Veterinary Services Grant Program

FY26 Veterinary Services Grant Program MOD1

Notice of Funding Opportunity
Veterinary Services Grant Program
MODIFICATIONS: 2/20/2026 – This NOFO has been modified from the original
announcement. Edits are indicated using red font so the public/potential applicants can identify
the changes within the solicitation.
Edits appear on pages: 1, 3, 7, 9, and 10
FUNDING YEAR: Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 16, 2026
ANTICIPATED PROGRAM FUNDING: $11,309,708
AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL AWARD $75,000-$300,000
RANGE:
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: USDA-NIFA-VSGP-011778
ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 10.336
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ANNOUNCEMENT
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
VETERINARY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM (VSGP)
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): The VSGP is listed in the Assistance Listings under the
number 10.336.
Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines
Task Description Deadlines
Application: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time, April 16, 2026
SAM/UEI Register for a SAM UEI number no later than five weeks before
application deadline.
Applicants’ Within six months from the issuance of this notice
Comments: (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;
• expanding and developing domestic markets;
• training the next generation of agriculturalists; and
• supporting production of healthy and safe food for consumers;
• 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.
Stakeholder Input. NIFA seeks comments on all Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) so it
can deliver programs efficiently, effectively, with integrity, and focused on customer 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 Veterinary Services
Grant Program NOFO.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The amount available for grants in FY 2026 is approximately $11,309,708.
NIFA requests applications for the VSGP for FY 2026 to develop, implement and sustain food
and large animal veterinary services and relieve veterinary shortage situations in the United
States and U.S. Insular Areas. The goals of the VSGP are to fund U.S. American Veterinary
Medical Association (AVMA) – accredited schools and organizations in education, extension,
and training (EET) for food animal veterinary medicine, and to fund rural practice enhancement
(RPE) for veterinary clinics that provide services in veterinary shortage situations.
This notice identifies the objectives for VSGP projects, deadlines, funding information,
eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and application forms and associated instructions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANNOUNCEMENT .................................................................................................................. 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... 4
TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION ......................................................................................... 5
PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ........................................................ 6
A. Legislative Authority ........................................................................................................................................ 6
B. Purpose and Priorities ....................................................................................................................................... 6
C. Program Area Descriptions .............................................................................................................................. 7
PART II. AWARD INFORMATION .................................................................................... 10
A. Available Funding .......................................................................................................................................... 10
B. Application Restrictions ................................................................................................................................. 10
C. Project and Grant Types ................................................................................................................................. 10
D. Ethical Conduct of Funded Projects ............................................................................................................... 10
PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION ......................................................................... 11
A. Eligibility Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 11
B. Cost Sharing or Matching ............................................................................................................................... 12
PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION ................................................................. 13
A. Method of Application ................................................................................................................................... 13
B. Content and Form of the EET Application ..................................................................................................... 14
C. Content and Form of the RPE Application ..................................................................................................... 19
D. Funding Restrictions for EET and RPE Program Areas ................................................................................. 26
PART V. APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS ................................................... 28
A. NIFA’s Evaluation Process ............................................................................................................................ 28
B. Evaluation Criteria .......................................................................................................................................... 28
C. Organizational Management Information ....................................................................................................... 31
D. Application Disposition .................................................................................................................................. 31
PART VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................ 32
A. General ........................................................................................................................................................... 32
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements......................................................................................... 32
PART VII. OTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................. 33
A. Use of Funds and Changes in Budget ............................................................................................................. 33
B. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards ......................................................................................... 34
C. Regulatory Information .................................................................................................................................. 34
D. Language Access Services .............................................................................................................................. 34
APPENDIX I: AGENCY CONTACT .................................................................................... 35
APPENDIX II: GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................. 36
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APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................ 37
TABLE OF KEY INFORMATION
Table 1: Key Dates and Deadlines .................................................................................................. 2
Table 2: VSGP-EET Key Information ............................................................................................ 9
Table 3: VSGP-RPE Key Information ............................................................................................ 9
Table 4: Steps to Obtain Application Materials ............................................................................ 13
Table 5: Help and Resources ........................................................................................................ 14
Table 6: Key EET Application Instructions .................................................................................. 14
Table 7: EET Project Narrative ..................................................................................................... 17
Table 8: Program Names and Codes ............................................................................................. 19
Table 9: Key RPE Application Instructions .................................................................................. 20
Table 10: RPE Project Narrative ................................................................................................... 24
Table 11: Program Names and Codes ........................................................................................... 26
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PART I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION
A. Legislative Authority
The VSGP, authorized under 7 U.S.C. 3151b, allows the Secretary of Agriculture to make
competitive grants to qualified entities that carry out programs to mitigate food and large animal
veterinarian shortages. Program areas include developing, implementing, and sustaining
food/large animal veterinary services, and implementation of education, extension and training
programs for the food animal veterinary workforce.
