Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004331
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004331
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Extension Outreach on the Marketplace Exchanges of the Affordable Care Act" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 7, 2013 and posted on Jun 26, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $795,455.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $795,455.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by Land grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University and the University of the District of Columbia. Applications may be submitted by any of the Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Extension Outreach on the Marketplace Exchanges of the Affordable Care Act grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 004331) was a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It sat within the Cooperative Extension Service program area (CFDA 10.500) and was designed to use the Extension system's on-the-ground reach to help communities understand and navigate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Exchanges. The core idea was straightforward: concentrate education and outreach resources in parts of the country with especially high numbers of uninsured individuals, and deliver practical, consumer-focused information so people could make informed choices about whether and how to participate in their State Marketplace Exchange.
In practical terms, the program emphasized public education and outreach rather than direct medical services. The intent was to equip consumers with clear, usable information about Marketplace coverage options and enrollment-related decisions, with a particular focus on areas where lack of insurance coverage was most common. By targeting high-uninsured regions, the grant aimed to reduce information barriers that often keep eligible individuals from exploring coverage, comparing plans, understanding costs, or taking steps toward enrollment. Because the award was channeled through Extension, the program leveraged existing community networks and trusted local educators, which is often critical for reaching underserved populations and addressing confusion around complex policy changes.
The funding instrument was a grant, and cost sharing or matching funds were not required, which lowered the barrier to participation for eligible institutions. The estimated total funding available for this opportunity was $795,455, and the listed award ceiling was also $795,455, indicating that the total pot could potentially be awarded as a single large award (or otherwise not exceed that amount per award). The award floor was listed as $0, meaning no minimum award size was specified in the summary information provided.
Eligibility was restricted to specific categories of land-grant institutions that form the backbone of the national Extension system. Eligible applicants included land-grant colleges and universities authorized under the 1862 and 1890 Acts (including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia), as well as Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended. This eligibility structure reflects the program's reliance on Extension capacity: these institutions are set up to deliver public education in communities through Extension educators and partnerships, making them a natural fit for large-scale outreach initiatives tied to public needs.
The opportunity was posted on June 26, 2013, with an original closing date of July 26, 2013, later extended to a current closing date of August 15, 2013. The listing was archived on September 14, 2013. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided support through its Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays), and it also noted a contact point for questions related to preparing application content.
Overall, this grant opportunity was a targeted, time-bound funding effort meant to mobilize the Extension system to deliver ACA Marketplace education and outreach in high-uninsured areas, helping consumers better understand their options and make informed decisions about Marketplace participation at the state level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Extension Outreach on the Marketplace Exchanges of the Affordable Care Act."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 004331.
Which federal agency offered this program?
This was a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What program area does this opportunity fall under?
It sat within the Cooperative Extension Service program area (CFDA 10.500).
What was the main purpose of the grant?
The main purpose was to use the Extension system's local, on-the-ground reach to help communities understand and navigate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Exchanges, especially in areas with high numbers of uninsured individuals.
What kinds of activities were emphasized?
The program emphasized public education and outreach rather than direct medical services. The intent was to provide practical, consumer-focused information to help people make informed choices about whether and how to participate in their State Marketplace Exchange.
Was this funding intended to provide direct medical services?
No. The description highlights education and outreach to equip consumers with clear, usable information about Marketplace coverage options and enrollment-related decisions.
Why did the grant focus on areas with high uninsured rates?
The core strategy was to concentrate education and outreach resources where lack of insurance coverage was most common, aiming to reduce information barriers that can prevent eligible individuals from exploring coverage, comparing plans, understanding costs, or taking steps toward enrollment.
How did the program plan to reach communities?
Because awards were channeled through Extension, the program leveraged existing community networks and trusted local educators to reach underserved populations and address confusion around complex policy changes.
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching funds were not required.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $795,455.
What was the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling was $795,455.
What does it mean that the total funding and award ceiling were both $795,455?
Based on the summary provided, it indicates the total amount available could potentially have been awarded as a single large award, or otherwise that no individual award could exceed $795,455.
What was the award floor?
The award floor was listed as $0, meaning no minimum award size was specified in the summary information provided.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to specific categories of land-grant institutions tied to the national Extension system: land-grant colleges and universities authorized under the 1862 and 1890 Acts (including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia), and Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended.
Why were land-grant institutions the eligible applicants?
The opportunity relied on Extension capacity. These land-grant institutions are structured to deliver public education through Extension educators and partnerships, making them a natural fit for large-scale outreach initiatives.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 26, 2013.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 26, 2013.
Was the application deadline extended?
Yes. The closing date was extended to August 15, 2013.
When was the listing archived?
The listing was archived on September 14, 2013.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
NIFA provided support through its Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What were the Help Desk hours?
The Help Desk hours were weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays.
Was there a contact for questions about application content?
Yes. The opportunity noted a contact point for questions related to preparing application content.
What was the overall goal of the program?
Overall, it was a targeted, time-bound funding effort to mobilize the Extension system to deliver ACA Marketplace education and outreach in high-uninsured areas, helping consumers better understand their options and make informed decisions about Marketplace participation at the state level.
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