Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Strengthening Agricultural Systems

FY2026 - Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Strengthening Agricultural Systems - NOFO

NOTICE OF
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
Strengthening Agricultural Systems
FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY)
FY 2025 and FY 2026
APPLICATION DEADLINES: March 26, 2026
April 23, 2026
ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $140,000,000
AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD $1,000,000 – 10,000,0000
RANGE:
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011677
ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.310
LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: February 26, 2026
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ANNOUNCEMENT
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The Agriculture and Food and Research Initiative (AFRI)
Strengthening Agricultural Systems (SAS) is listed in the Assistance Listings under number
10.310.
Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines
Task Description Deadline
Letter of Intent: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, February 26, 2026
Application Deadlines: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, March 26, 2026
5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, April 23, 2026
Applicant Comments: Within six months from the issuance of this notice
(NIFA may not consider comments received after the sixth month)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to the extent permitted by law, will no
longer make grants or otherwise fund programs or activities that improperly discriminate on the
basis of race or sex, including discrimination in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
policies. Instead, USDA will prioritize merit and efficiency. USDA recognizes programs and
initiatives will have the greatest impact when these programs and initiatives put American
farmers, ranchers, and foresters first by:
• Solving the most pressing challenges they face.
• Protecting America’s food, fuel, and fiber supply to enhance national security.
• Supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers.
• Expanding and developing domestic markets.
• Training the next generation of agriculturalists.; and
• Fueling innovation to keep American farmers at the forefront of productivity.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is committed to advancing these
principles and encourages applicants to actively engage farmers, ranchers, and foresters when
applying for funding opportunities to ensure relevancy and adherence to them. NIFA also
encourages agricultural leaders to engage in the peer review panel process to ensure American
producers are better served through research, education, and extension activities.
Projects submitted under this NOFO should align with USDA Secretary’s Memorandum 1078-
020 Directive on Departmental Research and Development Priorities:
1. Increasing Profitability of Farmers and Ranchers
2. Expanding Markets and Creating New Uses of U.S. Agricultural Products
3. Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species
4. Promoting Soil Health to Regenerate Long-Term Productivity of Land
5. Improving Human Health through Precision Nutrition and Food Quality
Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) so it
can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and with a focus on customer
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service. NIFA considers comments to the extent possible when developing NOFOs and uses
comments to help meet the requirements of Section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613(c)(2)). Applicants may submit
written comments to Policy@usda.gov. Please use the following subject line: Response to the
AFRI SAS NOFO.
Centers of Excellence. Applicants are encouraged to visit the NIFA’s Centers of Excellence
(COE) webpage for information on the COE designation process, including COE criteria, and a
list of programs offering COE opportunities.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This notice identifies the objectives for the AFRI SAS program projects, deadlines, funding
information, eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated
instructions.
AFRI is America’s flagship competitive grants program that provides funding for fundamental
and applied research, education, and extension projects in the food and agricultural sciences.
Within AFRI, the long-term purpose of the SAS Program is to help transform the U.S. food and
agricultural system to increase agricultural production while enhancing farmer prosperity.
Achieving this goal will require transdisciplinary approaches to address current and future food
and agricultural challenges within the context of the economic viability of farm operations,
quality of life for farmers and society as a whole, and the most efficient use of resources.
The amount available for programs included in the FY 2026 AFRI SAS NOFO is approximately
$140 million for awards ranging from a minimum request of $1 million to a maximum of $10
million each.
In FY 2026, this NOFO solicits proposals for Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) and Food
and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project
(CAP) Grants. See Part I § C for grant and project types solicited and Part II § C for a detailed
description of each individual grant type and project type.
Applications from and collaborations with institutions eligible for Strengthening Grants are
welcome. More information is available on the AFRI FASE and Established Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) page.
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New Information
1. Prospective applicants are requested to email a Letter of Intent to submit an application
by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 26, 2026, to “AFRI-
SAS@usda.gov.” This notification is optional and will be used to plan for the expertise
required for the review process. The information provided will not be used to screen for
project appropriateness, applicant eligibility, or in review of a subsequent application.
NIFA will not provide feedback on the letter. (See Part IV for additional details).
2. Previous AFRI award outcomes are required if the Project Director (PD) on the current
application has previously received an AFRI award from NIFA (e.g., AFRI Challenge
Area Grant, National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes Grant, AFRI SAS Grant,
etc. excluding Conference and Equipment Grants) and is listed as the PD on the prior
award(s) with start date(s) within five years prior to the submission deadline for this
program. Provide the following in the Project Narrative: 1) award number(s) and 2)
significant outcome(s) from each award addressing stakeholder needs beyond the life of
the project (maximum of 300 words per award).
3. Mentoring plan instructions have been revised and important details can be found at “FY
2026 Strengthening Agricultural Systems NOFO Additional Information for Part IV, C”
on the AFRI Resources webpage.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANNOUNCEMENT .................................................................................................................. 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 4
PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ........................................................ 8
A. Legislative Authority ........................................................................................................... 8
B. Purpose and Priorities .......................................................................................................... 8
C. Program Area Description ................................................................................................... 9
PART II. AWARD INFORMATION .................................................................................... 16
A. Available Funding .............................................................................................................. 16
B. Application Restrictions ..................................................................................................... 16
C. Project and Grant Types ..................................................................................................... 16
D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects .................................................................................. 16
PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ........................................................................ 17
A. Eligibility Requirements .................................................................................................... 17
B. Request for Determination of Status .................................................................................. 18
C. Cost Sharing or Matching .................................................................................................. 18
D. Centers of Excellence ........................................................................................................ 18
PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION ................................................................. 20
A. Letter of Intent to Submit an Application .......................................................................... 20
B. Method of Application ....................................................................................................... 20
C. Content and Form of the Application ................................................................................ 21
D. Funding Restrictions .......................................................................................................... 23
PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS ................................................... 26
A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process ................................................................................................ 26
B. SAS Evaluation Criteria ..................................................................................................... 28
C. Organizational Management Information .......................................................................... 28
D. Application Disposition ..................................................................................................... 28
PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................ 29
A. General ............................................................................................................................... 29
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ............................................................ 29
C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements ................................................. 29
PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................. 30
A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget ................................................................................ 30
B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards ............................................................ 31
C. Regulatory Information ...................................................................................................... 31
D. Language Access Services ................................................................................................. 31
APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT ................................................................................... 32
APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................ 33
APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................ 34
APPENDIX IV: OTHER AFRI RESOURCES .................................................................... 37
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KEY INFORMATION
Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines .................................................................................................. 2
Table 2: Strengthening Agricultural Systems Key Information ................................................... 11
Table 3: Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences Key Information ........ 13
Table 4: Steps to Obtain Application Materials ............................................................................ 20
Table 5: Help and Resources ........................................................................................................ 21
Table 6: Key Application Instructions .......................................................................................... 21
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PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
A. Legislative Authority
Section 2(b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (hereafter referred to
as the Act) (7 U.S.C. 3157), as amended, authorizes the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
(AFRI), a competitive grant program to provide funding for fundamental and applied research,
education, and extension to address food and agricultural sciences in the following six priority
areas:
1. Plant health and production and plant products;
2. Animal health and production and animal products;
3. Food safety, nutrition, and health;
4. Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment;
5. Agriculture systems and technology; and
6. Agriculture economics and rural communities.
To the maximum extent practicable, NIFA, in coordination with the Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics (REE), will make grants for high priority research,
education, and extension, taking into consideration, when available, the determinations made by
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board
(NAREEEAB) pursuant to the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C.