B. Purpose and Priorities
Veterinarians play significant roles in assuring food and fiber animal health, food safety and
security, public health, and producer profitability, especially in rural areas of the United States
where most livestock production occurs. The VSGP, Assistance Listing 10.336, and its
companion Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), authorized by the
National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA), were established to address concerns that
long-term uneven distributions in the veterinary workforce have left some rural communities
with insufficient access to food/large animal veterinary services. The objectives of the VSGP are
to develop, implement, and sustain food animal veterinary services and relieve veterinarian
shortage situations in the United States, which includes Insular Areas (see Appendix III of this
NOFO for a definition of “Insular Area”), and to provide education, extension, and training
programs for the food animal veterinary workforce.
It has been widely acknowledged that several factors contribute to the uneven distribution of
veterinarians serving the agricultural sector. The purpose of the VSGP is to improve and expand
animal health care delivery in the rural United States, leading to improved economics for
producers and better protection against incursions of transboundary animal diseases, as well as
enhanced food security for the nation.
The VSGP aims to address veterinary shortages through two program areas:
1. The Education, Extension, and Training (EET) program area supports initiatives that will
enable veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technicians, and veterinary
technician students to gain specialized skills through formal coursework, clinical training,
and practice enhancement to mitigate veterinary service shortages more effectively in the
United States and Insular Areas.
2. The Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) program area ultimately bolsters the capacity of
private clinics (with or without a veterinarian’s student loan repayment obligation) that
can provide food/large animal veterinary services for designated veterinarian shortage
areas.
Educational activities, including those in RPE program area grants as requested in the shortage
nomination form, should include broad types of learning and engagement (e.g., hands-on
learning, experiential, and innovative methods of teaching and disseminating information),
emphasize leadership and development of interpersonal and team skills, and include virtual
options, as appropriate.
Refer to APPENDIX III: DEFINITIONS for definitions of “Educational activity” and
“Extension activity.”
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Additional requirements on expected performance goals, indicators and targets may be required
as a condition of award.
C. Program Area Descriptions
NIFA is soliciting applications under the following program areas: 1) VSGP - Education,
Extension, and Training (EET), and 2) VSGP - Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE)
1. Education, Extension, and Training (EET) Program Area
a. The purpose of the proposed EET activities must substantially relieve veterinary
shortage situations or facilitate or support veterinary practices engaged in food animal
clinical and veterinary public health activities in the United States and Insular Areas.
b. The EET program area supports the following types of formal coursework, clinical
training, and practice enhancement activities:
i. To allow veterinary students, veterinary interns, externs, residents, and
veterinary technician students to cover expenses (other than the types of
expenses described in the Rural Practice Enhancement program area) of
attending training programs in food safety, or food animal medicine.
ii. To modify a course(s) of accredited veterinary education programs that
includes, but is not limited to, updating course materials for in-person or remote
learning, faculty recruitment, and retention.
iii. To support training of veterinary residents, interns and externships carried out
in coordination with accredited colleges of veterinary medicine.
iv. To provide continuing education and extension, including virtual and other
formats for distance-based education, for veterinarians, veterinary technicians,
and other health professionals needed to strengthen veterinary programs and
enhance food safety.
