative: $300,000

c. Professional Development: $100,000

2. Research

a. Standard: $300,000

b. Collaborative: $500,000

c. Professional Development: $100,000

3. Extension

a. Standard: $250,000

b. Collaborative: $350,000

c. Professional Development: $100,000

4. Integrated

a. Standard: $600,000

b. Collaborative: $600,000

c. Professional Development: N/A

*See Part II C of this RFA for additional funding for Artificial Intelligence (AI)

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The amount available for the Capacity Building Grants Program in FY 2024 is approximately $28,000,000. 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. Applications for FY 2024 are limited to the following application 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 response 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).

3. Renewal application. Renewal applications must contain the same information as required for new applications and must contain a progress report for the corresponding award. The progress report must include the implementation of the data management plan (DMP) of the previously funded project. Renewal applications are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein. Applicants submitting a renewal application must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously approved 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.

Project Types. Applicants must propose one of the following project types:

a. Teaching/Education Projects. Single-function Teaching/Education Projects should develop human capital to help meet current and future national food and agricultural sciences workplace needs. Examples of relevant activities under this project type include (but are not limited to) the following: formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and practicum experience, such as faculty development, student recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative teaching methodologies.

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

i. Curricula Design and Materials Development. This Need Area promotes developing new (or adapting existing) curricula and related materials to meet https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm changes anticipated within the food and agricultural sciences. Projects must be integrated and multidisciplinary and possess learner-centered instruction that will demonstrate an improvement in teaching and student learning against core course objectives. Applicants are expected to demonstrate how the project will reach large audiences efficiently and outcomes are scalable or measurable; and 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, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and work collaboratively in teams.

ii. Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Education. This Need Area prepares academic faculty for sustainable change to address emerging student clientele (demographic composition, learning styles, digital applicability), improve teaching competency (subject matter expertise and pedagogy), or develop student recruitment, retention, and advising skills (career opportunities in emerging agricultural sciences fields). Training of targeted faculty recipient(s) must be intentional and relevant to the identified educational needs of the students, who will be the beneficiaries of such faculty development.

iii. Instructional Delivery Systems. This Need Area encourages the development and use of alternative methods of delivering instruction to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and cost efficiency of teaching programs. Examples of alternative methods of delivering instruction include (but are not limited to):

using state-of the-art digital technology; faculty sharing, cross enrollments, joint degrees, and/or teleconferencing; networking via satellite communications; e-learning and online instruction; utilizing mobile classrooms/laboratories and individualized learning centers; experiential learning; or outdoor and field learning. Multi-institutional, regional, or national collaborations are encouraged. Emphasis should be on improving the art of teaching by faculty.

iv. Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching. This Need Area provides students with the necessary experience with suitable, up-to-date equipment to involve them in work central to understanding advances in the food and agricultural sciences and to prepare them for work or further graduate/professional training. Additionally, this Need Area will support the acquisition of instructional laboratory and classroom equipment.

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

vi. Student Recruitment and Retention. This Need Area aims to enhance student recruitment and retention programs to strengthen the Nation's scientific and professional workforce. Recruitment and retention efforts should be summarized quantitatively (i.e., numbers of students recruited as compared to those contacted) and qualitatively (i.e., lessons learned that improve future recruitment strategies).

b. Research Projects. Single-function Research Projects support fundamental or applied research conducted by individual investigators, co-investigators within the same discipline, or multidisciplinary teams. The following must be considered when developing research applications:

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

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

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

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

i. Studies and Experimentation in Food and Agricultural Sciences. The purpose of this Need Area is to advance the body of knowledge in basic and applied natural and social sciences that comprise the food and agricultural sciences.

Projects addressing this Need Area are encouraged to focus on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research activities addressing critical issues rather than single discipline-specific research studies.

ii. Centralized Research Support Systems. The purpose of this Need Area is to establish centralized research support systems that:

• Meet national needs or serve regions or 1890 Institution clientele that cannot otherwise afford or do not have access to such support, or

• Provide research support more economically, thereby freeing up resources for other research uses. Applicants must demonstrate how the chosen Priority Area is addressed when selecting this Need Area.