3157). The Secretary delegates the authority to the Under Secretary in 7 CFR 2.21, and the
Under Secretary delegates that authority to NIFA.
B. Purpose and Priorities
The purpose of AFRI is to invest in research, education, and extension projects that will help
farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other agricultural producers address key problems of local,
regional, and national importance in sustaining food and agricultural systems. These include
farm and ranch production efficiency, profitability, and sustainability; domestic biofuels and bio-
based products; forestry; aquaculture; rural communities and entrepreneurship; human nutrition;
mitigating impacts of biotic and abiotic constraints on food production; food safety; physical and
social sciences; prevention of agricultural pests and diseases; and genetic improvement of plants
and animals. In addition, the economic sustainability of food systems is an overarching priority
for the projects funded in response to this NOFO; therefore, projects focusing on plant or animal
species or commodities that are important to small- or medium-sized farms or ranches are also
welcome. Through this support, AFRI advances knowledge in both fundamental and applied
sciences important to agriculture. Additionally, AFRI supports work in education and extension
activities that deliver science-based knowledge to end users, allowing them to make informed,
practical decisions. The AFRI SAS NOFO provides funding for fully integrated extension,
education, and research projects through a CAP grant type. CAP grants support large-scale
projects and coordinate activities among academic, government, state, regional,
nongovernmental, and private sector institutions. The long-term goal of the SAS program is to
transform the U.S. food and agricultural systems by increasing agricultural production and
optimizing its financial and human capital gains. Achieving this goal requires systems and
transdisciplinary approaches to address current and future challenges in food and agriculture.
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Background
AFRI is NIFA’s flagship competitive grants portfolio for food and agricultural sciences, and
funding is offered through the Foundational and Applied Science, Strengthening Agricultural
Systems, and Education and Workforce Development NOFOs for addressing critical societal
issues.
For a program informational webinar please visit the NIFA calendar for dates, event registration,
and link. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of the informational
webinars listed, please contact the event host listed no later than 10 days prior to the event.
C. Program Area Description
NIFA is soliciting applications under two Program Area Priorities:
1. Program Code: A9201 - Strengthening Agricultural Systems
2. Program Code: A9231 - Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences
Applicants must explicitly identify and specify the Program Code and the SAS Program Area
Priority they intend to address within the summary/abstract and project narrative. All projects
must demonstrate direct and/or indirect benefit to farmers, ranchers, producers, and forest
landowners.
1. Strengthening Agricultural Systems (Program Code A9201)
The SAS program is seeking projects that support at least one of the following sub-priorities:
• New Uses and Expanding Markets for Agriculture and Forestry Products
• Solutions to Pests and Diseases of Plants or Animals
• Combating Food and Diet-Related Chronic Diseases
Applicants to this program area priority must address one or more sub-priorities aligned with
USDA priorities in putting American farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters first.
Projects responding to these areas, as well as developing and implementing advanced solutions
in Artificial Intelligence (AI), mechanization, or automation for use in food and agriculture
systems are encouraged.
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Figure 1: A visual illustration of how applications must identify a priority topic and utilize four
pillars to enable project success. These four pillars are planning for longevity, full integration
(extension, education, and research functions of agriculture), systems science approach, and
transdisciplinary approach.
Planning for Longevity: The long-term benefit, enhancement, or achievement of a solution to a
food and agricultural systems issue must be addressed. Applicants must design projects with
producers, end-users, and consumers in mind. This includes use of project outcomes to stabilize
plant and animal production capability, guarantee or improve yield and quality, and implement
tailored site-specific strategies that ensure an abundant, healthy, and safe food supply. Longevity
also encompasses the use of tools, products, and capabilities to train the next generation of
agriculturalists and enhance the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and society.
Systems Approach: This requires tackling an issue and examining and understanding its
complex and interacting parts rather than just a specific part in isolation. Applicants must design
projects that use systems thinking that apply and study the interaction of rapidly advancing
science and technologies to leverage the economic benefits. Agricultural systems are inclusive of
local and regional supply chains; food production to consumption; human and community health;
and from traditional open-field farms, ranches, and managed forests to controlled production in
built environments.
Full Integration: This program solicits creative visionary projects that seamlessly combine the
three components of the agricultural knowledge system -- research, education, and extension --
to function as a unified whole to solve challenges to current and future food and agricultural
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systems. Applicants must include all three components. Applicants must carefully review the
general characteristics of all grant types and project types. Applicants must also review the NIFA
definitions of extension, education, and research found in the documents labeled “AFRI Grant
Types” and “AFRI Project Types” in the "Related Documents” list on AFRI Notice of Funding
Opportunities Resources page.
Transdisciplinary Approach: Intentional teamwork, coordination, and interaction between
multiple scientific disciplines, stakeholders, and end-users is essential to addressing complex
challenges.
Applicants must clearly describe how transdisciplinary approaches will be deployed to achieve
the goals of the project. Applicants must demonstrate the transdisciplinary linkages necessary to
address the complex challenge or issue. A high degree of engagement must occur between the
applicants and farmers, ranchers, producers, landowners, and communities who will be impacted
by project outcomes for critical leadership and co-production of knowledge, behavior, or
condition. All relevant stakeholders must be engaged from inception through implementation of
the project.
Metrics: Projects must plan to employ meaningful performance metrics that measure
progress during the grant period. These metrics must be aligned with key indicators of scientific,
agricultural, and economic impact. Metrics can include how the proposed system and its
components contribute to productivity and profitability, reliable natural resources, food safety,
food quality, processing quality, food and nutrition science, human health and well-being, a
skilled workforce, educational opportunities and curricula, regional or national market share,
students and professionals trained, more sustainable jobs in the food and agricultural sector,
consumer adoption and participation, or discernable benefits to consumers, families, or
communities. Metrics must capture how outcomes will address stakeholder needs beyond the life
of the project.
