FY25-HEC-RFA-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Higher Education Challenge

Grants Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 11, 2025

ANTICIPATED FUNDING: $5,061,425

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-CGP-011315

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.217

ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.217.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, March 11, 2025

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 Higher Education Challenge 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

This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2025.

Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

This notice specifies the funding information, deadlines, application forms, and accompanying instructions for Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program projects, as well as the funding objectives and eligibility requirements for applicants and projects. NIFA is soliciting applications for the HEC Grants Program for FY 2025 to enable colleges and universities to provide the quality of education required to produce baccalaureate or higher degree-level graduates capable of bolstering the nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce. The amount available for grants in FY 2025 is approximately $5,061,425.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF TABLES

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 TABLES

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2: Program Key Information Table 3: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 4: Help and Resources Table 5: Key Application Instructions Table 6: Application Components Table 7: Academic Codes and Disciplines Table 8: Expected Outcomes

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority Section 1405 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NARETPA), as amended, (7 U.S.C. 3121) designates the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the lead Federal agency for agriculture research, extension, and teaching in the food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences. Authority for this program is contained in section 1417(b)(1) of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(1)).

Section 1417 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3152) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, who has delegated the authority to the Director of NIFA, to make competitive grants to Land-grant colleges and universities, to colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, and to other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, for a period not to exceed 5 years. In response to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, HEC programs shall promote and strengthen higher education in the food and agricultural sciences by formulating and administering programs to enhance college and university teaching programs in agriculture, natural resources, forestry, veterinary medicine, home economics, disciplines closely allied to the food and agricultural system, and rural economic, community, and business development.

B. Purpose and Priorities The purpose of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program, under assistance listing 10.217, is to strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified state, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development.

Specifically, applications submitted to this grants program must state how the funded project will address the HEC Program Goals:

1. To strengthen institutional capacities, including curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agricultural sciences, or in rural economic, community, and business development;

2. To attract and support undergraduate and graduate students in order to educate the students in national need areas of the food and agricultural sciences or in rural economic, community, and business development;

3. To facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more eligible institutions, or between eligible institutions and units of State government or organizations in the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources such as faculty, facilities, and equipment to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or teaching programs emphasizing rural economic, community, and business development;

4. To design and implement food and agricultural sciences programs, or programs emphasizing rural, economic, community, and business development, to build teaching, https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/nar77.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3121%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3121)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title%3A7%20section%3A3152%20edition%3Aprelim)%20OR%20(granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section3152)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title%3A7%20section%3A3152%20edition%3Aprelim)%20OR%20(granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section3152)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true research, and extension capacity at colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments;

5. To advocate for scholarly initiatives in undergraduate programs to address national and international demands for training in food and agricultural sciences, as well as in rural economic, community, and business development;

6. To increase the number and diversity of students who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in the food and agricultural sciences;

7. To enhance the quality of instruction for baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, and first professional degrees in veterinary sciences, to help meet current and future workforce needs in the food and agricultural sciences; and

8. To attract exceptionally talented individuals into research or academic careers in the food and agricultural sciences, who will engage in graduate and postdoctoral fellowship programs.

HEC is a NIFA-administered competitive grants program focused on improving formal, baccalaureate, or master’s degree level food and agricultural sciences education, and first professional degree-level education in veterinary medicine such as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). HEC projects provide funding to eligible applicants to help ensure a competent, qualified, and diverse workforce will exist to serve the food and agricultural sciences system. At the same time, HEC-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of communities through the development of degree programs emphasizing new and emerging employment opportunities. Finally, HEC projects address the national challenge to increase the number and diversity of students entering the food and agricultural sciences (i.e., having a food and agricultural sciences workforce representative of the nation’s population).

HEC projects are expected to: (a) produce measurable impacts aligned with HEC program goals,

(b) promote innovative educational practices within the food and agricultural sciences that improve how students learn, and (c) include a rigorous evaluation component to assess that project outcomes are met. Institutions must demonstrate capacity for, and a significant ongoing commitment to the teaching of the food and agricultural sciences generally, and to the specific need and/or discipline(s) for which a grant is requested. Projects should encourage academic institutions, in partnership with organizations and employers, to work collectively to identify and address a state or regional challenge or opportunity facing the food and agricultural sciences education and workforce community. Additionally, projects should encourage broad participation of students traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences. An application must convince a peer panel of a compelling educational challenge, clearly indicate how the methodology is both unique and with merit, offer significant promise of adoption by others, and include a plan for how the project impacts will be sustained once grant funds end.