v. To expose students in grades 11 and 12 to education and career opportunities in
food animal medicine.
c. Grants last a minimum of three years.
d. In FY 2026, proposals to develop new degree or curriculum programs must address
the sustainability of the new program beyond the period of the award.
e. Examples of types of EET activities may include development and implementation
of:
i. Traditional or non-traditional learning opportunities.
ii. Nondegree educational training programs.
iii. Courses associated with existing degree programs.
iv. Continuing education.
f. Applications to support graduate programs with a primary focus on research are not
encouraged.
g. In FY 2026, the EET focus will be placed on programs that direct activities toward
one or more of the following groups:
i. Veterinary students enrolled in an AVMA accredited veterinary degree program
and veterinary technician students.
ii. Veterinarians, veterinary interns, externs, fellows, residents, and veterinary
technicians.
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iii. Students in grades 11 and 12 seeking exposure to education and career
opportunities in food animal medicine.
h. EET proposals should emphasize educational content that enhances learning in one or
more of the following:
i. Veterinary practice enhancement techniques and strategies that benefit the
health of agricultural animals.
ii. Best practices for delivering quality food and agricultural animal veterinary
services in rural areas.
iii. Veterinary approaches to foster food safety, epidemiology, or veterinary public
health.
iv. Practice management and skills in business planning and development.
v. Career opportunities in food animal medicine.
i. Collaboration: EET applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other qualified
entities and to be creative and innovative in their approach.
2. Rural Practice Enhancement (RPE) Program Area
a. The RPE program area supports the development and provision of veterinary services
to substantially relieve designated rural (as defined in Part I, B.) veterinary shortage
situations in the United States and Insular Areas and support education or extension
needs specified in shortage area nominations.
b. RPE funds may be used for one or more of the following, with adequate justification
of how they will be used to support services to the shortage area:
i. To equip veterinary offices.
ii. To purchase clinical equipment for the support of ambulatory services or haul-
in facilities.
iii. To support direct costs such as, but not limited to, salary and fringe benefits
for veterinarian(s), support personnel, office rent, vehicle fuel supporting
ambulatory services, maintenance contracts on equipment used to treat food
animals, expendable medical and office supplies, computer software, utility
expenses, and business consultant fees. These costs must be limited to no more
than 50 percent of the budget.
iv. To establish mobile veterinary units, which may include, but are not limited to,
a vehicle equipped to provide mobile veterinary services, mobile restraint
devices, veterinary truck inserts, point of care testing equipment, etc.
v. To support the exposure of students in grades 11 and 12 to education and
career opportunities in food/large animal medicine and herd health
management.
c. RPE program area limitations and guidance are the following:
i. An applicant may apply to only one currently designated veterinary shortage
area in a given application year.
ii. One award is allowed per currently designated veterinary shortage area each
year.
iii. One award is allowed per applicant and clinic.
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iv. A clinic that has received an RPE award can apply for a new RPE award
following the final end date of their previous award (this includes any no cost
extensions).
v. A clinic must apply to a currently designated veterinary shortage area unless
there is an active VMLRP awardee employed by the clinic for the duration of
the award.
vi. Awardees are expected to cover requested services described in the shortage
area nomination regardless of the number of hours per week. The percentage
full-time equivalent (FTE) specified in the shortage situation form (which can
be found for each shortage here) does not apply to VSGP.
Table 2: VSGP-EET Key Information
Title Description
Program Code: VSGPE
Program Code Name: VSGP Education
ALN Number 10.336
Project Type: Education, Extension and Training
Grant Type: Regular
Application Deadlines: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time April 16, 2026
Grant Duration: 36 Months
Anticipated # of Awards: Approximately 22
Maximum Award Amount: $300,000
Table 3: VSGP-RPE Key Information
Title Description
Program Code: VSGPR
Program Code Name: VSGP Rural Practice Enhancement
ALN Number 10.336
Project Type: Rural Practice Enhancement
Grant Type: Regular
Application Deadlines: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time April 16, 2026
Grant Duration: 36 Months
Anticipated # of Awards: Approximately 22
Maximum Award Amount: $200,000
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PART II. AWARD INFORMATION
A. Available Funding
The amount available for VSGP in FY2026 is approximately $11,309,708.
