Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003849
Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003849
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.210 Higher Education Graduate Fellowships Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2012 and posted on Jun 14, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,240,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $262,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Pursuant to section 1417 of the NARETPA of 1977 (99 Stat. 1548 7 U.S.C. 3152), and administrative provisions that can be found at 7 CFR 340 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx05/7cfr340205.html) applications may be submitted by (1) Land grant institutions including the University of the District of Columbia (2) Colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences and (3) Other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food, and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training proposals under this RFA. Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA). Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA HEP 003849) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds university-based graduate traineeship programs. Its central purpose is workforce development: helping institutions recruit, train, and graduate high-caliber Masters and PhD students in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences that align directly with USDA mission needs. In addition to core graduate training support, the program also includes Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible USDA National Needs Fellows, which are intended to support international study experiences or travel necessary to complete thesis or dissertation research.
The competition is aimed at institutions that can clearly articulate a coherent graduate training philosophy and show how their proposed traineeship program connects to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priorities, and broader national science and education policy goals. In practice, this means applicants are expected to justify why their training approach is well designed, how it will produce graduates prepared to address national needs, and how the proposed curriculum, mentoring, research experiences, and professional development activities will help students successfully complete their degrees and move into relevant careers.
Eligible applicants are higher education institutions with demonstrated capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences, including land-grant institutions (including the University of the District of Columbia), institutions with significant minority enrollments that can demonstrably deliver this training, and other colleges and universities that can show the needed instructional capability. Research foundations maintained by an eligible institution may also apply. While the applicant must be an eligible institution, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants when those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed project.
A key eligibility and program design requirement is that the applying institution must confer a graduate degree in at least one Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA). These shortage areas define the priority fields the program is trying to strengthen nationally: (1) animal and plant production, (2) forest resources, (3) agricultural educators and communicators, (4) agricultural management and economics, (5) food science and human nutrition, (6) sciences for agricultural biosecurity, and (7) integrative biosciences training for sustainable food and agricultural systems. Proposals generally need to show that the traineeship slots, training plan, and outcomes are concentrated in one or more of these categories and that the program will produce graduates equipped for critical roles tied to USDA priorities.
From a funding perspective, the opportunity had an estimated total funding level of $3,240,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $4,500 up to a ceiling of $262,000. The assistance listing is CFDA 10.210 (Higher Education Graduate Fellowships Grant Program). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity, which lowers the barrier for institutions that may not have large discretionary funds to contribute as match.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted June 14, 2012, with an original and current closing date of August 15, 2012, and an archive date of September 14, 2012. Institutions needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during business hours. The opportunity references statutory and regulatory authority under section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) and related administrative provisions at 7 CFR 340, which frame who may apply and how the program is administered.
Overall, this grant is best understood as a structured graduate fellowship and training investment, awarded to universities to run focused traineeship programs in nationally important agricultural and food system fields. The program emphasizes degree completion, excellence in student recruitment and preparation, and deliberate alignment of graduate training with USDA mission-driven workforce needs, with an added option to support international study or research travel that strengthens fellows thesis or dissertation work.
Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants (USDA NIFA HEP 003849) - FAQs
What is the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants program?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds university-based graduate traineeship programs. The central purpose is workforce development: helping institutions recruit, train, and graduate high-caliber Masters and PhD students in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences that align with USDA mission needs.
What does this funding support?
The funding supports structured graduate traineeship programs operated by universities. The program emphasizes a coherent training philosophy and a well-designed approach to curriculum, mentoring, research experiences, and professional development so that fellows complete their degrees and enter careers tied to national needs and USDA priorities.
Does this opportunity include support for international study or research travel?
Yes. The program includes Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible USDA National Needs Fellows. These allowances are intended to support international study experiences or travel necessary to complete thesis or dissertation research.
Who is the intended applicant for this grant?
The intended applicants are higher education institutions that can clearly articulate a coherent graduate training philosophy and show how a proposed traineeship program connects to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priorities, and broader national science and education policy goals.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions with demonstrated capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences, including land-grant institutions (including the University of the District of Columbia), institutions with significant minority enrollments that can demonstrably deliver this training, and other colleges and universities that can show the needed instructional capability. Research foundations maintained by an eligible institution may also apply.
Can an award recipient partner with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. While the applicant must be an eligible institution, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants when those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed project.
Are individual students the direct applicants for this funding?
No. Based on the opportunity description, this program funds university-based traineeship programs. The applicant is an eligible institution (or its research foundation), not an individual student.
What is a Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA), and why does it matter?
A Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) is a priority field the program is trying to strengthen nationally. A key eligibility and program design requirement is that the applying institution must confer a graduate degree in at least one TESA, and proposals generally need to show that traineeship slots, the training plan, and outcomes are concentrated in one or more TESA categories.
What are the TESA priority fields listed for this opportunity?
The TESA categories listed are: (1) animal and plant production, (2) forest resources, (3) agricultural educators and communicators, (4) agricultural management and economics, (5) food science and human nutrition, (6) sciences for agricultural biosecurity, and (7) integrative biosciences training for sustainable food and agricultural systems.
What level of study is supported (Masters, PhD, or both)?
The program supports recruitment, training, and graduation of high-caliber Masters and PhD students through university-run traineeship programs.
What kinds of training elements are expected to be included in a competitive traineeship program?
Applicants are expected to justify why their training approach is well designed and how it will produce graduates prepared to address national needs. The opportunity description highlights curriculum, mentoring, research experiences, and professional development activities, with an emphasis on degree completion and preparation for relevant careers aligned with USDA mission-driven workforce needs.
How should an institution demonstrate alignment with USDA and NIFA priorities?
The opportunity emphasizes that institutions should show how the proposed traineeship program connects to USDA mission sciences and NIFA priorities, and how it supports broader national science and education policy goals. Proposals are generally expected to show concentration of traineeship slots and outcomes in one or more TESA areas tied to USDA priorities.
What is the estimated total funding available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding level stated for this opportunity is $3,240,000.
What is the range of individual award amounts?
Individual awards range from a floor of $4,500 up to a ceiling of $262,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA HEP 003849.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 10.210 (Higher Education Graduate Fellowships Grant Program).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 14, 2012. The original and current closing date was August 15, 2012. The archive date was September 14, 2012.
Who administered this grant program?
The program was run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Institutions needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours.
What legal or regulatory authority is referenced for this opportunity?
The opportunity references authority under section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) and related administrative provisions at 7 CFR 340.
What is the overall goal of this grant program?
The overall goal is a structured graduate fellowship and training investment that helps universities run focused traineeship programs in nationally important agricultural and food system fields. The program emphasizes excellence in recruitment and preparation, degree completion, and deliberate alignment of graduate training with USDA mission-driven workforce needs, with an option for international study or research travel support through IRTA.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 003871 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 003871 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Aligning and Elevating University Based Low Income Nutrition Education Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 003872 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 003872 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 003954 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 003954 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 003955 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 003955 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004068 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004068 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $850,000 |
| Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004030 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004030 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $2,800,000 |
| Children, Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $160,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004090 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004090 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Funding Number: USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $110,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Funding Number: USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $745,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Apply for USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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