Table 2: Strengthening Agricultural Systems Program Key Information
Title Description
Program Codes: A9201
Program Code Name: Strengthening Agricultural Systems
ALN: 10.310
Project Type: Integrated Research, Education, and
Extension Only
Grant Type: CAP and Strengthening CAP Grants
Only
Letter of Intent Deadline February 26, 2026
Application Deadline March 26, 2026
Grant Duration: Up to 60 Months
Anticipated # of Awards: 10-12
Minimum Award Amount: $2,500,000
Maximum Award Amount: $10,000,000
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New Uses and Expanding Markets for Agriculture and Forestry Products Sub-priority:
Proposals should focus on the most pressing challenges faced by agricultural producers, farmers,
ranchers, and foresters with a focus on creating new and expanding existing markets for
agriculture and forestry products to ensure a strong U.S. economy and protect the fuel and fiber
supply. Proposals responding to this sub-priority must address items a) and b). Proposals may
also address item c) below:
a) Work with established U.S. commodity crops, specialty crops, or forest products that
develop new uses for crop residues for meal, feed, or oils will be considered. Pursuit
of this goal depends on the development of new innovative solutions and initiatives
that bring more jobs, economic opportunities, and expand existing markets to new
regions particularly to rural communities. The focus should be on equipping and
empowering current and next generations of American farmers, ranchers, producers,
and foresters; and
b) Address the long-term efforts necessary for growth of agriculture and/or forestry
products markets while preserving our nation’s natural resources through
conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working
lands.
c) May also address: Develop or enhance systems to produce reliable sources of
biofuels, biomaterials, or biobased chemical intermediates, including emphasis on
high-value or value-added products from agricultural and/or forestry products to
foster rural prosperity and enhance national security.
Solutions to Pests and Diseases of Plants or Animals Sub-priority:
Proposals responding to this sub-priority must address at least two (2) of the following:
a) Protect the food, fuel, and/or fiber supply as well as enhance national security by
developing innovative solutions to combat pests, diseases, or weeds
(invasive/established species) negatively affecting plant and/or animal agricultural
systems.
b) Address important crop, livestock, or forest losses due to pest and/or pathogen
damage.
c) Develop effective disease or pest solutions, including weed management solutions in
grasslands/rangelands, as they occupy a substantial portion of the United States and
impact both plant and animal production and are critical to the nation’s economy.
d) Drive innovation, promote proven agricultural or forest production practices, reduce
input costs, and increase outputs that result in maximizing productivity of American
farmers, ranchers, and foresters.
Combating Food and Diet-Related Chronic Diseases Sub-priority:
Proposals responding to this sub-priority must address item a) or item b). Proposals must also
address at least two (2) of the following items: c), d), and/or e):
a) Address factors linked to achieving healthy diets from sustainable food production
systems with the goal of increasing nutrient content and bioavailability of nutrients
from plant and/or animal food products to improve human health.
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b) Identify and implement innovative solutions that result in healthy dietary patterns,
support the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and lead to long-term large population-
level reductions of diet-related chronic diseases.
c) Upscale or maximize impacts of existing scientifically proven interventions/solutions.
d) Incorporate stakeholders’ perspectives, particularly American farmers’ or ranchers’
voices as they play a critical role in ensuring an abundant, healthy and safe food
supply.
e) Explore value-add solutions that benefit agricultural producers, farmers, ranchers, or
foresters.
Note: Applications focused on solutions to combat childhood chronic diseases are encouraged.
Proposed dietary solutions must utilize agricultural foods, preferably healthy whole foods. This
sub-priority does not support the development of pharmaceutical therapies or products.
2. Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences (Program Code A9231)
Table 3: Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences Key Information
Title Description
Program Code: A9231
Program Code Name: Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food
and Agricultural Sciences
ALN: 10.310
Project Type: Integrated Extension, Education and
Research Only
Grant Type: CAP and Strengthening CAP Grants
Only
Letter of Intent Deadline February 26, 2026
Application Deadline April 23, 2026
Grant Duration: Up to 60 Months
Anticipated # of Awards: 6
Minimum Award Amount: $1,000,000
Maximum Award Amount: $2,000,000
Applicants to this program area priority must explicitly specify the A9231 Program Code and
the Artificial Intelligence (AI) for K12 Food and Agricultural Sciences within the
summary/abstract and project narrative.
AI continues to be an important component of Strengthening Agriculture Systems. AI-powered
technologies, including but not limited to automation and mechanization, in food, agricultural,
and forest production are already in use, boosting productivity and efficiency in a variety of
ways. These technologies address labor shortages, pest management, animal diseases, crop and
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forest quality, soil health, weather pattern prediction, irrigation system precision, food safety,
and personalized nutritional strategies, among other applications.
NIFA’s vision is to support proposals in all six AFRI priority areas (see Part I.A.). Therefore,
applicants to this program area priority must identify and state a primary AFRI priority area in
the abstract. While one AFRI priority area will be the primary or focus, projects are welcome to
develop activities and materials supportive of as many priority areas as desired and justified with
the team’s expertise. NIFA will make funding decisions based on project merit and alignment to
create a portfolio with broad representation of these priority areas.
This priority is for kindergarten through 12th grade education, but resources developed are to be
made available for post-secondary and lifelong learners to develop new skills for a changing
workforce.
Proposals responding to this priority must address at least four (4) of the following:
a) Develop and/or strengthen the pipeline of AI-literate and skilled next-generation
agriculturalists, with special emphasis in K-12 youth, to support the advancements in
food, agricultural, and forest sciences.
b) Adapt or develop AI-based tools and modalities that can be effectively integrated into
classrooms, non-formal educational experiences, and/or curriculums to support the
understanding and training of the next generation of agriculturalists and foresters.
c) Build and expand comprehensive teacher and non-formal educator training in AI in
food, agricultural, and/or forest sciences to equip them with knowledge to train
students about AI and to utilize AI in their classrooms to improve educational
outcomes.
d) Support AI resource sharing mechanisms that make curriculum, training materials
and courses, and resources accessible for the nation’s K-12 teachers and Cooperative
Extension educators in food and agricultural sciences.
e) Equip learners to become future innovators of agricultural AI.
f) Advance the scientific, economic, environmental, social, and/or workforce training
innovations in food, agriculture, and/or forestry to keep U.S. farmers, ranchers,
producers, and foresters at the forefront of productivity by leveraging AI.
g) Use AI to help strengthen youth’s understanding of the importance of America’s
food, fuel, and fiber supply and its role in national security.
Important Note: AI for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences projects must be led by the
education and/or extension component in the project. Research for this goal must be limited to
one or more of the following components: (i) exploring pedagogical and student development
impacts of AI delivery methods; (ii) economic analysis of identified solutions; (iii) impacts of
identified solutions on youth and agricultural communities; and/or (iv) evaluation of long-term
impacts of identified solutions on the development or strengthening of the next generation of
agriculturalists.
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Projects supporting research in AI innovation and data systems for agricultural systems are not
appropriate for A9231 and should be submitted to Program Area Priority A1541 of the AFRI
Foundational and Applied Sciences Program. Projects developing degree and training programs
for undergraduate and graduate students are not appropriate for A9231 and should be submitted
to the appropriate Program Area Priority in the AFRI Education and Workforce Development
Program.
Program Area Additional Information
1. Requests exceeding budgetary guidelines will not be reviewed.
2. Unless otherwise stated, grants are issued for a period of up to five years and are not
renewable after completion of the performance period.
