FY26-OAVFR-NOFO-P.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Outreach and Assistance for Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 10, 2026

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $23,800,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-ICGP-012261

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.443

ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Outreach and Assistance for Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (OAVFR) Program is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.443.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines

Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, September 10, 2026 [Ref to Part I, C of this NOFO]

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

The use of preferences based solely upon a person’s inclusion in a racial or ethnic group without any showing of a discriminatory act towards such person is not consistent with the opinion issued in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023). Accordingly, in issuing grants pursuant to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), grants will not be awarded through the use of racial, ethnic, or sex preferences. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will not make grants or otherwise fund programs or activities that improperly discriminate on the basis of race or sex, including discrimination in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. Instead, USDA will prioritize merit and efficiency.

USDA recognizes programs and initiatives will have the greatest impact when these programs and initiatives put American farmers, ranchers, and foresters first by:

• solving the most pressing challenges they face;

• protecting America’s food, fuel, and fiber supply to enhance national security;

• supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers;

• expanding and developing domestic markets;

• training the next generation of agriculturalists; and

• fueling innovation to keep American farmers at the forefront of productivity.

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to advancing these principles and encourages applicants to actively engage farmers, ranchers, and foresters when applying for funding opportunities to ensure relevancy and adherence to them. NIFA also encourages agricultural leaders to engage in the peer review panel process to ensure American producers are better served through research, education, and extension activities. Projects submitted under this NOFO should align with USDA Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-020 Directive on Departmental Research and Development Priorities:

1. Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers

2. Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products

3. Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species

4. Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land

5. Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all NOFOs 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 NOFOs 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 OAVFR NOFO.

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

NIFA requests applications for the OAVFR program for FY 2026 to encourage and assist farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and accessing the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA. The amount for awards in FY 2026 is approximately $23,800,000. This notice identifies the objectives for OAVFR program projects, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority B. Purpose and Priorities C. Program Area Description

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. Language Access Services

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines Table 2: Outreach and Technical Assistance Key Information Table 3: Center Key Information Table 4: Steps to Obtain Application Materials Table 5: Help and Resources Table 6: Key Application Instructions

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority Section 2501(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-624, November 28, 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(c)), as amended, authorizes funding for projects designed to provide outreach and technical assistance to specified producers and ranchers including those who are socially disadvantaged as defined in that section:

(5) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher The term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” means a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.

(6) Socially disadvantaged group The term “socially disadvantaged group” means a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.

As noted above, these types of preferences fail to meet constitutional standards and will not be used in the administration of grants made under this NOFO.

B. Purpose and Priorities The purpose of the OAVFR program, under assistance listing number 10.443, is to assist Veterans in owning and operating farms and ranches and to ensure they are knowledgeable and participating in full range of USDA programs. With OAVFR funding, recipient organizations can provide outreach, technical assistance, and education in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, and agricultural-related services. The program encourages technical assistance with accessing USDA programs, which includes working with local USDA Service Centers (Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development).

The OAVFR program provides funding to eligible organizations working to:

1. enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and education efforts authorized under agriculture programs; and

2. assist the Secretary of Agriculture in-

a. reaching current and prospective Veteran farmer and rancher populations; and

b. improving the participation of those farmers and ranchers in Department programs.

C. Program Area Description NIFA is soliciting applications under the following program areas:

1. Outreach and Technical Assistance

2. Policy Research Center

Table 2: Outreach and Technical Assistance Key Information

Title Description Program Code: 2501

Program Code Name: Outreach and Assistance for Veteran Farmers and Ranchers (OAVFR)

ALN: 10.443

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title%3A7%20section%3A2279%20edition%3Aprelim)%20OR%20(granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section2279)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=7-USC-1633060238-1223766743&term_occur=999&term_src=title:7:chapter:55:section:2279 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=7-USC-1988181408-1223766744&term_occur=999&term_src=title:7:chapter:55:section:2279 https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=7-USC-1988181408-1223766744&term_occur=999&term_src=title:7:chapter:55:section:2279 https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ https://www.rd.usda.gov/

Project Type: Extension Projects Grant Type: Standard Grants

Application Deadline September 10, 2026 Grant Duration: 36 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 35 Maximum Award Amount: $750,000

Standard Grant applications must address at least one and no more than two of the following priorities:

• Assist Veterans in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;

• Improve participation of farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;

• Build relationships between farmers and ranchers and USDA’s local, state, regional, and

National offices;

• Assist in reaching current and prospective farmers or ranchers; and/or

• Assist with identifying problems and barriers farmers and ranchers experience and working towards minimizing or alleviating those issues to improve their participation in USDA programs.

