FY25-WAMS-RFA-P.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 27th, 2025

ANTICIPATED FUNDING: $1,800,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-WAMS-011117

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.318

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: Not Required

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN). The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) is listed in the Assistance Listings under the number 10.318.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern, February 27th, 2025 Letter of Intent: Not Required

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

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

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Request for Applications (RFAs) so it can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer service.

NIFA considers comments to the extent possible when developing RFAs, and uses comments to help meet the requirements of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). Applicants may submit written comments to Policy@usda.gov. Please use the following subject line: Response to the WAMS 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.

NIFA requests applications for the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) program for Fiscal Year 2025. The amount available for grants in FY25 is approximately $1,800,000.

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

NIFA requests applications for WAMS to support integrated education and extension/outreach activities that increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas who will pursue and complete a postsecondary degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) disciplines and eventually join the agricultural workforce to make contributions in research, education, extension and other areas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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 E. Proposal Submission Limitations

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

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

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.

5925(d)(7)) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas (definition Appendix III of this RFA) in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields in higher education. Priority is extended to eligible institutions that carry out continuing programs funded by the Secretary.

B. Purpose and Priorities For the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) program, NIFA will support projects with a target audience of K-14 students (kindergarten through twelfth grade plus two years of post-secondary schooling (e.g., vocational technical institutions or community or junior colleges)).

Four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral focused projects will not be awarded under this grant announcement. Projects with a primary target of four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral studies should consider other NIFA workforce development focused programs.

The purpose of this program is to support integrated education/teaching and extension/outreach projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. For a definition of “underrepresented minorities” and “rural area” please visit Appendix III of this RFA. NIFA intends for this program to address educational needs, as determined by each institution, within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences and their allied disciplines.

Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize the development of a competent and qualified workforce in the food and agricultural enterprise. WAMS-funded projects should improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing education and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations for women and underrepresented minorities. Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.

WAMS project activities must support the creation, adaptation, and adoption of learning materials and teaching strategies to operationalize what we know about how students learn.

Many of these concepts are identified in the National Research Council’s publication How People Learn. WAMS-funded projects shall also focus on imparting both technical knowledge as well as leadership and interpersonal skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, as these are abilities expected by employers. These concepts may be found in the publication by Michigan State University, College of Agricultural and Natural Resources:

Comparative Analysis of Soft Skills: What is Important for New Graduates?

Traditional ecological knowledge is considered an acceptable topic of education or extension for projects funded by this RFA, in alignment with the priorities, goals, and objectives outlined above.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:5925%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section5925)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:5925%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section5925)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nifa-reinforces-agricultural-education-pipeline https://www.nap.edu/catalog/9853/how-people-learn-brain-mind-experience-and-school-expanded-edition https://www.nap.edu/catalog/9853/how-people-learn-brain-mind-experience-and-school-expanded-edition http://www.aplu.org/members/commissions/food-environment-and-renewable-resources/CFERR_Library/comparative-analysis-of-soft-skills-what-is-important-for-new-graduates

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. WAMS applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities through their participation in this project. 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.

Social and Behavioral Science Disciplines. 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; and increasing economic opportunities. Projects that integrate social and behavioral sciences to provide experiential learning opportunities for students in applied research, and related community development programs are encouraged.

Advancement in U.S. Food, Agriculture, and Forestry. In an increasingly interconnected world, these domestic advancements have global importance, and may require information and cooperation from beyond our borders. Any proposed activity (e.g., partnerships, exchanges, training, and/or travel), must support the domestic objectives of WAMS. Applicants must clearly describe and demonstrate how international activities proposed in applications submitted to WAMS will contribute to advances in U.S. agriculture. When proposing international activities, applicants must describe the metrics that will be used for reporting beneficial outputs and outcomes. These metrics should reflect how the proposed international collaboration adds value to achieving the WAMS program’s objectives by introducing innovative technologies /approaches, promoting synergistic science, addressing issues of mutual concern, or other means.

