United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
Available Funding: $459,564
Award Range: $20,000 - $115,000
Number of Awards: 5
A Letter of Intent is not requested for this funding opportunity announcement.
5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, 06/01/2026
NIFA requests applications for the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP) RFA for FY 2026 to enable the Cooperative Extension System (CES) to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. This program supports innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and specific responses related to disasters or disaster threats caused by natural, human-made, or technological hazards or by other factors that contribute to the exposure of or risk to a community. The amount available for SLSNCGP in FY 2026 is approximately $459,564.
This notice identifies the objectives for SLSNCGP and its priorities, deadlines, funding information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, application forms, and associated instructions.
See Appendix I.
No Related Announcements
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:
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:
NIFA seeks comments on all Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 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.
Section 3(b)(1) of the Smith-Lever Act (7 U.S.C. 343) allows the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of NIFA, to conduct competitive grant programs for State Cooperative Extension Services (CES) at 1862 Land-grant Institutions to support innovative, education-based approaches to provide cooperative agricultural Extension work.
The purpose of the Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grants Program (SLSNCGP), Assistance Listing 10.511, is to support innovative, education-based approaches to address disaster preparedness and potential responses to natural, human-made, or technological disasters or disaster threats that pose risks to communities. The goals and objectives of SLSNCGP include sustaining quality of life in communities across the United States through risk preparedness for food and agriculture systems in the event of a disaster. The SLSNCGP projects collect and distribute timely and relevant information and resources with end-users, stakeholders, and collaborators to improve disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Grant funds will support innovative extension initiatives that address risks, hazards, and threats that may lead to disasters. The SLSNCGP enables the CES to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. The SLSNCGP promotes awareness and capacity building of communities’ response to disasters by strengthening individual, family, farm, and small business disaster preparedness through education and collaborations with other agencies or volunteer organizations.
NIFA intends to fund SLSNCGP projects to implement applied extension programs that serve public needs through a disaster context. The SLSNCGP will fund the development of educational programs, resource deliverables, and demonstration activities that focus on disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Projects illustrating strong plans for replicability, scalability, and transferring successful methods to other states and/or regions for a broader reach and greater potential for end-user adoption are strongly encouraged.
NIFA welcomes proposals that add new or build upon existing web-based educational materials available through the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Resource Dashboard. In such instances, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the EDEN Executive Officers during proposal formulation to solicit guidance on how best to coordinate with EDEN and to secure a commitment letter, as appropriate.
The handling of baseline data and data collection is to be addressed in the Data Management Plan (DMP) in accordance with Part IV of this NOFO. If an applicant has questions about what constitutes a DMP for this role (including questions about data privacy, etc.), please contact the NIFA program contacts listed in Appendix I of this NOFO.
NIFA is soliciting applications for SLSNCGP projects that focus on disasters, address at least one of the listed Topical Areas, and use at least one of the listed Strategies.
Topical Areas: Topical Areas cover the subject areas on which the Coperative Extension System develops and delivers educational resources and programs to target audiences and stakeholders through science-based education. SLSNCGP projects must address at least one of these Topical Areas:
Strategies: Strategies represent the plans of action and implementation methods used by the Cooperative Extension System to reach and engage target audiences and stakeholders through science-based education. SLSNCGP projects must use at least one of these Strategies:
Applicants are encouraged to approach Topical Areas and Strategies in their projects by considering the following elements:
For a program informational webinar please visit the NIFA calendar for dates, event registration, and link. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of the informational webinars listed, please contact the event host listed no later than 10 days prior to the event.
The following key program information only pertains to the funding year for FY 2026.
12-36 Months
The amount available for SLSNCGP in FY 2026 is approximately $459,564. USDA is not committed to funding any particular application or to making 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.
NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO. Application for FY 2026 is limited to the following application types:
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).
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).
The following describes the types of projects and grants that are eligible for funding:
a. Standard awards of Federal funds for this grant will not exceed $115,000. The amount requested will vary depending on the geographic scope of the project and the urgency of the need(s) being addressed.
b. Project periods for Standard Grants range from 12 to 36 months.
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.
Applicants 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 following entity(ies) may apply to this NOFO: Organizations.
Applications may only be submitted by 1862 Land-grant Institutions in the 50 states and the U.S. territories, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
An eligible individual institution, independent branch campus, or branch institution of a State system may submit a grant application for project activities to be undertaken principally on behalf of its own students or faculty, and to be managed primarily by its own personnel. The applicant executes the project without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners.
Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. The 1862 Land-grant Institutions may partner with each other as well as with other Land-grant Institutions (e.g., 1890s and 1994s), non-Land-grant Institutions, and non-governmental organizations within their state or their region on joint proposals.
Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
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 are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.
Applicants MUST provide 100% matching contributions for all Federal funds awarded under this funding opportunity announcement.
Match Required. Applicants MUST provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all Federal funds awarded under the SLSNCGP. Pursuant to rules and policies governing Section 3(b) & (c) of the Smith–Lever Act as amended, “no allotment shall be made to a State under subsection (b) or (c), and no payments from the allotment shall be made to a State, in excess of the amount that the State makes available out of non-federal funds for cooperative extension work.”
To comply with the matching requirements of the SLSNCGP, applicants are required to provide 100% matching funds from non-federal sources for all proposed Federal funds sought in the application. In-kind and third-party contributions are not allowed for this program; thus, all matching funds must come from the applicant institution (sub-awards/partner match would be considered third party).
No match is required for 1994 Land-grant Institutions and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Only 50% matching funds are required for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and NIFA may consider a waiver of match for these territories. Additionally, consistent with 48 U.S.C. 1469a (d) and 1469a note, notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, NIFA will waive any requirement for local matching funds under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions).
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. Steps to Obtain Application Materials 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.
Applicant Organizations: To be eligible to apply for or receive a federal award, applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations:
Important Note: Registration can take six weeks or longer, so begin the process as early as possible. All registrations must be completed before submitting your application
Project Directors (PD(s)): All PD(s) must have an active eRA Commons account.
Important Note: Creating an eRA Commons account can take up to two weeks.
Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility for basic system requirements).
Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-KMB-32361, search for application here.
Contact an Authorized Representative (AR) prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic application.
Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7 A.M. – 5 P.M. ET, except Federal holidays.
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.
Questions regarding eRA Commons and post-submission questions and inquiries
Finding help online and submitting web tickets: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact)
Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 A.M. - 8 P.M. ET except Federal holidays
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. Key Application Instructions outlines key instructions for applicants.
Attachments must be in Portable Document Format (PDF). Refer to Part IV of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
Check the manifest of submitted files to verify that attachments are in the correct format. Refer to Part IV of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
Conduct an administrative review of the application before submission. Refer to Part IV of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
Follow the submission instructions. Refer to Part IV of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R. Refer to Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and assurances.
Contact the Grants.gov Support Center for technical support and keep a record of the correspondence.
Contact the eRA Service Desk for questions related to eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, and post-submission inquiries.
Contact NIFA if applicant does not receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an application within 30 days of the application deadline.
See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
1. Field 7. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the project goals of the SLSNCGP. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the provided templates to ensure the submission and organization of accurate information in the system.
In the body of the PS, applicants should provide the following information in the order listed: 1) a concise (250 words or less) description of the project; 2) total funding amount requested; and 3) proposal type (New Submission or Resubmission).
2. Field 8. Project Narrative (PN). The PN must not exceed 10 pages; this page limit includes the Logic Model, Project Timeline, and any tables and figures. The page limit ensures fair competition. The PN must be formatted using 1-inch margins, single-line spacing (i.e., no more than six lines per vertical inch), and 12-point Times New Roman font.
A one-page Table of Contents is permitted and does not count towards the PN’s 10-page limit. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. In the PN, do not link to external references; proposals must be self-contained.
To ensure fair competition, applications exceeding the applicable page limit will be returned without review.
Applicants must organize the PN using the sections listed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the following header titles as prompts for each section.
a. Introduction: Describe the current problem or situation to be addressed and explain why it is important. Estimate the magnitude of the problem or situation and its relevance to stakeholders. If applicable, describe the geographic area to be served. Describe the potential benefit of the proposed project to the population group or the community served.
b. Rationale and Significance: Clearly identify which (one or more) of the Topical Areas the project will address. Topical Areas are listed in Part I of this NOFO. Clearly identify which (one or more) of the Strategies the project will use. Strategies are listed in Part I of this NOFO. Describe how the project will complement or enhance resources currently available to Extension professionals and/or the public. Explain any actions that have already been taken to address the problem or situation and describe any gaps that remain. Provide a summary of previous work, if applicable.
c. Project Goals, Objectives, and Intended Outcomes: Describe the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of the project. Outcomes must describe specific changes or results that will occur because of the project and that will constitute “success” for the initiative. These may include benefits caused by program activities such as changes in participants’ skills, behavior, or quality of life, and positive changes in conditions in the community served or reductions in negative conditions. Outcomes must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely, and must describe what will be accomplished, and who and how many people (e.g., residents, participants) will benefit. Applicants may refer to their Logic Model, an application requirement, in this section of the PN. The Logic Model must be included in the Logic Model section per the PN requirements.