Proposed projects must be conducted within the United States or its territories.

Policy Research Center The Policy Research Center (Center) will specialize in policy research for the purpose of developing policy recommendations to protect and promote the interests of farmers and ranchers.

Major areas of research and policy development relate to beginning farmers/ranchers, land loss and retention and expansion opportunities. The Center's director and staff will have experience and/or education required to understand farmer and rancher communities. The Center shall describe its plans for collaboration with other institutions, as appropriate, within and beyond the land grant community.

Table 3: Center Key Information

Title Description Program Code: PRC

Program Code Name: Policy Research Center

ALN: 10.443

Project Type: Research Project Grant Type: Standard Grant

Application Deadline July 20, 2026 Grant Duration: 36 Months

Anticipated # of Awards: 1 Maximum Award Amount: $4,500,000

The Center should develop recommendations generated from research-related activities within the context of farmers and ranchers as identified in the program legislation (7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(5)).

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2024-title7/USCODE-2024-title7-chap55-sec2279/summary

• Identify effective investments to advance the current and next generation of farmers and ranchers, including:

o New land acquisition, farm, ranch ownership by new and beginning farmers and ranchers and veteran farmers and ranchers;

o Decline of farm, ranch, and land ownership by farmers and ranchers;

o Best practices in succession planning, farmland transfer, and preventing fractionation including interventions or strategies that facilitate farmland transfer to the next generation;

o Farm business viability and farming, management, technological, or technical assistance methodologies that help producers increase their asset portfolio and improve benchmarks such as debt-to-asset ratios;

o Farm sustainability and land preservation;

o Scaling and growth of farms owned and operated by farmers and ranchers; and o Accessibility to agriculture by farmers and ranchers.

• Identify programs or enhancements to existing programs to increase farmers’ and ranchers’ access to and competitiveness in agricultural markets, both domestically and abroad, including:

o New technologies that could be leveraged to address challenges facing farmers and ranchers and ways to test in the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech;

o Best practices for supporting entry into wholesale, commercial, institutional, value-added, and other new market channels;

o Access to information technology (IT) equipment, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and broadband;

o IT equipment use training and increased utilization of IT for farming organizations;

o Leverage the latest technologies in seed, fertilizer, IPM, precision agriculture, etc.; and o Farm viability, rural livelihoods, and farmer wellbeing such as access to distressed farmer resources, childcare/eldercare, faith networks, housing, etc.

• Identify practical ways for farmers and ranchers to leverage emerging markets in biofuels and other natural resource opportunities to increase their own profitability and advance American energy independence.

• Identify ways to help farmers and ranchers plan for and manage agriculture risks such as animal/plant pests and diseases, extreme weather, labor costs/shortages, and input costs (fertilizers, seed procurement, ag machinery, etc.).

• Analyze current agriculture policy and its implications on farmers and ranchers, as identified in the program legislation.

• Provide recommendations on actions to improve USDA program agencies' outreach and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers. USDA is particularly interested in policy research and data collection on:

o USDA meeting locations, frequency, proximity to participants, and participation particularly by new and beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers;

o User experience for USDA program application and approval processes;

o Access to Federal cost share programs, grants, and disaster assistance;

https://www.usda.gov/agtech https://www.usda.gov/agtech o Effectiveness of county office staff and committees in supporting all farmers and ranchers; and o Accessibility of agricultural information.

• Evaluate and identify effective pedagogical methods for farmers and ranchers that drive measurable improvements in their farm operations and financial viability.

The Center is encouraged to collaborate with the USDA Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) to provide technical expertise particularly regarding policy recommendations affecting farmers and ranchers.

All OAVFR program Project Directors (PD) are required to participate in annual meetings.

Annual meetings allow PDs to discuss project progress, encourage grantee networking and partnerships, and gain additional knowledge on evaluation methods to strengthen documentation of project outcomes in measurable terms.

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The amount available for OAVFR program in FY 2026 is approximately $23,800,000.

Approximately $22,300,000 will be made available to fund grants for the Outreach and Technical Assistance program area and approximately $1,500,000 to fund the first year of a new grant for the Policy Research Center program area. Similar funding levels for the Center may be awarded for up to an additional two years as a continuation award provided performance has been satisfactory, funding is available for this purpose, and continued support is in the best interests of the Federal government and the public. USDA 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

NOFO.

