FY26-TCRGP-NOFO.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program

FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Phase 1: June 12, 2026 Phase 2: September 11, 2026 Phase 3: December 31, 2026

ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $11,574,000

AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

RANGE:

$150,000 - $2,500,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-TCRGP-011697

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.227

ANNOUNCEMENT

National Institute of Food and Agriculture United States Department of Agriculture

Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Tribal Colleges Research Grant Program (TCRGP) is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.227.

Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines

Task Description Deadline

Application: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Phase 1: June 12, 2026 Phase 2: September 11, 2026 Phase 3: December 31, 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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to the extent permitted by law, will no longer 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 https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sm-1078-020.pdf

5. Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality

Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 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 Tribal Colleges Research Grant 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

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

NIFA requests applications for the TCRGP for FY 2026 to enhance research capacity at 1994 American Indian Land-grant Institutions hereafter referred to as 1994s; and develop research projects of Tribal, State, or national importance. This NOFO has several research options set at funding levels designed to provide 1994s with the opportunity to engage in research at the optimum level commensurate with their institutional capacity. All applications must include at least one research collaborator from the approved list of research institutions.

The amount available for the FY 2026 TCRGP is approximately $11,574,000, which includes $1,850,000 of FY 2024 funding, $4,655,000 of FY 2025 and $5,069,000 of FY 2026 funding.

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

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: 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 Legislative authority for TCRGP is contained in section 536 of the Equity in Educational Land- Grant Status Act of 1994 as amended and codified at 7 U.S.C. 301. Note: the term "1994 Institution" means one of the 1994 Institutions defined in section 532 of the same Act.

B. Purpose and Priorities Subject to the legislative authority described in Part I, A, and the availability of funds, the Secretary of Agriculture may award competitive grants to 1994s to conduct agricultural research that addresses high priority concerns of Tribal, national, or multistate significance.

TCRGP focuses on development of research capacity at Tribal colleges, specifically in agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The program aims to teach leadership skills, knowledge, and qualities that are necessary to prepare students to be competitive with other students for agricultural and related careers in the private sector, government, and academia.

Of interest are the projects involving innovative agricultural technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), data science, robotics, and other cutting edge digital tools. NIFA encourages incorporation of opportunities for training undergraduate students in these areas to equip them with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society and expose them to educational and career pathways in AI for food and agricultural sciences.

Research Collaboration Requirement: All applications must, by Congressional authorization, include one of four research collaborators from the list below. The application must contain a signed collaboration agreement indicating the role the collaborating institution will play.

Additional collaborations are optional. The approved collaborators are:

1. An 1862 or 1890 Land-grant Institution.

2. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) headquarters, state, or regional laboratory.

3. A Non-Land-Grant College of Agriculture (NLGCA) (as defined in section 1404 of the

National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977). Updated requirements and a list of certified NLGCA are located at NIFA-21-003 Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) List.

4. A forestry school funded under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program. The partner must be the McIntire-Stennis-funded department and not another entity.

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. Tribal Colleges Research Grant Program applications must demonstrably incorporate a leadership development component to equip students with technical and leadership abilities upon graduation. Specific activities may include:

1. Developing practical applications to increase understanding of leadership roles, including critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills; ethics and professionalism;

and working in teams https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:7%20section:301%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title7-section301)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nlgca-list https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/nlgca-list

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

3. Providing opportunities for mentoring and shadowing

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

Table 2: Program Key Information Title Description

Program Code: ZY Program Code Name: TCRGP

ALN: 10.227

Project Type: Research Grant Type: Collaborative Grant Type

Application Deadline Phase 1: June 12, 2026 Phase 2: September 11, 2026 Phase 3: December 31, 2026

Grant Duration: 24-36 Months Anticipated # of Awards: 20

Minimum Award Amount: $150,000 Maximum Award Amount: Research Capacity Center: $2,500,000

Area of Expertise: $650,000 New Discovery: $350,000 Applied Faculty/Community: $150,000 Workshop Grants: $150,000

C. Program Area Description The purpose of this program is to advance 1994 institutional research capacity to address priority issues of concern to the Tribal community and reservations. Research options are designed to provide opportunities for institutions with varying degrees of research capacity to participate in the program. NIFA encourages postdoctoral candidates, visiting researchers, and scientists to be located at the Tribal College and University (TCU) to help build research infrastructure. Release time for faculty with heavy teaching loads who are included in the proposal to conduct research is highly encouraged. NIFA encourages Project Directors to work with the prospective institution’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and/or Tribe to create a framework for data collection, storage, and data sovereignty. If the college or university is proposing to do research, teaching, and training on vertebrate animals, the proposed project must be approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Project Directors (PD) will need to budget for one PD meeting with the location to be determined by NIFA. Please include this PD meeting in your budget.

