FY24-AF-4H-RFA-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support Grant Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 30, 2024

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $712,500

AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD RANGE: $300,000 - $356,250

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-EXCA-010914

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.500

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.500.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines

Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, August 30, 2024 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 (RFA) 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 Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant 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 Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2024 to address priorities identified by the Department of the Air Force Child and Youth Programs through projects that involve 4-H extension and integrate positive youth development activities to support the needs of Airmen and Guardian families across the globe. The amount available for grants in FY 2024 is approximately $712,500.

The overarching goals and desired outcomes for the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support program are:

1. Increase access to 4-H research-based resources and trainings for 4-H professionals and volunteers who serve Air and Space Force-connected youth.

2. Expand the reach of 4-H programming to additional families living on Air and Space Force installations and in civilian communities in the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

The Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support program will address these needs through the promotion of collaboration, open communication, exchange of information, and development of resources to accelerate the delivery of enterprise-wide 4-H programming to Air and Space Force-connected youth.

This notice identifies the objectives for Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support Grant Program projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF 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 CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION

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

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority The authority for the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support competitive grants program is in accordance with the Economy Act of 1932, as amended (31 U.S.C. 1535), which permits the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to provide funds to NIFA. 7 U.S.C. 3318 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into grants with eligible entities to further research, extension or teaching programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences of the Department of Agriculture.

B. Purpose and Priorities The purpose and priorities of the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program (Assistance Listing Number 10.500) is to award competitive grants to eligible entities:

1. to provide outreach and support to 4-H professionals and volunteers to keep them informed, mission connected, and prepared to deliver 4-H programming to Air Force-connected youth living on Air and Space Force installations and in civilian communities within the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS); and

2. to offer 4-H programming opportunities to Air and Space Force-connected youth (enrolled in kindergarten through 18 years of age) that build resiliency, provide a sense of belonging, encourage positive choices, and foster healthy living on and around Air and Space Force installations.

Applications must:

1. Focus project activities within locations either in the CONUS or OCONUS (see Appendix III for definitions);

2. Develop a plan to partner with the organization working outside the defined project area (i.e., A project focused on the CONUS must develop a plan to partner with the award recipient focused on OCONUS and vice versa) to ensure open communication, exchange of information, and development of resources to accelerate the effective delivery of enterprise-wide 4-H programming to Air and Space Force-connected youth; and

3. Directly address the following three objectives for the geographic focus area, established in consultation with the Department of Air Force Youth Services:

Projects focused within the CONUS must:

a. Provide outreach and support to 4-H professionals and volunteers to establish or sustain 4-H programs involving Air and Space Force-connected youth in the continental United States (CONUS). Offer a minimum of five professional development trainings in various formats including 1) on-site trainings (on or near installation); 2) virtual training/distance/education/webinars; and 3) state or regional trainings;

b. Develop a subaward competition to Land-grant Universities to create and/or expand 4-H Clubs, 4-H Camps, and other 4-H programs for Air and Space Force-connected youth on or around CONUS. 4-H camps offered on and around installations must be developed in coordination with local DAF installation points of contact; and

c. Identify an Extension 4-H Youth Development Professional to provide education, https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:31%20section:1535%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section1535)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3318%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3318)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true resources, and assistance to the Department of the Air Force Youth Programs to enhance their CONUS 4-H programs and to support all project activities.

Projects focused on OCONUS must:

a. Provide outreach and support to 4-H professionals and volunteers to establish or sustain 4-H programs that serve Air Force-connected youth located outside the continental United States (OCONUS), as well as families of Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve living in communities geographically dispersed. Offer a minimum of five professional development trainings in various formats including 1) on-site trainings (on or near installation) and 2) virtual training/distance/education/webinars;

b. Develop a subaward competition to Land-grant Universities to create and/or expand 4-H Clubs, 4-H Camps, and other 4-H programs for Air Force-connected youth on or around OCONUS. Funding priority should be given to projects with a plan to specifically target geographically dispersed military-connected youth; and

c. Identify an Extension 4-H Youth Development Professional to provide education, resources, and assistance to the Department of the Air Force Youth Programs to enhance their OCONUS 4-H programs and to support all project activities that connect youth to 4-H clubs and 4-H opportunities in their communities.

The Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program is aligned with the following:

USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026

1. Strategic Goal 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities

USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023–2026 priorities:

1. 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 may collaborate with international partners, to include subcontracts to international partners or other institutions. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the U.S.

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.