B. Application Restrictions NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO.

Applications for FY 2026 are limited to the following application type:

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

2. Renewal application: Renewal applications (for Center applications only) must contain the same information as required for new applications and must contain a progress report.

Renewal applications are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein.

Applicants may not request more than the maximum award amount and grant duration listed in the Program Area Description in Part I § C. Applications exceeding these limits will be excluded from review.

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 an Extension Project for Outreach and Technical Assistance program area grants or a Research project for the Center program area grant.

Extension projects support informal education programs that deliver science-based knowledge and informal educational programs to people, enabling them to make practical decisions.

2. Grant Types. Applicants must select the Standard Grant type. Standard Grants support targeted, original scientific Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated Projects.

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

https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research https://nifa.usda.gov/responsible-and-ethical-conduct-research

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the OAVFR program must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO.

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 for the Outreach and Technical Assistance program area may only be submitted by:

1. Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations that-

a. has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to Veteran farmers and ranchers;

b. has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with, and on behalf of Veteran farmers and ranchers during the 3-year period preceding the submission of a proposal for assistance under this program; and

c. does not engage in activities prohibited under section 501(c)(3) of title 26.

2. An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as defined in section 7601 of this title)

3. An Indian Tribal community college or an Alaska Native cooperative college.

4. A Hispanic-Serving Institution (as defined in section 3103 of this title).

5. Any other institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20) that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to Veteran farmer and rancher populations in a region.

6. An Indian tribe (as defined in section 5304 of title 25) or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to Veteran farmers and ranchers in a region.

7. An organization or institution that received funding under this program before January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary considers similar to projects previously carried out by the entity under this program.

Current OAVFR award recipients must complete their projects by the end of the current calendar year to be eligible to apply.

Applications for the Policy Research Center may only be submitted by 1890 Land-grant Universities.

All award recipients may provide subawards to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. NIFA will review and provide final approval of all proposed subawards. The following applies to primary recipient with subawards:

1. The primary recipient must use at least 50 percent of the total funds awarded for the Outreach and Assistance program priority only.

2. The primary recipient is responsible for ensuring that all subawards comply with 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart D - Subrecipient Monitoring and Management.

https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28%22cross+reference%22%29+AND+%28%28title%3A%2826%29%29%29+AND+body%3A%28 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:7601%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2015-title7-section3103&num=0&edition=2015 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2010-title20-section1001&num=0&edition=2010 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:25%20section:5304%20edition:prelim) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd

USDA will not accept applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.

Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – Only one application will be accepted from each organization or institution. NIFA will accept the most recent application if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required – The OAVFR program has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion. While not required, cost share is encouraged.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/08/2025-08266/improving-the-safety-and-security-of-biological-research https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants-overview

PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION

A. Method of Application Applicants must apply to this NOFO electronically; no other method or response is accepted.

The electronic application for this NOFO 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 4: 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 ).

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-ICGP-012261, 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 5: 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

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 NOFO. The NOFO 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 NOFO. 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.grants.gov/ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/nifa-22-001-nifa-grants-application-guide https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://grants.gov/applicants/search-for-opportunity-package https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.grants.gov/support mailto:support@grants.gov https://grants-portal.psc.gov/Welcome.aspx?pt=Grants https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/ 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/

Table 6: Key Application Instructions Instruction References

(All references are to the NIFA Grants Application Guide)

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

Part IV

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

Part IV

Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission.

Part IV

Follow the submission instructions. Part IV

Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the

SF-424 R&R.

Part V

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

N/A

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

N/A

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

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

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

Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals this program. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. The PS is limited to 250 words with font size no smaller than 12-point Times New Roman and it is recommended to use NIFA’s Project Summary Application Template. The PS must be attached as PDF. It is the responsibility of the applicant to review the attachment for the 250-word limit and PDF compliance before submission. NIFA will not review applications that exceed the required 250-word limit. The PS must include all the following:

a. Project Title;

b. List of PDs and Co-PDs and their associated institutions/organizations;

c. Description of the problem or opportunity, project objectives, effort, and projected outcomes;

d. Primary farming and ranching groups to be served (for Outreach and Technical

Assistance program area only);

e. Project’s geographic service area (counties, state(s), etc.) (for Outreach and Technical

Assistance program area only); and

f. List of all other collaborating institutions/organizations/farmer and rancher groups.

https://www.grants.gov/support https://www.nifa.usda.gov/application-support-templates https://www.nifa.usda.gov/application-support-templates

1. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The page limits outlined here ensure fair 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 Outreach and Technical Assistance program area PN must not exceed 15 1.5 spaced pages of written text, including figures and tables (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman). The only exception to the page limit requirement will be found in the directions as noted below under (c) project timeline. The PN must include all the following:

a. Rationale and Objectives – Clearly describe and justify the need for the project.