Additional guidance on including international activities in WAMS applications is provided on the NIFA Center for International Programs webpage that includes Frequently Asked Questions, descriptions of existing MOUs and other resources.

Projects including international experiences are expected to demonstrate how such experiences and their budgetary allocations support student participation and skills development as well as how their incorporation and budgeted costs are necessary, reasonable and allocable to this project.

The WAMS Program is aligned with the following goals: USDA Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2022-2026

Strategic Goal: 5: Expand Opportunities for Economic Development and Improve Quality of Life in Rural and Tribal Communities Strategic Goal 6: Attract, Inspire, and Retain an Engaged and Motivated Workforce that’s Proud to Represent USDA https://nifa.usda.gov/faqs-about-international-partnerships https://nifa.usda.gov/faqs-about-international-partnerships https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-fy-2022-2026-strategic-plan.pdf

The WAMS Program is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023– 2026 priority:

1. Priority 5: Translating Research into Action

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.

Table 2: Program Key Information

Title Description Program Code: WAMS

Program Code Name: Women and Minorities in STEM

ALN: 10.318

Project Type: Integrated Education / Teaching and Extension / Outreach

Grant Type: Standard Grants Application Deadline February 27th, 2025

Grant Duration: 24-36 Months Anticipated # of Awards/Fiscal Year: 9

Maximum Award Amount: $25,000 to $200,000 total for 24 - 36 months Proposal Submission Limitations: Two applications per eligible institution

A proposed project must address two or more Educational Need Areas and/or be an Applied Project that addresses education/teaching, outreach and capacity building to benefit the communities served, especially that of their students.

1. Educational Need Areas. WAMS projects must focus on the purpose of two or more of the FY 2025 Need Areas. Please note that selected Need Areas must be indicated on the Project Summary (Part IV, B of this RFA).

a. Student Experiential Learning. Furthers the development of student scientific and professional competencies through hands-on experiential learning projects (inside or outside of the classroom) that provide students with opportunities to solve complex problems in the context of real-world situations. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to: introducing and expanding students’ knowledge of STEM and other technologies supportive of solutions to pressing challenges influencing food and agriculture including Addressing Climate Change; Advancing Racial Justice, Equity, and Opportunity; Creating More and Better Markets for Producers and Consumers at Home and Abroad; Tackling Food and Nutrition Insecurity and Food Safety; and Making USDA a Great Place to Work for Everyone. Projects should focus on advancing student decision-making and communications skills, data and analytical skills and improving their interest in STEM disciplines as they relate to the food and agricultural enterprise. Activities may include, but are not limited to, internships, practicum experiences, study abroad opportunities, and leadership skill development.

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

b. Student Recruitment, Retention, Mentoring and Educational Equity. Enhances educational equity for under-represented students and strengthens student recruitment and retention programs to promote the future strength of the Nation’s scientific, professional, and technical workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. Activities under this need area may include the provision of student financial assistance to support the recruitment and retention of students. Applications may emphasize, but are not limited to:

i. Initiating new projects or supplementing current efforts to attract and enroll an increased number of students from underrepresented groups in education programs in STEM disciplines as they relate to food and agricultural sciences.

These efforts may provide outreach to student’s families and communities to engage in a robust exchange of ideas on using the full breadth of the Nation’s intellectual resources more effectively.

ii. Developing or supplementing agricultural and science literacy programs at the K-14 education levels (kindergarten through twelfth grade plus two years of post-secondary schooling (e.g., vocational technical institutions or community or junior colleges)) that attract students to credentialing or degree granting programs and careers in the food and agricultural sciences; providing mentoring and hands-on learning enrichment programs, student financial support for underrepresented students to attend credentialing or degree granting programs or other initiatives for student retention. Projects with a primary target of supporting current four-year undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral studies will not be awarded under this program.

