Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 005136
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 005136
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects (RREA NFF)" 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 May 22, 2015 and posted on May 15, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 16, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by 1862 and 1890 land grant institutions. Project Directors must have an extension appointment.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects (RREA NFF) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 005136) is a discretionary grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It was designed to support short, pilot-style extension projects focused on renewable natural resources, with a particular emphasis on forests and rangelands. The basic idea behind the program is to put modest federal dollars toward testing or launching extension approaches that respond to new or fast-changing resource concerns, show relevance beyond a single local area, or introduce innovative methods that other universities can later adopt and scale.
Program funds are intended for projects that fit at least one of three central purposes. First, projects can tackle emerging forest and rangeland resource issues, meaning topics that are becoming more urgent due to changing environmental conditions, new pests or diseases, shifting land use patterns, wildfire risk, invasive species, water and watershed pressures, or other evolving management challenges. Second, projects can be oriented toward national or regional relevance rather than being narrowly local, so NIFA is looking for work that produces lessons, tools, curricula, or extension models useful across multiple states, ecosystems, or stakeholder groups. Third, projects can focus on developing new and innovative efforts that are explicitly designed to be replicable at other institutions, which usually means creating a model program, training package, decision-support tool, or outreach framework that can be shared and implemented by other extension systems with minimal reinvention.
This opportunity falls under the Agriculture funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The funding instrument type is a grant, and the total estimated funding amount listed for the program cycle in the announcement is $300,000. The notice also indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which generally lowers the barrier to participation and signals that the primary selection criteria would be based on project merit, feasibility, and alignment with the stated national focus objectives rather than an institution's ability to contribute non-federal funds.
Eligibility is limited and specific. Applications may only be submitted by 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions, and the Project Director must have an extension appointment. In practical terms, that means the program is aimed at the land-grant university system and is meant to strengthen Cooperative Extension work tied to renewable resource issues. The "Eligible Applicants" field is summarized as "Others" in the listing, but the eligibility clarification makes clear that only those land-grant categories are allowed, so organizations outside that group would not be able to apply directly as lead applicants (though they may sometimes participate as partners or collaborators, depending on the full program rules).
Timing details in the announcement show it was posted on May 15, 2015, created on May 22, 2015, with an original closing date of June 1, 2015, later extended to a current closing date of June 16, 2015. The archive date is July 16, 2015, which indicates the opportunity is an older, archived notice rather than an open competition today, but it still provides a clear snapshot of program intent, structure, and requirements for that cycle.
For access and support, NIFA provided a help pathway for applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically. The notice lists the NIFA Help Desk phone number as 202-401-5048, with business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays. The contact section also notes that applicants with questions related to preparing application content could seek assistance, implying there were additional guidance materials in the full announcement linked under "Additional Information."
Overall, RREA NFF is best understood as a competitive extension-focused pilot grant aimed at accelerating practical, field-facing solutions for forest and rangeland management challenges, especially those with broader relevance and strong potential to be replicated across the land-grant extension network.
Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects (RREA NFF) - FAQs
What is the RREA National Focus Fund Projects (RREA NFF) opportunity?
The Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects (RREA NFF) opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports short, pilot-style extension projects focused on renewable natural resources, with a particular emphasis on forests and rangelands.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 005136.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the program trying to accomplish?
The program is intended to use modest federal funding to test or launch extension approaches that respond to new or fast-changing renewable resource concerns, demonstrate relevance beyond a single local area, or introduce innovative methods that other universities can later adopt and scale.
What kinds of projects are a good fit for RREA NFF?
Projects are expected to fit at least one of these central purposes:
- Address emerging forest and rangeland resource issues (for example: changing environmental conditions, new pests or diseases, shifting land use, wildfire risk, invasive species, water and watershed pressures, or other evolving management challenges).
- Have national or regional relevance rather than being narrowly local, producing lessons, tools, curricula, or extension models that are useful across multiple states, ecosystems, or stakeholder groups.
- Develop innovative, replicable efforts designed to be adopted by other institutions, such as a model program, training package, decision-support tool, or outreach framework that can be shared and implemented by other extension systems.
Is this program focused on research, extension, or something else?
Based on the opportunity description, it is extension-focused. The program emphasizes practical, field-facing extension projects, particularly pilot-style approaches tied to forest and rangeland renewable resource issues.
Which subject areas are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes renewable natural resources with particular focus on forests and rangelands.
What is the estimated total funding amount listed for this program cycle?
The total estimated funding amount listed in the announcement is $300,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Eligibility is limited to 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions.
Are organizations outside the land-grant system eligible to apply directly?
No. The eligibility clarification indicates that only 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions are allowed to submit applications as lead applicants.
Does the Project Director have to meet any specific requirement?
Yes. The Project Director must have an extension appointment.
What is the associated CFDA number and program area?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service) and falls under the Agriculture funding activity category.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The notice was posted on May 15, 2015. The original closing date was June 1, 2015, and it was later extended to a current closing date of June 16, 2015.
Is this an active funding opportunity today?
The notice includes an archive date of July 16, 2015, indicating it is an older, archived opportunity notice rather than an open competition today.
What does it mean that this is a pilot-style project program?
In this context, "pilot-style" refers to short projects intended to test or launch extension approaches. The emphasis is on trying approaches that address emerging needs, can demonstrate broader relevance, and/or can be replicated by other extension systems.
What does NIFA mean by "national or regional relevance" in this opportunity?
It means the work should not be narrowly local. NIFA is looking for projects that produce lessons, tools, curricula, or extension models that can be useful across multiple states, ecosystems, or stakeholder groups.
What does it mean for a project to be "replicable"?
Replicable projects are those that create a model program, training package, decision-support tool, or outreach framework that can be shared and implemented by other institutions with minimal reinvention.
If an applicant cannot access the full announcement electronically, what support is available?
NIFA provided a help pathway for applicants who could not access the full announcement electronically, including support through the NIFA Help Desk.
How can applicants contact the NIFA Help Desk, and what are the hours?
The NIFA Help Desk phone number listed is 202-401-5048. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Where could applicants get help with questions about preparing application content?
The contact section notes that applicants with questions related to preparing application content could seek assistance, and it references additional guidance materials in the full announcement under "Additional Information."
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