Identify which farmers, ranchers, and/or forest owners will be served. Indicate and describe barriers and needs faced by the audience. Identify the geographic area of service, including a description of its characteristics and any ways that the geographic location may impact or inform your project. Concisely present the goals and associated objectives of the project.

b. Expected Outputs, Performance Measures and Outcomes – Clearly define the expected outputs, proposed performance measures, and outcomes of the project in relation to the audience and needs identified. Estimate how many farmers and ranchers will attain specified, anticipated knowledge gains or actions (e.g., accessing USDA programs; improving production practices; entering new markets; etc.)

i. Proposed Outputs (Activities). The term “output” describes the physical result of your work. Outputs indicate the volume of project activity and generally addresses the question of “how much?” Some examples of an output are: “number of training sessions conducted,” “number of individuals receiving training,” or “number of educational materials developed.”

ii. Proposed Performance Measures. Applicants should develop outcome-based performance measures for each activity to ensure their project is progressing to meet their goals; compare actual results to expected results; and to evaluate their project’s effectiveness in delivering expected results. Baseline data should be established. Applicants should express performance measures in both quantitative and qualitative data, where possible. An example of a Performance Measure is a comparison of how many farmers and ranchers know about available USDA programs before a training on USDA programs compared to the number that know about available USDA programs after training is conducted.

iii. Outcomes (Results). The term “outcome” means the final impact, difference or effect that has occurred because of training, education, or technical assistance provided. Results may be agricultural, behavioral, or economic in nature. Outcomes may reflect an increase in knowledge or skills, a greater awareness of available resources or programs, or actions taken by producers because of learning from or participating in an outreach activity. Specifically, outcomes must be quantitative as it relates to the project goals and objectives.

Applications should include the anticipated outcomes expected to result from conducting the project’s activities.

c. Approach – Address the strategies or approaches you will use in your outreach and technical assistance. Specifically, this section must include:

i. Identification of up to two Outreach and Technical Assistance program area priorities, Part I, B (1- 5), addressed through your program. For each priority, describe the activities that you will undertake and the expected outputs and outcomes for each activity. You may include multiple activities for each priority area.

ii. Discussion of the potential impact of your project and how the impact will last after the project period ends.

iii. Clear documentation of how you plan to fulfill the requirement to coordinate efforts in partnership with the USDA service centers in your state or territory to maximize outreach and training in your service area.

iv. Provide a project timeline to guide program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The project timeline should include milestone start and end dates, resources, and responsible party (by job title) The project timeline does not count towards the page limit for the PN.

v. Identify implementation challenges and project procedure limitations you might encounter during the proposed projects. Briefly describe how you plan to address those challenges and limitations.

d. Organization Experience – Clearly state your organization’s three (3) years of experience in delivering agriculture-related services to Veteran farmers and ranchers and provide supporting attachments as documented proof (see Field 12. Add Other Attachments below).

e. Monitoring Plan and Data Collection Process – Clearly document a detailed plan for tracking and measuring project progress including the results of the project in terms of achieving expected project outputs and outcomes. Address both quantitative and qualitative data. A mitigation or contingency plan should also be addressed.

f. Financial Management Capacity – Provide a clear and detailed background of your organization’s experience managing financial resources. If applicable, please mention past experience with federal grants management, and any financial management procedures you have in place to ensure responsible funds management.

g. Management and Collaboration Plan – Detail a management plan that describes roles, functions, and commitment of all partners, collaborators, and organizations, as related to the proposed project. Describe the plans for coordination, communication, data-sharing and reporting among members of the project team and stakeholder groups. Detail how the collaboration and its impact will be sustained beyond the period of the award. Include:

i. Time allocated by each partner for attainment of objectives;

ii. Key roles of each partner and collaborator; and

iii. Plan for administration of the proposed project, maintenance, and partnerships.

Letters of commitment signed by the AR of the partnering organization demonstrating that the partners involved have agreed to abide by the Management Plan should be provided (see “Other Attachments” below).

