Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 005075
Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 005075
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.322 Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2015 and posted on Apr 13, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $85,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by an Eligible Institution. For the purposes of the DEG grants program, an eligible institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that is located in an Insular Area and that has a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. Individual land grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land grant status through Federal legislation, and which are located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under the DEG grants program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas is a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its central goal is to strengthen the ability of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas to deliver strong resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences by using distance education technology. In practical terms, the program is meant to help eligible institutions expand or improve postsecondary agricultural education offerings by investing in the tools, systems, and instructional approaches that make high-quality distance learning possible, especially where geography and limited local resources can make traditional delivery harder.
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a standard grant funding instrument under the Agriculture funding activity category. The relevant CFDA number is 10.322, which corresponds to Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas. The program does not require cost sharing or matching, which can lower barriers for eligible institutions that may have constrained budgets.
Eligibility is limited to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. Specifically, an applicant must be an institution of higher education as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), must be located in an Insular Area, and must be able to demonstrate capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The notice also clarifies that individual land-grant colleges and universities, along with other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible. This framing signals that the program is not aimed at individuals or general nonprofits, but rather at accredited postsecondary institutions with a clear mission and track record (or demonstrated capability) in agricultural and related sciences education and outreach.
The funding details provided in the source data show an estimated total program funding level of $800,000, with an award ceiling of $85,000 per award. While the announcement text provided does not list a specific award floor, the ceiling indicates these are relatively modest, targeted awards designed to support discrete upgrades or initiatives rather than large, multi-million-dollar buildouts. Because the program emphasis is on strengthening instructional and curriculum capacity through distance education technology, funded projects would typically be expected to show a direct connection between the requested resources and measurable improvements in agricultural sciences education delivery, such as expanded course access, improved instructional quality, modernization of curriculum delivery methods, or broader reach to students who cannot easily attend in-person programs.
Key dates from the opportunity record indicate it was posted and created on April 13, 2015, with an original and current closing date of May 15, 2015, and an archive date of June 14, 2015. These dates mean the specific posting is historical and no longer open, but the summary remains useful for understanding the program's intent, structure, and typical parameters in case the program is reissued or used as a reference point for similar NIFA funding opportunities.
For support, the announcement directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full notice to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). It also notes that additional assistance is available for questions related to preparing application content, suggesting that applicants were expected to follow a formal application package with specific technical and narrative requirements beyond what is included in the excerpted data. The funding opportunity number associated with this posting is USDA NIFA RIGP 005075, and the opportunity title is Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas program?
The Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas is a competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program supports distance education technology efforts that strengthen resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences at eligible colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The central goal is to strengthen the ability of eligible institutions in U.S. Insular Areas to deliver strong instruction and curriculum in the food and agricultural sciences by using distance education technology. In practical terms, it is intended to help institutions expand or improve postsecondary agricultural education where geography and limited local resources can make traditional in-person delivery more difficult.
Who administers this grant program?
This program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What type of funding is this?
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a standard grant funding instrument under the Agriculture funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The relevant CFDA number is 10.322, which corresponds to Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas.
Is this a competitive grant program?
Yes. The DEG program is described as a competitive grant program, meaning eligible institutions apply and awards are made through a competitive process.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to an "Eligible Institution" as defined in the announcement. An applicant must be:
- An institution of higher education as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
- Located in an Insular Area; and
- Able to demonstrate capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences.
Are land-grant institutions in Insular Areas eligible?
Yes. The notice clarifies that individual land-grant colleges and universities, along with other institutions that have obtained land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible.
Can individuals apply for this grant?
No. Based on the eligibility description provided, the program is aimed at accredited postsecondary institutions (institutions of higher education) located in Insular Areas, not individuals.
Is this grant intended for general nonprofits?
No. The framing indicates the program is not aimed at general nonprofits; it is limited to eligible institutions of higher education located in Insular Areas that can demonstrate capacity in agricultural and related sciences education and extension.
What kinds of activities is the program designed to support?
The program is designed to support investments in distance education technology and related instructional approaches that make high-quality distance learning possible for postsecondary food and agricultural sciences education. The emphasis is on strengthening instructional and curriculum capacity through distance delivery methods.
What outcomes or benefits are projects expected to support?
Funded projects would typically be expected to show a direct connection between requested resources and measurable improvements in agricultural sciences education delivery, such as:
- Expanded course access
- Improved instructional quality
- Modernization of curriculum delivery methods
- Broader reach to students who cannot easily attend in-person programs
What is the estimated total funding level for the program?
The source data list an estimated total program funding level of $800,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $85,000 per award.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The provided announcement excerpt does not list a specific award floor.
Does the program require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The program does not require cost sharing or matching, which can reduce barriers for eligible institutions with constrained budgets.
Are these grants intended for large multi-million-dollar projects?
No. The award ceiling of $85,000 indicates these are relatively modest, targeted awards designed to support discrete upgrades or initiatives rather than large-scale buildouts.
What is the funding opportunity number for this posting?
The funding opportunity number associated with this posting is USDA NIFA RIGP 005075.
What is the official opportunity title?
The opportunity title is Distance Education Grants (DEG) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
Key dates in the opportunity record indicate it was posted and created on April 13, 2015. The original and current closing date is May 15, 2015. The archive date is June 14, 2015.
Is this specific posting still open for applications?
No. Based on the listed closing and archive dates (May 15, 2015 closing; June 14, 2015 archive), this specific posting is historical and no longer open.
Why is this historical posting still useful?
Even though the specific posting is closed, the summary remains useful for understanding the program's intent, structure, eligibility boundaries, and typical funding parameters in case the program is reissued or used as a reference point for similar NIFA funding opportunities.
Where can applicants get help if they cannot access the full notice?
The announcement directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full notice to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours?
The listed business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Is there support available for application preparation questions?
Yes. The notice indicates additional assistance is available for questions related to preparing application content, and it suggests applicants were expected to follow a formal application package with technical and narrative requirements beyond what is included in the excerpted data.
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