Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) - Sustainable Agricultural Systems

Eligible Applicants:

Applications may only be submitted by eligible entities. Eligibility is linked to the project type as specified below. Note that this RFA lists the general eligibility requirements for AFRI but only integrated and applicable FASE grants are relevant for this RFA.

1. Research, Education or Extension Projects

Eligible applicants for single-function Research, Education or Extension Projects include: a) State Agricultural Experiment Station; b) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); c) university research foundations; d) other research institutions and organizations; e) Federal agencies, f) national laboratories; g) private organizations or corporations; h) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and i) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in a) through h). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.

2. Integrated Projects

Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include: a) Colleges and universities; b) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities.

For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" mean an educational institution in any state 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. A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award under this program.

3. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants

Part II, C.2 contains the eligibility details for Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants. Note that under the FASE program, only Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project Grants are solicited in this RFA.

Applicants must respond to the Program Area priorities and deadlines found in Part I, C. of this RFA. Grant recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. 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 (see Part III B).

Request for Determination of Status:

1. Minority–Serving Institution

If an institution can be considered a minority-serving institution and wishes to be considered for a Strengthening Grant (see Part II, C. 2), but does not serve one or more of the groups identified as a minority (see definition Part VIII, D), the applicant must submit documentation supporting the request.

2. Multi-Campus Institution

All institutions grouped under one main campus as listed in Table 1 following Part VIII, unless located in an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) state (listed in Part II, C. 2), are excluded from eligibility for all strengthening funds. However, if any campus within a multi-campus listing can provide information demonstrating that it is administratively independent or has an independent accreditation, then the institution may petition for an exemption to this rule and request eligibility for strengthening funds.

2021 Review Cycle Deadlines:

A9201 Sustainable Agricultural Systems
- Letter of Intent Deadline – January 7, 2021
- Application Deadline – April 1, 2021

A9211 Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program Evaluation
- Letter of Intent Deadline – March 4, 2021
- Application Deadline – July 1, 2021

All LOIs and applications must be received by 5 p.m. EST on the deadline date.

New Users of Grants.gov: Prior to preparing an application, it is recommended that the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) first contact an AR to determine if the organization is prepared to submit electronic applications through Grants.gov. If not (e.g., the institution/organization is new to the electronic grant application process through Grants.gov), then the one-time registration process must be completed PRIOR to submitting an application. It can take as long as two weeks to complete the registration process so it is critical to begin as soon as possible. In such situations, the AR should go to “Register,” in the top right corner of the Grants.gov web page (or go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html), for information on registering the institution/organization with Grants.gov.

View this opportunity on Grants.gov:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329768