USDA is not committed to funding any particular application or to make a specific number of
awards. The Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), 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.
Applications for FY 2026 are limited to the following 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 the response to the
previous review panel summary and are subject to the same criteria and due dates.
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
Funding will be awarded as a standard grant type.
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 Responsible and Ethical Conduct of
Research for further information.
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PART III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
A. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the VSGP must meet all the requirements cited 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.
Applications may only be submitted by the entities listed below if they plan to carry out
programs or activities that will: 1) substantially relieve veterinary shortage situations; 2) support
or facilitate private veterinary practices engaged in the care of food animals; and 3) address food
safety and agricultural animal health concerns.
Eligible Applicants for EET
1. State, regional, or national organizations supporting food animal veterinary programs.
2. Allied or professional food animal veterinary organizations recognized by the American
Veterinary Medical Association.
3. Colleges or schools of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary
Medical Association.
4. University research foundations or veterinary medical foundations.
5. Departments of veterinary science or departments of comparative medicine accredited by
the U.S. Department of Education.
6. State agricultural experiment stations or Research Farms (1890 institutions).
7. State, local, or tribal government agencies.
Eligible Applicants for RPE
1. For-profit or nonprofit entities located in the United States or an Insular Area, such as
veterinary clinics or hospitals, that provide mixed, food or large animal veterinary
services in a rural area, as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) within a current VMLRP shortage area. FY2026
veterinary shortage situation areas are found here.
a. Shortage situations must qualify as rural (as defined in Section 343(a) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
b. VMLRP Type II shortage situations are rural and therefore qualify.
c. For VMLRP Type I shortage situations, use the USDA Rural Development’s
Business Program’s Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) map to
assess “rural” eligibility. Instructions for accessing the map can be found here.
(Select Rural Business at top, then the link for RCDI, accept the disclaimer and
zoom into the area of interest.)
2. Clinics or hospitals that employ a current VMLRP awardee with a current service
agreement at the time of the application with reference to the single shortage area to
which they are obligated to serve. If awarded, the clinic will be obligated to retain that
VMLRP awardee for the 36-month duration of the VSGP-RPE award or forfeit the
awarded funds (with proration for time served) upon their departure.
3. RPE awards are made to clinics, not individuals. Therefore, only a clinic (even if a solo
practitioner), may apply for and be awarded an RPE grant.
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Duplicate or Multiple Submissions
For RPE, duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. NIFA will disqualify both
applications if an RPE applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.
For EET, multiple submissions are allowed by different departments of eligible institutions.
However, only one award will be granted per institution per year. 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.
Multiple Awards
For those that have received a RPE award, a clinic can apply for a new VSGP-RPE award
following the final end date of the previous award (including any no cost extensions).
For EET, an institution may have multiple awards that were granted from different years from
different departments and different Project Directors.
USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted
for due dates after June 20, 2025, and/or research and development (R&D) contract proposals
submitted to solicitations issued after June 20, 2025, for dangerous gain-of-function research, as
defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
No Match Required - The VSGP has NO matching requirement. NIFA will not factor matching
resources into the review process as an evaluation criterion.
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PART IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION
A. 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 4 provides instructions on how to obtain an electronic application. 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: New Users to Grants.gov must register at least five weeks before the
Register application deadline with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application
(Grants 101. (Register Here). For RPE applicants, as a requirement for
the application process, it is strongly recommended to complete the
registration or renewal of Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the
System for Award Management (SAM) at least five weeks in advance to
the VSGP application deadline. There is no fee associated with receiving
a UEI number through SAM.
Step Two: Download and Install Adobe Reader (see Adobe Software Compatibility
Download Adobe for basic system requirements)
Step Three: Find Using the funding opportunity number USDA-NIFA-VSGP-011778,
Application locate for the application here: Opportunity Package.