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 https://nifa.usda.gov/calendar

Table 2: Program Key Information Title Description

Program Code: MPP Program Code Name: Air Force 4-H Military Partnership

Outreach Support Grant Program

ALN: 10.500

Project Type: Standard Grant Type: Extension

Application Deadline August 30, 2024 Grant Duration: 12 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 2 Maximum Award Amount: $356,250

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

For FY 2024, this program will accept applications for standard extension projects with a budget of up to $356,250 (total project) and a maximum duration of 12 months. The start date of a 1-year project funded with funds appropriated in FY 2024 appropriations, must be before October 1, 2024. (i.e., These projects must be initiated in the federal fiscal year in which the funds were appropriated).

Similar funding levels may be awarded for an additional three years through continuation awards provided performance has been satisfactory, funding is available for this purpose, and continued support is in the best interests of the Federal government and the public. USDA shall coordinate with DAF on program status and funds availability before exercising any options.

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 FY2024 is 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).

C. Project and Grant Types All projects MUST focus on extension activities. All proposed projects MUST focus activities in either the geographic region of the CONUS or OCONUS (listed above in section I, C).

Submissions covering both geographic areas are not permitted and will not be considered.

Standard Project Proposals: The intent is to fund proposals that address program priorities with a maximum award of $356,250 and maximum duration of 12 months.

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.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm 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 Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program must meet all the 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 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-grant Institution colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher).

Duplicate or Multiple Submission. Duplicate or multiple submissions with the same lead PD are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions. However, an applicant may act as a Co-PD on multiple unique submissions as well as submit a single unique application as the Lead PD in the same fiscal year.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required – The Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program 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

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 III of the NIFA Grants Application Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. The 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.

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-EXCA-010914, 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 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. Table 5 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://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/register https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package https://www.grants.gov/support 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

Table 5: Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the NIFA Grants Application Guide)

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

Part IV

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

Part IV

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part IV

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the

SF-424 R&R.

Part V

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

N/A

Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an 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.

1. Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals of the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.

2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed 15 1.5 spaced pages of written text including figures and tables (the font size for 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 (e.g. letters of support) are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project and will count against the page limit. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN must include all the following:

a. Introduction;

i. Include a clear statement of the goal(s) of the proposed project along with location(s) of project activities; and

ii. Include preliminary data/information pertinent to the proposed project. All works cited should be referenced.

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b. Rational and significance;

i. Present the rationale behind the proposed project and reasons for performing the work at the proposing institution;

ii. Describe the specific relationship of the proposed project to the overarching goals and desired outcomes for the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support program;

iii. Clearly document the expected expansion and improvement of 4-H programming available to Air and Space Force-connected youth;

iv. Estimate the effects on Airmen and Guardian families and their relevance to sense of belonging, resiliency, and well-being outcomes; and

v. Document the role of stakeholders and indicate the amount of participation in problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation as appropriate.

c. Objectives;

i. Include a clear statement of proposed objectives (see Part I, C) for the completion of the project. Any interdependence of proposed objectives should be addressed during the discussion of potential pitfalls.

d. Approach;

i. The activities proposed or problems being addressed must be clearly stated and the approaches applied must be clearly described. Specifically, this section must include:

1) A description of the activities proposed and the sequence in which the activities are to be performed;

2) Methods to be used in carrying out the proposed project, including the feasibility of the methods and the role and qualification of project partner(s);

3) Expected outcomes;

4) Means by which results will be analyzed, assessed, or interpreted;

5) How results or products will be used;

6) Plans to communicate results to stakeholders and the public (e.g., extension, education activities, workshops);

7) How this specific project will expand 4-H programming in the geographic focus area (i.e., OCONUS or CONUS) in the short or medium term (1-3 years after the grant ends);

8) How the impacts will be evaluated and reported (a logic model is suggested to accomplish this); and

9) Pitfalls that may be encountered.

e. Global engagement;

i. Describe the roles and functions of all international partnerships, collaborators, and organizations involved in the proposed project.

f. Project timeline;

i. Include approximate start date of 9/15/2024 and end date of 8/31/2025.

g. Cooperation and institutional involvement;

i. Provide a statement of commitment to communicating regularly with NIFA and others who are part of the joint agency initiative, where appropriate. Briefly indicate the commitment of other involved entities and organizations for the completion of this project.

h. Data management plan (DMP);

i. A DMP is required for this program. Applicants should clearly articulate how the project director (PD) and co-PDs plan to manage and disseminate the data generated by the project. The DMP will be considered during the merit review process (see Part V, B of this RFA, NIFA’s Data Management Plan).

3. Field 12. Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded). See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for profile requirements, details about the biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.

R&R Personal Data. This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide).

R&R Budget. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Indirect Costs (IDC) – See Part IV, C of this RFA for funding restrictions regarding IDC, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.

Logic Model. A logic model is recommended for this program. Applicants choosing to utilize a logic model to describe their work should reference: Logic Model Planning Process | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (usda.gov) for materials detailing the composition, usefulness, and development of a logic model.

