Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SERDIP 002675
Apply for USDA NIFA SERDIP 002675
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Science and Education Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.305 International Science and Education Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 10, 2009 and posted on Nov 10, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 28, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- College/university must 1) admit as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation form a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, 2) be legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education, 3) provide an education program for which a BA/BS or any other higher degree is awarded, 4) be a public or other nonprofit institution, 5) be accredited by a nationally recognized agency.
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Opportunity Summary:
The International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its purpose is to strengthen the ability of U.S. colleges and universities to carry out meaningful international work across research, extension, and teaching, with an emphasis on building long-term institutional capability rather than supporting isolated, one-off travel or academic activities. The program is designed to help U.S. institutions engage more effectively in international collaboration and then translate those experiences into practical benefits for U.S. education, agriculture, and competitiveness.
Projects funded under ISE are expected to expand and improve the international content of university curricula, encourage faculty to work beyond the United States and bring back what they learn for use at home, and build or deepen international research partnerships. Another core theme is helping U.S. stakeholders adopt or adapt useful technologies and approaches developed abroad, particularly when those innovations can strengthen U.S. agriculture and related systems. Overall, the program frames international collaboration as a tool for keeping U.S. colleges and universities, and by extension U.S. agriculture and food systems, competitive in a global environment.
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SERDIP 002675; CFDA 10.305, International Science and Education Grants) was posted on November 10, 2009, with an application deadline of January 28, 2010, and an archive date of March 1, 2010. The estimated total funding available was $2,900,000. Individual awards could be as high as $150,000, and the listing indicates an award floor of $0. No cost sharing or matching funds were required, which can make participation more feasible for institutions that have limited discretionary budgets for international programs.
Eligible applicants were limited to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education that are public or nonprofit and authorized to provide postsecondary education leading to a bachelor's degree or higher. Eligibility requirements also specify that institutions must admit as regular students only individuals with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent) and must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Both private nonprofit colleges/universities and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education were included under the eligible applicant categories, with a note that additional eligibility clarification may appear in the full announcement.
The program sits at the intersection of agriculture, education, and food and nutrition, reflecting NIFA's broader mission of supporting research and education that improves U.S. agricultural productivity and societal outcomes. For applicants, the clearest competitive fit would be proposals that combine international engagement with tangible institutional outcomes, such as curriculum changes, durable partnerships with overseas institutions, joint research activities that can continue beyond the grant period, and documented plans for applying international lessons or technologies within U.S. settings.
For access issues related to the full announcement, the opportunity listing provided the NIFA Help Desk as the support contact at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The listing also notes that additional assistance was available for questions tied to preparing application content, with details typically provided in the full solicitation materials.
International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE) - FAQs
1. What is the International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE)?
The International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It supports U.S. colleges and universities in carrying out meaningful international work across research, extension, and teaching.
2. What is the main purpose of ISE funding?
The program is intended to strengthen long-term institutional capability for international engagement. It emphasizes building durable capacity at U.S. institutions rather than funding isolated, one-off travel or academic activities.
3. What types of activities does ISE aim to support?
ISE is designed to help institutions expand and improve international content in curricula, encourage faculty to work beyond the United States and apply lessons back home, and build or deepen international research partnerships. It also supports efforts to help U.S. stakeholders adopt or adapt useful technologies and approaches developed abroad when those innovations can strengthen U.S. agriculture and related systems.
4. What outcomes appear to align best with the program's intent?
Based on the opportunity description, competitive alignment would likely include tangible institutional outcomes such as curriculum changes, durable partnerships with overseas institutions, joint research activities that can continue beyond the grant period, and clear plans for applying international lessons or technologies within U.S. settings.
5. Is the program focused only on research?
No. The program explicitly spans research, extension, and teaching. It frames international collaboration as a way to improve university capacity and translate international experience into practical benefits for U.S. education, agriculture, and competitiveness.
6. How does ISE connect international collaboration to U.S. benefits?
The program positions international collaboration as a tool to keep U.S. colleges and universities, and by extension U.S. agriculture and food systems, competitive globally. It emphasizes bringing back what is learned internationally and using it to improve U.S.-based education and agricultural systems.
7. What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA SERDIP 002675.
8. What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing identifies CFDA 10.305, International Science and Education Grants.
9. When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 10, 2009.
10. What was the application deadline?
The application deadline shown in the listing was January 28, 2010.
11. When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date provided in the listing is March 1, 2010.
12. How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $2,900,000.
13. What was the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $150,000.
14. What does the award floor of $0 mean?
The listing indicates an award floor of $0. No additional explanation is provided in the summary information.
15. Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing states that no cost sharing or matching funds were required.
16. Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were limited to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education that are public or nonprofit and authorized to provide postsecondary education leading to a bachelor's degree or higher.
17. What accreditation and student admission requirements applied?
The eligibility requirements specify that institutions must admit as regular students only individuals with a secondary school diploma (or equivalent) and must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
18. Are private nonprofit universities eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories include private nonprofit colleges and universities.
19. Are public or state-controlled institutions eligible?
Yes. The eligible applicant categories include public/state-controlled institutions of higher education.
20. Could there be additional eligibility details beyond the summary?
Yes. The listing notes that additional eligibility clarification may appear in the full announcement.
21. What subject areas does the program sit within?
The program sits at the intersection of agriculture, education, and food and nutrition, reflecting NIFA's broader mission of supporting research and education that improves U.S. agricultural productivity and societal outcomes.
22. Is the program intended to fund one-off international travel?
The program emphasizes building long-term institutional capability rather than supporting isolated, one-off travel or academic activities.
23. What kind of international partnerships are encouraged?
The description highlights building or deepening international research partnerships and strengthening institutional ability to engage effectively in international collaboration, with an emphasis on lasting outcomes.
24. Does the listing mention support contacts for access issues?
Yes. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listing provided the NIFA Help Desk as the support contact.
25. What is the NIFA Help Desk phone number and business hours listed?
The NIFA Help Desk phone number listed is 202-401-5048. The hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
26. Is there assistance available for questions about preparing the application?
The listing notes that additional assistance was available for questions tied to preparing application content, with details typically provided in the full solicitation materials.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SERDIP 002675) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| International Science and Education Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CIP 003379 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CIP 003379 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Afghanistan Agricultural Extension Project Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 003453 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 003453 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Food and Nutrition Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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