Step Four: Assess For EET, contact an Authorized Representative (AR) prior to starting an
Readiness application to assess the organization’s readiness to submit an electronic
application by the deadline.
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Table 5: Help and Resources
Grants.gov Support NIFA Support
Grants.gov Online Support Email:
Telephone support: 800-518-4726 grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
Toll-Free or 606-545-5035
Business hours: Monday thru
Email support: support@grants.gov Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, except
Self-service customer-based online support: Grants.gov Federal holidays
iPortal
Customer service business Hours 24/7, except Federal
holidays.
B. Content and Form of the EET 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 other key instructions for
applicants.
Table 6: Key EET Application Instructions
Instruction References
(All references are to the NIFA
Grants Application Guide)
Attachments must be in a portable document format Part IV
(PDF) format.
Check the manifest of submitted files to verify Part IV
attachments are in the correct format.
Conduct an administrative review of the application Part IV
before submission.
Follow the submission instructions. Part IV
Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on Part V
the SF-424 R&R.
Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support N/A
and keep a record of the correspondence.
Contact NIFA at VSGP@usda.gov if applicant does not N/A
receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an
application within 30 days of the application deadline.
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SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. Fill in all areas of the SF 424 R&R cover sheet as it relates to your
application. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and
assurances.
SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). Fill in all areas of the SF 424 R&R
project/performance site location(s) as it relates to your application. See Part V of the NIFA
Grants Application Guide
R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
1. Field 7. Project Summary/Abstract. The project summary must show how the goals of
the proposal align with the purpose of VSGP. See Part V of the NIFA Grants
Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. The project summary must
be submitted as a PDF document and the following items must be included in the
summary:
a. Project Title.
b. Project Director and any Co-Project Director(s): Include institutional affiliation for
each.
c. Total Funds Requested.
d. Collaborators, if applicable.
e. Summary/Abstract Text: Concise (250 words or less) overview of problem(s) being
addressed, objectives, approach and relevance to the purpose and goals of VSGP.
Before submitting an application, the applicant must review the summary/abstract
attachment to ensure compliance with the specified word limit and PDF format. Any
summary text exceeding 250 words will not be reviewed.
2. Field 8. Project Narrative for EET applications. The project narrative must not
exceed 12, 1.5 spaced, pages of written text and up to three, 1.5 spaced, additional pages
for figures and tables (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11-point Times
New Roman). The page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. Appendices to the
project narrative are allowed if they are directly relevant to the proposed project. Do not
add appendices to circumvent the page limit.
See Part V of NIFA Grants Application Guide for further instructions. Use the Project
Narrative subheadings in this NOFO rather than the template in the guide.
NOTE: The Project Narrative of each successful application will be published by USDA
and, therefore, should not contain proprietary or private information.
The EET Project Narrative must include the following:
a. Problem Identification and Significance: Clearly state the specific problem to be
addressed and its importance to relieving veterinary shortage situations.
b. Background: Include a clear statement of the long-term goal(s) and supporting
objectives of the proposed activities. Summarize the body of knowledge or other past
activities that substantiate the need for the proposed project. Describe ongoing or
recently completed significant activities that relate to the proposed project including
the work of key project personnel. Include preliminary data/information pertinent to
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the proposed project. In addition, this section should include in-depth information on
the following, when applicable:
i. Estimates of the magnitude of the issues to be addressed and their relevance to
livestock producers and other stakeholders, and to ongoing local community,
state, and Federal food and agricultural education and extension programs or
needs.
ii. The role of public and private stakeholders in problem identification, planning,
implementation, and evaluation as appropriate.
iii. Reasons for the work being done by the proposed entity(ies).
c. Objectives: All applications must include a statement(s) of specific aims of the
proposed effort in clear, concise, complete, and logically arranged terms.
d. Methods: Explicitly state the procedures or methodology you will apply to the
proposed effort. This section should include, but not necessarily be limited to,
descriptions of:
i. Stakeholder involvement in problem identification, planning,
implementation, and evaluation (if working with 11th and 12th grade
students, the secondary school(s) and/or school district(s) should be
included).
ii. If applicable, plans for coordination and/collaboration with other qualified
entities and their roles and responsibilities (see item f. Management and
Collaboration Plan below).
iii. Proposed project activities listed sequentially.
iv. Techniques to be employed in this project, including their feasibility and
rationale.
v. Plans to communicate results to stakeholders and the public.
vi. Pitfalls that might be encountered; and
vii. Limitations to proposed procedures.
e. Project Evaluation Plan: The Project Narrative must include a formal project
evaluation plan to document the anticipated reach and impact(s) of each educational
activity. These plans should be participant-centered and implemented during the term
of the project.