c. Curriculum Design, Materials Development, and Library Resources. The overall objective is to raise awareness for women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas to STEM disciplines as they relate to the food and agricultural sector. This is to be achieved by increasing or updating the quality of academic programs at K-14 institutions. This Educational Need Area promotes the development of alternative courses of study and degree programs, new and improved curricula and instructional materials, delivery systems and technology that respond to differences in student learning styles or increase awareness of the role of STEM disciplines in food and agricultural sciences. The Need Area also promotes the acquisition of library resources including books, journals and digital resources relating to the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences- including traditional ecological knowledge; and stimulates the use of new approaches to the study of traditional subjects, new research on teaching and learning theory, and new applications of knowledge. Projects including curriculum development components must be led by or include key personnel with curriculum development credentials to ensure materials produced comply with the most appropriate pedagogy, teaching standards, and other applicable institutional, state and national accreditation requirements.

2. Expected Products and Results. The WAMS program requires all Project Directors (PDs) to provide appropriate metrics and describe the expected products and results, outcomes, and their potential impact on strengthening food and agricultural science education, research and extension in the United States. Metrics to assess products, outputs and outcomes are to be clearly delineated in the proposal.

Metrics to be captured include but are not limited to the number of: scholarships provided, internships and fellowships completed, participants in career development activities, , and training opportunities. Please be as specific as possible in describing the linkages among activities, outputs, and different types of outcomes (e.g., changes in participant knowledge and awareness of careers in agriculture and training, technical and leadership skills;

participant demographics supportive of this program goals; recruitment, retention, graduation, and placement rates; partnerships formed) and the relevance and potential impact on successfully preparing and supporting students and other communities of learners to enter the future food and agricultural workforce.

3. Evaluation Plan. All projects must have an Evaluation Plan that includes both a strategy for monitoring the project as it evolves (to provide feedback to guide these efforts), as well as a strategy for evaluating the effectiveness of the project in achieving its goals and for identifying positive and negative findings when the project is completed. The complexity of the evaluation will depend on the scope of the project. Grantees are encouraged to obtain an independent evaluation to secure appropriate documentation of the project’s outputs and outcomes. Such efforts should be led by knowledgeable and experienced individuals. As a guide, up to 10% of the grant funds may be used to support this purpose.

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 the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) program in FY 2025 is approximately $1,800,000. USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this RFA.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this RFA. Applications for FY 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 of this RFA for definition).

2. Resubmitted application: Resubmitted applications must include responses to the previous review panel summary within one page-limit additional to the allowed project narrative length 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 of this RFA for definition).

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

1. Project Types. Applicants must propose one of the following:

a. Integrated Education and Extension/Outreach Projects. For this program, an integrated project includes education and extension functions (components) within the project. Functions should be focused on the problem or issue and should be interwoven throughout the life of the project to complement and reinforce one another. The education and outreach functions should be interdependent and necessary for the success of the project and no more than two-thirds of the project’s budget may be focused on a single function.

Integrated Project applicants are encouraged to review NIFA’s Integrated Programs Application Information webpage for additional information on integrated programs, including tips for writing Integrated Project applications and an example of an integrated application.

2. Grant Types. Standard grant is the grant instrument for this RFA. This is an award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a predetermined project period without the announced intention of providing additional support at a future date.

https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-application-information https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/integrated-programs-application-information http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/integrated/integrated.html

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.

E. Proposal Submission Limitations For FY 2025, an eligible applicant may not submit more than two applications to this program as a lead institution/applicant and no more than one award will be made per lead institution /applicant. Prospective project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of sponsored programs (or similar, if applicable) regarding institutional processes used to select proposals for submission.

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 As contained in Section 7204 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Pub.

L. 110-246 which amends Section 1672 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925)), applications may only be submitted by the following eligible applicants: (a) State agricultural experiment stations; (b) colleges and universities; (c) university research foundations; (d) other research institutions and organizations; (e) Federal agencies; (f) national laboratories; (g) private organizations or corporations; and, (h) individuals or any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (H).

Applicants for the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) 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.

