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Funding Opportunities at NIFA/USDA Funding Opportunities at NIFA/USDA 2020 HACU Capitol Forum Presented by Dr. Irma Lawrence [email protected] 816-926-1905 April 20, 2020 Virtual U.S. Department of Agriculture • NIFA is one of many agencies in USDA and Offices • Mission: Invest in and advance agricultural research, education and extension to solve societal challenges. • NIFA doesn't perform actual research, education, and extension but rather helps fund it at the state and local level and provides program leadership in these areas. USDA/NIFA and COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions • https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus 4/23/2020 Outline of Presentation • COVID-19 and NIFA/USDA • Overview of USDA/NIFA • Highlight Key Funding Opportunities • HSIs • Other Education Programs • Tips for Success in Grant Writing • Questions and Answers USDA Organizational Chart Seven Mission Areas REE ARS, NIFA, ERS, NASS NIFA’s Mission USDA’s primary extramural agency to advance food & agricultural sciences • Research - Provide answers to complex societal issues Extension • Education - Support schools and universities in training the agricultural workforce Education • Extension - Provide knowledge gained Research through research to agricultural workforce; theory to practice NIFA’s 2019 Budget (million dollars) 216.0 1486.0 Total = $1,700 million NIFA Programs Cover Many Topics Funding Mechanisms at NIFA • Capacity Funding – Hatch Research, Evans-Allen, Smith-Liver, McIntire-Stennis – Target (by statute) specific institutions • Competitive Grant Funding – Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Individual Programs NIFA’s Six Focal Areas • Global Food Security • Sustainable Energy • Childhood Obesity Prevention • Food Safety • Water in Agriculture • Climate NIFA’s Four Science Institutes • Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment – Enhance sustainable bio-based energy systems and products – Enhance adaptive agro-ecosystems in response to climate variability and change • Institute of Food Production and Sustainability – Enhance global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems • Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition – Ensure safe food supply; improve citizens’ health through nutrition; reduce childhood obesity; and improve food quality • Institute of Youth, Family, and Community – Enable vibrant and resilient communities; enhance youth development – Prepare the next generation of scientists – Enhance science capacity in minority serving institutions • Center for International Programs USDA Agencies • Forest Service (FS) • Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard • Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administration (GIPSA) • Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) • Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) • Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (APHIS) • Rural Development Agency (RD) • Risk Management Agency (RMA) • Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) • Agricultural Research Service (ARS) • Economic Research Service (ERS) • Rural Utilities Service (RUS) • National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) • Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion • National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) • Rural Housing Service (RHS) • National Agricultural Library (NAL) • Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS) 4/23/2020 12 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program FY 2021 Funding in FY 2020 -- $11.2 million 4/23/2020 HSIs Education Grant Programs NEED AREAS 1. Curricula Design, Materials Development and Library Resources 2. Faculty Preparation and Enhancement for Teaching 3. Instruction Delivery Systems 4. Scientific Instrumentation for Teaching 5. Student Experiential Learning 6. Student Recruitment and Retention 4/23/2020 14 Academic Disciplines • Entomology - Plant • Environmental • Human Nutrition Sciences/Management • General Food & Agricultural • Animal Sciences Sciences • Soil Sciences • Aquaculture • Family & Consumer Sciences • Veterinary Medicine/Science • Watershed Management) • International Education/Research • Agricultural/Biological Engineering • Entomology - Animal • Plant Sciences and Horticulture (including Turf Sciences) 4/23/2020 FY 2021 HSIs RFA Regular Project up to $250K Collaboration Project–2 + HSIs Priority Oriented-$1 million/4yrs total Will result on FIFTEEN B.S. and TEN M.S. per priority *Plant Sciences*Forestry/Food Science/Nutrition Animal Science/Plant Science/Natural Resources Microbiology/Nanotechnology/Other Conference Up to $50,000 Regular Projects • For the FY 2020 program, an applicant may request up to $250,000 (total, not per year), including indirect costs. • An additional up to $25,000 may be requested by the applicant to take