Facility Improvements at 1890 Facilities (Sec. 1447)

1890 Facilities Grants Program provides funding for the acquisition and improvement of food, agricultural, natural resource, and human (FANH) science facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 Land-grant Universities may particip

The 1890 Facilities Grants Program is aligned to expand opportunities for economic development and improve quality of life in rural and tribal communities.

Eligible applicants under this Program are the 1890 land-grant institutions, including Central State University, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State University. The detailed listing of eligible applicants follows: Alabama A & M University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Delaware State University, Florida A & M University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Southern University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Lincoln University, Alcorn State University, North Carolina A & T State University, Langston University, South Carolina State University, Tennessee State University, Prairie View A & M University, Virginia State University, West Virginia State University, and Central State University. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current NOFO is available via: https://nifa.usda.gov/funding-opportunity/1890-facilities-grants-program-renewals NOFOs for new and/or renewal applications are generally released annually. The NOFOs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive NOFOs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database.

Extension Programs at the State and county level are available to the general public.

Facilities awards will be made for the acquisition and improvement of agricultural and food sciences facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 land-grant institutions, including Central State University, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State University, may participate fully in the production of human capital in the food and agricultural sciences. Authorized activities include purchase of equipment and land, planning, construction, alternation, or renovation of buildings. Priorities for the eligible institutions are set in the facilities plan that is submitted to NIFA for review and approval.

The obligation and expenditure of funds awarded under these grants are limited to equipment, land, buildings and other related costs which are or will be used in the administration and conduct of approved research, teaching and extension activities. In accordance with NARETPA Section 1447 (e), funds provided for this program may not be used for the payment of any overhead costs of the eligible institutions. Further detailed restrictions are provided in the NIFA 1890 Facilities Program, Section 1447, Special Terms and Conditions (dated May, 2017) at: 1890 Facilities T & C.

Effective Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, Project periods, (including no-cost extensions of time), are not normally to exceed ten (10) years. Further details are provided in the Award document Form NIFA-2009 and the 1890 Facilities Program, Section 1447, Special Terms and Conditions (dated May 2017) at: https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/1890-facilities-program-terms-and-conditions-may-2017. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. The most current RFA is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/1890-facilities-grants-program RFAs for new and/or renewal applications 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.

Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The most current NOFO is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/1890-facilities-grants-program

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) 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; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. RENEWAL APPLICATIONS: NIFA will evaluate each application in a two-part process. First, we screen each application to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements as set forth in this NOFO. Seco

From 30 to 60 days.

Other. Generally, 1890 Facilities NOFOs are released every five (5) years for new awards, with annual renewals. Specific details are provided in the Competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which are generally published annually. The most current NOFO is available via: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/funding-opportunities/1890-facilities-grants-program