The Policy Research Center program area PN must not exceed 15 1.5 spaced pages of written text and up to 5 1.5 spaced additional pages for figures and tables (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman). The only exception to the page limit requirement will be Renewal Applications, which requires a Progress Report for the previous Center award. The Progress Report must not exceed 2 1.5 spaced pages with at least 1-inch margins and font size no smaller than 12 points, Times New Roman. The PN must include all the following:

a. Rationale and Significance

The applicant must demonstrate a clear and well-supported need for the proposed Center. Describe key challenges for farmers and ranchers as identified in the program legislation (7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(5)) and summarize relevant geographic or structural conditions that shape these needs. Briefly identify existing research and policy analyses and specify gaps the proposed work will fill. Where applicable, the narrative should indicate how farmers and ranchers or their representative organizations informed the project’s development. State the project goals and show alignment with the statutory purpose of the Center, including data collection, policy evaluation, and development of recommendations. The project should align with Administration priorities and Executive Orders. Finally, describe the expected significance of the project, including how the research will inform USDA policy and program outreach best practices, land ownership trends and increase program access and utilization by farmers and ranchers.

b. Proposed Approach The applicant must provide a clear plan describing the research activities needed to address key issues in the development of agricultural policy affecting farmers and ranchers, as identified in the program legislation (7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(5)). The plan should demonstrate the applicant's deep knowledge of policy issues, past research projects and their impacts, and how current and future studies can contribute to the current knowledge base. The plan should describe how the Center will implement and develop the capacity to conduct research on issues relevant to agricultural policy. The plan should outline a strategy for collaborating with OCE and USDA program agencies for the purpose of identifying topics and making recommendations on agricultural policy relating to farmers and ranchers.

c. Staffing and Organizational Plan The application must include a staffing and organizational proposal for the Center, including an analysis of the types of background needed among staff members. The application should discuss the Center's capacity to collaborate and issue sub-awards to researchers outside of the Center. Full resumes (2 page maximum) of proposed staff members should be included as a separate appendix to the application.

d. Summary of Progress Work For Renewal applications only, provide a summary of previous Center award progress, outcomes, and impacts. The summary of progress work must not exceed 2 pages and does not count towards the page limit of the PN.

2. Field 9. Bibliography & Cited References. Provide a complete list of all references cited in the application. For each reference, provide the complete name for each author (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the year of the https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title%3A7%20section%3A2279%20edition%3Aprelim)%20OR%20(granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section2279)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title%3A7%20section%3A2279%20edition%3Aprelim)%20OR%20(granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section2279)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true publication, full title of the article, name of the journal or book published, volume, and the page numbers. No page limit.

3. Field 10. Facilities & Other Resources. Describe the types, location, and availability of instrumentation and physical facilities necessary to carry out the work proposed. If the work will be conducted at a facility not owned and operated by the applicant, see Field 12 for additional information.

4. Field 11. Equipment Documentation. Describe the types, location, and availability of equipment necessary to carry out the work proposed. Items of equipment to be purchased must be fully justified under this section.

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

a. Data management plan (DMP) – A DMP is required for this program. Applicants should clearly articulate how the 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 NOFO, NIFA’s Data Management Plan). The DMP must not exceed 2 pages.

b. Commitment Letters. Include Letters of Commitment from all partners (signed by the partnering institution AR). Letters should include partner roles in the proposed project and agreement to abide by the Management and Collaboration Plan. Letters of Commitment have no page limit. Title the attachment(s) as “Letter of Commitment – Organization Name” in the document header and save file (PDF) as “Letter of Commitment Organization Name.” Letters from other organizations or people whose participation is important to the success of the project, committing those collaborators to specific roles, are also encouraged. Additionally, support letters that add merit to the grant application and help clarify project plans are welcomed. Support letters show that the project is well organized, ideas are achievable, and project activities will resolve societal challenges relevant to the target audience(s).

c. Organization Experience Documentation. For the Outreach and Technical Assistance program area only, if submitting as a community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations, include documented proof of three (3) years experience in delivering agriculture-related services to Veteran farmers and ranchers. Supporting attachments may include Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), partnership agreements, brochures, etc.

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

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

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

1. Indirect Costs (IDC) – See Part IV, C of this NOFO for funding restrictions regarding

IDC, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.

https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/data-management-plan-nifa-funded-research-projects

2. Applications for the Center must prepare a budget for each of the three years of the project ($1,500,000 per year) plus a cumulative 3-year budget of $4,500,000.

