Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004068
Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004068
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas" 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 Dec 20, 2012 and posted on Dec 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $850,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $850,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by an Eligible Institution. For the purposes of the RIIA grants program, an eligible institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), that is located in an Insular Area and that 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 which are located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under the RIIA grants 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 (funding opportunity number USDA NIFA RIGP 004068; CFDA 10.308) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its central goal is to build and strengthen the teaching and educational capacity of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas by supporting instruction and curriculum development in a broad range of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. In practical terms, the program is meant to help these institutions improve what they can offer students in agriculture and related fields, raise the overall quality of teaching and learning, and better match educational programs to the distinct needs and constraints that can come with being located in an island or remote jurisdiction.
A key theme of the opportunity is institutional capacity-building rather than short-term, stand-alone activities. NIFA frames the program around strengthening educational infrastructure and effectiveness, including improvements to instruction, curriculum, and the overall learning environment. The intent is that Insular Area institutions can use grant support to modernize and enhance academic offerings tied to food systems and agriculture, which can include many connected disciplines (for example, plant and animal systems, natural resources, soils and water, food science and safety, agricultural economics and business, sustainable agriculture, and related applied sciences). The description also emphasizes improving the quality of teaching and learning, which signals that proposals are expected to lead to tangible instructional benefits such as updated courses, improved labs or hands-on learning experiences, better teaching methods, and stronger program pathways for students.
Another explicit purpose of the program is to help Insular Area institutions make more efficient use of existing educational funds by encouraging and resourcing partnerships, especially between Insular Area faculty and mainland U.S. institutions. This reflects a recognition that collaborations can expand access to specialized expertise, mentoring, curriculum models, visiting faculty arrangements, shared instructional resources, and other forms of support that may be difficult to sustain locally due to scale, geography, or limited staffing. The program description suggests that partnership-based approaches are not just allowed but actively encouraged as a way to stretch resources and increase instructional quality.
Funding for this opportunity was estimated at $850,000 total, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $70,000 up to a ceiling of $850,000. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the funding activity category is Agriculture Education. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the barrier to participation for institutions that have limited non-federal resources available for a match.
Eligibility is restricted to "Eligible Institutions" located in an Insular Area. For purposes of this program, that means an institution of higher education as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that is located in an Insular Area and can demonstrate capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences. The notice further clarifies that land-grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible. These institutions may apply directly or participate as part of a consortium agreement, which aligns with the program's emphasis on collaboration and partnership structures.
The opportunity was originally posted and created on December 20, 2012, with an application closing date of March 1, 2013, and an archive date of March 31, 2013, indicating this specific announcement is no longer active but captures the program structure and intent as published for that cycle. For applicants needing assistance accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided support through its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays, and also offered a point of contact for questions related to preparing application content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas?
It is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), called the Resident Instruction Grants Program (RIGP) for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA RIGP 004068 and the CFDA number is 10.308.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The central goal is to build and strengthen the teaching and educational capacity of colleges and universities located in U.S. Insular Areas by supporting instruction and curriculum development across food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines.
What kinds of improvements is NIFA trying to support through this program?
The opportunity emphasizes institutional capacity-building, including strengthening educational infrastructure and effectiveness. This includes improvements to instruction, curriculum, and the overall learning environment, with an expectation of tangible instructional benefits (such as updated courses, improved labs or hands-on learning experiences, better teaching methods, and stronger program pathways for students).
What subject areas or disciplines can projects focus on?
The program supports instruction and curriculum development in a broad range of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Examples mentioned include plant and animal systems, natural resources, soils and water, food science and safety, agricultural economics and business, sustainable agriculture, and related applied sciences.
Is this program intended for short-term projects or long-term capacity-building?
The description frames the program around institutional capacity-building rather than short-term, stand-alone activities. The intent is to strengthen educational capacity and improve academic offerings in ways that endure beyond a single activity.
How does the program address the unique challenges of Insular Area institutions?
The program is designed to help institutions better match educational programs to distinct needs and constraints that can come with being located in an island or remote jurisdiction, including limitations related to scale, geography, and staffing.
Are partnerships or collaborations allowed or encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages partnerships, especially between Insular Area faculty and mainland U.S. institutions, as a way to increase instructional quality and make more efficient use of existing educational funds.
What kinds of partnership benefits are suggested in the announcement?
The description highlights that collaborations can expand access to specialized expertise, mentoring, curriculum models, visiting faculty arrangements, shared instructional resources, and other support that may be difficult to sustain locally.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Agriculture Education.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
Total estimated funding for the opportunity was $850,000.
What was the award size range?
Individual awards ranged from a minimum (floor) of $70,000 to a maximum (ceiling) of $850,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching funds were not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to "Eligible Institutions" located in an Insular Area. For this program, an eligible institution is an institution of higher education as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) that is located in an Insular Area and can demonstrate capacity to carry out teaching and extension programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
Are land-grant institutions in Insular Areas eligible?
Yes. The notice clarifies that land-grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land-grant status through federal legislation and are located in Insular Areas, are automatically eligible.
Can eligible institutions apply as a group or consortium?
Yes. Eligible institutions may apply directly or participate as part of a consortium agreement, consistent with the program's emphasis on collaboration and partnerships.
What is the opportunity number and CFDA number for reference?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA RIGP 004068, and the CFDA number is 10.308.
When was this specific announcement posted, and what were the deadlines?
This specific announcement was created and originally posted on December 20, 2012. The application closing date was March 1, 2013, and the archive date was March 31, 2013.
Is this specific funding announcement still active?
No. Based on the closing date (March 1, 2013) and archive date (March 31, 2013), this specific announcement is no longer active, though it reflects the program structure and intent for that cycle.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
NIFA offered support through its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays.
Was there a point of contact for application preparation questions?
Yes. The announcement indicates NIFA also offered a point of contact for questions related to preparing application content.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004030 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004030 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $2,800,000 |
| Children, Youth and Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004088 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $160,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004090 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004090 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Funding Number: USDA NIFA NLGCA 004248 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEP 004338 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $262,500 |
| Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program Apply for USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Funding Number: USDA NIFA HEMS 004337 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004414 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $110,000 |
| Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004413 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 004425 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SAECP 004424 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Children, Youth, and Families At Risk (CYFAR) Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 004490 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $175,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Funding Number: USDA CSREES RIGP 002074 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $745,000 |
| Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Apply for USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SAECP 002584 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 002644 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SLBCD 002673 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Alaska Native Serving and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program (ANNH) Apply for USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Funding Number: USDA NIFA AHSI 002819 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) and Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 002820 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Higher Education Challenge Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Funding Number: USDA NIFA CGP 003378 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas (RIIA) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003393 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $860,000 |
| Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas (DEG) Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 003396 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $720,000 |
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