Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 011117
Apply for USDA NIFA WAMS 011117
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.318.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-14. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields" under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.318. The main purpose of this STEM program is to fund projects that expand and strengthen STEM participation in rural communities, specifically through education-focused work connected to food and agricultural sciences and closely related disciplines. NIFA is looking for projects that respond to educational needs by combining research and extension activities, meaning applicants should generally be planning not just classroom-style instruction, but also evidence-based approaches, outreach, and practical programming that can be used and replicated in real community or school settings.
A key requirement is that funded projects must serve a K-14 audience. In this program, K-14 is defined as kindergarten through 12th grade plus the first two years of postsecondary education, such as community colleges, junior colleges, or vocational-technical institutions. In other words, the target group is not limited to traditional K-12 schools; it can also include early college pathways and workforce-oriented two-year programs, as long as the focus stays within that K-14 window. The overall emphasis is on building a stronger pipeline into the food and agriculture workforce by engaging students earlier and more consistently, especially in rural places where access to specialized STEM opportunities may be limited.
NIFA also highlights an important preference related to who can receive direct student financial support through the grant. Project Directors are strongly encouraged to limit student stipends, tuition assistance, or other student educational costs paid with award funds to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents. The stated rationale is workforce development: NIFA wants grant-funded training activities to translate as directly as possible into strengthening the domestic workforce pipeline in agriculture and allied STEM areas. While this language is framed as strong encouragement rather than an absolute prohibition in the provided text, it signals how reviewers and program staff may view budgets that include student support costs.
Eligibility is defined in federal statute and is fairly broad, covering many types of institutions and organizations. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals. Applications may also be submitted by groups or partnerships consisting of two or more of those eligible entity types. As with most NIFA opportunities, applicants must meet every eligibility and application requirement laid out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). If an applicant fails to meet the eligibility criteria by the deadline, the application may be excluded from consideration or NIFA may be unable to make an award even if the proposal is otherwise strong.
There are also restrictions and compliance points applicants need to take seriously. USDA states it will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements that include dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292. In addition, NIFA does not allow duplicate or largely overlapping submissions. Applicants may submit up to two applications as long as they are not essentially duplications of each other or of the same project being proposed elsewhere. If NIFA determines the submissions are duplicates, both applications can be disqualified, which makes it important to clearly differentiate objectives, activities, and deliverables if submitting more than one proposal.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number "USDA NIFA WAMS 011117" and is administered by NIFA. The application closing date is September 14, 2026. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $200,000, and NIFA expects to make about 12 awards. Because this is a federal financial assistance program, applicants new to the process are encouraged to consult NIFA's Grants Overview and related resources to better understand federal award mechanics, compliance expectations, and submission requirements. For project-specific questions or clarifications, applicants are directed to contact the NIFA point of contact listed in the NOFO.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The discretionary grant opportunity is titled "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields" and is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
2) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
This opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.318.
3) What is the main purpose of the STEM program described here?
The main purpose is to fund projects that expand and strengthen participation in STEM in rural communities, using education-focused work connected to food and agricultural sciences and closely related disciplines.
4) What kinds of project activities is NIFA looking for?
NIFA is looking for projects that respond to educational needs by combining research and extension activities. This implies applicants should generally plan more than classroom instruction, such as evidence-based approaches, outreach, and practical programming that can be used and replicated in real community or school settings.
5) Who must the project serve (required audience)?
Funded projects must serve a K-14 audience.
6) How does this program define K-14?
K-14 is defined as kindergarten through 12th grade plus the first two years of postsecondary education (for example, community colleges, junior colleges, or vocational-technical institutions).
7) Does the K-14 requirement mean projects are limited to traditional K-12 schools?
No. The K-14 definition includes early postsecondary pathways (the first two years after high school), such as community colleges or vocational-technical institutions, as long as the focus stays within the K-14 window.
8) What is the programmatic emphasis for rural communities?
The program emphasizes building a stronger pipeline into the food and agriculture workforce by engaging students earlier and more consistently, especially in rural areas where access to specialized STEM opportunities may be limited.
9) Are projects expected to connect to food and agriculture topics?
Yes. The education-focused work should be connected to food and agricultural sciences and closely related disciplines.
10) Is there guidance about providing student stipends, tuition assistance, or other student educational costs?
Yes. Project Directors are strongly encouraged to limit student stipends, tuition assistance, or other student educational costs paid with award funds to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents.
11) Why does NIFA encourage limiting direct student financial support to certain students?
The stated rationale is workforce development: NIFA wants grant-funded training activities to translate as directly as possible into strengthening the domestic workforce pipeline in agriculture and allied STEM areas.
12) Is limiting student support to U.S. citizens/nationals/permanent residents an absolute requirement?
In the information provided, it is framed as a strong encouragement rather than an absolute prohibition. However, it signals how reviewers and program staff may view budgets that include student support costs.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is defined in federal statute and is broad. Eligible applicants include state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and individuals.
14) Can partnerships or groups apply?
Yes. Applications may be submitted by groups or partnerships consisting of two or more eligible entity types.
15) Do applicants need to follow the NOFO requirements even if they appear eligible?
Yes. Applicants must meet every eligibility and application requirement laid out in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
16) What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility criteria by the deadline?
If an applicant fails to meet the eligibility criteria by the deadline, the application may be excluded from consideration, or NIFA may be unable to make an award even if the proposal is otherwise strong.
17) Are there restrictions related to dangerous gain-of-function research?
Yes. USDA states it will not accept competitive applications for grants or cooperative agreements that include dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
18) Can an applicant submit more than one application?
Yes. Applicants may submit up to two applications, as long as they are not essentially duplications of each other or of the same project being proposed elsewhere.
19) What is considered a problem with duplicate or overlapping submissions?
NIFA does not allow duplicate or largely overlapping submissions. If NIFA determines the submissions are duplicates, both applications can be disqualified.
20) If submitting two applications, what should applicants do to avoid disqualification?
Applicants should clearly differentiate objectives, activities, and deliverables if submitting more than one proposal.
21) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA WAMS 011117.
22) When is the application closing date?
The application closing date is September 14, 2026.
23) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $200,000.
24) How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expects to make about 12 awards.
25) Where can applicants new to federal grants learn more about NIFA processes and compliance?
Applicants new to the process are encouraged to consult NIFA's Grants Overview and related resources to better understand federal award mechanics, compliance expectations, and submission requirements.
26) Who should applicants contact for project-specific questions or clarifications?
Applicants should contact the NIFA point of contact listed in the NOFO for project-specific questions or clarifications.
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