Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074

  • The CSREES in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.308 Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Area Activities.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Feb 20, 2009 and posted on Feb 20, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 10, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $745,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $745,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • An eligible institution is an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) located in an Insular Area and has a demonstrable capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Individual land grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land grant status through Federal legislation, and located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under this program, either as direct applicants or as parties to a consortium agreement.
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Opportunity Summary:

The Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) is a discretionary USDA grant opportunity administered by CSREES (the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service). Its core aim is to build and strengthen the instructional capacity of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas by supporting teaching and education efforts tied to a broad range of food and agricultural sciences disciplines. In practical terms, the program is designed to help these institutions improve what they teach, how they teach it, and how well students learn it, with an emphasis on strengthening curriculum and resident instruction programs that address the distinct conditions and needs of Insular Area communities.

A central theme of the opportunity is institutional capacity building. Rather than focusing on a narrow research question, RIIA is oriented toward improving educational infrastructure and delivery, including the quality of instruction, curriculum development or modernization, and the overall effectiveness of teaching and learning in agriculture-related fields. The program recognizes that Insular Area institutions often face unique geographic, resource, and workforce constraints, and it positions grant funding as a way to directly address those realities by investing in educational improvements that can be sustained over time.

Another key objective is to help Insular Area institutions stretch and leverage their existing education dollars more effectively. The announcement explicitly highlights partnerships as a mechanism for doing this, especially collaborations between faculty at Insular Area institutions and faculty at mainland U.S. institutions. By supporting these relationships, the program encourages sharing expertise, co-developing curriculum or instructional materials, strengthening instructional methods, and building longer-term networks that can continue beyond the grant period. This partnership angle is intended to improve efficiency and impact, making it easier for smaller or more isolated institutions to access specialized knowledge and capacity that may be limited locally.

Eligibility is restricted to institutions of higher education, as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that are located in an Insular Area and can demonstrate the capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences. Institutions that hold land-grant status in Insular Areas, including those granted that status through federal legislation, are automatically eligible. They may apply directly or participate through a consortium arrangement, which aligns with the program's emphasis on collaboration and shared capacity.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.308, Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Area Activities, within the Agriculture Education funding activity category. The total estimated funding amount is $745,000, with an award ceiling of $745,000 and an award floor of $35,000, indicating support for both smaller and larger-scale projects depending on scope and design. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for eligible institutions that may have limited flexibility to provide non-federal match.

Key administrative details in the source notice include the funding opportunity number USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 and a posted/created date of February 20, 2009. The original and current closing date listed is April 10, 2009, and the opportunity archive date is February 17, 2010. For applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, the notice provides a CSREES Help Desk contact number (202-401-5048) with business hours on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays, and it notes that additional support is available for questions related to preparing application content.

Overall, RIIA is best understood as an education-focused capacity-building grant for Insular Area higher education institutions, aimed at improving instruction and curriculum in food and agricultural sciences while encouraging practical collaboration with mainland partners to amplify impact and make better use of limited educational resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA)?

RIIA is a discretionary grant opportunity from USDA, administered by CSREES (the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service). It is designed to build and strengthen the instructional capacity of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas by supporting teaching and education efforts across a broad range of food and agricultural sciences disciplines.

What is the main purpose of the RIIA program?

The core purpose is institutional capacity building focused on resident instruction. The program supports improvements in what institutions teach, how they teach it, and how well students learn, with an emphasis on strengthening curriculum and instructional programs that address the distinct conditions and needs of Insular Area communities.

Is this grant focused on research or education?

Based on the notice description, RIIA is oriented toward education and instructional capacity building rather than a narrow research question. It prioritizes educational infrastructure and delivery, including quality of instruction, curriculum development or modernization, and overall teaching and learning effectiveness in agriculture-related fields.

What types of activities does RIIA support?

The opportunity supports teaching and education efforts tied to food and agricultural sciences, including activities that improve instructional quality, strengthen or modernize curriculum, enhance resident instruction programs, and increase the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Why does the program emphasize Insular Area needs?

The program recognizes that Insular Area institutions often face unique geographic, resource, and workforce constraints. Grant funding is positioned as a way to address those realities by investing in educational improvements that can be sustained over time and tailored to local conditions.

Does RIIA encourage partnerships or collaborations?

Yes. The notice highlights partnerships as a way to stretch and leverage existing education dollars more effectively. A specific emphasis is placed on collaborations between faculty at Insular Area institutions and faculty at mainland U.S. institutions.

What is the intended benefit of partnering with mainland U.S. institutions?

Partnerships are intended to help institutions share expertise, co-develop curriculum or instructional materials, strengthen instructional methods, and build longer-term networks that may continue beyond the grant period. The goal is improved efficiency and impact, especially where specialized capacity may be limited locally.

Who is eligible to apply for RIIA funding?

Eligibility is restricted to institutions of higher education (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that are located in an Insular Area and can demonstrate the capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences.

Are Insular Area land-grant institutions eligible?

Yes. Institutions that hold land-grant status in Insular Areas, including those granted that status through federal legislation, are automatically eligible.

Can an institution apply as part of a consortium?

Yes. Eligible institutions may apply directly or participate through a consortium arrangement, which aligns with the program's emphasis on collaboration and shared capacity.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.308, Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Area Activities.

What funding category does this opportunity fall under?

It is listed within the Agriculture Education funding activity category.

How much total funding is estimated to be available?

The total estimated funding amount is $745,000.

What is the minimum and maximum award size?

The award floor is $35,000 and the award ceiling is $745,000. This indicates the program may support both smaller and larger-scale projects depending on scope and design.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is USDA CSREES RIGP 002074.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posted/created date listed in the notice is February 20, 2009.

What is the application deadline?

The original and current closing date listed is April 10, 2009.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity archive date is February 17, 2010.

Who can applicants contact if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?

The notice provides a CSREES Help Desk contact number: 202-401-5048.

What are the CSREES Help Desk hours?

The help desk is available on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.

Is there support available for application preparation questions?

Yes. The notice indicates that additional support is available for questions related to preparing application content.

What is the overall focus of RIIA in plain terms?

RIIA is best described as an education-focused capacity-building grant for Insular Area higher education institutions, aimed at improving instruction and curriculum in food and agricultural sciences while encouraging practical collaboration with mainland partners to amplify impact and make better use of limited educational resources.

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