d. Activities to Achieve the Project Goals: Describe activities that will be used to implement the project, including their feasibility, rationale for use, and how they support the stated goals and objectives. Define how the project outputs and outcomes will be communicated to key stakeholders like the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), the CES broadly, USDA NIFA, and/or others. Acknowledge the limitations and anticipated challenges related to carrying out the project and describe the ways in which those limitations and challenges will be addressed. Applicants may refer to their Project Timeline, an application requirement, in this section of the PN. The Project Timeline must be included in the Project Timeline section per the PN requirements.
e. Evaluation: Describe how outcomes will be measured and explain how the project activities will be evaluated. Indicate who on the project team will provide the project performance assessment oversight. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include people with expertise in, and skills related to, project performance measurement or evaluation and who can help develop the monitoring plan, and, if feasible, participate in carrying out the plan.
f. Roles and Responsibilities: Describe roles and responsibilities for key staff, including the percentage of time each will dedicate to the project. Describe the fiscal and administrative oversight for the project. Applicants who intend for partners to implement portions of their proposed projects must describe each partner’s roles and responsibilities. If applicable, describe relevant work that demonstrates each partner’s ability to successfully execute the proposed project. Partners may jointly or individually provide leadership for different objectives or activities. If applicable, describe the roles of partners’ key staff on the proposed project and the percentage of time each will dedicate to the project.
g. Logic Model: A logic model must be included and is included in the 10-page PN page limit. The logic model is a conceptual tool for planning and evaluation. It displays the sequence of actions that describe project inputs, outputs, and outcomes. There are many variations in the specific composition of a logic model. NIFA has developed a resource called the Logic Model Planning Process.
h. Project Timeline: A project timeline must be included and is included in the PN page limit. Illustrate the progress and successful implementation of the project over the award period. Relate the project timeline to the project objectives. Plan for a tentative project start date of September 15, 2026, and develop the project timeline accordingly.
3. Field 9. Bibliography & References Cited. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide. Title the attachment as “Bibliography & References Cited” in the document header and save the file as Bibliography.
There is no page limit for the Bibliography. All work cited in the proposal should be referenced in this section of the application. All references must be complete and include titles and all co-authors, conform to an acceptable journal format, and be listed in alphabetical order using the last name of the first author or listed by number in the order of citation.
4. Field 12. Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
a. Response to Previous Review. This requirement only applies to Resubmitted Applications as described in Part II of this NOFO. Applicants must respond to the previous review summary; it must not exceed one page and does not count towards the 10-page limit for the PN. The formatting requirements for the PN also apply to this attachment. Title the attachment as Response to Previous Review Proposal XXXX-XXXXX (where X is the 9-digit application number from the previous submission) in the document header and save the file as Response.
b. Data Management Plan (DMP): A DMP is required for this program application. Applicants should clearly articulate how the Project Director (PD) and co-PD(s) plan to manage and disseminate the data generated by the project. The DMP will be considered during the merit review process (see Part V of this NOFO) and is not to exceed 2 pages. The DMP is a separate document and does not contribute to the PN page limit. NIFA has developed a resource called the NIFA Data Management Plan.
c. Commitment Letters: There is no page limit for Commitment Letters. Letters of commitment from partners must be signed by the Authorized Representative (AR) of the partnering organization and indicate that the partners involved have agreed to their stated roles in the project and have agreed to abide by the approaches outlined in the PN. Letters from other organizations or people whose participation is important to the success of the project, committing those collaborators and partners to specific roles, are also encouraged. Title the attachment(s) as Letter of Commitment: Organization Name in the document header and save the file as Letter of Commitment_Organization Name. Do not include general letters of support (i.e., from those who are not committing to a specific role in the project).
d. Appendices to the PN. Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. Title the attachment as Appendices to the Project Narrative in the document header and save the file as Appendices.
Do not add any other attachments not specifically requested in this NOFO. For example, do not attach examples of curricula or other appendices. Attaching additional narrative, figures, or tables other than those specifically requested in this NOFO will result in disqualification from review.
See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for profile requirements, details about the biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.
This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide).
If an applicant concludes that the matching requirements described under Part III, B of this NOFO is not applicable to them; the applicant must include an explanation of their conclusion in the budget justification. NIFA will consider this justification when determining final matching requirements or if required matching can be waived. NIFA retains the right to make final determinations regarding matching requirements.
Grants that require matching funds as specified under Part III, B of this NOFO must list in their budget justification the matching sources, the identification of the entity(ies) providing the match, and the total pledged amount. A written verification of commitments of matching support (a pledge agreement) is not required. However, applicants are subject to the documentation, valuing and reporting requirements, as specified in 2 CFR Part 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (the Uniform Guidance),” and 7 CFR 3430, “Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-Formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions.”
See Part IV, C of this NOFO for funding restrictions regarding IDC, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for additional information.