3. Review additional application requirements from the document titled FY 2026 AFRI
Strengthening Agricultural Systems NOFO Additional Information for Part IV, C on the
AFRI Resources page.
4. Projects must provide evidence that the project is aligned with a program area priority in
this NOFO and with the AFRI priority areas, as listed in Part I § A of this NOFO.
8. NIFA welcomes applicants that leverage public-private partnerships.
9. A Data Management Plan is required and must include making data publicly available
with persistent identifiers or compatible with other open databases and sources. A
reasonable budget allocation for data management is allowed as a direct cost.
10. Proposals addressing A9201 Combating Food and Diet-Related Chronic Diseases sub-
priority may consider evidence-based approaches such as policy, systems, and/or built
environment (PSE) change interventions, nutrition education, precision/personalized
nutrition, etc.
11. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the youth voice in stimulating and
championing solutions and actions at household, local, and national levels as evidenced
through 4-H, National Future Farmers of America Organization, and other youth
organizations.
12. Projects selected under the sub-priority area “New Uses and Expanding Markets for
Agriculture and Forestry Products” may have the opportunity to partner with U.S.
Department of Energy’s Regional Biomass Hubs Initiative (RBRH). Applicants
interested in learning more may email: rbrh@inl.gov for more information.
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PART II. AWARD INFORMATION
A. Available Funding
The amount available for the AFRI SAS NOFO is approximately $140,000,000. USDA is not
committed to funding any application or to making a specific number of awards.
The Automated Standard Application for Payments, operated by the Department of Treasury,
Bureau of Fiscal Service, is the designated payment system for awards resulting from this
NOFO.
B. Application Restrictions
NIFA will evaluate applications using the criteria described in Part V of this NOFO. Application
for FY 2026 is limited to the following application types:
1. New application: New applications will be evaluated using the criteria described in Part V
of this NOFO and are subject to the due dates herein (see Appendix III for definition).
2. Resubmitted application: Resubmitted applications must include a response to the previous
review and are subject to the same criteria and due dates herein. Resubmitted applicants
must enter the NIFA-assigned proposal number of the previously submitted application in
the Federal Field (Field 4) on the application form (see Appendix III for definition).
C. Project and Grant Types
The following describes the types of projects or grants that are eligible for funding:
1. Project Types. Applicants must propose Integrated Projects only (must include Research,
Education, and Extension components within project) as described in PART I. FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION of this NOFO. A detailed description of the project types
available across AFRI is located on the AFRI Resources page (“AFRI Project Types” in the
attachments list).
2. Grant Types. Applicants must select the appropriate AFRI grant type. For this NOFO, the
grant types are Coordinated Agricultural Project and FASE (Strengthening
Coordinated Agricultural Project) Grants only. This is specified within the relevant
Program Area Descriptions in Part I § C of this NOFO. A detailed description of the grant
types (Standard Grants, Coordinated Agricultural Projects, Workshop Grants, and FASE
Grants) available across AFRI is located on the AFRI Resources page (“AFRI Grant
Types” in the "Related Documents” list).
D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects
In accordance with sections 2, 3, and 8 of 2 CFR Part 422, institutions that conduct USDA-
funded extramural research must foster an atmosphere conducive to research integrity, bear
primary responsibility for prevention and detection of research misconduct, and maintain and
effectively communicate and train their staff regarding policies and procedures. In the event an
application to NIFA results in an award, the Authorized Representative (AR) assures, through
acceptance of the award, that the institution will comply with the above requirements. Award
recipients must, upon request, make available to NIFA the policies, procedures, and
documentation to support the conduct of the training. See NIFA’s guidelines on Responsible and
Ethical Conduct of Research for further information.
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PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
A. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the AFRI must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet
the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or
preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s
About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help
understand the Federal awards process.
1. Integrated Projects
Eligible applicants for Integrated Projects include:
a) Colleges and universities;
b) 1994 Land-grant Institutions; and
c) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities (see NIFA's Hispanic-Serving
Agricultural Colleges and Universities page).
For item a) under Integrated Projects, the terms "college" and "university" means an
educational institution in any state which
i) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a
school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a
certificate;
ii) is legally authorized to provide a program of education beyond secondary education;
iii) provides an educational program for which a bachelor’s degree or any other higher
degree is awarded;
iv) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
v) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association.
A research foundation maintained by a college or university is eligible to receive an award
under this program.
2. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants
Part II § C.2 of this NOFO contains the eligibility details for FASE Grants. Note that under
FASE program, Strengthening Coordinated Agricultural Project Grants are solicited in this
NOFO.
Applicants must respond to the program area priorities and deadlines found in Part I § C. Grant
recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are
necessary for the conduct of the project. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application
deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an
application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award (see Part III § B).
Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – submission of duplicate or predominantly overlapping
applications is not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both applications if an applicant submits
multiple applications that are duplicative or substantially overlapping to NIFA programs within
the same fiscal year. For those new to federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants
provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand
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the federal awards process.
B. Request for Determination of Status
1. Strengthening Grant Eligibility
If an institution is applying for a Strengthening Grant under the FASE program (see Part II
§ C. 2) refer to the AFRI Resources page.
2. Multi-Campus Institution
All institutions grouped under one main campus as listed in “Table 1 Most Successful
Institutions” in the "Related Documents” list on the AFRI Resources page, unless located
in an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) state (See “AFRI
Grant Types” in the "Related Documents” list on the AFRI Resources page, are excluded
from eligibility for all strengthening funds. However, if any campus within a multi-campus
listing can provide information demonstrating that it is administratively independent or has
an independent accreditation, then the institution may petition for an exemption to this rule
and request eligibility for strengthening funds. The application must include a letter
indicating how the institution is independent of the main campus, either through
accreditation or administration, how the institution is eligible for a Strengthening Grant,
and total federal funds received for science and engineering research and development. The
letter must be signed by the Authorized Representative (AR).
C. Cost Sharing or Matching
Applicants MUST provide matching contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis for all federal
funds awarded under AFRI for applied research grants unless a waiver applies. Matching funds
requirements for AFRI programs included in this NOFO may be found at 7 U.S.C. 3157 (b)(9)
(C). For Applied Research Components:
1. Match is required – If an applied research (see Appendix III) or Integrated Project with
an applied research component is commodity-specific and not of national scope, the grant
recipient is required to match the USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from
non-federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions .
2. Match is not required - If the applied research or integrated project with an applied
research component is not commodity-specific or is national in scope, then no match is
required.