Supplemental Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the program name “Air

Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program” and the program code “MPP”. Accurate entry is critical.

2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

C. Funding Restrictions Indirect Cost (IDC) not to exceed 10 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) of the recipient. IDC of the prime awardee plus the sum of the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, may not exceed 10 percent of the TFFA.

In the event of an award, the prime awardee is responsible for ensuring the maximum indirect cost allowed for the award does not exceed 6 percent for the prime and 4 percent for sub-awardee(s). Amounts exceeding the maximum allowable IDC are considered unallowable.

Funding restrictions, including tuition remission, and/or use of funds for buildings and facilities are governed by the authorizing legislation and implementing regulations, and, where the RFA is for reimbursable funds, should be consistent with the applicable Interagency Agreement.

Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the de minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414(f)). Currently the Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total indirect costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. OMB has updated the 2 CFR allowing an indirect cost de minimis rate increase from 10 to 15 percent effective October 1, 2024. Budgets for indirect costs will be increased accordingly if the recipient selects the de minimis indirect cost recovery option. As described above and in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as either indirect or direct costs https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/data-management-plan-nifa-funded-research-projects 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 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/logic-model-planning-process https://www.nifa.usda.gov/logic-model-planning-process 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.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If elected, this methodology must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time.

See NIFA Indirect Costs for information including additional resources and NIFA Indirect Cost Guidance Chart.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/indirect-cost-additional-resources https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/nifa-19-009-indirect-cost-chart https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/nifa-19-009-indirect-cost-chart

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process NIFA evaluates each application in a two-part process. First, we screen each application to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements set forth in this RFA. All administrative requirements must be met in order for the application to proceed to the next level of review.

Second, a scientific peer-review process will be used to technically evaluate applications that have met the administrative requirements using a review panel (see NIFA Peer Review Process).

Scientific Peer Review Process:

NIFA selects reviewers for the review panel based upon their training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors:

1. The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities.

2. The need to include experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields.

3. The need to include other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, researchers, public health practitioners, educators, consumers, and commercial reviews) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs.

4. The need to include experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, and private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations.

5. The need to maintain a balanced composition with regard to race, ethnicity, gender representation, and an equitable age distribution.

6. The need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness of each application to producers and the general public.

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

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

After the review process has been completed, NIFA sends copies of reviews, not including the identity of reviewers, and a summary (if applicable) of the review panel comments to the PD.

Conflicts of interest. NIFA takes extreme care to prevent any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may influence the review or evaluation (see NIFA Peer Review Process for Competitive Grant Applications).

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-peer-review-process-competitive-grant-applications

B. Evaluation Criteria NIFA will use the following criteria to evaluate this RFA:

1. Proposal Relevance and Effectiveness – This ascertains if the issue/problem/need addressed is relevant to the overarching goals and desired outcomes for the Air Force 4-H Military Partnership Outreach Support grant program; and if the described extension approach will result in impacts/outcomes that are important to the target stakeholders.

2. Technical/Scientific Merit – This assesses whether the approach is technically sound and innovative; whether there are clear project goals and objectives; and if the methods are appropriate and the proposal includes all components necessary to achieve goals and objectives.

3. Overall Qualifications of Applicants – This ascertains whether the applicant and others on the team possess: the necessary education, experience, and training; a demonstrated record of successful delivery of 4-H programming with military audiences; and the facilities and resources to accomplish the project. This includes the applicant’s record of achievement with previous funding, as well as the qualifications of project partners. If the proposal includes subaward recipients not yet identified, this criterion includes how clearly the selection factors for the subawards are set out, and the expected number of subawards based on those selection factors.

4. Data Management Plan – This assesses the quality and completeness of the data management plan and whether the plan as laid out and the resources available will ensure the proper protection, retention, and accessibility of all data generated with the use of these federal funds.

C. Organizational Management Information Applicants must submit specific management information prior to an award and update the information as needed. Applicants may only need to provide an update if there was a change in previously provided information under this or another NIFA program. NIFA provides the requisite forms during the pre-award process. Although an applicant may be eligible for award under this program, there are factors that may exclude an applicant from receiving federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual, or a determination that an applicant is not responsible).

D. Application Disposition Applicants may withdraw at any time before NIFA makes a final funding decision. NIFA will retain all applications, including withdrawn applications and unfunded applications.

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to responsible and eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this RFA. The date specified by the NIFA awarding official as the effective date of the grant must be no later than September 30 of the federal fiscal year in which the project is approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted by law. The project need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds granted by NIFA under this RFA may be used only for the purpose for which they are granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the award, applicable federal cost principles, USDA assistance regulations, and NIFA General Awards Administration Provisions, 7 CFR Part 3430, subparts A through E.

Award Notice. The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information as described in 2 CFR 200.211 (see NIFA’s Terms and Conditions).