The HEC program is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Plan FY 2022-2026 goals:

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

2. Strategic Goal 4: Provide All Americans Safe, Nutritious Food

3. Strategic Goal 6: Attract, Inspire, and Retain an Engaged and Motivated Workforce that’s

Proud to Represent USDA https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf

The HEC program is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023– 2026 priorities:

1. Priority 1: Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices

2. Priority 2: Driving Climate-Smart Solutions

3. Priority 3: Bolstering Nutrition Security & Health

4. Priority 4: Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems

5. Priority 5: Translating Research into Action

Traditional ecological knowledge is regarded as a suitable educational program topic for a HEC program-funded project, provided it fits to the program's priorities and goals as described in this

RFA.

NIFA encourages virtual education and outreach/extension techniques that broaden the reach and access to audiences in its integrated projects.

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 applications to this RFA is limited to eligible U.S. institutions, applicants may collaborate with international partners, to include international experiential learning for U.S.

students. Applications must clearly demonstrate benefits to the U.S.

Leadership Skills Development. The development of leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities are necessary to prepare students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia. HEC 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 and communication skills, ethics and professionalism, and working in teams;

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

3. Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing; and

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

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.

Social and Behavioral Sciences. HEC supports social and behavioral science disciplines.

Projects that integrate social and biological sciences are encouraged. Incorporation of social and behavioral sciences is important for addressing many of the challenges facing agriculture and rural communities, such as increasing global demand for food production in the face of limited natural resources; improving health and reducing obesity by engaging in healthy diets; and alleviating poverty by fostering economic opportunity.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-science-research-strategy.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: ER Program Code Name: Higher Education Challenge Grants Program

ALN: 10.217

Project Type: Education/Teaching Grant Type: Planning Activity; Standard Grant; Collaborative Grant Type 1

(CG1); Collaborative Grant Type 2 (CG2) Application Deadline 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, March 11, 2025

Grant Duration: Planning Activity – Up to 36 months; Standard – 36 to 48 months; Collaborative 1 (CG1) – 36 to 48 months;

Collaborative 2 (CG2) – 36 to 48 months

Anticipated # of Awards: 18 Approximate Maximum

Award Amount:

Planning Activity – $30,000; Standard – $150,000;

Collaborative 1 (CG1) – $300,000; Collaborative 2 (CG2) – $750,000

Additional information:

1. The total number of grants awarded by this grant program will depend on the number and type of meritorious applications submitted in response to this notice and funds available for the program. There is no predetermined number of proposals that may be awarded in any grant cycle.

2. Based on the project scope and budget of all applications selected for awards, the actual, individual grant amounts awarded by NIFA under this grants program may differ from the funds requested by the applicant. In such instances, if the budget alteration exceeds 10%, a revised budget and updated work plans may be mandated by NIFA prior to the issuance of an award.

3. There is no limit on the number of applications that may be submitted by an applicant institution. However, each institution or group that is successful in their application will only be given two awards per grant year through this program. Also, each institution or organization may only receive one CG2 grant per annual HEC grant program competition. Each academic (or other) unit within the institution or organization, such as a college, school of agriculture, etc., may only have one active CG2 grant at any given time.

Projects must primarily focus on baccalaureate, graduate, or DVM level education. However, a project may also include an ancillary, target impact on either secondary, or two-year postsecondary students. Projects with a primary target audience of K-14 students or teachers may consider the Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education and Agriculture in the K- 12 Classroom (SPECA) Grants Program offered through NIFA.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/k-12-higher-education-programs/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12-classroom https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/k-12-higher-education-programs/secondary-education-two-year-postsecondary-education-agriculture-k-12-classroom

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding This RFA is being released prior to the passage of a full appropriations act for FY 2025.

Enactment of a continuing resolution, appropriations act, or other authorizing legislation may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

The amount available for Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) in FY 2025 is approximately $5,061,425. USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), 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 2025 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). See the Project Narrative section (Part IV, B) for additional information related to resubmitted applications.

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

1. Project Types. Applicants must propose Education/Teaching Projects.

An education or teaching project must develop human capital in order to help meet current and future national food and agricultural sciences workplace needs.