• Provide suitable equipment to involve in research-related activities.

c. 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 including face- to-face, electronic, or combinations thereof. Extension Projects may also include related matters such as certification programs, in-service training, client recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional materials and equipment, and innovative instructional methodologies appropriate to informal educational programs. These projects must lead to measurable, documented changes in learning, actions, or conditions in an identified audience or stakeholder group.

These projects must synthesize and incorporate a wide range of the latest relevant research results.

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

i. Extension Program Development Support Systems. The purpose of this Need Area is to increase the quality of extension education programs to clientele through training of Extension specialists, educators, paraprofessionals, technicians, and volunteers. The training may focus on professional development, leadership development, collaborative research development, application of the Extension program development model, development of train-the-trainer models, volunteer development, and/or volunteer delivery systems. This Need Area will also include program accountability support systems that will translate into the delivery of more effective programs by enhancing the expertise and instruments available to effectively report impacts and evaluate Extension programs.

ii. Extension Technology Upgrades. The purpose of this Need Area is to provide funds to upgrade traditional equipment and instruments, establish mobile delivery systems (e.g., laboratories and food safety kitchens), and offer emerging delivery technologies (e.g., IT applications such as distance education, web conferencing, podcasting, and social media interfaces).

iii. Extension Delivery/Methodology. The purpose of this Need Area is to:

develop effective methodologies, strategies, or delivery systems to enhance services to the underserved, including developing new or modifying existing curriculums; establish program centers, experiential learning programs, or after-school programs; and utilize research results for effective community-based programs.

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

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

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

For additional information on integrated programs, including tips for writing Integrated Project applications and an example of an integrated application, see Integrated Programs Application Information. You are also encouraged to contact the Program Contact to discuss the anticipated project parameters and outcomes to ensure the application content appropriately meets the requirements of an Integrated Project.

Building Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning Capacity for Education, Research, and Extension at 1890 Institutions. The FY 2024 1890 CBG Program is seeking proposals that strengthen artificial intelligence and machine learning capacity in food and agricultural sciences.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to foster collaborations with the following USDA-NIFA funded AI institutes:

a. USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management, and Sustainability.

b. USDA-NIFA AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems.

Applicants may partner with other institutions with AI/machine learning programs but must obtain prior approval from NIFA before submitting the proposal. Prior approval requests should include justification for such a partnership. Applications without NIFA’s prior approval to partner with other institutions will not be considered.

Budget: In addition to the budget allocation described in Part I B of this RFA, the successful applicant with an AI/machine learning focus may request up to $150,000.

Discipline Codes. Eligible institutions may, within the Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension Project Need Areas identified for support, propose projects in any discipline(s) or subject matter area(s) of the Food and Agricultural Sciences noted in Discipline Codes below.

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

Discipline Codes

1. Teaching/Education Codes

• T1: Agribusiness Management & Marketing https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-application-information

• T2: Agricultural Engineering

• T3: Animal Sciences

• T4: Aquaculture

• T5: Data Science

• T6: Entomology

• T7: Environmental Science & Natural Resource Conservation

• T8: Food Science/Technology

• T9: General Agricultural Science

• T10: Human Sciences

• T11: Human Nutrition

• T12: International Education

• T13: Plant Sciences

• T14: Related Biological Sciences

• T15: Rural Development/Social Sciences

• T16: Veterinary Science

• T17: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

• T18: Other Teaching/Education Areas

2. Research Codes

• R1: Agribusiness Management & Marketing

• R2: Agricultural Engineering

• R3: General Agricultural Sciences

• R4: Animal Sciences

• R5: Aquaculture

• R6: Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources

• R7: Data Science

• R8: Entomology

• R9: Environmental Sciences/Management

• R10: Food Science/Technology

• R11: Human Nutrition

• R12: International Research

• R13: Plant Sciences

• R14: Related Biological Sciences

• R15: Soil Sciences

• R16: Human Sciences

• R17: Rural Development/Social Sciences

• R18: Veterinary Science

• R19: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

• R20: Other Research Areas

3. Extension Codes

• E1: 4-H and Positive Youth Development

• E2: Agriculture

• E3: Leadership Development

• E4: Natural Resources

• E5: Family and Consumer Sciences

• E6: Community Economic Development

• E7: International Extension

• E8: Rural Development/Social Sciences

• E9: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

• E10: Other Extension Areas

Grant Types. Applicants must select the appropriate grant type:

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

Applications for Standard Grants must address local or regional problems or opportunities in one of the listed Priority Areas (Part I, CBG Priority Areas). The application must have the potential to encourage regional or national program delivery in one of the selected Priority Areas. A Project Director may receive only one new award as the lead individual in a Need Area that focuses on a single subject or discipline. Funds do not have to be equally divided among project years.

b. Collaborative Grant. Collaborative Grants support projects with at least one additional partner or a multi-partner approach to enhance Teaching/Education, Research, and Extension programs. Collaborative Grants should build linkages to generate a critical mass of expertise, skill, and technology to address programs related to the food and agricultural sciences (applicants should address one of the listed Priority Areas (Part I, CBG Priority Areas). Projects should be multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary and address issues at the local, state, regional, and/or national level(s). Grants can reduce duplication of efforts and/or build capacity and should be organized and led by a strong Project Director with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative. Collaborative Grants are expected to be larger than Standard Grants (refer to Part II, Maximum Request Allocation for the maximum fund amounts). The partners must share grant funds (the applicant institution will transfer no more than 50% of the awarded funds to the other institutions participating in the project).

A separate subaward budget and budget justification must be included in the application for each of the identified project partners. The award of grant funds through subawards is limited to the eligible applicant institutions and collaborating institutions.

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

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

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

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

iv. Expanding competence with new methods of information delivery related to Teaching/Education and Extension.

Professional Development applications that support Teaching/Education, Research, and/or Extension faculty, may include approaches such as:

i. Sabbaticals;

ii. Mini sabbaticals for short-term training;

iii. Faculty exchanges; and/or

iv. Continuing education.

The training must address critical U.S. food and agricultural sciences issues at the local, state, regional, and national level(s). The application should align with the university’s strategic plan for food and agricultural sciences. Applications should also address one or more of the CBG priority areas identified in Part I, CBG Priority Areas.

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

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=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 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 CBG Program must meet all requirements discussed in this RFA. 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.

Applications may only be submitted by eligible 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University (per Section 7129 of (Public Law 113-79) (7 U.S.C. 3152(d)(2). The eligible institutions are:

1. Alabama A&M University

2. Alcorn State University

3. Central State University

4. Delaware State University

5. Florida A&M University

6. Fort Valley State University

7. Kentucky State University

8. Langston University

9. Lincoln University (MO)

10. North Carolina A&T State University

11. Prairie View A&M University

12. South Carolina State University

13. Southern University and A&M College

14. Tennessee State University

15. Tuskegee University

16. University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

17. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore

18. Virginia State University

19. West Virginia State University

Faculty and students receiving support for developmental activities or educational costs from the grant award must be an eligible participant (citizen or national of the United States as defined in Appendix III, Definitions). Students must be enrolled at institutions that are eligible to receive CBG awards (see above paragraphs). Where student or faculty eligibility is claimed under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) (22), documentary evidence from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as to such eligibility must be made available to NIFA upon request.

United States citizenship is not required for faculty who serve as PD, co-PD, or key personnel on a Standard or Collaborative project; however, United States citizenship is required for faculty who serve as PD on a Professional Development project.

Faculty may not serve as PD on more than two active CBG projects. If an applicant has two active projects, at least one project must be scheduled to expire by the end of the current fiscal year. Faculty may submit multiple Standard and/or Collaborative Grant applications as the lead PD to the CBG Program in FY 2024. Additionally, there is no limit on the number of https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-113publ79/pdf/PLAW-113publ79.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3152%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3152)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:8%20section:1101%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1101)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:8%20section:1101%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1101)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true applications for which faculty may be listed as co-PD or key personnel. NOTE: All key personnel must submit a current and pending support form. Key personnel may not commit more than 100% effort on concurrent projects.

All collaborative teaching, research, and extension projects and integrated projects may subcontract, as deemed appropriate, to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary to conduct a successful project. The subcontract must advance capacity building at the 1890 institution in the area of the submitted application.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required – The CBG Program has no matching requirement. 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

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. The Steps to Obtain Application Materials provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. NIFA Grants Application Guide is contained in the specific funding opportunity package, or a sample of the guide can be found here. When applying for a NIFA award, it is important to reference the version of the guide that is included in the specific funding opportunity application package.