Duplicate or Multiple Submission – Submissions of duplicate (other than revisions) or predominantly overlapping applications are not allowed. In FY2025, an eligible applicant may submit up to two applications on behalf of multiple institution’s staff whereas they are not essentially duplications of the same project or portions of the same project to multiple programs.

NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate submissions. For additional information or clarification please contact the NIFA POC listed in this RFA.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching In accordance with 7 U.S.C. 5925(a)(2)(A) the grant recipient is required to match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-Federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions (see Part IV of this RFA, R&R Budget. 3. for details).

NIFA may waive the matching funds requirement for a grant if NIFA determines that: (1) the results of the project, while of particular benefit to a specific agricultural commodity, are likely to be applicable to agricultural commodities generally; or (2) the project involves a minor commodity, the project deals with scientifically important research, and the grant recipient is unable to satisfy the matching funds requirement.

Please reach out to the program contact listed in Appendix I of this RFA with any questions regarding possible cost sharing or match requirements to your specific project.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:5925%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section5925)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/grants-overview https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:5925%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section5925)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true

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-WAMS-011117, 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 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/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package 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 45 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 WAMS Program. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. In the Project Summary please include the following information:

a. Education Need Areas Supported

b. Project Partners, if applicable

c. Location of the Rural Area involved (See Appendix III of this RFA for definition)

d. Number of Students Supported

2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed 10 single-spaced (46 lines per page) pages of written text including figures and tables. The font size should be no smaller than 12 points, Times New Roman, and the page margins no smaller than 1 inch. The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN must include all of the following:

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

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

i. Identification of Educational Problem and Project Impact: Briefly state: (1) the specific instructional problem/challenge (or opportunity) to be addressed; (2) the anticipated project audience; and (3) the project’s target objectives and its anticipated, overall impact on improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education. Clearly identify and explain how the proposed project will address your Educational Need Areas described in Part I.

ii. Project Justification: Summarize the body of knowledge justifying the need for the proposed project. Describe any ongoing or recently completed, significant activities related to the proposed project for which funding was received under a previous WAMS, other program’s awards or other sources.

iii. Institutional Goals: Demonstrate how the project will (1) contribute to the achievement of the institution/organizations’ long-term (five- to ten-year) goals;

(2) help satisfy the institution’s high-priority objectives; and (3) be linked to/supported by the institution's strategic plan.

iv. Innovation: Describe the proposal’s creative approach to improving the quality of food and agricultural sciences education, solving an education problem, and promoting activities that advance equal opportunity for women and underserved minorities. Using either actual experiences or literature background information, show why you selected this approach.

b. Proposed Approach and Cooperative Linkages

i. 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.

ii. Timetable: Identify all important project milestones and dates as they relate to project start-up, execution, evaluation, and closeout.

iii. Products, Results, Measurable Outcomes and Impacts: Outline the expected products/results and their outcome and impact on strengthening access to food and agricultural sciences education for women and underserved minorities in the United States. Make sure to differentiate among the terms and provide metrics to be tracked.

iv. 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 WAMS Program Goals from Part I. Describe any data to be collected and analyzed. Demonstrate how the project will improve education and outreach to women and underserved minorities. This section shall clearly indicate how you plan to measure impacts.

v. Dissemination Plans: The application must document how project accomplishments will be disseminated to the broadest extent throughout the community. Discuss the institution/organization’s commitment to disseminate project results and products and the potential for institutionalization. Identify target audiences and explain methods of communication.

vi. Partnerships and Collaborative Efforts (if applicable): Explain how the project will maximize partnership and collaborative efforts to strengthen food and agricultural sciences education. It is highly encouraged for applicants to provide evidence, via letters of support from the parties involved in the partnership or collaborative arrangement.

c. Institutional Capability and Capacity Building

i. Institutional/organizational Commitment and Capability: Demonstrate that the program administration is committed to this project and has the capability to ensure its completion.

