Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003715
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003715
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture energy environment food and nutrition natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2012 and posted on Mar 16, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 16, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $780,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $210,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by eligible U.S. colleges and universities, other Federal agencies, and private sector entities. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants). The program is designed specifically to accelerate the development of canola as a viable supplemental and alternative crop in the United States, with an emphasis on practical, near-term outcomes that lead to measurable increases in canola production and/or planted acreage. In other words, the intent is not only to advance scientific understanding, but to move canola adoption forward in real farming conditions by improving plant materials and production systems and then getting those improvements into producers hands quickly through Extension.
The core purpose of the SACC program is to expand U.S. canola capacity by supporting research and development in three tightly connected areas: (1) developing and testing superior germplasm, (2) improving methods of planting, cultivation, and harvesting, and (3) transferring resulting knowledge to producers as soon as practicable. Projects are expected to focus on applied agricultural research and development that can help canola perform better across U.S. growing regions, reduce production risk, and make canola a more attractive option within crop rotations or as an alternative enterprise. Because the solicitation explicitly ties research to adoption, proposals are expected to show a clear pathway from research outputs (like improved varieties or better agronomic practices) to producer uptake and acreage expansion.
A defining requirement of this opportunity is that Extension, education, and communication activities must be addressed in the proposal and must relate directly to the research areas being pursued. This means applicants are expected to go beyond generating results and to incorporate a plan for outreach and knowledge transfer, such as engaging Extension specialists, creating producer-ready recommendations, conducting field demonstrations, developing training or educational materials, and communicating findings in ways that producers can use quickly. The language of the announcement makes it clear that technology transfer is not an optional add-on; it is part of how NIFA expects the program to achieve its acreage and production goals.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $780,000 in total, with an award ceiling of $210,000 and no stated award floor (listed as $0). The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category spans agriculture and broader research and development areas, including energy, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, and science and technology. Cost sharing or matching is not required, which lowers barriers for applicants that may not have non-federal resources available to meet match requirements and allows proposals to be judged more directly on technical merit, feasibility, and likely impact.
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, other federal agencies, and private sector entities. The announcement also notes that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those organizations are necessary for conducting the project. This structure supports multi-partner projects that might combine university research capacity, Extension networks, federal expertise, and private-sector capabilities such as breeding, seed systems, analytics, or specialized field operations.
From an administrative perspective, the opportunity was posted on March 16, 2012, with an original and current closing date of April 16, 2012, and an archive date of May 16, 2012. While these dates indicate the specific posting is historical, the program description provides a clear picture of what SACC funding targeted: applied canola research paired with Extension-driven delivery to producers, aiming for tangible increases in production and acreage.
For access or technical issues with the full announcement, the listed point of contact was the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, excluding federal holidays). The announcement also indicates that applicants could seek help with questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that NIFA expected complete, well-structured proposals that integrate research objectives with outreach and adoption plans.
Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program - FAQs
What is the SACC Grants Program?
The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
What crop and outcome is this program designed to support?
The program is designed specifically to accelerate the development of canola as a viable supplemental and alternative crop in the United States, with an emphasis on practical, near-term outcomes that lead to measurable increases in canola production and/or planted acreage.
Is the program focused on basic research or applied results?
The solicitation emphasizes applied agricultural research and development tied to adoption in real farming conditions. The intent is not only to advance scientific understanding, but to move canola adoption forward by improving plant materials and production systems and then getting those improvements into producers hands quickly through Extension.
What are the main research and development areas the program supports?
SACC supports research and development in three connected areas: (1) developing and testing superior germplasm, (2) improving methods of planting, cultivation, and harvesting, and (3) transferring resulting knowledge to producers as soon as practicable.
How does the program define success or impact?
Projects are expected to show a clear pathway from research outputs (such as improved varieties or better agronomic practices) to producer uptake and acreage expansion, with the ultimate goal of measurable increases in canola production and/or planted acreage.
Are Extension and outreach activities required, or optional?
Extension, education, and communication activities must be addressed in the proposal and must relate directly to the research areas being pursued. Technology transfer is presented as a core part of how NIFA expects the program to achieve its production and acreage goals.
What kinds of Extension, education, or communication activities are expected?
The announcement indicates applicants should include plans for outreach and knowledge transfer, such as engaging Extension specialists, creating producer-ready recommendations, conducting field demonstrations, developing training or educational materials, and communicating findings in ways that producers can use quickly.
What is the estimated total funding available for this opportunity?
Total funding was estimated at $780,000.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $210,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor was stated (listed as $0).
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What activity areas or fields does this opportunity cover?
The activity category spans agriculture and broader research and development areas, including energy, environment, food and nutrition, natural resources, and science and technology.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, other federal agencies, and private sector entities.
Can a project include partners that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. The announcement notes that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those organizations are necessary for conducting the project.
Does the program encourage multi-partner projects?
The described structure supports multi-partner projects that combine capabilities such as university research capacity, Extension networks, federal expertise, and private-sector capabilities (for example, breeding, seed systems, analytics, or specialized field operations).
What kinds of project outcomes does NIFA appear to prioritize?
The description prioritizes practical, near-term outcomes that reduce production risk, improve canola performance across U.S. growing regions, and make canola more attractive within crop rotations or as an alternative enterprise, with a clear link to adoption and acreage expansion.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on March 16, 2012. The original and current closing date was April 16, 2012.
When was this opportunity archived?
The archive date was May 16, 2012.
Is this specific posting current or historical?
Based on the posting, closing, and archive dates provided (all in 2012), this specific announcement is historical.
Who should applicants contact for access or technical issues with the full announcement?
The listed point of contact for access or technical issues was the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the NIFA Help Desk hours listed in the announcement?
Standard business hours were listed as Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, excluding federal holidays.
Could applicants seek help with preparing the application content?
Yes. The announcement indicates applicants could seek help with questions related to preparing application content, suggesting NIFA expected complete, well-structured proposals integrating research objectives with outreach and adoption plans.
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