D. Centers of Excellence
Pursuant to Section 7214 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5926), NIFA will recognize
and prioritize COE applicants that carry out research, extension, and education activities that
relate to the food and agricultural sciences. A COE is composed of one or more of the following
entities that provide financial or in-kind support to the COE:
1. State agricultural experiment stations
2. Colleges and universities
3. University research foundations
4. Other research institutions and organizations
5. Federal agencies
6. National laboratories
7. Private organizations, foundations, or corporations
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8. Individuals; or
9. Any group consisting of two or more of the entities described in (1) through (8).
COE recognition and priority is available only for the Standard Grant and the Coordinated
Agricultural Project (CAP) Grant applications submitted to the program area priorities in the
Education and Workforce Development, Foundational and Applied Science, and Strengthening
Agricultural Systems NOFOs or RFAs. If applicable, Part IV C, of the NOFO contains additional
requirements for COE consideration.
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PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION
A. Letter of Intent to Submit an Application
Prospective applicants are requested to email a Letter of Intent to submit an application by 5:00
p.m. Eastern Time on February 26, 2026, to “AFRI-SAS@usda.gov”. This notification is
optional and will be used to plan for the expertise required for the review process. The
information provided will not be used to screen for project appropriateness, applicant eligibility
or used in review of a subsequent application. NIFA will not provide feedback for the
notification of intent.
Letter of Intent email should include the following information:
1. Descriptive (draft) title
2. Name of the Project Director and Applicant Institution name
3. Names of other potential Co-Project Directors/Investigators and their affiliations, if
applicable
4. Sub-priority/ies or Farm Bill Priority Area(s) addressed
5. Subject line of email should read: AFRI-SAS – Intent to Submit
6. E-mail should be sent to AFRI-SAS@usda.gov.
Notification of intent should be succinct. Please do not include abstract, bios, or information
other than what is requested.
B. Method of Application
Applicants must apply to this NOFO electronically; no other method or response is accepted.
The electronic application for this NOFO and additional resources are available on Grants.gov
and Grants 101. Table 3 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application and
Table 4 provides links to related support services. Part III of the NIFA Grants Application
Guide contains detailed information regarding the Grants.gov registration process. The NIFA
Grants Application Guide is contained in the specific funding opportunity package or a sample of
the guide can be found here. When applying for a NIFA award, it is important to reference the
version of the guide that is included in the specific funding opportunity application package.
Table 4: Steps to Obtain Application Materials
Steps Action
Step One: Register New Users to Grants.gov must register early with Grants.gov prior to
submitting an application (Register Here).
Step Two: Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility
Download Adobe for basic system requirements).
Step Three: Find Using this funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011677
Application search for application here: Opportunity Package.
Step Four: Assess Contact an AR prior to starting an application to assess the organization’s
Readiness readiness to submit an electronic application.
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Table 5: Help and Resources
Grants.gov Support NIFA Support
Grants.gov Online Support Email: grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
Telephone support: 800-518-4726
Toll-Free or 606-545-5035 Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru
Email support: support@grants.gov Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, except federal
Self-service customer-based support: holidays.
Grants.gov iPortal
Key Information: Customer service
business Hours 24/7, except federal
holidays.
C. Content and Form of the Application
The NIFA Grants Application Guide is part of the corresponding application package for this
NOFO. The NOFO overrides the NIFA Grants Application Guide if there is a discrepancy
between the two documents. Applicants that do not meet the application requirements, to include
partial applications, risk being excluded from NIFA’s review. NIFA will assign a proposal
number to all applications that meet the requirements of this NOFO. Applicants must refer to the
proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 6 outlines key instructions for
applicants.
Table 6: Key Application Instructions
Instruction References
(All references are to the NIFA Grants
Application Guide)
Attachments must be in a portable document Part IV
format (PDF) format.
Check the manifest of submitted files to verify Part IV
attachments are in the correct format.
Conduct an administrative review of the Part IV
application before submission.
Follow the submission instructions. Part IV
Provide an accurate email address, where Part V
designated, on the SF-424 R&R.
Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical N/A
support and keep a record of the correspondence.
Contact NIFA if applicant does not received N/A
correspondence from NIFA regarding an
application within 30 days of the application
deadline.
AFRI Specific Application Instructions. Application and submission information including
page limits and narrative font sizes for AFRI SAS applications are available in the “2026
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Strengthening Agricultural Systems NOFO Additional Information for Part IV § C” PDF in the
attachment labelled “FY 2026 AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems NOFO Additional
Information for Part IV, C" list on the AFRI Resources page.
We recommend that you conduct an administrative review of the application prior to submitting
the package via Grants.gov to ensure that it complies with all preparation instructions. An
application checklist is included in Part VII of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide to assist
with this review.
You should check the application for completeness. The application must include:
1. Project Summary (PS)/Abstract. The PS must show how the project goals align with the
AFRI-SAS Sub-priority/ies or AFRI Priority Area(s). See Part V of the NIFA Grants
Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates.
2. Project Narrative.
3. Bibliography & References Cited.
4. Logic Model. A logic model must include elements detailing the activities, outputs, and
outcomes of the proposed project. The logic model planning process is a tool that should
be used to develop a project before writing the application. This information may be
provided as a narrative or formatted into a logic model chart. For more information and
resources, see Logic Model Planning Process located on the NIFA website.
5. Management Plan. A Management Plan is required and must include project governance,
a stakeholder advisory board, involvement of an evaluator, and progress reporting. The
plan must clearly articulate, with an organizational chart, how the project will be
governed. A clear strategy must be put in place to enhance coordination, collaboration,
communication, data sharing and reporting among members of the project team and
stakeholder groups. The management plan must include an advisory group of principal
stakeholders, partners, evaluators and professionals to assess and evaluate the quality,
expected measurable outcomes, and potential impacts for the proposed research,
education and Extension.
6. Data Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is required. Applicants should clearly articulate
how the project director (PD) and co-PDs plan to manage and disseminate the data
generated by the project. The DMP will be considered during the merit review process
(see Part V, B of this NOFO). A Data Management Plan must include making data
publicly available with persistent identifiers or compatible with other open databases and
sources. Machine readable data management plans produced using tools such as the DMP
Tool are strongly recommended. A reasonable budget allocation for data management is
allowed as a direct cost.
7. Mentoring plan. A three-page limit mentoring plan is required for CAP Grants that
involve any type of education, training or mentoring of students or other individuals
including high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, professional
degree students, postdoctoral scholars, other professionals or any other individual
receiving any type of formal, or nonformal or vocational training on the project. Upload
plan as a separate attachment into to Field 12 of the grant application. Include all student
and/or other individual types in the same mentoring plan and describe: a) past or
proposed training of individuals who will serve as mentors including equipping,
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mentoring, or monitoring activities they have received or will receive to help them
effectively mentor students and trainees during the project; b) the groups of students or
individual trainees to be mentored on the project, including students grades 9-12,
undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, professionals and any
other individuals to be trained or mentored on the project; c) detailed mentoring activities
to be delivered throughout the project to each distinct category or group of students
and/or trainee participants, including those activities provided through research,
education, Extension or outreach efforts; and d) expected outcomes derived from the
mentoring activities and prospective impact(s) on the food and agricultural sciences. For
additional important details, see the “FY 2026 AFRI Strengthening Agricultural Systems
NOFO Additional Information for Part IV, C" in the "Related Documents” list on the
AFRI resources page.