ii. Institutional/organizational Resources: Document that necessary institutional / organizational resources (administrative, facilities, equipment, management of generated data and/or materials), and other appropriate resources, will be made available to the project. Demonstrate how the institutional/organizational resources to be made available to the project, when combined with the support requested from USDA, will be adequate to carry out the activities of the project.

iii. Continuation Plans: Discuss the likelihood of, or specific plans for, continuation or expansion of the project beyond the period of USDA support. For example, does the institution’s/organization's long-range budget or academic plan provide for the realistic continuation or expansion of the initiative undertaken by this project after the grant period ends, are plans for eventual self- support built into the project, are plans being made to institutionalize the program if it meets with success, and are there indications of other continuing non-Federal support.

iv. Key Personnel: Discuss the adequacy and specific attributes and project responsibilities of each key person associated with the project. Also include the background and qualifications of those personnel who will be responsible for assessing project results and administering the project evaluation and reporting process.

d. Budget and Cost-effectiveness

i. Budget: In addition to the separate, required budget forms and budget justification, discuss how the budget specifically supports the proposed project activities. Explain how such budget items as professional or technical staff time and salary, participant support costs, travel, equipment, etc., are necessary and reasonable to achieve project objectives. If applicable, justify that the total budget is allocated adequately between the applicant and any collaborating institution / organization(s) and will be appropriate to carry out the activities of the project.

ii. Cost-effectiveness: Justify the project's cost-effectiveness. Show how the project maximizes the use of limited resources, optimizes educational value for the dollar, achieves economies of scale, or leverages additional funds.

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

Response to previous review- PDF Attachment. 1 Page Limit. Title the attachment as ‘Response to Previous Review’ in the document header and save file as ‘Response to Previous Review’. This requirement only applies to “Resubmitted Applications” as described under Part II, B of this RFA. PDs must respond to the previous review panel summary on no more than one page. If desired, additional comments may be included in the text of the PN, subject to the page limitations of that section. Mentoring Plan: 2. page limit.

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. Match (If Applicable) – If an applicant concludes that the matching requirements described under Part III, B of this RFA is not applicable to them; the applicant must include an explanation of their conclusion in the budget justification. NIFA will consider this justification when determining final matching requirements or if required matching can be waived. NIFA retains the right to make final determinations regarding matching requirements.

Grants that require matching funds as specified under Part III, B of this RFA must list in their budget justification the matching sources, the identification of the entity(ies) providing the match, and the total pledged amount. A written verification of commitments of matching support (a pledge agreement) is not required. However, applicants are subject to the documentation, valuing and reporting requirements, as specified in 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance),” and 7 CFR 3430, “Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions.”

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

3. Budgets for each project year do NOT have to be the same from year to year. However, detailed budget information (budget and narrative) must be submitted for each year of the proposed project.

4. During the tenure of a grant, PDs must attend one National Project Directors’ Meeting/Conference, if offered, in Kansas City, Missouri or any other announced location.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss project and grant management, opportunities for collaborative efforts, future directions for education reform, and opportunities to enhance dissemination of exemplary end products/results of the projects. Reasonable travel expenses to attend this meeting may be included in the application’s budget under travel expenses. While budgets should account for this travel, NIFA may consider virtual or hybrid meetings based on local and national pandemic conditions.

Data Management Plan. 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).

