Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003402

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education food and nutrition health natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program" 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 Jan 11, 2011 and posted on Jan 11, 2011.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • Applications may be submitted by 1862 and 1890 Land Grant Institutions and the University of the District of Columbia.
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003402

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Opportunity Summary:

The Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) is a competitive, discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its central goal is to fund Extension Agents who will build and deliver practical, community-based Extension education programs for Federally Recognized Tribes. These programs are intended to operate directly on Indian Reservations and within Tribal jurisdictions, bringing research-based education and technical assistance to local communities in ways that support agriculture, youth and family well-being, natural resources stewardship, and related community priorities.

A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on placing and supporting Extension personnel who can establish an ongoing education presence in Tribal communities, rather than funding one-off activities. The expectation is that funded Extension Agents help design and run programming that is relevant to local conditions and needs, strengthens skills and capacity in the community, and improves outcomes tied to agriculture and quality of life. While projects can address a range of Extension topics, NIFA indicates that, when practical, applicants should align their proposed work with national critical needs. Those priority areas include developing sustainable energy, improving global food security, helping agriculture and natural resources adapt to and mitigate global climate change, reducing childhood and adolescent obesity, and improving food safety. In other words, proposals are expected to connect on-the-ground education and outreach to broader public needs such as resilient food systems, healthier communities, and climate-smart resource management.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SLBCD 003402 and is associated with CFDA 10.500, the Cooperative Extension Service. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas span agriculture, education, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can be important for applicants serving communities where non-federal match is difficult to secure. The estimated total funding available for the competition was $3,500,000.

Eligibility was limited to certain higher education institutions with Extension missions and capacity. Specifically, applications could be submitted by 1862 Land Grant Institutions, 1890 Land Grant Institutions, and the University of the District of Columbia. The broader eligibility category listing also referenced public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, with a note to consult the announcement for any additional clarification, but the explicit eligibility statement centers on the Land Grant system and UDC. This structure reflects the program's purpose: supporting Extension agents and programming typically housed within, or administered through, Land Grant universities and their Cooperative Extension frameworks.

The timeline provided in the announcement shows it was posted on January 11, 2011, with an application closing date of March 31, 2011, and an archive date of May 2, 2011, indicating this specific notice is historical. For applicants or researchers reviewing the opportunity record, NIFA included a help desk contact for issues accessing the full announcement (NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, during standard weekday business hours, excluding federal holidays) and noted that additional contacts were available for questions related to application content preparation.

Overall, FRTEP is designed to strengthen Tribal Extension education by funding personnel and programming that deliver practical, research-backed education in Tribal communities, while encouraging alignment with major national priorities like sustainable energy, food security, climate adaptation/mitigation, obesity reduction among youth, and food safety.

Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) - FAQs

What is the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP)?

FRTEP is a competitive, discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It funds Extension Agents who build and deliver practical, community-based Extension education programs for Federally Recognized Tribes.

What is the main purpose of FRTEP funding?

The central purpose is to support Extension personnel who can establish and maintain an ongoing, research-based education presence in Tribal communities, delivering education and technical assistance that reflects local needs and conditions.

What kinds of activities does FRTEP support?

FRTEP supports the design and delivery of community-based Extension education and technical assistance. The activity areas span agriculture, education, food and nutrition, health, and natural resources, with programming tailored to Tribal community priorities.

Where are FRTEP-funded programs expected to operate?

Programs are intended to operate directly on Indian Reservations and within Tribal jurisdictions, bringing research-based education and technical assistance into local communities.

Is FRTEP meant to fund one-time projects or ongoing work?

A defining feature of FRTEP is the emphasis on placing and supporting Extension Agents who can establish an ongoing Extension education presence, rather than funding one-off activities.

What outcomes is FRTEP trying to achieve?

FRTEP aims to strengthen skills and capacity in Tribal communities and improve outcomes connected to agriculture and quality of life. This includes support for agriculture, youth and family well-being, natural resources stewardship, and related community priorities.

Who administers FRTEP?

The program is administered by USDA NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture).

Is this a competitive grant program?

Yes. FRTEP is described as a competitive, discretionary grant program.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?

The notice is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SLBCD 003402.

What CFDA number is associated with this program?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.500, the Cooperative Extension Service.

How much total funding was estimated to be available?

The estimated total funding available for the competition was $3,500,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicated that cost sharing or matching funds were not required.

Which organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to certain higher education institutions with Extension missions and capacity: 1862 Land Grant Institutions, 1890 Land Grant Institutions, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

Does the eligibility listing mention other types of institutions?

Yes. The broader eligibility category listing referenced public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, with a note to consult the announcement for additional clarification. However, the explicit eligibility statement centers on the Land Grant system and UDC.

What types of topics can FRTEP projects address?

Projects can address a range of Extension topics tied to Tribal community priorities, including agriculture, youth and family well-being, natural resources stewardship, and related areas, as reflected in the activity areas listed for the opportunity.

Are applicants expected to align projects with national priority areas?

Yes. NIFA indicated that, when practical, applicants should align proposed work with national critical needs.

What national critical needs were highlighted as priority areas?

The priority areas mentioned were developing sustainable energy, improving global food security, helping agriculture and natural resources adapt to and mitigate global climate change, reducing childhood and adolescent obesity, and improving food safety.

Does FRTEP require projects to address those national priorities?

The notice states that, when practical, applicants should align with national critical needs, implying that alignment is encouraged where it makes sense for the community-based program design.

What is the expected role of the Extension Agent under FRTEP?

Funded Extension Agents are expected to help design and run relevant programming, build and deliver practical Extension education, and provide research-based education and technical assistance that supports community capacity and outcomes.

What is the timeline for this specific funding opportunity notice?

This notice was posted on January 11, 2011, had an application closing date of March 31, 2011, and an archive date of May 2, 2011.

Is this opportunity current or historical?

Based on the posted, closing, and archive dates provided, this specific notice is historical.

Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?

NIFA included a help desk contact for issues accessing the full announcement: NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048, available during standard weekday business hours (excluding federal holidays).

Are there contacts for application content questions?

Yes. The notice indicated that additional contacts were available for questions related to application content preparation.

What is the general focus of FRTEP programming in Tribal communities?

The program focuses on delivering practical, research-backed education and outreach directly in Tribal communities, supporting resilient food systems, healthier communities, and climate-smart resource management, while remaining grounded in local conditions and priorities.

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