Opportunity Information: Apply for CDNR RIDGE 2016 001
Apply for CDNR RIDGE 2016 001
- The USDA-USDAERS in the agriculture, food and nutrition, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Applications for Competitive Grant Award To Establish a USDA RIDGE Center for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.253.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 03, 2016 and posted on Jun 03, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a competitive, discretionary USDA grant to establish a single USDA RIDGE Center for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research. The grant is sponsored by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) in collaboration with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The central purpose is to create one institutionally based research center that will administer the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program focused on domestic food and nutrition assistance. In practical terms, the selected awardee would serve as the hub for managing and distributing smaller research grants, encouraging new economic analysis, and expanding the community of researchers working on the impacts and operations of USDA nutrition assistance programs.
The USDA RIDGE Center is expected to advance four main goals. First, it is meant to renew and strengthen attention to the economic dimensions of food and nutrition assistance research, emphasizing rigorous economic thinking and methods where they can shed light on program design and outcomes. Second, it is intended to stimulate innovative, timely research by funding small grants that support new analyses of major USDA food and nutrition assistance programs and food security, while also pushing research into smaller or less-studied programs. The opportunity specifically highlights programs such as the Summer Food Service Program as examples of areas that may be under-researched and could benefit from targeted investigation. Third, the center is expected to broaden and connect the network of social scientists working in this space, encouraging collaboration that improves understanding of how participation in USDA food assistance programs relates to economic well-being as well as nutrition and health outcomes, and how real-world issues of implementation and service delivery affect performance. Fourth, USDA aims to achieve cost savings and greater administrative efficiency by consolidating what were previously two separate RIDGE Centers into a single institution.
Funding is structured as one anticipated award with an annual ceiling of $600,000 for fiscal year 2016, with the possibility of additional funding for up to two more years if funds are available. In other words, USDA planned to fund one center at up to $600,000 in the first year, and the project could potentially continue beyond that initial period depending on future appropriations and agency priorities.
Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education, specifically public and state-controlled universities and private universities. The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 10.253 and falls within the broad activity categories of agriculture, food and nutrition, and income security and social services. The funding instrument is a grant, and the program was posted on June 3, 2016, with an application closing date of August 1, 2016 (original and current closing dates the same). The funding opportunity number is CDNR RIDGE 2016 001, and USDA expected to make a single award under this competition.
Overall, this announcement is less about funding one standalone research project and more about funding an administrative and intellectual home for a continuing grants program. The chosen university-based center would be responsible for fostering a pipeline of innovative, policy-relevant research on food and nutrition assistance, supporting a broader research community, and doing so in a streamlined way that reduces duplication compared to having multiple centers.
USDA RIDGE Center for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research (CDNR RIDGE 2016 001) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a competitive, discretionary USDA grant opportunity to establish a single USDA RIDGE Center for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research. The selected awardee would create an institutionally based research center that administers the RIDGE Program focused on domestic food and nutrition assistance.
Which USDA agencies are sponsoring and collaborating on this grant?
The grant is sponsored by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) in collaboration with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
What is the central purpose of the USDA RIDGE Center?
The central purpose is to create one university-based center that serves as a hub for administering the RIDGE Program in this topic area. Practically, the center would manage and distribute smaller research grants, encourage new economic analysis, and expand the community of researchers studying USDA nutrition assistance programs.
Is USDA funding one research project or something broader?
This announcement is primarily about funding an administrative and intellectual home for a continuing grants program, rather than funding one standalone research project. The selected center would foster a pipeline of innovative, policy-relevant research by supporting multiple smaller research projects through sub-awards or small grants.
How many RIDGE Centers will be funded under this opportunity?
USDA anticipated making one award to establish a single RIDGE Center under this competition.
Why is USDA creating a single center?
One stated reason is to achieve cost savings and greater administrative efficiency by consolidating what were previously two separate RIDGE Centers into a single institution.
What are the main goals USDA expects the center to advance?
The center is expected to advance four main goals:
- Renew and strengthen attention to the economic dimensions of food and nutrition assistance research, emphasizing rigorous economic thinking and methods to inform program design and outcomes.
- Stimulate innovative, timely research by funding small grants for new analyses of major USDA food and nutrition assistance programs and food security, while also encouraging research on smaller or less-studied programs.
- Broaden and connect the network of social scientists working in this space and encourage collaboration on links between program participation, economic well-being, nutrition and health outcomes, and implementation/service delivery issues.
- Improve administrative efficiency and reduce duplication by operating a single consolidated center.
What kinds of research topics does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes research on domestic food and nutrition assistance, with a strong focus on economic analysis. It highlights the value of studying both major USDA nutrition assistance programs and smaller or less-studied programs, as well as food security. It also emphasizes research that improves understanding of program operations, implementation, and service delivery, and how those factors affect performance and outcomes.
Does the opportunity mention any examples of under-researched programs?
Yes. The Summer Food Service Program is specifically mentioned as an example of an area that may be under-researched and could benefit from targeted investigation.
What role would the selected awardee play after receiving the grant?
The selected awardee (a university-based center) would serve as the hub for managing and distributing smaller research grants, encouraging innovative economic analysis, expanding the research community, and supporting policy-relevant work related to USDA nutrition assistance programs.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
How much funding is available?
USDA anticipated one award with an annual ceiling of $600,000 for fiscal year 2016.
How long can the funding continue?
The opportunity notes the possibility of additional funding for up to two more years if funds are available. Continuation beyond the first year depends on future appropriations and agency priorities.
Is the $600,000 amount guaranteed for multiple years?
No. The announcement describes an annual ceiling of $600,000 for fiscal year 2016 and indicates that additional years are possible only if funds are available.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education: public and state-controlled universities and private universities.
Are non-university organizations eligible to apply?
Based on the eligibility description provided, eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private universities). Other organization types are not listed as eligible in the provided information.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 10.253.
What general activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity falls within broad activity categories including agriculture, food and nutrition, and income security and social services.
When was the opportunity posted?
The program was posted on June 3, 2016.
What was the application deadline?
The application closing date was August 1, 2016. The original and current closing dates were the same.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is CDNR RIDGE 2016 001.
What does it mean that this is a competitive, discretionary grant?
In this context, it means USDA planned to select the awardee through a competition and had discretion in making the award, rather than awarding funds by formula or entitlement.
What is the expected output of the center beyond administering grants?
Beyond administering smaller research grants, the center is expected to encourage rigorous economic research, stimulate innovative and timely analyses, connect and broaden the research community, and improve understanding of program impacts and operations, including implementation and service delivery issues that affect performance.
How does this center relate to USDA nutrition assistance program outcomes?
The center is intended to support research that improves understanding of how participation in USDA food assistance programs relates to economic well-being as well as nutrition and health outcomes, and how real-world implementation and service delivery influence program performance.
Is the center expected to support research on food security?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly references funding small grants that support new analyses of major USDA food and nutrition assistance programs and food security.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (CDNR RIDGE 2016 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Competitive Cooperative Agreement Award To Establish a USDA RIDGE Partnership for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research Apply for USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001 Funding Number: USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service Category: Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
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