8. Facilities & Other Resources. Provide adequate evidence that each institution in the
application has a significant role and contributes to the project.
9. Curriculum Vitae
10. Conflict of Interest Lists
11. Current and pending support
12. Budget
13. Budget Justification
This is not an exhaustive list of required items; it only serves to highlight items that may be
overlooked. The three documents considered as critical and required at the application deadline
are the 1) Project Summary/Abstract, 2) Project Narrative, and 3) Bibliography & References
Cited sections. Failure to include any of these as PDF attachments will result in the application
not being reviewed or considered for funding by NIFA.
We send email correspondence to the PD and AR regarding the status of submitted applications.
We strongly encourage you to provide accurate email addresses, where designated, on the SF-
424 R&R Application for Federal Assistance.
If the PD and AR have not received correspondence from NIFA regarding a submitted
application within 30 days of the established deadline, contact the Agency Contact identified in
Appendix I of the NOFO and request the proposal number assigned to the application. Failure to
do so may result in the application not being considered for funding by the peer review panel.
Once the application has been assigned a proposal number, you should cite this number on all
future correspondence.
D. Funding Restrictions
Indirect Cost (IDC) not to exceed 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) of the
recipient. Section 1462(a) and (c) of the (7 U.S.C. 3310(a) and (c)) limits IDC for the overall
award to 30 percent of Total Federal Funds Awarded (TFFA) under a research, education, or
extension grant. The maximum IDC rate allowed under the award is determined by calculating
the amount of IDC using:
1. the sum of an institution’s negotiated IDC rate and the IDC rate charged by sub-awardees,
if any; or
2. 30 percent of TFFA.
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The maximum allowable IDC rate under the award, including the IDC charged by the sub-
awardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the two rates above.
If the result of number one above is the lesser of the two rates, the grant recipient is allowed to
charge the negotiated IDC rate on the prime award and the sub-award(s), if any. Any sub-awards
would be subject to the sub-awardee’s negotiated IDC rate. The sub-awardee may charge its
negotiated IDC rate on its portion of the award, provided the sum of the IDC rate charged under
the award by the prime awardee and the sub-awardee(s) does not exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.
If number two above is the lesser of the two rates, then the maximum IDC rate allowed for the
overall award, including any sub-award(s), is limited to 30 percent of the TFFA. That is, the IDC
of the prime awardee plus the sum of the IDC charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, may not
exceed 30 percent of the TFFA.
In the event of an award, the prime awardee is responsible for ensuring the maximum IDC
allowed for the award is not exceeded when combining IDC for the Federal portion (i.e., prime
and sub-awardee(s)) and any applicable cost-sharing. Amounts exceeding the maximum
allowable IDC are considered unallowable. See sections 408 and 410 of 2 CFR 200.
If the applicant does not have a negotiated rate and NIFA is the cognizant agency, the applicant
may request an IDC rate. Applicants are not required to complete the IDC package during the
application process and need only to calculate a rate to serve as a basis for requesting IDC. If
awarded, the applicant will be required to submit a complete IDC proposal package to obtain a
negotiated rate.
Organizations that do not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect the De
Minimis rate (2 CFR 200.414). The Uniform Guidance offers the option of electing to charge a
de Minimis rate of 15 percent of modified total indirect costs (MTDC) which may be used
indefinitely. As described above and in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be charged consistently as
either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If
elected, this methodology must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a
non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which it may do at any time.
Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this NOFO to
renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space; purchase or install fixed equipment
in such space; or plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities.
See NIFA Indirect Costs for information including additional resources and NIFA Indirect Cost
Guidance Chart.
E. Domestic Travel
PD meetings are required during the period of performance as a condition of the award. The
purpose of the meeting will be to discuss projects, opportunities for collaborative efforts, and
enhance dissemination of exemplary end products/results. PD meetings may alternate between
in-person and virtual meetings. In either case, attendance is required. PDs are to budget for in-
person travel for all years that federal funding is requested, and the award remains active. If
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funds are not used in any year due to NIFA hosting a virtual PD meeting, NIFA may allow
rebudgeting of travel funds to a different budgetary category.
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PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS
A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process
NIFA evaluates each application in a two-part process. First, NIFA screens each application to
ensure that it meets the NOFO administrative requirements. All administrative requirements
must be met for the application to proceed to the next level of review. Second, a scientific peer-
review process will be used to technically evaluate applications that have met the
administrative requirements using a review panel (see NIFA Peer Review Process).
Scientific Peer Review Process:
NIFA selects reviewers for the review panel based upon their training and experience in
relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, considering the following factors:
1. The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of
the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant
research, education, or extension activities.
2. The need to include experts from various areas of specialization within relevant
scientific, education, or extension fields.
3. The need to include other experts (e.g., agricultural producers, range or forest
managers/operators, researchers, educators, evaluators, and consumers) who can assess
relevance of the applications to intended audiences and to program needs.
4. The need to include experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges,
universities, industry, state and federal agencies, and private profit and nonprofit
organizations) and geographic locations.
5. The need to maintain a balanced composition with regard to the reviewer’s area of
expertise, geographic area, and entity type, as appropriate.
6. The need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness of each
application to producers and the general public.
A reviewer’s written evaluation entails two levels of assessment. First, the reviewer summarizes
how well the application addressed each evaluation criterion. After the application has been
assessed for strengths and weaknesses of each criterion, the reviewer evaluates the overall
likelihood that the project will have significant outcome and impact. Written reviews are used to
begin panel discussions with other reviewers serving on the peer review panel. Through these
discussions, peer review panelists come to consensus on the final ranking of the applications. A
complete description of NIFA’s peer review process can be found at the NIFA Peer Review
Process for Competitive Grant Applications page.
After each peer review panel has completed its deliberations, the responsible NIFA program
staff will recommend that a project is either approved for support from currently available
funds or declined due to insufficient funds or unfavorable review.
NIFA reserves the right to negotiate with the PD/PI and/or the submitting organization or
institution regarding project revisions (e.g., reductions in the scope of work, funding level,
period, or method of support) prior to recommending any project for funding.
After the review process has been completed, NIFA sends copies of reviews, not including the
identity of reviewers, and a summary (if applicable) of the review panel comments to the PD.
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Conflicts of interest. NIFA takes extreme care to prevent any actual or perceived conflicts of
interest that may influence the review or evaluation (see NIFA Peer Review Process for
Competitive Grant Applications).
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B. SAS Evaluation Criteria
Reviewers will use the most up-to-date version of these criteria for the review of all Integrated
Project Applications found on this webpage AFRI Resources in the file named FY 2026 AFRI
Review Criteria. The Integrated Project Applications review criteria begin in section 4 of
the file.