advantage of their position as an HSI to recruit and support one underrepresented student. • The total maximum for a regular grant award size is $275,000 including indirect costs. Indirect costs are capped the negotiated rate up to 30 percent. • Bridge grants. Applicant institutions must have not previously received HSI funds • No limit on Regular applications per institution. LEVEL 2 PROJECTS Collaboration Projects • To build capacity at HSIs to support 25 underrepresented students • Recruit at least 15 B.S. and 10 M.S./Ph.D. totaling 25 students • There are competitive 4-year projects for up to $1,000,000 total. • Proposal for a project in which a group of two or three HSI’s, universities and community colleges, form a cooperative arrangement for the purpose of carrying out a common purpose. • Limit of two Collaboration applications per lead institution, only one could be funded. POTENTIALPotential Tracks TRACKS for Level Potential Tracks FOR COLLABORATIONfor Level 2 Projects PROJECTS 2 Projects • Plant Sciences • Forestry • Natural Resources • Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment • Animal Sciences • Agricultural Systems and Technology • Food Safety and Food Science • Nutrition and Childhood Obesity Prevention • Other USDA’s Mission Critical Occupations USDA Office of Human Capital Management has identified 20 Mission Critical Occupations (MCO’s) in Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program Plan he top food and agriculture are: General Biological Scientists Biological Science Technician Soil Conservation Specialist Agricultural Commodity Grader Soil Conservation Technician Consumer Safety Inspection Forestry Specialist Forestry Technician Dietician/Nutritionist Specialist Statistician Specialist Consumer Safety Special Food Inspection Specialist Soil Science Specialist General Business and Industry Veterinary Medical Officer HSIs Project Duration -- 4 years • The statutory time limit for these grants is five (5) years. All funds must be spent and withdrawn within 5 years. Indirect Costs Use negotiated rate, but may not exceed 30 percent. NO Matching Requirements 4/23/2020 22 A Simple Model PLACEMENT USDA Train Students HSI’ s 2-4 years Funds to Outstanding NIFA HSI’s GRADUATES HSACUs Summer Internship at USDA Complete 2yr, 4yr or MS+ PLACEMENT HSIs Project Narrative (PN) • The PN and full application must not exceed the total page limit of 25 pages. • The total page limit will include both the double spaced pages of written text, figures, and tables. • The font size for tables should be no smaller than 11 points, Times New Roman. • Tables could be single-spaced. • The page limits outlined here ensure fair and equitable competition. • Appendices to the PN are allowed if they are directly germane to the proposed project. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page limit. 4/23/2020 HSIs Five Evaluation Factors • Potential for advancing education quality • Approach and cooperative linkages • Institutional commitment and resources • Key personnel • Budget and cost-effectiveness 4/23/2020 25 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI) We Need Your Help to Connect HSI Students to USDA • HACU Internships • USDA Student Pathways Programs • Presidential Management Fellows Program • Be aware of other activities on the same area/topic • Coordinate efforts with feeder initiatives and follow-up initiatives • Duplicate/adapt successful initiatives • Address barriers • Involve students in network • Duplicate yourself • Make sure students meet the requirements for the jobs Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) • Scholarships to support recruiting, engaging, retaining, mentoring, and training committed, eligible multicultural scholars, resulting in either bachelor’s degrees within the food and agricultural sciences disciplines or the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree. • Any combination of 2-, 3-, and/or 4-year scholarships • Grants are given to Colleges and Universities with 4 yr. programs. MSP Funding • ~$945,000 • Scholarships: $200,000 o Scholarships: $6,500 per student per year for up to four years o Cost-of-Education Allowance: $2,500 per student per year (in lieu of indirect costs) • Student Experiential Learning (SEL): $20,000 o One time, $4,000 per eligible USDA MSP Scholar • Combined Scholarship and SEL: $220,000 • Funding rate 15% NLGCA Available Funding • ~ $4.7 Million • Eligibility restricted to NLGCA certified by NIFA • Basic criteria: public college or university, at least a bachelor’s degree or higher in FANH Sciences • Grant Types/Size in FY 2018 a) Planning Activity/Conference Grant = $30,000 b) Regular Grants = $150,000 c) Collaborative Grant- Joint = $300,000 d) Collaborative Grant- Large= $750,000 • RFA closes: • Funding Rate: 28% National Needs Graduate Fellowships (NNF) • To support students’ training and
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