Explicitly state the outputs and outcomes expected from the proposed project. Explain
the data gathering procedures (qualitative and/or quantitative) that will be used to
monitor and assess progress toward intended project outcomes. When describing the
measurement instruments you plan to use (surveys, interviews, focus groups,
measures of class performance, cost-benefit analyses, etc.), be sure to mention why
they are appropriate to gauging success. Project evaluation plans must contain
baseline data when available or describe how baseline data will be obtained for
monitoring outcomes. A plan for tracking students/trainees after graduation and/or to
assess the communities they will be serving to measure impact your project has on
addressing shortage situations should be described. Finally, the Project Evaluation
Plan should contain measures of the following:
i. Student/trainee learning or engagement.
ii. The number of students/trainees/teachers impacted by the project as a
result of the proposed activities.
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iii. The number of students/trainees serving or planning to serve veterinary
shortage situations.
iv. Return on investment i.e., the trainee’s impacts relieving veterinary
shortage situations.
f. Management and Collaboration Plan: Applicants are encouraged to use
approximately two of the 12 pages for this section. It is critical to have a clearly
articulated management and collaboration plan that describes the roles and functions
of all key personnel and, where applicable, partners, collaborators, and organizations,
as related to the proposed project. For projects proposing coordination between two
or more entities, include: time allocated by each partner for attainment of objectives,
key roles of each partner and collaborator, and plan for administration of the proposed
project and its maintenance and partnerships. Describe the plans for coordination,
communication, data sharing and reporting among members of the project team and
stakeholder groups. Describe the commitment of the organization and partners to this
project and how the collaboration and its impact will be sustained beyond the period
of the award. An applicant’s failure to provide the requested information in the
Management and Collaboration Plan may preclude NIFA from making an award. In
addition, letters of commitment signed by the Authorized Representative (AR) of the
partnering organizations demonstrating that the partners involved have agreed to
abide by the Management Plan should be provided (see “Other Attachments” below).
g. Project Timetable: The proposal should outline all important phases and major
milestones as a function of time, year by year, for the entire project, including periods
beyond the grant funding period.
The following Table summarizes the section of the Project Narrative for EET applications,
suggests an approximate number of pages to allocate to each section, and shows the evaluation
criteria most relevant to each section:
Table 7: EET Project Narrative
Narrative Section Suggested Related Evaluation
# of Pages Criteria (see Part
V, B. of this
NOFO)
Problem Identification and Significance 1 Relevancy
Background 1.5 Relevancy; Expertise,
Experience, and
Institutional Resources
Objectives 1 Relevancy; Technical Merit
Methods 4 Technical Merit;
Collaborations;
Achievability
Project Evaluation Plan 2 Technical Merit
Management and Collaboration Plan 2 Achievability; Expertise,
Experience, and
Institutional Resources
Project Timetable 0.5 Achievability
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Figures and Tables (optional) 3 Must be relevant to proposed
project; extended narrative in
these 3 pages will be rejected
3. Field 12, Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
Other attachments may include the following documents.
A. Resubmitted applications for EET. If you submitted this same or a similar
application in the past and it was declined for an award you must submit a response
to the previous review and must check box number 8 “resubmission” on the SF 424.
The response to previous review must not exceed one, 1.5 spaced, page titled:
“RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS REVIEW” and saved as:
“ResponsetoPreviousReview.” This is a response to the stated weaknesses and should
include how you made adjustments based on the previous panel’s summary of your
proposal. If desired, additional comments may be included in the text of the Project
Narrative subject to the page limitations of that section. The response to previous
review must be saved as a PDF and uploaded as an additional document.