Center of Excellence (COE) Status
All eligible applicants will be competitively peer reviewed (as described in Part V, A. and B. of
this NOFO) and ranked in accordance with the evaluation criteria. Those that rank highly
meritorious and requested to be considered as a COE will be further evaluated by the peer panel
to determine whether they have met the standards to be COE (Part III D. and Part IV C.). In
instances where they are found to be equally meritorious with the application of a non-center of
excellence, based on peer review, selection for funding will be weighed in favor of applicants
meeting the COE criteria. NIFA will effectively use the COE prioritization as a “tie breaker.”
Applicants that rank highly meritorious but who did not request consideration as a COE or who
are not deemed to have met the COE standards may still receive funding.
In addition, the applicant’s Notice of Award will reflect that, for the grant project, the applicant
meets all the requirements of a COE. Entities recognized as COE will maintain that distinction
for the duration of their award period of performance or as identified in the terms and conditions
of that award.
C. Organizational Management Information
Applicants must submit specific management information prior to the award and update the
information as needed. Applicants may only need to provide an update if there was a change in
previously provided information under this or another NIFA program. NIFA provides the
requisite forms during the pre-award process. Although an applicant may be eligible for award
under this program, there are factors that may exclude an applicant from receiving federal
financial and non-financial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or
suspension of an individual, or a determination that an applicant is not responsible).
D. Application Disposition
Applicants may withdraw at any time before NIFA makes a final funding decision. NIFA will
retain all applications, including withdrawn applications and unfunded applications.
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PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION
A. General
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to responsible
and eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set
forth in this NOFO. The date specified by the NIFA awarding official as the effective date of the
grant must be no later than September 30 of the federal fiscal year in which the project is
approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless otherwise permitted by
law. The project need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as
practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded project period. All funds granted
by NIFA under this NOFO may be used only for the purpose for which they are granted in
accordance with the approved application and budget, regulations, terms and conditions of the
award, applicable federal cost principles, USDA assistance regulations, and NIFA General
Awards Administration Provisions, 7 CFR Part 3430, subparts A through E.
Award Notice. The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information as
described in 2 CFR 200.211 (see NIFA’s Terms and Conditions).
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Several federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications and the projects outlined in
this NOFO (some are listed here: Federal Regulations). Unless specifically noted by statue or
award-specific requirements, NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide applies to all NIFA awards.
C. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements
Output and reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. If there are
any program or award-specific award terms, they will be identified in the Award Notice.
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PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION
A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget
Delegation of fiscal responsibility. Unless the terms and conditions of the award state otherwise,
awardees may not in whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, or
organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of award funds.
Changes in Budget or Project Plans. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.308, awardees must request
prior approval from NIFA for the following program or budget-related reasons (the awardee is
subject to the terms and conditions identified in the award):
1. Change in the scope or the objective of the project or program without prior written
approval (even if there is no associated budget revision required);
2. Change in a key person specified in the application or the Federal award;
3. Disengagement from the project for more than three months, or a 25 percent reduction in
time devoted to the project;
4. Inclusion of costs that require prior approval in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E
(Cost Principles), or 2 CFR Part 300 Appendix IX, (Principles for Determining Costs
Applicable to Research and Development under Awards and Contracts with Hospitals),
or 48 CFR, unless waived by the Federal awarding agency, 48 CFR Part 31, Contract
Cost Principles and Procedures;
5. Transfer of funds budgeted for participant support costs to other categories of expense
(2 CFR 200.456 Participant support costs);
6. Sub-awarding, transferring or contracting out of any work under a Federal award,
including fixed amount sub-awards (see 2 CFR 200.333, Fixed Amount Sub-awards),
unless described in the application and funded in the approved Federal awards. This
provision does not apply to the acquisition of supplies, material, equipment, or general
support services;
7. Changes in the approved cost-sharing or matching provided by the non-Federal entity;
8. The need for additional Federal funds to complete the project;
9. Salary rates of pay exceeding an Executive Level IV salary range (see “Rates of Pay for
the Executive Schedule” under the “Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables”
header at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/) require
prior NIFA approval. This rate does not include any fringe benefits, general and
administrative (G&A), overhead, or other expenses. Requests for approval must include
the salary rate of pay and a justification for the rate and be sent to the Authorized
Departmental Officer (ADO) to awards@usda.gov;
10. No more than 50 percent of the total dollars of this award may be subcontracted to
another party(ies) without prior written approval of the ADO, except subcontracts to
Federal agencies;
11. Transferring funds between the construction and non-construction work under a Federal
award; and
12. A no-cost extension (meaning, an extension of time that does not require the obligation of
additional Federal funds) of the period of performance, other than any one-time extension
authorized by the Federal agency in accordance with paragraph 2 CFR 200.308(g)(2). All
requests for no-cost extensions should be submitted at least 10 calendar days before the
conclusion of the period of performance. The Federal agency may approve multiple no-
cost extensions under a Federal award if not prohibited by Federal statute or regulation.
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B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards
When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of NIFA transaction records, which
are available to the public. Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be
confidential, privileged, or proprietary in nature will be held in confidence to the extent
permitted by law. Therefore, applicants should clearly mark any information within the
application they wish to have considered as confidential, privileged, or proprietary. NIFA will
retain a copy of an application that does not result in an award for three years. Such an
application will be released only with the consent of the applicant or to the extent required by
law. An applicant may withdraw at any time prior to the final action thereon.
C. Regulatory Information
This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with state and local officials. Under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the collection of information
requirements contained in this notice have been approved under OMB Document No. 0524-
0039.
D. Language Access Services
NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information,
free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language
Access Services.
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APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT
AFRI Program Office:
E-mail: AFRI@usda.gov
Specific questions pertaining to technical matters may be directed to the Program Area Priority
Contact(s):
E-mail: AFRI-SAS@usda.gov
For administrative questions related to
1. Grants.gov, see Part IV of this NOFO.
2. Other RFA, other NOFO or application questions, please email
grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov.
3. Awards under this NOFO, please email awards@usda.gov.
U.S. Postal Mailing Address:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-6205
Courier/Package Delivery Address:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
2312 East Bannister Road, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141-3061
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APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Glossary of Terms
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – AFRI
Assistance Listing Number – ALN
Authorized Representative – AR
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 – AREERA
Coordinated Agricultural Project – CAP
Centers of Excellence – COE
Co-Project Director – Co-PD
Data Management Plan – DMP
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research – EPSCoR
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement – FASE
Indirect Costs – IDC
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board –
NAREEEAB
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Teaching and Policy Act of 1977 – NARETPA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA
Notice of Funding Opportunity – NOFO
Project Director – PD
Research, Education, and Economics – REE
Strengthening Agricultural Systems – SAS
Total Federal Funds Awarded – TFFA
United States Department of Agriculture – USDA
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APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS
Refer to 7 CFR 3430 Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance
Programs – General Award Administrative Provisions for additional definitions.
