Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004527
Apply for USDA NIFA ICGP 004527
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Integrated Water Quality Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.303 Integrated Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2014 and posted on May 2, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 3, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Colleges and universities including but not limited to 1862, 1890, 1994 Land grant Institutions and Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) (as defined in section 1404 of NARETPA) (7 U.S.C. 3103) are eligible to submit applications for the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP). Section 1404 of NARETPA was amended by section 7101 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110 246) to define Hispanic serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) (see Part III, B. and Part VIII, E. for more information), and to include research foundations maintained by eligible colleges or universities.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP) is a competitive grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core purpose is to improve the quality of both surface water and groundwater across the country by supporting integrated work that combines research, education, and extension. The program is geared toward practical water resource solutions, meaning funded projects are expected not only to generate new knowledge, but also to move that knowledge into the hands of the people who make day-to-day land and water decisions in agricultural, rural, and rapidly urbanizing areas. In other words, NIWQP emphasizes real-world outcomes such as better management practices, better planning, and stronger science-based decision making in watersheds where water quality challenges are tied to changing land use, farming systems, and community growth.
A defining feature of NIWQP is the expectation that projects address water resource problems at the watershed scale and translate findings into usable guidance. Successful proposals typically align with the program idea of “advancing and disseminating the knowledge base,†which includes developing, testing, and evaluating approaches that can reduce pollution, protect drinking water sources, and improve the condition of streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers. The announcement points applicants to the Request for Applications (RFA) for priority areas, which is where the specific topical emphases and program preferences are laid out. The overall framing makes clear that NIFA is looking for projects that bridge science and implementation rather than purely academic studies that stop at publishing results.
This opportunity is listed as a mandatory grant program under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs). It includes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants need to plan for non-federal contributions as part of the project budget structure. The estimated total funding available for the competition was about $4,000,000, with an award ceiling of $750,000 and no stated minimum award floor. That combination signals the program can support both smaller and fairly substantial integrated projects, as long as they fit the program priorities and meet the matching expectations.
Eligibility is aimed primarily at higher education institutions. Colleges and universities are eligible, including (but not limited to) 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, as well as Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), with amendments referenced from the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The eligibility language also notes that research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges and universities may be included, which can matter for institutions that route sponsored programs through affiliated foundations.
Key dates in the posted opportunity show it was published May 2, 2014, with an application deadline of July 3, 2014, and an archive date of August 2, 2014. While those dates indicate this specific posting cycle is historical, the structure and goals provide a clear picture of what NIWQP is intended to fund: integrated water quality efforts that connect research, outreach, and education in ways that produce measurable improvements and usable tools for communities managing water quality pressures in agricultural, rural, and urbanizing watersheds.
For applicant support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues (202-401-5048, business hours weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays) and indicated that additional contacts are available for questions related to preparing application content.
National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP) - FAQs
1) What is the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP)?
NIWQP is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports integrated projects intended to improve water quality nationwide.
2) What is the main purpose of NIWQP funding?
The program is designed to improve the quality of both surface water and groundwater by funding integrated work that combines research, education, and extension and results in practical water resource solutions.
3) What types of water resources does NIWQP focus on?
The opportunity frames its scope broadly across surface water and groundwater, including streams, rivers, lakes, drinking water sources, and aquifers.
4) What does NIWQP mean by an "integrated" project?
Based on the description, "integrated" means combining research, education, and extension in a coordinated way, with the expectation that findings are translated into usable guidance for people making land and water decisions.
5) Is NIWQP focused on academic research only?
No. The framing emphasizes bridging science and implementation. Projects are expected to go beyond generating knowledge and actively move that knowledge into practice, rather than stopping at publication.
6) What kinds of outcomes does NIWQP expect from funded projects?
The opportunity emphasizes real-world outcomes such as improved management practices, better planning, and stronger science-based decision making in watersheds facing water quality challenges.
7) At what scale should projects address water quality problems?
A defining expectation is that projects address water resource problems at the watershed scale and translate findings into usable guidance.
8) What kinds of approaches might NIWQP support?
The description highlights developing, testing, and evaluating approaches that can reduce pollution, protect drinking water sources, and improve the condition of streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
9) Where do applicants find NIWQP priority areas and topical emphases?
The announcement points applicants to the Request for Applications (RFA) for priority areas, which is where specific topical emphases and program preferences are laid out.
10) What is the CFDA number for this program?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.303 (Integrated Programs) and is described as a mandatory grant program.
11) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity states there is a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants need to plan for non-federal contributions within the project budget structure.
12) How much total funding was estimated to be available for this competition?
The estimated total funding available was about $4,000,000 for the competition described in the posting.
13) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $750,000.
14) Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the provided information.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed primarily at higher education institutions. Eligible applicants include colleges and universities, including (but not limited to) 1862, 1890, and 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) as defined in Section 1404 of NARETPA (7 U.S.C. 3103), with amendments referenced from the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.
16) Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
The eligibility language notes that research foundations maintained by otherwise eligible colleges and universities may be included, which may be relevant where sponsored programs are routed through affiliated foundations.
17) When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was published on May 2, 2014. The application deadline was July 3, 2014. The archive date was August 2, 2014.
18) Does the timeline indicate this specific posting cycle is current?
The dates indicate this specific posting cycle is historical (2014). The description still provides insight into NIWQP goals and the types of integrated work the program is intended to fund.
19) What types of communities or landscapes does NIWQP target?
The program description emphasizes agricultural, rural, and rapidly urbanizing areas, particularly where water quality challenges are tied to changing land use, farming systems, and community growth.
20) What support is available if applicants have trouble accessing the application system?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for access issues at 202-401-5048, available weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays.
21) Is there a way to get help with preparing application content?
The opportunity indicates that additional contacts are available for questions related to preparing application content.
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