3. PDs are required to participate in annual meetings that can be expensed with awarded grant funds not to exceed $3,000 per award year. While budgets must account for this travel, virtual meetings may be considered.

4. Grantees are encouraged to allow at least 1% of their total project budget for evaluation services or tools.

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

1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the Program Code Name and the Program Code for the Program Area to which you are applying from the information provided in the Program Area Description in Part I § C. An application can only be submitted to one Program Area. Accurate entry is critical.

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

C. Funding Restrictions

1. Legislative Mandated Indirect Cost (IDC)

Section 12301 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2279(l)(7)) limits IDC to 10% of total federal funds awarded. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants must limit their requests for recovery of IDC to 10 percent of the total funds requested. If an applicant has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Agreement with their cognizant agency they may recover indirect costs according to that agreement however, recovery is still limited to 10% of total federal funds awarded.

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. Please note if an applicant opts to use the 15 percent de minimis option to recover indirect costs the 10 percent of total funds awarded Statutory limit still applies.

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

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-2018-title7-section2279&f=treesort&num=0 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 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-ECFRea20080eff2ea53%2Fsection-200.403&data=05%7C02%7Cjoseph.perez2%40usda.gov%7C4f531cc06d7f48f95a8a08dccd0e89c9%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638610709532106512%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nOEhOJNeD%2FmcJDd3qZDCHUWeUAqnnWfjatzM8MSop2o%3D&reserved=0 https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/indirect-cost-additional-resources https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/nifa-19-009-indirect-cost-chart https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/regulations-and-guidelines/indirect-costs/nifa-19-009-indirect-cost-chart

2. Unallowable Use of Funds

a. Funds may not be used to pay attendees as an incentive to participate in conferences, training, workshops, or events nor be advertised as such.

b. Funds may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

c. Funds may not be used to pay hourly wages such as in a job creation program for individual farmers or ranchers.

d. Funds may not be used as small agricultural loans for individual farmers or ranchers.

e. Funds may not be used to purchase farming supplies for individual farmers or ranchers or to enhance their farms or production capabilities.

f. Funds may not be used to reward individual farmers or ranchers for outstanding effort or achievement in training.

g. Funds may not be used to pay for scholarships for individual farmers or ranchers to attend college courses, certificate courses, or other fee-based courses.

h. Funds may not be used for start-up or financing costs for businesses or for building organizational capacity, which is defined as the development of organizational competencies, strategies, or systems and structures in order to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

i. Funds may not be used for large equipment purchases such as vehicles, semi-tractors, or refrigeration systems.

3. Other Cost Limits

a. Costs must be reasonable. This includes salaries for key personnel. See 2 CFR

200.404 for more information on reasonable costs.

b. When hosting a workshop, there is a high burden of proof to show that paying for food and beverages with federal funds is necessary to meet the goals of a federal program. Organizations should provide breaks to allow time for participants to purchase their own food and beverages. In circumstances where the cost would be permissible (i.e., location does not allow reasonable access to food and beverages), applicants would need to justify that these costs are reasonable and necessary.

c. Animals acquired and used for demonstration projects only, may not exceed $4,000 and includes any transportation costs, feed/feeding lot, etc.

4. NIFA awards may not be used to support the procurement of unmanned aircraft systems to process, store, or transmit Federal information (as defined in OMB Circular A-130) unless the grant is specifically available for procurement of such equipment and grantees describe in their application how they will comply with the information security requirements outlined in Appendix B of M-26-02 Ensuring Government Use of Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Supporting United States Producers and develop a risk-based approach to applying those requirements to procurement solicitations to potential vendors under the resulting Federal award. This information, if provided, will be evaluated by NIFA as part of its evaluation process. If such procurement is approved, specific information security requirements may be included in the terms and conditions of the grant to ensure that the grantees will incorporate those requirements in procurement solicitations of unmanned aircraft systems under the Federal award. Additionally, projects must ensure that they are in adherence to Secretary’s Memorandum (SM) 1078- 014 and are not using unallowable 3-D printers which can be found at National Security and Unallowable Costs.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.404 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.404 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbidenwhitehouse.archives.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Flegacy_drupal_files%2Fomb%2Fcirculars%2FA130%2Fa130revised.pdf&data=05%7C02%7Cjoseph.perez2%40usda.gov%7C2fd05fdc31df40138ca308dec7f6e548%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C639168060383127728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=g4K1IW83Ceb%2BekljWWsYOH3DEtu0VIZqjLgw0u4TDXA%3D&reserved=0…