American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program

The goal of this program is to fund organizations, to be known as Cooperators, that will collaborate with USDA on the delivery of targeted technical assistance and related activities to achieve future outcomes of improved participation of farmers, ra

The purpose of the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program is to ensure improved understanding of and participation in the full range of USDA programs and services among farmers, ranchers, forest landowners and operators through supporting the organizational delivery of technical assistance projects and establishment of technical assistance networks.

Designations Applicants must be domestic nonprofit entities or institutions for higher education (see Request for Application [RFA] Definitions in Part VIII, D). A letter stating the nonprofit status should be included as an attachment to Field 12, Other Attachments (RFA Part IV.B.). Only the applicant must meet the eligibility requirement. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirement. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project, with the exception of individuals and non-domestic entities. Current Cooperators under Section 1006 of the Act are not eligible to apply as a lead applicant to this funding opportunity, but may serve as cooperators, collaborators and sub-contractors to lead applicants, provided their activities are new, non-duplicative activities. Individuals, non-domestic entities and private, for profit organizations are not eligible to apply to this funding opportunity. Applicants for the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program must meet all the requirements outlined in this RFA. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline will result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA's Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Projects must provide a range of technical assistance services to underserved agricultural producers or other members of socially disadvantaged groups in agriculture. The term "agricultural producer" is used to refer to agricultural farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners and operators. Technical assistance partnerships focused on historically underserved agriculture producers. USDA is creating opportunities to ensure that historically underserved communities of farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and operators have the tools, programs, and support they need to succeed in agriculture. Approximately $75 million in American Rescue Plan funding will support technical assistance to connect underserved producers with USDA programs and services. Cooperative Agreements will support organizations with proven track records working with underserved producer communities such as economically distressed/historically underserved communities, including socially disadvantaged producers, limited resource farmers and ranchers, veterans, and other key targeted communities. These organizations will work with underserved producer communities to provide an array of technical assistance specialized services that could include outreach, technical assistance, cooperative development training and support, financial training, mediation access, capacity building training, technical assistance concerning agriculture production, agriculture credit, and rural development to underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners.

"The Cooperator may use a Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate if one has been established for their organization, may negotiate one, or elect to use the 15% de minimis rate outlined in 2 CFR 200.414."

In accordance with statutory time limits, project periods, including no-cost extensions of time, are not to exceed five (5) years. Further details are provided in the Award document Form NIFA-2009 and the This agreement is covered by the Research Terms and Conditions (RTC) as described on the NIFA webpage for terms and conditions (https://nifa.usda.gov/terms-and-conditions) including the NIFA specific terms and conditions dated Nov. 2020 located at the following link: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/fedrtc/agencyspecifics/nifa_1120.pdf SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/american-rescue-plan-technical-assistance-investment-program RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: NIFA utilizes the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system that allows federal agencies to administer funds. Currently, ASAP is the only payment source for new NIFA grantees. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Pertinent details will be provided at a later date.

Pertinent details will be provided at a later date.

Pertinent details will be provided at a later date.

Pertinent details will be provided at a later date.

Pertinent details will be provided at a later date.