Student Participation: All applications must contain a student component. NIFA will not make an award that does not involve some level of 1994 student participation. TCRGP projects that integrate social and biological sciences to provide experiential learning opportunities and internships for students in applied research and related community development programs are encouraged. Incorporation of social and behavioral sciences is important for addressing many of the challenges facing agriculture and rural communities, such as increasing demand for food production in the face of limited natural resources, improving health by engaging in healthy lifestyles, and alleviating poverty by fostering economic opportunity.

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding The amount available for the FY 2026 Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program is approximately $11,574,000, which includes $1,850,000 of FY 2024 funding, $4,655,000 of FY 2025 funding and $5,069,000 of FY 2026 funding. USDA is not committed to fund any application or to make a specific number of awards.

TCRGP has an open submission for FY 2026. Projects can be submitted anytime between publication of this NOFO and December 31, 2026. NIFA will conduct three panels with funding split approximately evenly for each panel throughout FY 2026. There will be three phases of acceptance with three different panel dates. Phase 1 will accept applications through Grants.gov until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 12, 2026. These projects will be paneled together in Phase 1 of the panel process for TCRGP. NIFA intends to allocate approximately $3,800,000 for Phase 1 funding. To be considered for Phase 2 of the panel process, applications must be submitted through Grants.gov to NIFA no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on September 11, 2026. The funding amount will be approximately $3,800,000 for the second phase of funding. Applications submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31, 2026, will be considered for funding for Phase 3. There is approximately $3,800,000 available for Phase 3 of the panel process. If there are unspent funds in Phase 1 and Phase 2, those funds will roll over to the next phase of the panel process.

For grant types Area of Expertise, New Discovery Research, Faculty/Community, and Workshop Grants, there are restrictions in the number of applications that an eligible institution may submit.

NIFA will generally only award any one institution: (1) Up to two awards in the New Discovery grant type; (2) One award for Area of Expertise; (3) Up to two awards in Faculty/Community;

and (4) one award for Workshop Grants. There is generally a limit of three awards total to any one eligible institution in response to this NOFO (Refer to Part II, C. Project and Grant Types).

For the grant type 1994 Research Capacity Center, an institution can only receive one award.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury’s 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 NOFO is limited to the following application types:

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. Resubmitted application: Resubmitted applications must include the response to the previous review panel summary and are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein.

Resubmitted applicants must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously submitted application in the Federal Field (Field 4) on the application form (see Appendix III for definition).

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

1. Project Types https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/fsservices/gov/pmt/asap/asap_home.htm

Research Projects: Single-function Research Projects support fundamental or applied research conducted by individual investigators, co-investigators within the same discipline, or multidisciplinary teams. Fundamental research means research that (i) increases knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and has the potential for broad application; and (ii) has an effect on agriculture, food, or nutrition.

Applied research means research that includes expansion of the findings of fundamental research to uncover practical ways in which new knowledge can be advanced to benefit individuals and society. Multidisciplinary projects are those in which investigators from two or more disciplines collaborate closely to address a common problem. These collaborations, where appropriate, may integrate the biological, physical, chemical, or social sciences.