HEC projects must focus on one or more of the Need Areas listed below. Please note that at least one of these Need Areas must be indicated on the Project Narrative Cover Page and Project Summary (See Part IV, B). Need Areas for FY 2025 are defined below:

Educational Need Areas:

Projects must engage more than a single course or an individual instructor when addressing at least one of the three Educational Need Areas listed below. The rationale for selecting the Educational Need Area(s) must be explained in the context of how the project can contribute to the development of a cadre of students who will either pursue higher degrees in the food and agricultural sciences or be prepared to enter the food and agricultural sciences workforce.

https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm

a. Curriculum Development, Instructional Delivery Systems, and Expanding Student Career Opportunities:

Projects should promote new and improved curricula and materials to increase the quality of, and continuously renew, the nation's academic programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, projects should stimulate the development, and facilitate the use, of exemplary education models and materials that incorporate the most recent advances in subject matter research, research on teaching and learning theory, and instructional technology.

Examples of eligible projects in this Need Area include:

i. Development of courses of study, degree programs, and instructional materials;

ii. Use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects;

iii. Introduction of new subjects, or new applications of knowledge, pertaining to the food and agricultural sciences;

iv. Hands-on learning experiences and methods to extend learning beyond the classroom and provide students with opportunities to solve complex problems in the context of real-world situations; or

v. Opportunities for students to complete apprenticeships, internships, career mentoring experiences, or other participatory learning experiences.

Projects may develop students’ analytical, interpersonal, leadership, communication, problem-solving, computational, and decision-making skills and abilities. Projects that focus on integrated, multidisciplinary, learner-centered instruction should be considered. Furthermore, projects are expected to reach large audiences efficiently and effectively; reinforce recent research on how to motivate students to learn, retain, apply, and transfer knowledge, skills, and competencies; and integrate and synthesize knowledge from several disciplines.

b. Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching:

Projects should advance faculty development in the areas of teaching competency, subject matter expertise, pedagogy, responsiveness to changes in student demographic composition and learning styles, and student recruitment and advising skills. Training of faculty must be relevant to the identified educational needs of students. Any individual recipient of federal funds must be an "eligible participant" as defined in the definitions section of this RFA (Appendix III).

Examples of eligible projects in this Need Area include activities that enable teaching faculty to:

i. Develop a self-sustaining model for faculty professional development that better prepares new faculty for teaching careers, or provides retraining for experienced faculty;

ii. Gain experience with recent developments or innovative technology relevant to their teaching responsibilities;

iii. Work with scientists or professionals in government, industry, or other colleges or universities to learn new applications in a field;

iv. Expand competence with new methods of information delivery;

v. Create assessments that document student learning outcomes or that identify conceptual areas or skills particularly challenging to students, followed by appropriate changes in instructional approaches to effectively address these issues;

or

vi. Increase utilization of teaching methods that address the special needs of non-traditional students or students from groups that are underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences workforce.

c. Facilitating Interaction with Other Academic Institutions:

This need area promotes linkages between baccalaureate degree-granting institutions to maximize the use of resources supporting outstanding education in food and agricultural sciences. Additionally, this need area supports linkages between baccalaureate degree-granting institutions, secondary, and/or two-year postsecondary institutions to make instruction targeted at undergraduate students available to secondary students as advanced placement credit or as transfer credit from associate-degree programs into baccalaureate-level programs. Faculty research sabbaticals at other academic institutions that will enhance teaching and advising are also supported.

Examples of eligible projects in this Need Area may include:

i. Development and use of articulation agreements, 2+2 or 2+2+2 arrangements, advanced placement credit transfer, or the sharing of faculty and facilities; a project that focuses on developing and implementing comprehensive, multi-institutional practices proven to recruit and retain K-14 level students with a focus on cultivating those students to pursue a four-year food and agricultural sciences degree.

ii. A program to reduce duplication of similar educational resources across institutions and to increase instructional efficiencies. Examples may include multi-institutional or interstate approaches to curriculum development, faculty sharing, cross enrollments, joint degrees, regionalization of academic programs, regional and national workshops and symposia, and similar methodologies.