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Several federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications and the projects outlined in this RFA (some are listed here: Federal Regulations). Unless specifically noted by statue or award-specific requirements, NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide applies to all NIFA awards.

C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements Output and reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. If there are any program or award-specific award terms, they will be identified in the Award Notice.

Successful applicants MUST submit an additional annual report to NIFA that includes curriculum developed, number of trainings provided, number of staff reached, number of 4-H programs offered, the number of youth and family participations, and an impact statement for programs or projects associated with each subaward.

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PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget Delegation of fiscal responsibility. Unless the terms and conditions of the award state otherwise, awardees may not in whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, or organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of award funds.

Changes in Budget or Project Plans. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.308, awardees must request prior approval from NIFA for the following program or budget-related reasons (the awardee is subject to the terms and conditions identified in the award):

1. Change in the scope or the objective of the project or program without prior written approval (even if there is no associated budget revision requiring).

2. Change in a key person specified in the application or the federal award.

3. Disengagement from the project for more than three months, or a 25 percent reduction in time devoted to the project.

4. Inclusion of costs that require prior approval in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E

(Cost Principles), or 45 CFR Part 75 Appendix IX, (Principles for Determining Costs Applicable to Research and Development under Awards and Contracts with Hospitals), or 48 CFR, unless waived by the federal awarding agency, 48 CFR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles and Procedures;

5. Transfer of funds budgeted for participant support costs to other categories of expense (2 CFR 200.456 Participant support costs);

6. Sub-awarding, transferring or contracting out of any work under a federal award, including fixed amount sub-awards (see 2 CFR 200.333, Fixed Amount Sub-awards), unless described in the application and funded in the approved federal awards. This provision does not apply to the acquisition of supplies, material, equipment, or general support services.

7. Changes in the approved cost-sharing or matching provided by the non-federal entity; and

8. The need for additional federal funds to complete the project.

B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of NIFA transaction records, which are available to the public. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be confidential, privileged, or proprietary in nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, applicants should clearly mark any information within the application they wish to have considered as confidential, privileged, or proprietary. NIFA will retain a copy of an application that does not result in an award for three years. Such an application will be released only with the consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An applicant may withdraw at any time prior to the final action thereon.

C. Regulatory Information This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with state and local officials. Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the collection of information requirements contained in this notice have been approved under OMB Document No. 0524- 0039.

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D. Limited English Proficiency NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information, free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language Access Services or contact Lois Tuttle, Equal Opportunity Specialist, at Lois.Tuttle@usda.gov or

(443) 386-9488.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/civil-rights/language-access-services https://www.nifa.usda.gov/civil-rights/language-access-services mailto:Lois.Tuttle@usda.gov

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

Program Contacts Bonita Williams Bonita.Williams@usda.gov 425-365-6689

Christopher Petty Christopher.Petty@usda.gov 816-599-8668

For administrative questions related to:

1. Grants.gov, see Part IV of this RFA

2. Other RFA or application questions, please email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov

3. Awards under this RFA, please email awards@usda.gov

U.S. Postal Mailing Address:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000 Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

Courier/Package Delivery Address:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture 2312 East Bannister Road, MS 10000 Kansas City, MO 64141-3061 mailto:bonita.williams@usda.gov mailto:Christopher.Petty@usda.gov mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov mailto:awards@usda.gov

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Glossary of Terms Assistance Listing Number – ALN Authorized Representative – AR Continental United States – CONUS Data Management Plan – DMP Department of the Air Force – DAF National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA Outside the Continental United States – OCONUS Request for Application – RFA Research, Education, and Economics – REE United States Department of Agriculture – USDA

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

Refer to 7 CFR 3430 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions for additional definitions.

Definitions Air and Space Force-Connected Youth:

Individuals under the age of 18 years old or currently 18 years old and enrolled in high school whose family members are active duty, reserve or guard Airmen or active duty or reserve Guardians.

Continental United States:

Air and Space Force installations/bases located in the continental United States (CONUS) includes the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. It does not include Alaska or Hawaii.

Continuation Award:

An award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined period of time with a statement of intention to provide additional support at a future date, provided that performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best interest of the federal government and the public.

Geographically Dispersed:

Refers to youth who are scattered around the state in areas where access to installation support is not feasible.

Matching:

The process through which a grant recipient match awarded USDA funds with cash and in-kind contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The matching funds must derive from non-Federal sources.

New Application:

An application not previously submitted to a program.

On and Around Installations:

Refers to youth who live in catchment areas around installations. Even though they may not attend “on installation” programs, they are near the installation.

Outside the Continental United States:

Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve installations/bases located outside the continental United States (OCONUS) including Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, and countries in Europe and Asia.

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