Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 003955
Apply for USDA NIFA SAECP 003955
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.226 Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 3, 2012 and posted on Oct 3, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 18, 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 $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may only be submitted by (1) public secondary schools, (2) public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, (3) institutions of higher education, or (4) nonprofit organizations (Attach IRS 501(c)(3) status under RR Other Project Information Field 12 Other Attachments). An eligible applicant must meet the definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as stated in this RFA (see Part VIII, E., Definitions).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K 12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (often shortened to SPECA) is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program is designed to build a stronger pipeline of students who are prepared for careers in the food and agricultural sciences by improving how agriculture-related education is taught and coordinated at the secondary (high school) level and within two-year postsecondary settings such as community and junior colleges. A key theme of the opportunity is workforce development: projects are expected to help ensure the United States has a well-qualified workforce for agriscience, agribusiness, and the broader food and agricultural sciences system.
Alongside strengthening individual programs, SPECA also emphasizes creating tighter, more intentional connections among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. In practice, this means the program is looking for proposals that do more than operate in isolation. Strong applications typically align curricula, create clearer educational pathways, support transitions between school levels, and encourage students to continue their education through a bachelors degree and beyond in agriculture and related fields. The goal is to promote excellence in education while motivating more young Americans to pursue and complete advanced study in the food and agricultural sciences.
This particular announcement reflects a modified Request for Applications (RFA) intended to increase indirect cost recovery in the FY 2012 budget. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SAECP 003955, and it is associated with CFDA 10.226, Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants. The activity category is Agriculture Education, and the funding instrument is a grant.
The total estimated funding available under this opportunity was $900,000, with an award ceiling of $300,000 per project. The posting date and creation date were both October 3, 2012, and the application closing date was January 18, 2013 (with the archive date listed as February 17, 2013). Applicants should note that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning award recipients would need to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the RFA rules rather than relying solely on federal funds.
Eligibility was limited to specific types of organizations involved in education and nonprofit work. Applications could be submitted by public secondary schools, public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit applicants were expected to document their status, including providing IRS 501(c)(3) documentation as an attachment as described in the application instructions. The announcement also notes that an applicant must meet the RFA definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization, which would be detailed in the full solicitation.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk for applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement electronically, with phone assistance available during standard federal business hours. The opportunity also indicates there was a separate contact channel for questions about preparing application content, pointing applicants to the full announcement for details and requirements.
FAQs - SPECA Challenge Grants Program (USDA NIFA)
What is the SPECA Challenge Grants Program?
The Secondary Education, Two Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom Challenge Grants Program (SPECA) is a competitive, discretionary grant program administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports projects that strengthen agriculture-related education at the secondary (high school) level and in two-year postsecondary settings (such as community and junior colleges).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is designed to build a stronger pipeline of students prepared for careers in the food and agricultural sciences. It aims to improve how agriculture-related education is taught and coordinated in high schools and two-year colleges, with a strong emphasis on workforce development for agriscience, agribusiness, and the broader food and agricultural sciences system.
What kinds of projects does SPECA want to fund?
Projects are expected to go beyond operating in isolation. The opportunity emphasizes stronger coordination among secondary schools, two-year colleges, and higher education institutions. Proposals are typically stronger when they align curricula, create clearer education pathways, support student transitions between school levels, and encourage continuation toward a bachelor degree and beyond in agriculture and related fields.
How does SPECA connect to workforce development?
Workforce development is a central theme. Projects should help ensure the United States has a well-qualified workforce for the food and agricultural sciences by motivating students to pursue and complete advanced study and by improving the education and pathways that lead to agriculture-related careers.
Who runs and administers this grant program?
The program is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. SPECA is described as a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity, meaning proposals compete against one another for funding and awards are not automatic.
What is the funding instrument used for awards?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Agriculture Education.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA SAECP 003955.
What CFDA program is this associated with?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.226, Secondary and Two Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding available under this opportunity was $900,000.
What is the maximum award size (award ceiling) per project?
The award ceiling was $300,000 per project.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date (and creation date) was October 3, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was January 18, 2013.
What does it mean that this is a "modified" RFA?
The announcement states it reflects a modified Request for Applications (RFA) intended to increase indirect cost recovery in the FY 2012 budget. Specific rules and allowable indirect cost details would be contained in the full solicitation.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement indicates that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning recipients would need to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the RFA rules rather than relying solely on federal funds.
Which types of applicants were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to certain education and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants included public secondary schools, public or private nonprofit junior and community colleges, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (as defined in the full RFA).
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes, nonprofit organizations were listed as eligible applicants, provided they meet the RFA definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization.
What documentation was required for nonprofit applicants?
Nonprofit applicants were expected to document their nonprofit status, including providing IRS 501(c)(3) documentation as an attachment, as described in the application instructions.
Does an applicant have to meet a specific definition of "Eligible Institution/Organization"?
Yes. The announcement notes that applicants must meet the RFA definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization, which would be detailed in the full solicitation.
Does SPECA focus only on high schools?
No. The program explicitly covers both secondary education (high school level) and two-year postsecondary education settings (community and junior colleges), and it also emphasizes stronger connections with higher education institutions.
What is the program trying to improve in agriculture education?
Based on the announcement, the program aims to improve how agriculture-related education is taught and coordinated, strengthen individual programs, and create more intentional connections and pathways across school levels so students are better supported in continuing their education in agriculture and related fields.
How does SPECA encourage students to continue to higher degrees?
The opportunity highlights building clearer educational pathways and supporting transitions from secondary to two-year programs and onward to higher education, with the intent of encouraging students to continue through a bachelor degree and beyond in the food and agricultural sciences.
Where could applicants get help if they had trouble accessing the announcement electronically?
NIFA provided a help desk for applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement electronically, with phone assistance available during standard federal business hours.
Was there a contact for questions about preparing the application content?
Yes. The opportunity indicates there was a separate contact channel for questions about preparing application content, and it points applicants to the full announcement for details and requirements.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The closing date listed was January 18, 2013, and the archive date was February 17, 2013.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SAECP 003955) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Resident Instruction Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Apply for USDA NIFA RIGP 004068 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RIGP 004068 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Funding Amount: $850,000 |
| 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 |
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