Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SGP 004543
Apply for USDA NIFA SGP 004543
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sun Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.320 Sun Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 9, 2014 and posted on Jun 9, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 9, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- See Part III, A of the RFA.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Sun Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SGP 004543) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.320. It is designed to fund a single consortium of universities that collectively represents each of the designated Sun Grant regions. The main goal is to support a coordinated national network made up of five regional Sun Grant Centers (North Central, Southeastern, South Central, Western, and Northeastern) plus a Western Insular Pacific Subcenter. In practice, the award is meant to function as the backbone funding that keeps this regional structure operating and aligned, while pushing research and outreach work that helps advance U.S. bioeconomy priorities.
A key feature of the program is that the funded Sun Grant Centers and Subcenter are expected to act as regional grant-makers, not just performers of research. Specifically, 75 percent of the grant funds must be used to run competitive subawards within each region. Those competitively awarded projects are expected to be multi-institutional, integrated across functions, and multistate in scope, meaning the program is intentionally structured to encourage collaboration across universities and across state lines rather than isolated, single-campus efforts. The work supported through these regional competitions must integrate research, extension, and education, reflecting NIFA's emphasis on translating scientific and technical advances into practical implementation, workforce development, and real-world adoption.
The technical focus areas center on technology development and technology implementation tied to bioenergy, biomass, and bioproducts. In other words, projects are expected to address priorities related to creating, improving, scaling, and deploying technologies that use biological feedstocks for energy or for value-added products. While the announcement text here does not list the specific priority topics, it makes clear that funded activities should align with bioenergy, biomass, or bioproducts research priorities and should support both innovation (development) and real-world use (implementation). The multi-institutional and integrated requirement also signals that NIFA is looking for end-to-end approaches, such as combining feedstock production or logistics research with conversion technology work, along with extension programming and educational components that help move results into practice and train the next generation of professionals.
The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $2,500,000 and explicitly stated that cost sharing or matching was not required. Eligibility was not broadly open to all applicants; instead, it was limited to the types of applicants described in the Request for Applications, Part III, A, and the announcement indicates the applicant must be a consortium of universities including representation from each Sun Grant region and the subcenter region. The posting date was June 9, 2014, with an original and current closing date of July 9, 2014, and an archive date of August 8, 2014, indicating this specific competition cycle has concluded, though the program itself may reappear in future funding rounds.
For applicants needing assistance with accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided help desk support via phone at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays). The full details on regions, eligibility, and application content requirements were referenced as being in the RFA, particularly Part III, A, and the related additional information link.
Sun Grant Program (USDA NIFA SGP 004543) FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Sun Grant Program, a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SGP 004543 and it is listed under CFDA 10.320.
What is the primary purpose of the Sun Grant Program award described here?
The award is intended to fund a single consortium of universities that collectively represents each designated Sun Grant region. The goal is to support a coordinated national network consisting of five regional Sun Grant Centers (North Central, Southeastern, South Central, Western, and Northeastern) plus a Western Insular Pacific Subcenter. In practice, the grant is described as backbone funding that helps keep the regional structure operating and aligned while advancing research and outreach that supports U.S. bioeconomy priorities.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to fund a single consortium of universities, indicating one primary award to operate the national network of regional centers and the subcenter.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited and not broadly open. The applicant must be a consortium of universities with representation from each Sun Grant region and the subcenter region. The specific eligible applicant types and requirements are referenced as being defined in the Request for Applications (RFA), Part III, A.
What are the Sun Grant regions and centers referenced in the opportunity?
The national network includes five regional Sun Grant Centers: North Central, Southeastern, South Central, Western, and Northeastern. It also includes a Western Insular Pacific Subcenter.
What is meant by "backbone funding" in the context of this award?
Based on the description provided, backbone funding refers to support that sustains and coordinates the operation of the regional center structure and keeps activities aligned nationally, while also enabling research and outreach activities connected to bioeconomy priorities.
Are the regional Sun Grant Centers expected to make subawards?
Yes. A key feature is that the funded Sun Grant Centers and Subcenter are expected to function as regional grant-makers, not only as research performers.
How much of the grant funding must be used for competitive subawards?
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the grant funds must be used to run competitive subawards within each region.
What types of projects are expected to be funded through the regional competitive subawards?
The competitively awarded projects are expected to be multi-institutional, integrated across functions, and multistate in scope. The structure is intended to encourage collaboration across universities and across state lines rather than isolated efforts on a single campus.
What does "integrated" mean for projects supported by this program?
The supported work must integrate research, extension, and education. This reflects NIFA's emphasis on moving scientific and technical advances into practical implementation, workforce development, and real-world adoption.
What are the technical focus areas for this opportunity?
The technical focus areas center on technology development and technology implementation tied to bioenergy, biomass, and bioproducts. Projects are expected to align with research priorities related to creating, improving, scaling, and deploying technologies that use biological feedstocks for energy or value-added products.
Does the opportunity list specific priority topics?
The information provided here states that specific priority topics are not listed in the excerpt, but it makes clear that funded activities should align with bioenergy, biomass, or bioproducts research priorities and support both technology development and real-world implementation.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount listed for this opportunity is $2,500,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity explicitly states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the due dates?
The posting date was June 9, 2014. The original closing date was July 9, 2014, and the current closing date was also July 9, 2014.
Is this specific competition cycle still open?
No. The archive date is August 8, 2014, which indicates this specific competition cycle has concluded (even though the Sun Grant Program may reappear in future rounds).
Where are the detailed eligibility rules and application content requirements located?
The detailed requirements are referenced as being in the Request for Applications (RFA), particularly Part III, A, along with a related additional information link.
What help is available if someone cannot access the full announcement?
NIFA provided help desk support by phone at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding federal holidays.
Which agency administers this program?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
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