2. Grant Types

A Collaborative Grant supports projects with at least one additional partner or a multi-partner approach to enhance research programs. Collaborative Grants should build linkages domestically to generate a critical mass of expertise, skill, and technology to address research programs related to the food and agricultural sciences. Grants can reduce duplication of efforts and/or build capacity and should be organized and led by a strong applicant with documented project management knowledge and skills to organize and carry out the initiative.

a. A 1994 Research Capacity Center ($2,500,000 maximum dependent on available funding) grant will build a focused area of strategic research among multiple 1994 institutions. A minimum of two other 1994 institutions should benefit from this grant type. This Collaborative Grant Type aims to build the research capacity among 1994 institutions through funding the expansion of research by using innovative approaches to increase the ability of the 1994 institutions to conduct groundbreaking focused research. These institutions could provide research scientists, including postdoctoral fellows, research faculty, visiting scientists or Federal scientists who would be located at the 1994s to help expand research capacity, teach courses at the 1994s, mentor undergraduate students, etc. Collaboration with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium is highly encouraged. Establishing undergraduate research opportunities must be part of this Grant Type and a mentor plan is recommended. A data management plan indicating how data within the 1994 institutions will be protected is required. This Grant Type should be focused on developing strong research, which includes improving research grantsmanship and increasing scholarly publications and participation in professional societies to allow for research to continue in this space.

b. An Area of Expertise ($650,000 maximum) grant will enhance existing research completed or nearly completed for TCRGP New Discovery and Applied Faculty/Community grants awarded in the past five years; or enhance the area of expertise at an institution that has been previously funded by other sources or by NIFA. It is designed for 1994 Land-grants that have, or are developing, focused areas of expertise in one or more of the food and agricultural sciences. This grant is intended to support research endeavors where existing research resources have already developed some level of expertise in an area that is important to their students and communities.

Explain thoroughly how your proposal is building on existing research at the institution previously funded by NIFA or other funding sources, and how this funding will assist the 1994 institution in becoming a top research institution in the area identified. Applications in the Area of Expertise grant type need to have a clear experimental design, citations and evaluation plan. Please describe the impacts and outcomes of the proposed project including any publications, students or community members impacted, and capacity building at the institution. Letters of commitment from collaborators, community members, and elders are required.

c. New Discovery ($350,000 maximum) grants should be on a level of research complexity that could lead to an enhancement in the body of scientific knowledge and problem solving on relevant Tribal issues. Applicants are expected to possess appropriate research capacity and faculty expertise to conduct scientific inquiry. Research undertakings should be at a standard where results may help solve problems at a regional, State, or national level.

New Discovery projects are also required to offer meaningful research involvement for 1994 students. The maximum amount for a New Discovery award is generally $350,000 total for the entire project period.

d. Applied Faculty/Community ($150,000 maximum) grants fund faculty, community, and student research that addresses practical Tribal community needs and opportunities. Investigations should result in knowledge or best practices useful to the Tribal community. Research may be on skillful adaptations of existing knowledge to address unique community needs.

e. Workshop Grants ($150,000 maximum) would host groups of 1994s, partners, other organizations, and Federal agencies to address the needs of Tribal communities and help to spur scientific inquiry. The grant can cover expenses associated with airfare, hotel, venue, per diem, incidentals, and materials.

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 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3f96ab05cf1fc2d2713e5e46755e7696&mc=true&node=pt2.1.422&rgn=div5#se2.1.422_12 documentation to support the conduct of the training. See Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.

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 TCRGP 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.

The eligible 1994s are listed below:

1) Aaniiih Nakoda College

2) Bay Mills Community College

3) Blackfeet Community College

4) Cankdeska Cikana Community

College

5) Chief Dull Knife College

6) College of Menominee Nation

7) College of the Muscogee Nation

8) Dine College

9) Fond du Lac Tribal and Community

College

10) Fort Peck Community College

11) Haskell Indian Nations University

12) Ilisagvik College

13) Institute of American Indian and

Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development.

14) Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College

15) Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College

16) Leech Lake Tribal College

17) Little Big Horn College

18) Little Priest Tribal College

19) Navajo Technical University

20) Nebraska Indian Community College

21) Northwest Indian College

22) Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

23) Oglala Lakota College

24) Red Lake Nation College

25) Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

26) Salish Kootenai College

27) Sinte Gleska University

28) Sisseton Wahpeton College

29) Sitting Bull College

30) Southwestern Indian Polytechnic

Institute

31) Stone Child College

32) Tohono O'odham Community College

33) Turtle Mountain Community College

34) United Tribes Technical College

35) White Earth Tribal and Community

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

USDA will not accept competitive 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 – duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching No Match Required - The TCRGP has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

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

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 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.