Steps to Obtain Application Materials 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-CBGP-010814, 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.

Help and Resources

1. Grants.gov Support

a. Grants.gov Online Support

b. Telephone support: 800-518-4726 Toll-Free or 606-545-5035

c. Email support: support@grants.gov

d. Self-service customer-based support: Grants.gov iPortal

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

2. NIFA Support

a. Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

b. Key Information: Business hours: Monday through Friday, 7a.m.-5p.m. ET, except federal holidays

B. Content and Form of the Application The NIFA Grants Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this RFA. The RFA overrides the NIFA Grants Application Guide if there is a discrepancy between the two documents. 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. Key Application Instructions outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide 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://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide

Key Application Instructions

1. Attachments must be in a portable document format (PDF) form (Part IV)

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

IV)

3. Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission (Part IV)

4. Follow the submission instructions (Part IV)

5. Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R (Part V)

6. Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence (N/A)

7. Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding application within 30 days of the application deadline (N/A)

SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.

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

R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals of the CBG Program. The applicant should use the NIFA template and adhere to the maximum limit of 250 words. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and templates.

Field 8. Project Narrative (PN).

Formatting Requirements and Page Limitations:

For Standard and Collaborative Grant applications, the PN must not exceed 25 pages (1.5 spaced, 1-inch margins), including figures and tables. The font size for the PN and tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman.

For Professional Development Grant applications, the PN must not exceed 8 pages (1.5 spaced, 1-inch margins), including figures and tables. The font size for the PN and tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman.

The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly related to the proposed project such as reference list.

Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. After converting the narrative to PDF format and making the necessary adjustments, applicants should verify that the PN does not exceed the applicable page limit.

Proposals with project narratives that exceed the page limit requirement will be returned without review.

Applicants must address all components of the Evaluation Criteria in their Project Narrative (see Part V, B).

https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide

Project Narrative. All applicants should arrange their narrative in the following order:

Cover Page: The cover page is required, does not count toward the page limit of the Project Narrative, and should include the following:

i. Type of Application (see Part II, Application Restrictions.)

ii. Project Type (see Part II, Project and Grant Types.)

iii. Grant Type (see Part II, Project and Grant Types)

iv. Need Area addressed (see Part II, Project and Grant Types.)

v. Program Code (see Part I, Capacity Building Grants Program Key

Information). For integrated project applications, only list the program code for the primary component. For example, if the primary component of an integrated project is Research, then the applicant must indicate “EQ” as the program code.

vi. Primary CBG Priority Areas (see Part I, CBG Priority Areas)

vii. Discipline Code (see Part II, Discipline Codes)

Table of Contents: A table of contents is encouraged in the Project Narrative and will not count toward the page limit.

Response to previous review (if applicable): The response to previous review must not exceed 2 (1.5 spaced, 1-inch margins) pages. The font size should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman. The response to previous review does not count toward the page limit of the Project Narrative and is only required for resubmitted applications.

Standard and Collaborative Grant Applications. To facilitate application review and evaluation, the applicant must include the following headings in the Project Narrative (A.

through D.).

A. Potential for Building and Strengthening Capacity and Advancing the Quality of Teaching/Education, Research, or Extension

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

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

(NEXTGEN)).

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

3. Continuation Plans. Describe the likelihood of, or specific plans for, continuation or expansion of the project beyond the period of USDA support.

Applicants must indicate if eventual self-support is built into the project and if plans are being made to institutionalize the program if it is successful.

4. Innovation. Describe the creative approach to 1) improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences; 2) solving a scientific problem or advancing a field of science that addresses objective(s) of high importance at the 1890 institution; and

3) strengthening institutional capacity building.

5. Multidisciplinary and/or Problem-based Focus. Indicate how the teaching/education project is relevant to multiple disciplines in the food and agricultural sciences, or with other academic curricula, and how the research or extension project is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, and/or involves integrated (teaching/education, research, and extension) activities. Identify the field of science and the objective(s) that are of high importance and will be addressed at the applicant’s institution. If partners are included, provide a concise plan on how they will be managed and coordinated.