WIXLIB

Part II, C(2) AFRI Grant TypesJuly 17, 2020: Update seed grant information for new budget maximum and NewInvestigators (pages 2-3, 7-8). Add FY 2021 EPSCoR states (page 5).PART II—AWARD INFORMATIONC. Project Types and Grant Types2. Grant TypesApplicants must select the appropriate AFRI grant type specified within the relevant ProgramArea Descriptions in Part I, C of the RFA. Only grant types specifically solicited under eachprogram area or program area priority described in Part I, C of the RFA will be considered forreview.There are five main categories of grant types available across the Agriculture and FoodResearch Initiative (AFRI). They are described below. Not all grant types are solicited within eachRequest for Applications (RFA) or by each Program Area Priority within each RFA. Applicantsshould refer to the specific Program Area Priority description of interest for the grant typessolicited by that Program Area Priority.1. Standard GrantsStandard Grants support targeted original scientific Research, Education, Extension, orIntegrated Projects.2. Coordinated Agricultural ProjectCoordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) is a type of Research, Education, Extension, orIntegrated Project that supports large-scale, multi-million dollar projects to promotecollaboration, open communication, and the exchange of information; reduceduplication of effort; and coordinate activities among individuals, institutions, States,and regions. Integrated CAP Grants address problems through multi-function projectsthat incorporate at least two of the three components of the agricultural knowledgesystem (i.e., research, extension, and education), although some program areas mayrequire that CAP grant applications include all three components of the agriculturalknowledge system. In a CAP, participants serve as a team that conducts targetedresearch, education, and/or extension in response to emerging or priority area(s) ofnational need. Applications articulate how a CAP will complement and/or link withexisting programs or projects at the national level. A CAP contains the needed sciencebased expertise in research, education, and/or extension, as well as expertise fromprincipal stakeholders and partners, to accomplish project goals and objectives.Applications should outline the potential of the project, the structure, coordination, andplan of implementation, and propose several research, education, and/or extensionareas that will be evaluated during the study period. All Research, Education, Extension,Page 1 Updated July 17, 2020

Part II, C(2) AFRI Grant Typesand Integrated Project requirements described under Project Types (See AFRI Requestsfor Applications) apply to CAP Grants.3. Conference GrantsConference Grants support scientific meetings that bring together scientists to identifyresearch, education, and/or extension needs, update information, or advance an area ofscience. These activities are recognized as integral parts of scientific efforts. Support fora limited number of meetings covering subject matter encompassed by this solicitationwill be considered for partial or, if modest, total support. Individual conference grantsmay not exceed 50,000 in total costs and are not renewable. Indirect costs are notpermitted on Conference Grant awards. For all requests of 25,000 or more, applicantsshould consult with the program contact listed in the request for applications (RFA)regarding suitability of the application for submission to the relevant program areapriority.Letter of Intent is required for all Conference Grants and must be submitted a minimumof 195 days before the conference begins. Applications must be submitted after LOIdecision response and a minimum of 150 days before the conference begins.4. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement GrantsFood and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants strengthen sciencecapabilities in research, education, and/or extension programs. FASE Grants aredesigned to help institutions develop competitive projects, and to attract new scientistsand educators into careers in high-priority areas of national need in agriculture, food,and environmental sciences. FASE Grants provide support for Pre- and PostdoctoralFellowships, New Investigators, and Strengthening Grants. Specific eligibilityrequirements for these grants are described below.a. Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships GrantsPre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships Grants provide fellowships to predoctoral, andpostdoctoral students in the agricultural sciences. The program goals are to preparethe next generation of scientists through doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships.b. New Investigator GrantsAn individual who is beginning their career, does not have an extensive scientificpublication record, and has less than five years postgraduate career-track experienceis encouraged to submit an application for a New Investigator Grant for research,education, and/or extension activities. The new investigator may not have receivedcompetitively awarded Federal research funds as Project Director (PD) with theexception of pre- or postdoctoral grants and AFRI Seed Grants. Federal fundingreceived by the applicant as Co-PD of previously awarded competitive grants doesnot count against New Investigator eligibility.Page 2 Updated July 17, 2020