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-TCRGP-011697, 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

Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.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.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://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/ 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 90 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 which Collaborative Grant

Type you are choosing. You must also outline how the project goals align with the project goals of the TCRGP. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.

2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed 15 1.5 spaced pages of written text (Times New Roman) and up to 2 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 page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly applicable to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. The PN must include all the following:

a. Introduction: Identify the Project Type clearly and the collaborating organization.

Include a clear statement of the long-term goal(s) and supporting objectives of the proposed activities. Summarize the body of knowledge or other past activities that substantiate the need for the proposed project. Describe ongoing or recently completed significant activities that relate to the proposed project, including the work of key project personnel. Include preliminary data/information pertinent to the proposed project. In addition, this section is to include in-depth information on the following, 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/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 when applicable:

i. Estimates of the magnitude of the issues and the relevance to reservation and/or

Tribal community, stakeholders, and ongoing State/Federal agricultural research, education, and extension programs;

ii. The role of Tribal stakeholders in problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation, as appropriate;

iii. The likelihood that research capacity will be enhanced at the proposing institution; and

iv. If vertebrate animals are being used in the research project, an IACUC must be submitted to NIFA before the start of the project.

b. Objectives; All applications must include a statement(s) of specific aims of the proposed effort in clear, concise, complete, and logically arranged terms.

c. Methods: Explicitly state the procedures or methodology you will apply to the proposed effort. This section is to include:

i. Proposed project activities;

ii. A clear hypothesis and experimental design or objectives;

iii. Plans to communicate results to Tribal stakeholders and relevant Tribal communities;

iv. Role of postdoctoral or visiting scientists, if applicable;

v. Plans for your college to subscribe to professional journals or publish results and/or share knowledge with the community;

vi. Role to be played by the collaborating institution(s);

vii. Role of students in the project;

viii. Possible limitations of the proposed procedures, obstacles, or unintended consequences and how they will be addressed; and

ix. If vertebrate animals are used, you must submit an IACUC to NIFA before the start of the project.

d. Project Timetable: The proposal timetable is to include all important phases as a function of time, year by year, for the entire project.

e. Project Directors Meeting: Account for a Project Directors meeting in the budget.

The location of the meeting will be at NIFA’s discretion and will be mandatory for all Project Directors. Budget staff working on the TCRGP are recommended to attend the National Extension and Research Administrative Officers Conference

(NERAOC).

f. Data Management Plan: 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). If you need help in preparing a data management plan or have questions about what constitutes a data management plan for this role (including questions about data privacy, etc.), please contact the NIFA program contacts listed at the end of this NOFO.

g.Summary of Previous Work: Include a summary of previous research and who funded the research, where applicable.

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

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

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

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

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

Detailed information related to the questions on this form is available in Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.

1. Applicants should submit a budget for all years of the grant award including a cumulative budget.

2. Applicants should submit a budget narrative for each year and for the cumulative budget.

3. Applicants should include separate budget pages for subawards to collaborating institutions for all years of the award, including a cumulative budget.

4. The 1994s should retain at least 50 percent of the total grant award.

5. Budgets must follow the amounts indicated in the chosen Research Option:

a. 1994 Research Capacity Center - $2,500,000

b. Area of Expertise - $650,000

c. New Discovery Research - $350,000

d. Applied Faculty/Community and Student Research - $150,000

e. Workshop Grants - Approximately $150,000

6. 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

Funding Limitations Per Institution:

1. For each award, the submitting 1994 institution must retain at least 50 percent of the overall award.

2. While at least one approved research collaborator is required by legislation, there is no requirement for sharing funds if the collaborator agrees to the arrangement.

3. For further information and instructions regarding indirect costs, refer to Part V, section.

of the NIFA Grants Application Guide. For indirect cost funding restrictions, refer to Part IV, C. of this NOFO.

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

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

Colleges Research Grant Program” and the program code “ZY”. Accurate entry is critical.

