NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

BASIC INFORMATION

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
5. Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality

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.

PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Legislative Authority

The EGP is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 3310a, which allows the Secretary to make competitive grants for the acquisition of special-purpose scientific research equipment for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs of eligible institutions.

“Special purpose equipment" is defined in 2 CFR 200.1 as equipment which is used only for research, medical, scientific, or other technical activities. See also 2 CFR 200.1 Equipment and General purpose equipment.

B. Purpose and Priorities

The EGP, Assistance Listing 10.519, serves to increase access to shared special-purpose equipment/instruments for scientific research for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs in our Nation's institutions of higher education, including State Cooperative Extension Services. The program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of fundamental and applied research at eligible institutions by providing organizations with opportunities to acquire equipment/instruments that support the research, training, and extension goals of the organization and extension agents both within and outside the proposing organization.

EGP is designed to strengthen the fundamental and/or applied research capacity and extension of institutions by funding the purchase of one shared-use piece of equipment. Proposals to the EGP are for the acquisition of a single, well-integrated piece of equipment/instrument. “Well-integrated research instrument” means that the ensemble of equipment that defines the instrument enables specific fundamental or applied research experiments in the food and agricultural sciences, including data science and data systems. The acquired equipment may be a well-integrated ensemble that requires more than one component to enable a specific fundamental or applied research experiment in the food and agricultural sciences programs to be undertaken.  Separating or removing an element or component of such an integrated instrument would preclude any experiments from occurring or succeeding. Requests for computer equipment are allowed only if the equipment is part of a well-integrated instrument and used to enhance an activity integral to the proposed project.

The Equipment Grants Program serves to increase access to shared special purpose equipment for scientific research for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs in our Nation’s colleges and universities (7 U.S.C. 3103), including State Cooperative Extension Systems. The program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of fundamental and applied research in food and agricultural sciences, including data science and data systems, by providing institutions with opportunities to acquire instrumentation that increases the research capacity of the institution, contributes to their research training or extension goals, and advances food and agricultural sciences.

EGP grants are not intended to replace requests for equipment in individual project applications of other NIFA programs. Rather, they are intended to help fund items of equipment that will upgrade infrastructure. An instrument acquired with support from EGP is expected to be fully operational by the conclusion of the first year of the project. EGP projects are 48 months in duration in order to document the impact of the acquired equipment on the institution’s research capacity. Equipment in a soil, plant, or animal health diagnostic laboratory will be appropriate if the data produced is used for research, research training, or extension.

EGP will support the installation of equipment (excluding costs associated with building or modifying facilities to house the equipment), equipment warranty for the duration of the award (48 months), and one-time equipment use training. Training and warranty costs must not exceed $7,000 for each category. While warranty costs are allowed, continuing maintenance contracts are not.

Shared-use research equipment can be expensive to operate and maintain over its useful lifetime. Proposals should demonstrate the institution’s commitment to maintaining and operating the instrument for the benefit of a community of users engaged in research and training or extension in the management plan.

EGP provides funding for purchase of equipment used in research or produces data used in research, but:

1. does not fund research, education, or extension project costs or personnel salaries or wages, including research or personnel that use equipment acquired with support from the program;
2. does not fund common, general-purpose ancillary equipment that would normally be found in a laboratory or is relatively easily procured by other funding sources (for the purposes of this program, “General purpose equipment” is defined in 2 CFR 200.48);
3. does not support the operation, consumable supplies for, or maintenance of facilities, equipment, or research laboratories; or building, modifying, or renovating facilities that house the acquired equipment; and
4. does not support the acquisition of a suite of instruments to outfit research laboratories/facilities. 

C. Program Key Information

The following key program information only pertains to the funding year for FY 2026.

PART II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Available Funding

The amount available for the EGP in FY 2026 is approximately $2,800,000. USDA is not committed to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards.

The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury, Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this NOFO.

B. Application Restrictions

NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO. 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 be submitted as a New proposal. Applicants must include their responses to the previous review panel summary within the Narrative document, even when submitting as New. After submitting a Resubmission, applicants must notify NIFA Program staff by email and provide the following information: 1. Application Title, 2. New grant number, and 3. Previous grant number. NIFA Program staff contact information can be found under the Program Contacts section in Appendix I: Agency Contact. 

C. Project and Grant Types

The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:

1. Project Types: Equipment Projects only. These projects are for the acquisition of research equipment and do not fund research project costs, including personnel costs, associated with the use of the equipment acquired with support from this program. EGP projects support the purchase of equipment that will be used for fundamental or applied research and enhance the capacity (updates or expands existing equipment) or increases the capacity (acquires new equipment) at a research institution.
2. Grant Types: The EGP will only support Standard Grants where:
   • Standard Grant: Funding request from $25,000 up to $500,000 total budget for the acquisition of a single, well-integrated piece of equipment/instrument and a project duration of 48 months.

Equipment Grants applications will be considered in two categories: $25,000-$250,000 budget applications, and $250,001 up to $500,000 budget applications. All Equipment Grants Program applications will be reviewed using the same evaluation criteria, with separate funding considerations given to $25,000-$250,000 budget applications and $250,001 up to $500,000 budget applications. An eligible institution may not submit more than two applications to this program as a lead institution and no more than one award will be made per lead institution. Prospective applicants/project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects

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

PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligibility Requirements

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.