2. Grant Types. Applicants must select the appropriate grant type from below:

a. Planning Activity Grant:

Planning Activity Grants support meetings that bring together food and agricultural sciences educators to identify education/teaching needs, update information, or advance an area of education/teaching. Support for a limited number of meetings covering subject matter encompassed by this solicitation will be considered for partial or, if modest, total support. Individual planning activity grants must not exceed $30,000 for up to three years and are not renewable. Indirect costs are not permitted on Planning Activity grant awards. Planning Activity Grants may be used to facilitate strategic planning session(s) required of faculty, industry, professional association, community leaders, or other necessary participants for the specific purpose of developing a formal plan leading to a subsequent submission of a Collaborative Grant as described herein. A Planning Activity grant application may not be submitted in the same year for which a Collaborative Grant application for the same project is also submitted.

b. Standard Grant:

Standard Grants support targeted original education/teaching projects. An eligible, individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a state system may submit a grant application for project activities to be undertaken principally on behalf of its own students or faculty, and to be managed primarily by its own personnel. The applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners. Applicants may request up to $150,000 total (not per year) for a Standard Grant application.

c. Collaborative Grants:

Collaborative Grants support projects with at least one additional partner or a multi-partner approach to enhance education/teaching programs. Collaborative Grants should build linkages to generate a critical mass of expertise, skill, and technology to address education/teaching programs related to the food and agricultural sciences.

Grants can reduce duplication of efforts and/or build capacity and should be organized and led by a strong applicant with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative.

i. Collaborative Grant Type 1 (CG1) (Applicant + One Partner): Applicants may request up to $300,000 total (not per year) for a CG1 project. In this type of project, the applicant executes the project with assistance from one additional partner. The partners must share grant funds. Specifically, the applicant institution will transfer at least one-half of the awarded funds to the other institution participating in the project.

ii. Collaborative Grant Type 2 (CG2) (Applicant + Two or more Partners):

Applicants may request up to $750,000 total (not per year) for a CG2 project.

The applicant executes the project with assistance from at least two additional partners. The additional partners must share grant funds. The applicant institution/organization submitting a CG2 proposal must retain at least 30 percent, but not more than 70 percent of the awarded funds and no cooperating entity may receive less than 10 percent of awarded funds. A CG2 project differs from a CG1 in project scope and impact. CG2 projects must support a multi-partner approach to solving a major state or regional challenge in food and agricultural sciences education at the baccalaureate, masters or DVM level. CG2 projects are characterized by multiple partners (each providing a specific expertise) organized and led by a strong applicant with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative.

Reported impacts of CG2 projects must include (but are not limited to) the following:

(a) Assessment of significant progress toward addressing the national challenge of increasing the number and diversity of food and agricultural sciences baccalaureate or higher degree graduates, while addressing the specific state or regional opportunity defined in the grant application;

(b) Documented enhanced retention rates of students in food and agricultural sciences majors exposed to CG2 Project activities;

(c) A comprehensive project evaluation, using the indicators and methods defined in this RFA, that informs the baccalaureate, masters or DVM food and agricultural sciences community and others about the effectiveness of the CG2 Project through the dissemination of results via publications, blogs, conferences/meetings, etc.;

(d) A description of completed or ongoing activities supported by this CG2 Project accompanied with a description of those same activities that will be sustained once grant funds end; and

(e) A description of any related activities expected to occur as an outgrowth of this funded project.

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 Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC) 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 About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Applications may be submitted by:

1. U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the food and agricultural sciences (as defined in 7 CFR 3430.2);

2. Land-grant colleges and universities, (including Land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas);

3. colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and

4. other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences.

An applicant also must meet the definition of an eligible institution/organization as stated in this RFA (see Appendix III). For the purposes of this program, the individual branches of a state university or other system of higher education that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions are treated as separate institutions and are therefore eligible for HEC awards.

Separate branches or campuses of a college or university that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions. An institution eligible to receive an award under this program includes a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university. Accreditation must be by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

United States citizenship is not required of faculty that wish to serve as PD, co-PD, or key personnel on a HEC grant. Any individual (eligible participant) receiving Federal funds (for developmental activities) must be a citizen or national of the United States, as defined in this RFA (see Appendix III). Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

The following applies to CG1 and CG2 applicants only: The applicant institution must meet the definition of “eligible institution” as specified in 7 CFR §3405.2(i); the other institutions participating in a CG1 and CG2 project proposals are not required to meet the definition of “eligible institution” as specified in 7 CFR §3405.2(i), nor required to meet the definition of “college” or “university” as specified in 7 CFR §3405.2(f).

Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided that such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXIV/part-3430/subpart-A/section-3430.2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXIV/part-3405/subpart-A/section-3405.2#p-3405.2(i) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXIV/part-3405/subpart-A/section-3405.2#p-3405.2(i) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-3405/section-3405.2#p-3405.2(f) making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – Duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. If NIFA receives more than one proposal that is the same or similar, it will consider the most recent submission. During administrative screening, any earlier entries that are found to be the same or very similar to the proposal will be declined.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The Higher Education Challenge Grant Program (HEC) has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants

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-CGP-011315, 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 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. NIFA will accept subsequent submissions to an application until the application deadline. However, applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal number to all applications that meet the requirements of this RFA. Applicants must refer to the proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 5 outlines other key instructions for applicants.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grants-101/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-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 mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ mailto:grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/ https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-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 https://www.grants.gov/support

Table 6: Application Components Application component File Name Designation Page limit Max.

Grants.gov Forms SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet N/A Required N/A

SF 424 R&R

Project/Performance Site Location(s) Form

N/A Required N/A

R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded).

N/A Required N/A

R&R Personal Data N/A Recommended N/A SF-424 (Budget) N/A Required N/A R&R Sub-award Budget Attachment

N/A Required (for CG1 and CG2)

N/A

Attachment Uploads

1) Project Summary ProjectSummary.pdf Required 250-word

2) Project Narrative (PN) ProjectNarrative.pdf Required 20-pages 2a) Project Narrative Cover Page

N/A – Include as first page of PN upload.

Required 1-page

2b) Response to Previous Review

N/A – Include as first page of PN upload. See PN section for additional details.

Required (for resubmissions only)

2-pages

2c) Logic Model Include as final page of Project Narrative.

Required 1-page

3) Budget Justification BudgetJustification.pdf Required 2-pages

4) Sub-award Budget Justification

SubawardName_justification.

pdf

Required (for CG1 and CG2)

2-pages (per sub-awardee)

5) Mentoring Plan Mentoring_Plan.pdf Required 2-pages (per tier type)

6) Data Management Plan DMP.pdf Required 2-pages

7) Collaborative Arrangements

Collab_Arrangements.pdf Required N/A

8) Expected Outcomes Expected_Outcomes.pdf Required 1-page

9) Biographical Sketch

(BS)

KeyPersonnel.pdf Required 2-pages (per BS)

10) Current and Pending Support for Key Personnel

PendingCurrent.pdf Required N/A

11) Conflict of Interest PDLastName_COI.pdf Required 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.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-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 goals of the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program (HEC). The PS is limited to 250 words. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. The use of NIFA Application Support Templates is highly encouraged.

2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The attached file, named "ProjectNarrative.pdf," contains the project narrative (PN). The Project Narrative should be a concise and coherent description of the project. The maximum length for the PN is 20 pages of written text, double-spaced with a font size of 12. In addition, up to five double-spaced pages can be used for figures and tables. Tables and figures with accompanying written text (e.g., image caption or figure description) should have a font size of at least 11 points and can be single-spaced. Appendices to the PN are allowed if these are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN attachment should include the Logic Model as the final page and will not count toward the page limit. The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition.

The PN attachment must include the following:

In new applications, the narrative cover page should come before the table of contents. In resubmitted applications, please use this order: 1) response to previous review, 2) narrative cover page, 3) table of contents. The table of contents will not count towards the page limit of the Project Narrative.

Response to Previous Review This requirement only applies to resubmitted applications as described in Part II, B.

The Project Narrative attachment is to include two components: 1) a double-spaced maximum of two-page response to the previous review. Title the first page, “Response to Previous Review” and include the previous proposal number in the first line (see Part IV, B. above).

The two-page “Response to Previous Review” does not count against the 20-page limit of the Project Narrative. In resubmitted applications, the response to previous review should come before the narrative cover page (which is discussed below).

The narrative cover page (first page of the Project Narrative for new applications) must include the information below and will not count towards the page limit of the Project Narrative:

a. Project Title.

b. Project Director (and any) Co-Project Director(s) (include institutional affiliation for each);

c. Educational Need Area: (Part II, C).

d. Projected number of students or faculty to be served by the project during the project period (i.e., using a new curriculum, instructional delivery system, student career opportunity; benefitting from a partnership between institutions; etc.).

e. Primary Academic Code and Discipline: (Select one from Table 7).