Mentoring Plan (MP) – PDF Attachment, An MP is strongly recommended if the proposal requests funding for student support, including scholarships or fellowships. If various tiers of 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.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=39448527cdd5ebd0a063b91b8b44f0f5&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=39448527cdd5ebd0a063b91b8b44f0f5&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1a74011311d649ff6313ca273791b131&mc=true&node=pt7.15.3430&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1a74011311d649ff6313ca273791b131&mc=true&node=pt7.15.3430&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=1a74011311d649ff6313ca273791b131&mc=true&node=pt7.15.3430&rgn=div5 https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/data-management-plan-nifa-funded-research-projects students or scholars are represented in the proposal. Please provide separate MP for each educational or professional level targeted (e.g., middle school students, high school students, vocational/community college students s). The MP should not exceed a maximum of two pages for each educational level and for all recipients (including subawards). The MP will not count against the limit of the project narrative. The MP should incorporate the following as appropriate: a.) the roles and responsibilities of the Project Director and Co-Project Directors in managing the mentoring process; b.) training for and/or credentials of individuals who will serve as mentors (i.e., mentor training). Mentors may be experienced mentors from academia, industry, or government, or student peers at various levels who are expected to provide guidance, cultural support, and sense of community with the activities and facilitate the amplification of program-specific perspectives and accomplishments of the mentees; c.) a description of mentoring activities that may include, but are not limited to, peer mentoring or layered mentoring, whereby a set of mentees are progressively mentored by others at a higher level in their careers; d.) a description of processes to ensure reasonable accommodations for program participants with disabilities or challenges with accessing program activities.

Please incorporate mentoring activities into the overall project timeline. Scholarship programs should also include plans to accommodate scholarship recipients who find it necessary to interrupt their program of study because of health, personal, or other reasonable non-academic and non-disciplinary cause(s).

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

1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the program name Women and

Minorities in STEM and the program code WAMS. Accurate entry is critical.

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

C. Funding Restrictions

1. Indirect Cost (IDC) is not to exceed 30 percent of the recipient’s Total Federal Funds

Awarded (TFFA). 7 U.S.C. 3310 limits the recovery of IDC for the overall award to 30 percent of the TFFA under a research, education, or extension grant. The maximum allowable IDC amount recoverable under the award, including the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the following and is determined by calculating the amount of IDC using:

a. the sum of an institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate and the indirect cost rate charged by sub-awardees, if any; or

b. 30 percent of TFFA.

If the result of number one is the lesser of the two amounts, the grant recipient is allowed to charge the negotiated IDC rate on the prime award and the sub-award(s), if any. Any sub-awards would be subject to the sub-awardee’s negotiated IDC rate. The sub-awardee may charge its negotiated IDC rate on its portion of the award, provided the sum of the IDC amount charged under the award by the prime awardee and the sub-awardee(s) does not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.

If the result of number two is the lesser of the two amounts, then the maximum IDC allowed for the overall award, including any sub-award(s), is limited to 30 percent of the https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:3310%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section3310)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true

TFFA. That is, the IDC of the prime awardee plus the sum of the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, may not exceed 30 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 is not exceeded when combining IDC for the Federal portion (i.e., prime and sub-awardee(s)) and any applicable cost-sharing. Amounts exceeding the maximum allowable IDC are considered unallowable. See sections 408 and 410 of 2 CFR 200.

If the applicant does not have a negotiated rate and NIFA is the cognizant agency, the applicant may request an IDC rate. Applicants are not required to complete the IDC package during the application process and need only to calculate a rate to serve as a basis for requesting IDC. If awarded, the applicant will be required to submit a complete IDC proposal package to obtain a negotiated rate.

Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the de minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414(f)). The Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a de minimis rate of 15 percent of modified total indirect costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. As described above and in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as either indirect or direct costs 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.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=99b0d2f1cf782a71783f992ece47bb5a&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1408 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=99b0d2f1cf782a71783f992ece47bb5a&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1410 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=99b0d2f1cf782a71783f992ece47bb5a&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecfr.gov%2Fcurrent%2Ftitle-2%2Fsubtitle-A%2Fchapter-II%2Fpart-200%2Fsubpart-E%2Fsubject-group-ECFRd93f2a98b1f6455%2Fsection-200.414%23p-200.414(f)&data=05%7C02%7Cjoseph.perez2%40usda.gov%7C4f531cc06d7f48f95a8a08dccd0e89c9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638610709532095655%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vu%2F%2FohVj6S7x%2FdBdkkEwUrTcaLw%2FQICuOPF4zAWEHZY%3D&reserved=0…