Part II, C(2) AFRI Grant TypesEligibility requirements for a New Investigator Grant apply only to the PD and not toCo-PDs or collaborators. The application must contain documentation that lists allprior federal support. The work proposed for New Investigator Grants must address aspecific Program Area Priority described in Part I, C of the RFA.New Investigator Grant applications do not need to adhere to the eligibilityrequirements described for Strengthening Grants below unless they are applyingunder both grant types.Starting in FY 2021, there are two types of New Investigator Grants available: The first is a Standard Grant (i.e., New Investigator Standard Grant), which is aStandard Grant application in all respects except that the Project Directormeets the eligibility criteria described previously for New Investigators. Theseare reviewed with all other Standard Grant applications submitted to therespective program area priority, with special consideration given by NIFAprogram staff to funding of New Investigator Standard Grant applications thatfall below the funding line. In these cases, the New Investigator box must bechecked under FASE on the AFRI Project Type form. Individuals qualifying as New Investigators are also eligible to apply for a SeedGrant (i.e., New Investigator Seed Grants described subsequently) regardlessof institutional affiliation and eligibility for Strengthening Grants describedsubsequently. An individual applicant may submit only one Seed Grant as PDduring the current fiscal year. New Investigators also may only receive oneNew Investigator Seed Grant as PD during their career. New Investigator SeedGrant applications will be reviewed with other Seed Grant applicationssubmitted to the respective program area priority with special considerationgiven to funding of New Investigator Seed Grant applications. In these cases,both the New Investigator and Seed Grant boxes should be checked underFASE on the AFRI Project Type form.c. Strengthening GrantsThese funds are expected to enhance institutional capacity with the goal of leading tofuture funding in the project area, as well as strengthen the competitiveness of theinvestigator’s research, education, and/or extension activities. Strengthening Grantsconsist of Seed Grants, Equipment Grants, Sabbatical Grants, Strengthening StandardGrants, Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Projects (CAP) Grants andStrengthening Conference Grants. The work proposed for Strengthening Grants mustaddress specific Program Area Priorities described under Program Area Descriptionsin Part I, C., of the RFA. All applications submitted for Strengthening Grants mustfulfill the eligibility requirements described below.Page 3 Updated July 17, 2020

Part II, C(2) AFRI Grant Types1) Strengthening Grants EligibilityStrengthening grants are limited to 1) small and mid-sized or minority-servingdegree-granting institutions that previously had limited institutional success forreceiving Federal funds or 2) State Agricultural Experiment Stations or degreegranting institutions eligible for USDA Established Program to StimulateCompetitive Research (EPSCoR) funding. The grants submitted by theseinstitutions are eligible for reserved strengthening funds for Research, Education,Extension, and Integrated Project grants. See the Flow Chart for StrengtheningGrant Eligibility to assist with determining eligibility for Strengthening Grants.Eligibility requirements for Strengthening Grants apply only to the PD’s institutionand not to the institutions of Co-PDs or collaborators.2) Strengthening Grants Eligibility Definitionsa) EPSCoR States (FASE & EPSCoR Program)Every year, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) determinesthe states that are eligible for USDA EPSCoR funding. This list includes stateshaving a funding level no higher than the 38th percentile of all States based ona 3-year rolling average of AFRI funding levels, excluding FASE Strengtheningfunds granted to EPSCoR States and small-midsized and minority-servingdegree-granting institutions. Please see the applicable list below for yourspecific RFA.FY 2020:For FY 2020 AFRI RFAs including the FY 2020 AFRI Education and WorkforceDevelopment RFA, the eligibility determinations are based on the dataobtained from grants made through the AFRI program from 2016 through2018. For FY 2020, the following States meet the requirements for thiscategory:State issippiMontanaNew HampshireNew MexicoNorth DakotaOklahomaRhode IslandAbbreviationAKCTHIIDLAMEMSMTNHNMNDOKRIPage 4 Updated July 17, 2020

Part II, C(2) AFRI Grant TypesState NameSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaUtahVermontWest VirginiaWyomingAbbreviationSCSDUTVTWVWYOther entities eligible for USDA EPSCoR funds in FY 2020 include the followingUnited States commonwealths, territories, possessions and their successors,and the District of Columbia:NameAmerican SamoaDistrict of ColumbiaGuamMicronesiaNorthern MarianasPuerto RicoVirgin Islands (U.S.)AbbreviationASDCGUFMMPPRVIFY 2021:For FY 2021 AFRI RFAs including AFRI Foundational and Applied Science RFAapplications for 2021 deadlines, while significant FY 2020 funds areunobligated, the eligibility determinations are based on the data obtained fromgrants made through the AFRI program from 2017 through 2019. For FY 2021,the following States meet the requirements for this category:State ttsMississippiMontanaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth NDOKPage 5 Updated July 17, 2020