Eligibility is limited to the following institutions, as defined in 7 U.S.C. § 3103:

1. College or University
   1. In general.—The terms “college” and “university” mean an educational institution in any State, the District of Columbia, and any insular area which: (i) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; (ii) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; (iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor's degree or any other higher degree is awarded; (iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and (v) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
   2. Inclusions.—The terms “college” and “university” include a research foundation maintained by a college or university described in subparagraph (A).
2. State Cooperative Institution, including:
   1. 1862 and 1890 Land-grant institutions
   2. State-certified schools of forestry as stipulated in accordance with 16 U.S.C. 582a et seq. (the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962)
   3. State Agricultural Experiment Stations located in the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Insular Areas in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 361a et seq. (the Hatch Act of 1887)
   4. “Cooperative extension services” meaning the organizations established at the Land-grant Colleges and Universities under the Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 372–374, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 341–349), and section 209(b) of the Act of October 26, 1974 (88 Stat. 1428, as amended; D.C. Code, sec. 31–1719(b))
   5. Accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine or State Agricultural Experiment Stations that conduct animal health and disease research in accordance with section 1433(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977
   6. Hispanic-serving Institutions as defined in section 1101(a) of Title 20
   7. Eligible institutions in insular areas including, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands of the United States

Applicants for the EGP 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 Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.The initial screening criteria are the following:

The application must be received by the due date and time from an eligible institution.

The application must meet the Content and Form of the Application requirements as described in this NOFO. This includes page length requirements, all required forms, and all files in Portable Document Format (PDF).

The proposed budget request must fall within the funding amounts identified in the NOFO.

The application does not exceed the limit of no more than two applications submitted to this program from an eligible lead institution or that the lead institution exceeds the limit of receiving more than two EGP awards in the previous two EGP funding cycles.

For FY 2026, an eligible institution may only submit two applications to this program as a lead institution and only one award will be made per lead institution. Prospective applicants/project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission.

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.

Submissions of duplicate or predominantly overlapping applications is not allowed. An eligible applicant may submit multiple applications on behalf of multiple individuals as long as they are not essentially duplications of the same project or portions of the same project to multiple programs. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions. For additional information or clarification, please contact the NIFA POC listed in this NOFO. 

Application Submission and Award Limitations: For FY 2026, an eligible institution may only submit two applications to this program as a lead institution and only one award will be made per lead institution. Prospective applicants/project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of research regarding processes used to select proposals for submission. To receive an award in FY 2026, the lead institution may not have received more than two (2) USDA-NIFA EGP awards as lead institution in the previous two (2) EGP funding cycles.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

This funding opportunity announcement has no matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.

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. 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.

Steps to Obtain Application Materials:

Help and Resources:

B. Content and Form of 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. Key Application Instructions outlines key instructions for applicants.  

Key Application Instructions:

C. Funding Restrictions

No Indirect Costs (IDC)

Indirect Cost (IDC) is not authorized for this NOFO.

Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this NOFO to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment in such space; or to plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities.

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).

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 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).

B. Evaluation Criteria

NIFA will use the following criteria to evaluate and score applications to this funding opportunity.

C. Organizational Management Information

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).

D. Application Disposition

Applicants may withdraw at any time before NIFA makes a final funding decision. NIFA will retain all applications, including withdrawn applications and unfunded applications.

PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

A. General

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).

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 

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.

C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements

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.

PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget

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):

1. Change in the scope or the objective of the project or program without prior written approval (even if there is no associated budget revision required);
2. Change in a key person specified in the application or the federal award;
3. Disengagement from the project for more than three months, or a 25 percent reduction in time devoted to the project;
4. Inclusion of costs that require prior approval in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E (Cost Principles), or 2 CFR Part 300 Appendix IX, or 48 CFR, unless waived by the Federal awarding agency, 48 CFR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles and Procedures;
5. Transfer of funds budgeted for participant support costs to other categories of expense (2 CFR 200.456 Participant support costs);
6. Subawarding, transferring or contracting out of any work under a federal award, including fixed amount subawards (see 2 CFR 200.333, Fixed Amount Subawards), unless described in the application and funded in the approved federal awards. This provision does not apply to the acquisition of supplies, material, equipment, or general support services;
7. Changes in the approved cost-sharing or matching provided by the non-federal entity;
8. The need for additional federal funds to complete the project;
9. Salary rates of pay exceeding an Executive Level IV salary range (see “Rates of Pay for the Executive Schedule” under the “Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables” header at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/) require prior NIFA approval. This rate does not include any fringe benefits, general and administrative (G&A), overhead, or other expenses. Requests for approval must include the salary rate of pay and a justification for the rate and be sent to the Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) to awards@usda.gov;
10. No more than 50 percent of the total dollars of this award may be subcontracted to another party(ies) without prior written approval of the ADO, except subcontracts to Federal agencies.
11. Transferring funds between the construction and non-construction work under a Federal award; and
12. A no-cost extension (meaning, an extension of time that does not require the obligation of additional Federal funds) of the period of performance, other than any one-time extension authorized by the Federal agency in accordance with paragraph 2 CFR 200.308(g)(2). All requests for no-cost extensions should be submitted at least 10 calendar days before the conclusion of the period of performance. The Federal agency may approve multiple no-cost extensions under a Federal award if not prohibited by Federal statute or regulation.

B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards

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.

C. Regulatory Information

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.

D. Language Access Services

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.

APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT

APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS

• Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – AFRI
• Assistance Listing Number – ALN
• Authorized Departmental Officer – ADO
• Authorized Representative – AR
• Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 – AREERA
• Coordinated Agricultural Project – CAP
• Centers of Excellence – COE
• Data Management Plan – DMP
• National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA
• Notice of Funding Opportunity – NOFO
• Research, Education, and Economics – REE
• United States Department of Agriculture – USDA

APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS

(Refer to 7 CFR 3430 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions for additional definitions) 

• Matching: The process through which a grant recipient matches awarded USDA funds with cash and in-kind contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The matching funds must derive from non-Federal sources.
• New Application: An application not previously submitted to a program.
• Resubmitted Application: A project application that was previously submitted to a program but not funded.