B. Commitment Letters as PDF attachment(s). There is no page limit for these. For
projects proposing partnering, collaboration or coordination, letters of commitment
are required from all participating parties (signed by the AR of the collaborating
organization) stating that the collaborators involved have agreed to their stated roles
in the project and have agreed to abide by the Management and Collaboration Plan.
Letters from other organizations or people whose participation is important to the
success of the project, committing those collaborators to specific roles, are also
encouraged. Title the attachment(s) as ‘Letter of Commitment – Organization Name’
in the document header and save file as ‘Letter of Commitment _ Organization
Name’. Other more general letters of support (i.e., from those who are not committing
to a specific role in the project) are not needed and should not be included.
R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded). Fill in all required fields as they apply to your
grant application. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for profile requirements,
details about the biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.
R&R Personal Data. This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part
V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
R&R Budget. Grants.gov helpdesk Fill in all areas of the R&R budget sheet as they relate to
your grant. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
Budget Justification. The budget justification must not exceed five, 1.5 spaced pages of written
text, pictures, and numbers (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11-point, Times
New Roman). The page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. The budget justification
should include a brief description of how funds will be used for specific activities or equipment.
Indirect costs (IDC) – See Part IV C of this NOFO for funding restrictions regarding indirect
costs, USDA NIFA Policy on Indirect Costs, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
for additional information.
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Data Management Plan. A data management plan is required for this program. The data should
support the anticipated results and reporting of outcomes. Applicants should clearly articulate
how the Project Director (PD) and co-PDs plan to manage and disseminate the data generated by
the project. The data management plan will be considered during the merit review process (see
Part V, B of this NOFO, and Part V.320 of the NIFA Grants Application Guide and NIFA’s
Data Management Plan). If you need help in preparing a data management plan or have
questions about what constitutes a data management plan for this program (including questions
about data privacy, etc.), please contact the NIFA program contacts listed at the end of this
NOFO. NIFA conducts a technical assistance webinar associated with this NOFO each year and
provides information related to resources that will assist with this task.
The data management plan can be one paragraph and must be no longer than one page. The data
management plan must be attached as a PDF with your application materials.
The data management plan must include a description of:
1. Expected data type: Examples are the number of students and trainees who enrolled
and participated, course enhancements, training products, outreach materials, number
of stakeholders reached, number of activities, and assessment questionnaires.
2. Data format: The selected data format is at the discretion of the PD.
3. Data storage and preservation: Data must be stored in a secure environment with
adequate measures taken for the length of the program and three years after the grant
end date. Applicants must describe plans for storing and preserving their data during
and after the project. Include any strategies, tools, and contingency plans that will be
used to avoid data loss, degradation, or damage.
4. Data sharing, protection, and public access: Include a statement, when applicable,
of plans to protect confidentiality, personal privacy, proprietary interests, business
confidential information, and intellectual property rights.
5. Roles and responsibilities: State who will implement the data management plan.
Supplemental Information Form. See Part V.300 of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the program name
according to Tables 8 and 11 below. Accurate entry is critical.
Table 8: Program Names and Codes
Program Name Code to enter
VSGP EET VSGPE
VSGP RPE VSGPR
2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part V.300 of the NIFA Grants Application
Guide
C. Content and Form of the RPE 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
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proposal number when corresponding with NIFA. Table 9 outlines other key instructions for
applicants.
Table 9: Key RPE Application Instructions
Instruction References
(All references are to the NIFA
Grants Application Guide)
Attachments must be in a portable document format Part IV
(PDF) format.
Check the manifest of submitted files to verify Part IV
attachments are in the correct format.
Conduct an administrative review of the application Part IV
before submission.
Follow the submission instructions. Part IV
Provide an accurate email address, where designated, on Part V
the SF-424 R&R.
Contact the Grants.gov helpdesk for technical support N/A
and keep a record of the correspondence.
