Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003408
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 003408
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Colleges Extension Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 25, 2011 and posted on Jan 25, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 16, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 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).
- Only the following 1994 Land Grant Institutions are eligible to apply for FY 2011 capacity funding under this RFA. This RFA is for applicants starting a new, 3 Year Capacity cycle in 2011. Bay Mills Community College Cankdeska Cikana Community College College of the Menominee Nation Chief Dull Knife College Dine College Fort Belknap College Fort Berthold Community College Fort Peck Community College Haskell Indian Nations University Institute of American Indian Arts Leech Lake Tribal College Little Big Horn College Sisseton Wahpeton Community College Sitting Bull College Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Tohono Oodham Community College White Earth Tribal and Community College
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Opportunity Summary:
The Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-003408 and CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). Its main goal is to strengthen the ability of eligible 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Institutions to plan, develop, and deliver extension education programs that are both science-based and culturally relevant. In practical terms, the program is meant to help tribal colleges build or deepen extension capacity so they can address locally defined public needs, support community problem-solving, and improve quality of life through education and outreach. NIFA emphasizes that TCEP projects should fit within the institution's broader land-grant roadmap or strategic planning process, meaning the work is expected to align with the college's long-term priorities rather than operate as a one-off activity.
The funding supports capacity-building for extension, which generally includes activities that improve an institution's ability to provide ongoing outreach and education to its communities. While the announcement text here does not list specific topic areas, the extension framework under USDA typically involves agriculture, natural resources, youth development, family and consumer sciences, community and economic development, and related applied sciences. The defining feature of TCEP is the expectation that programming is grounded in credible research and evidence while also being shaped to fit tribal cultures, languages, traditions, and community realities.
For this specific cycle, the total estimated funding available was $4,000,000, with an award ceiling of $100,000 per grant and no stated award floor. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the barrier to participation for institutions with limited discretionary resources. Applications were posted on January 25, 2011, and were due by March 16, 2011, with the program later archived on April 18, 2011. The notice specifies that this request for applications was for applicants beginning a new three-year capacity cycle in 2011, signaling that awards were expected to support sustained development over multiple years rather than short-term outputs.
Eligibility was tightly limited. Although the general eligibility categories reference public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education (and other entities as clarified in the full announcement), the eligibility section makes clear that only certain 1994 Land-Grant Institutions could apply for FY 2011 capacity funding under this RFA. The eligible institutions listed were: Bay Mills Community College; Cankdeska Cikana Community College; College of the Menominee Nation; Chief Dull Knife College; Dine College; Fort Belknap College; Fort Berthold Community College; Fort Peck Community College; Haskell Indian Nations University; Institute of American Indian Arts; Leech Lake Tribal College; Little Big Horn College; Sisseton Wahpeton Community College; Sitting Bull College; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; Tohono Oodham Community College; and White Earth Tribal and Community College. In other words, the program was not open to all colleges or all tribal organizations, but rather to this defined set of federally recognized 1994 institutions for that fiscal year and cycle.
Administratively, the program was managed by USDA NIFA. The announcement referenced an additional information link for the full program details and provided a help desk contact for applicants who could not access the announcement electronically (NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The notice also indicates there was a contact pathway for questions about preparing application content, suggesting applicants could seek guidance on application development, formatting, and submission requirements found in the complete RFA.
Overall, TCEP is best understood as a capacity-oriented extension funding stream designed specifically for Tribal Colleges and Universities with 1994 land-grant status, helping them expand structured, community-facing educational services that blend rigorous science with local cultural relevance, and positioning those services as a core part of the institution's strategic land-grant mission.
Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) FAQs
What is the Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP)?
The Tribal Colleges Extension Program (TCEP) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to strengthen extension capacity at eligible 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Institutions so they can plan, develop, and deliver extension education programs that are science-based and culturally relevant.
What is the main purpose of TCEP funding?
The main purpose is capacity-building for extension. Practically, that means helping eligible tribal colleges build or deepen their ability to provide ongoing community education and outreach that addresses locally defined public needs, supports community problem-solving, and improves quality of life through extension programming.
Which federal agency manages this opportunity?
This opportunity is managed by USDA NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-003408. The CFDA number listed is 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service).
Who was eligible to apply for FY 2011 capacity funding under this RFA?
Eligibility was limited to a defined list of specific 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Institutions for FY 2011 capacity funding under this request for applications (RFA). The opportunity was not open to all colleges or all tribal organizations.
Which institutions were specifically listed as eligible in the notice?
The eligible institutions listed were: Bay Mills Community College; Cankdeska Cikana Community College; College of the Menominee Nation; Chief Dull Knife College; Dine College; Fort Belknap College; Fort Berthold Community College; Fort Peck Community College; Haskell Indian Nations University; Institute of American Indian Arts; Leech Lake Tribal College; Little Big Horn College; Sisseton Wahpeton Community College; Sitting Bull College; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; Tohono Oodham Community College; and White Earth Tribal and Community College.
What kinds of projects does TCEP support?
TCEP supports projects that strengthen an institution's ability to deliver extension education and outreach over time. While the text provided here does not list specific topic areas, it describes an extension framework that typically includes areas such as agriculture, natural resources, youth development, family and consumer sciences, community and economic development, and related applied sciences, with the defining expectation that programs are both evidence-based and culturally relevant.
What does it mean that programming must be "science-based" and "culturally relevant"?
Science-based means programming is grounded in credible research and evidence. Culturally relevant means the education and outreach are shaped to fit tribal cultures, languages, traditions, and community realities, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Is TCEP intended to fund one-time activities or longer-term extension capacity?
The notice frames TCEP as a capacity-oriented funding stream and states the FY 2011 request was for applicants beginning a new three-year capacity cycle in 2011. This signals an expectation of sustained development over multiple years rather than short-term, one-off outputs.
How should a proposed TCEP project fit within a college's broader plans?
NIFA emphasized that TCEP projects should fit within the institution's broader land-grant roadmap or strategic planning process. In other words, the work is expected to align with long-term institutional priorities rather than operate as a standalone activity.
How much total funding was estimated to be available for this cycle?
The total estimated funding available for this cycle was $4,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per grant?
The award ceiling was $100,000 per grant.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor was stated in the information provided.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
When was the application posted, and when was it due?
Applications were posted on January 25, 2011, and were due by March 16, 2011.
What does it mean that the program was "archived" on April 18, 2011?
Based on the information provided, the notice indicates the opportunity was later archived on April 18, 2011, meaning this specific posting and cycle were closed and placed in an archived status.
What is meant by a "three-year capacity cycle" starting in 2011?
The notice states the request for applications was for applicants beginning a new three-year capacity cycle in 2011. This indicates awards were expected to support multi-year extension capacity development beginning in 2011.
Where could applicants find full details beyond the notice summary?
The announcement referenced an additional information link for full program details and indicated that complete requirements would be found in the full request for applications (RFA).
What help desk support was provided if someone could not access the announcement electronically?
The notice provided a NIFA Help Desk contact for applicants who could not access the announcement electronically: 202-401-5048. Business hours were Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Was there a way to ask questions about preparing the application?
Yes. The notice indicates there was a contact pathway for questions about preparing application content, including guidance on application development, formatting, and submission requirements found in the complete RFA.
What is the program generally trying to achieve for tribal communities?
The program is described as supporting locally defined public needs, community problem-solving, and improved quality of life through extension education and outreach that blends rigorous evidence with tribal cultural context.
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