See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
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 subawardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the following and is determined by calculating the amount of IDC using:
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 subaward(s), if any. Any subawards would be subject to the subawardee’s negotiated IDC rate. The subawardee 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 subawardee(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 subaward(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 subawardee(s), if any, may not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.
In the event of an award, the prime awardee is responsible for ensuring the maximum indirect cost allowed for the award is not exceeded when combining IDC for the Federal portion (i.e., prime and subawardee(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.
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).
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:
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 unfavorable review.
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.
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).
NIFA will use the following criteria to evaluate and score applications to this funding opportunity.
Potential for Advancing Disaster Education: There is a likelihood that the project will support innovative, education-based approaches that can be used by the CES to assist in preparing for, providing an educational response to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters and disaster threats. The project addresses at least one Topical Area and one Strategy as listed in Part I. The project is timely and relevant. The need for and the scope of the project are justified and clear. The project goals, objectives, and outcomes are reasonable and achievable. The Logic Model adequately describes the project.
Project Implementation: There is a likelihood that the project will be implemented in the timeframe proposed. The activities are aligned with the goals, objectives, and outcomes. The project includes methods to disseminate the outputs that may include but are not limited to Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), the CES broadly, USDA NIFA, and/or stakeholders. Limitations and challenges are addressed. The Project Timeline adequately describes key milestones. The Data Management Plan is descriptive.
Evaluation: There is a likelihood that outcomes will be measured. The project includes evaluation activities that are reasonable and appropriate for the activities. The project identifies which key person(s) on the project team will monitor project performance.
Key Persons and Organizational Support: The PD, co-PD(s), and key persons are qualified and have the necessary expertise to carry out the project which includes implementing project activities and supporting evaluation. The number of persons involved in the project is sufficient. The applicant’s institution is committed to the project, and the institutional resources (administrative, facilities, equipment, and/or materials) available to carry out the project are adequate. If a partner organization or organizations will be included in the implementation of the project, their involvement, including roles and responsibilities, is clear and defined. Letters of commitment from partners are provided, if applicable.
Budget: The budget for accomplishing project goals, objectives, and outcomes is realistic, achievable, and cost-effective. The project maximizes the use of limited resources and optimizes educational value for the dollar.
Applicants must submit specific management information prior to an award and update the information as needed. Applicants may only need to provide an update if there was a change in previously provided information under this or another NIFA program. NIFA provides the requisite forms during the pre-award process. Although an applicant may be eligible for award under this program, there are factors that may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual, or a determination that an applicant is not responsible).
Applicants may withdraw at any time before NIFA makes a final funding decision. NIFA will retain all applications, including withdrawn applications and unfunded applications.
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to responsible and eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this NOFO. The date specified by the NIFA awarding official as the effective date of the grant must be no later than September 30 of the federal fiscal year in which the project is approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted by law. The project need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds granted by NIFA under this NOFO may be used only for the purpose for which they are granted in accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the award, applicable federal cost principles, USDA assistance regulations, and NIFA General Awards Administration Provisions, 7 CFR Part 3430, subparts A through E.
The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information as described in 2 CFR 200.211 (see NIFA’s Terms and Conditions).
Several federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications and the projects outlined in this NOFO (some are listed here: Federal Regulations). Unless specifically noted by statute or award-specific requirements, NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide applies to all NIFA awards.
Output and reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. If there are any program or award-specific award terms, they will be identified in the Award Notice.
Unless the terms and conditions of the award state otherwise, awardees may not in whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, or organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of award funds.
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.308, awardees must request prior approval from NIFA for the following program or budget-related reasons (the awardee is subject to the terms and conditions identified in the award):
When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of NIFA transaction records, which are available to the public. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be confidential, privileged, or proprietary in nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, applicants should clearly mark any information within the application they wish to have considered as confidential, privileged, or proprietary. NIFA will retain a copy of an application that does not result in an award for three years. Such an application will be released only with the consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An applicant may withdraw at any time prior to the final action thereon.
This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with state and local officials. Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the collection of information requirements contained in this notice have been approved under OMB Document No. 0524- 0039.
NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information, free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language Access Services.
For programmatic questions please email:
For administrative questions related to:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-6205
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
2312 East Bannister Road, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-3061
Assistance Listing Number - ALN
Authorized Representative – AR
Cooperative Extension System – CES
Data Management Plan – DMP
Extension Disaster Education Network – EDEN
National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA
Project Director – PD
Project Narrative – PN
Request for Application – RFA
Smith-Lever Special Needs Competitive Grant Program – SLSNCGP
United States Department of Agriculture – USDA
(Refer to 7 CFR 3430 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions for additional definitions)