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-grantsgov-application-guide https://www.nifa.usda.gov/application-support-templates

f. Grant Type: Planning Activity, Standard, CG1, or CG2. (See ‘Definitions’, Appendix III);

g. Total Funds Requested: (List total Federal funds requested for this application. If this project is a CG1 or CG2 Project Proposal, also list each partner’s total funds requested next to the institution/organization’s name); and

h. Partners: If CG1 or CG2 Project Proposal, list all partner institutions/organizations that will share grant funding.

Table 7: Academic Codes and Disciplines

A Animal Sciences B Related Biological Sciences (includes General/Basic Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology) C Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (includes Forestry) D Social Sciences E Agricultural/Biological Engineering F Food Science/Technology and Manufacturing G General Food agricultural and human sciences (includes multidisciplinary projects) H Human Sciences/Family and Consumer Sciences (excludes Human Nutrition) I International Education/Research (enhancement of U.S. programs) J Entomology - Animal L Environmental Sciences/Management M Agribusiness (includes Management, Marketing, and Agricultural Economics) N Human Nutrition O Other (describe only if not listed in the table) P Plant Sciences and Horticulture Q Aquaculture S Agricultural Social Sciences (includes Agricultural Education, Agricultural

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

Prepare the application using a standard size (8 1/2” x 11”) page, one-inch margins, no type smaller than 12-point font, and double-line spacing. Use an easily readable font face (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, etc.). Information may not be appended to an application to circumvent page limitations prescribed for the Project Narrative.

The Project Narrative must include all the following:

a. Potential for Advancing the Quality of Education; Significance of the Problem

1) Identification of Educational Problem and Project Impact: Briefly state: (a) the specific instructional problem/challenge (or opportunity) to be addressed; (b) the anticipated project audience; and (c) the project’s target objectives (what change in education is proposed?) and its anticipated, overall impact on improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education.

2) Project Justification: Summarize the body of knowledge justifying the need for the proposed project. Discuss how the project’s Educational Need Area (Part II, C.) will be of value at the state, regional, national, or international level(s).

Where applicable, explain how it will improve the food and agricultural science capabilities of students. Describe any previously funded projects that are ongoing or recently completed that are related to the proposed project.

3) Institutional Long-range Goals: Explain how the project will help satisfy the institution/organization's high-priority objectives, or how the project is linked to and supported by the institution/organization's strategic plan.

4) Innovation: Describe the proposal’s creative approach to improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education, solving an educational problem, or promoting programs that advance equal opportunity for all students. Support your choice, with actual experiences or literature.

5) Multidisciplinary and/or Problem-based Focus: Indicate how the project is relevant to multiple disciplines in food and agricultural sciences education and how the project will enhance students’ understanding of complex agricultural systems. Also, discuss whether the project may be adapted or serve as a model for other institutions.

b. Proposed Approach and Cooperative Linkages

1) Plan of Operation and Methodology: Describe procedures for accomplishing the objectives of the project. Describe plans for management of the project to ensure its proper and efficient administration. Describe the way in which resources and personnel will be used to conduct the project.

2) Timetable: Identify all important project milestones (performance targets that indicate when project goals will be met) and dates as they relate to project start-up, execution, evaluation, dissemination, and closeout.

3) Evaluation Plans: State the methodologies to be used in assessing the accomplishment of stated products, results, and measurable impacts from the project. Discuss the strategies and metrics for evaluating progress toward meeting the two HEC goals from Part I, B. Describe any data to be collected and analyzed. Demonstrate how the project will improve education. This section must clearly indicate how you plan to measure impacts. This is optional for Planning Activity grant applications. The following guidance will assist you with developing your evaluation plan:

i. The evaluation may also include assessment of other outcomes, particularly if the project aims to change organizational structures, create cost- efficiencies, or achieve other ends. Explain the data gathering procedures that will be used to monitor and assess progress toward intended project goals. When describing the measurement instruments, you plan to use (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, assessments of e-portfolios or capstone projects, measures of class performance, scores on standardized tests, cost- benefit analyses, etc.), be sure to mention why these are appropriate for gauging success.

ii. The evaluation plan section should make a convincing case to reviewers that at the conclusion of the…