Definitions
Applied Research:
Research that includes expansion of the findings of fundamental research to uncover
practical ways in which new knowledge can be advanced to benefit individuals and
society.
Bioeconomy:
The bioeconomy presents an opportunity to expand and enable new agriculture and forest
markets while also improving the longevity of the broader modern economy. New
biobased technologies and products promise to create new possibilities for product supply
chains, jobs, and economic opportunities.
Co-Project Director (Co-PD):
A Co-PD must be someone who could assume the PD’s responsibilities if the PD steps
out of that role prior to the completion of the project term. Co-PDs on an application are
presumed to be approved by the lead institution. Note that NIFA awards institutions, not
individuals. Co-PDs may be at the same institution or a different institution as the PD.
Team members responsible for achieving specific objectives should be listed as Co-
Investigators. International partners are ineligible to serve as PD or Co-PD and should be
listed as Co-Investigator.
Co-Investigator (CI):
CIs are senior or key personnel, including collaborators or cooperators, who are
responsible for achieving specific project objectives. They have the same status as a Co-
PD in terms of contribution to the project, but they cannot assume the responsibilities of
the PD.
Education Component :
The proposed Education (teaching and teaching-related) component of an Integrated
Project should develop human capital relevant to U.S. agriculture. An education or
teaching activity is formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and practicum
experience in the food and agricultural sciences and other related matters such as faculty
development, student recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional
materials and equipment, and innovative teaching methodologies.
More information is available in the “AFRI Project Types” PDF in the attachments list on
the AFRI Resources page.
More information is available under “AFRI Project Types” in the attachments list in the
AFRI Notice of Funding Opportunities Resources page.
FASE Grants:
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants mean funding awarded to
eligible applicants to strengthen science capabilities of Project Directors, to help
institutions develop competitive scientific programs, and to attract new scientists into
careers in high-priority areas of national need in agriculture and food sciences. FASE
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awards may apply to any of the three agricultural knowledge components (i.e., research,
education, and extension). FASE awards include Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships, New
Investigator grants, and Strengthening grants.
Fundamental Research:
Research that (i) increases knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of
phenomena and has the potential for broad application; and (ii) has an effect on
agriculture, food, or nutrition.
Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Projects:
An Integrated Project includes at least two of the three functions of the agricultural
knowledge system (i.e., research, education, and Extension) within a project. Note: AFRI
SAS requires that Integrated Project applications include all three components of the
agricultural knowledge system. More information is available under “FY 2026 AFRI
Project Types” in the "Related Documents” list on the AFRI Notice of Funding
Opportunities Resources page.
Limited Institutional Success:
Limited institutional success means institutions that are not among the most successful
universities and colleges for receiving federal funds for science and engineering research.
A list of successful institutions is provided in the “Least Successful Institutions FY 26”
PDF in the "Related Documents” list on the AFRI Notice of Funding Opportunities
Resources page.
Local:
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, there is no consensus on a
definition of “local” or “local food systems” in terms of the geographic distance between
production and consumption. Nevertheless, local and regional foods are increasingly
being recognized as an important component to efforts to create more resilient, healthier
food systems. Applicants should define their “local/regional” food system in the
application.
Matching:
The process through which a grant recipient match awarded USDA funds with cash and
in-kind contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The matching funds must derive from
non-federal sources.
New Application:
An application not previously submitted to a program.
Project Director (PD):
They are the principal from a NIFA-funded organization responsible for managing a
grant project. The PD is legally responsible for management, progress, and completion of
the project and for ensuring that project funds are used to accomplish project objectives.
The PD submits reports to NIFA periodically and communicates with the National
Program Leader. Project Director has also been historically known as Principal
Investigator.
Research Component:
The proposed Research component of an integrated project should address knowledge
gaps that are critical to the development of practices and programs to address the stated
problem.
Resubmitted Application:
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A project application that was previously submitted to a program, but the application was
not funded.
Small and Mid-Sized Institutions:
Small and mid-sized institutions are academic institutions with a current total enrollment
of 17,500 or less including graduate and undergraduate and full- and part-time students.
An institution, in this instance, is an organization that possesses a significant degree of
autonomy. A significant degree of autonomy is defined by being independently
accredited as determined by reference to the current version of the Higher Education
Directory, published by Higher Education Publications, Inc., 7245 Arlington Boulevard,
Suite 319, Falls Church, Virginia 22042 (888) 349-7715).
Stakeholder:
Anyone (individual, group, etc.) who has an interest in or potential influence on the
success of a project. In the context of NIFA integrated projects, stakeholders can be
viewed as those impacted by the work that is being proposed.
Strengthening Grants:
Funds awarded to institutions eligible for FASE Grants to enhance institutional capacity,
with the goal of leading to future funding in the project area, as well as strengthening the
competitiveness of the investigator’s research, education, and/or Extension activities.
Strengthening grants consist of Standard, Coordinated Agricultural Project and
Conference Grant types as well as Seed Grants, Equipment Grants, and Sabbatical
Grants.
Transdisciplinary Approach:
Transdisciplinary approaches intentionally integrate knowledge from different scientific
disciplines with relevant stakeholders and community members to address societal
challenges. The development of transdisciplinary approaches engages a team composed
of investigators from multiple disciplines that cross boundaries using holistic approaches
to address complex challenges that cannot be solved using single-disciplinary
approaches.
USDA EPSCoR States:
USDA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research EPSCoR States mean
States which have been less successful in receiving funding from AFRI, having a funding
level no higher than the 38th percentile of all states based on a three-year average of
AFRI funding levels, excluding FASE Strengthening funds. The most recent list of
USDA EPSCoR States is provided under “FY 2026 AFRI Grant Types” PDF in the
"Related Documents” list on the AFRI Notice of Funding Opportunities Resources page.
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APPENDIX IV: OTHER AFRI RESOURCES
AFRI program information is available on the NIFA AFRI website. The following are among
the materials available:
1. Notices of Funding Opportunities
2. AFRI Annual Review
3. Frequently Asked Questions
4. Interagency Programs
5. AFRI Resources
a. Most Successful Universities and Colleges. Any institution listed on this list, Most
Successful Universities and Colleges Receiving Federals Funds, is not eligible for
Strengthening Grants from the FASE program unless they are in an EPSCoR state.
See “Most Successful Institutions FY 26” in the "Related Documents” list on the
AFRI Resources page.
b. Lowest One Third of Universities and Colleges Receiving Federal Funds. The
lowest one third of universities and colleges receiving federal funds is used to
determine eligibility for possible waiver of matching funds requirement for
Equipment Grants (see “Least Successful Institutions FY 26” in the "Related
Documents” list) on the AFRI Resources page.
c. Flow Chart for Strengthening Grant Eligibility. The Flow Chart for Strengthening
Grant Eligibility will help to determine your eligibility to apply for strengthening
grants (see “Strengthening Grant Eligibility Decision Tree” in the "Related
Documents” list) on the AFRI Resources page.
6. AFRI Deadlines
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