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

Other Attachments:

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

Mentoring Plan PDF Attachment: Title the attachment as “Mentoring Plan” in the document header and save file as “Mentoring Plan Undergraduate Students” or “Mentoring Plan Graduate Students” or “Mentoring Plan Postdoc,” as applicable. If the proposal anticipates requesting funding for student or postdoctoral support including scholarships or fellowships, it must include a maximum of a one- to two-page Mentoring Plan (MP) for all recipients. If various tiers of students or scholars are represented in the proposal, please provide separate mentoring plans for each educational or professional level targeted (e.g., high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, etc.). The Mentoring Plan should incorporate:

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, 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; please incorporate these activities into the overall project timeline

d. A description of processes to ensure reasonable accommodations for program participants with disabilities or challenges with accessing program activities; scholarship programs should include plans to accommodate scholarship recipients who find it necessary to interrupt their program of study because of health, personal, or other reasonable nonacademic and nondisciplinary cause(s).

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 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.

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

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 direct 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 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

PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS

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

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

Scientific Peer Review Process:

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

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

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

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

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

5. The need to maintain a balanced composition with regard to the reviewer's area of expertise, geographic area, and entity type, as appropriate.

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

After each peer review panel has completed its deliberations, the responsible program staff of NIFA will recommend that your project is either approved for support from currently available funds or declined due to insufficient funds or review results. Alignment to USDA Research and Development Priorities will also be considered.

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

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

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

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

B. Evaluation Criteria A reviewer’s written evaluation entails two levels of assessment. First, the reviewer summarizes how well the application addressed each evaluation criterion. After the application has been assessed for strengths and weaknesses of each criterion, the reviewer then evaluates the overall likelihood that the project will have a significant outcome and impact. These written reviews are used to begin panel discussions with other reviewers serving on the peer review panel. Through these discussions, peer review panelists come to consensus on the final rating and ranking of proposals. A complete description of NIFA’s peer review process can be found at the NIFA website: NIFA Peer Review Process for Competitive Grant Applications.

NIFA will use the evaluation criteria below to review applications submitted in response to this NOFO. The criteria below are not weighted equally in merit but are listed in descending order of importance. Applications are evaluated primarily for overall merit, with emphasis placed on the proposed approach to advance quality of research using sound program management and strong cooperative linkages in order to build institutional capacity.

1. Potential for Advancing the Quality of Research This criterion is used to assess the likelihood that the project will have an impact upon and advance the quality of food and agricultural sciences. Elements considered include institutional long-range goals; identification of a problem or opportunity to be addressed;

project justification; innovation; advancement of a multidisciplinary and/or problem-based focus; and potential for adoption by other institutions and contribution to current body of knowledge in areas addressed. The proposed project must also show how it will contribute to the legislatively authorized purpose of this program. Potential project impacts must be stated. Information detailing how the project will enhance research at 1994 institutions is required.

2. Budget and Cost Effectiveness This criterion relates to the extent to which the total budget adequately supports the project and is cost effective. Elements considered include the necessity and reasonableness of costs to carry out project activities and achieve project objectives; the appropriateness of budget allocations between the applicant and any collaborating institution(s); the adequacy of time committed to the project by key project personnel (and whether release time is included in the budget for teaching faculty); and the degree to which the project maximizes the use of limited resources, optimizes value for the dollar, achieves economies of scale, leverages additional funds, and focuses expertise and activity on high-priority research.

3. Proposed Approach and Cooperative Linkages This criterion evaluates the soundness of the proposed approach including objectives, methodology, plan of operation, timetable, expected products and results, project evaluation, and dissemination plans. The project evaluation plan will be reviewed to determine the appropriateness of the methodologies to be used in assessing the accomplishment of the project’s stated products, results, and measurable outcomes. The proposed approach will be evaluated based on the soundness of the research concepts which may be documented through background literature or actual institutional data.

Emphasis is placed on the quality of research support provided to the applicant https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/NIFA-Peer-Review-Process-for-Competitive-Grant-Applications_0.pdf institution/organization through its partnerships and collaborative initiatives, and on the potential cooperative linkages likely to evolve as a result of this project. The application will also be reviewed to assess the effectiveness in addressing any perceived pitfalls and alternative strategies or approaches. Reviewers will also assess whether the application includes a sustainability plan to ensure continuity of relationship building with proposed partners.

4. Institutional Capability and Capacity Building This criterion relates to…