Contact NIFA at VSGP@usda.gov if applicant does not N/A
receive correspondence from NIFA regarding an
application within 30 days of the application deadline.
SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet. Fill in all areas of the SF 424 R&R cover sheet as it relates to your
application. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for the required certifications and
assurances.
SF 424 R&R Project/Performance Site Location(s). Fill in all areas of the SF 424 R&R
project/performance site location(s) as it relates to your application. See Part V of the NIFA
Grants Application Guide.
R&R Other Project Information Form. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
1. Field 7. Project Summary /Abstract. The project summary must show how the goals of
the proposal align with the purpose of VSGP. See Part V of the NIFA Grants
Application Guide for instructions and suggested templates. The project summary must
be submitted as a PDF document and the following items must be included in the
summary:
a. Project Title: A single shortage area must be included in the proposal title. This will
be the shortage ID code, name of the clinic, and a short description, for example,
DE211_Cherry Creek Clinic: Serving Rural Dairy Producers.
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b. Project Director and any Co-Project Director(s): the person responsible for managing
award funds, typically the applying veterinarian or veterinary practice owner, should
be included here.
c. Total Funds Requested.
d. Summary/Abstract Text: Concise (250 words or less) overview of problem(s) being
addressed, objectives, approach and relevance to the purpose and goals of VSGP.
Before submitting an application, the applicant must review the summary/abstract
attachment to ensure compliance with the specified word limit, PDF format, and shortage
ID code. All summary text exceeding 250 words will not be reviewed.
2. Field 8. Project Narrative for RPE applications. The Project Narrative must not
exceed 7, 1.5 spaced, pages of written text and up to two, 1.5 spaced, additional pages for
figures and tables (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11-point, Times New
Roman). The page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. Appendices to the Project
Narrative are allowed if they are directly related to the proposed project. Use Table 10 as
a guideline for organizing the Project Narrative. Applications will be evaluated based
upon what is included in this section. Do not add appendices to circumvent the page
limit.
Any educational or extension activities must be described in the Project Narrative section
and may include experiential learning opportunities for veterinary or veterinary
technician students, interns, or externs; courses, seminars, lectures or other events for
producer groups, the public, community organizations or academic institutions; or
participation in emergency preparedness events.
RPE applicants may only apply to serve one veterinary shortage situation area (see below
and Veterinary Shortage Situation Map). It is imperative that applicants make a
compelling case in their Project Narrative describing how the equipment, mobile
facilities, personnel, or other resources supported by the grant will contribute
substantially toward the objectives and/or mitigation of the veterinary service needs
described in the specific shortage situation area they are applying to serve.
See Part V of NIFA Grants Application Guide for further instructions. Use the Project
Narrative subheadings in this NOFO rather than the template in the guide.
NOTE: The Project Narrative of each successful application will be published by USDA
and, therefore, should not contain proprietary or private information.
The RPE project narrative must include the following:
a. Problem Identification: Clearly state the perceived problem(s) occurring in the
veterinary shortage situation you are applying to serve as stated by the State Animal
Health Officials (SAHO) or from your professional knowledge. (Note that veterinary
shortage situation nominations clearly state the specific problems and needs on pages
2 and 3 of the shortage nomination form).
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b. Introduction and background: Describe the scope of the clinic’s current practice (#
of clients, # of farms, # of herds, # of farm calls weekly, monthly, and yearly, how it
is equipped, etc.). State why the clinic is professionally, geographically, and
functionally poised to effectively relieve the veterinary shortage area to which the
clinic is applying to serve. Provide supporting information that substantiates the need
for the proposed resources.
c. Objectives: Include a clear statement of the goal(s) and supporting objectives of the
proposed services. All applications must include a statement(s) of overarching aims,
and goals and corresponding specific objectives of the proposed effort in clear,
concise, complete, and logically arranged terms. For example, describe what is
expected to be accomplished in each of the three years of the grant project period.
Objectives should focus on the project period and may also consider any potential
long-term impacts beyond the period of funding.
d. Approach: The proposed services should match the needs specified in the shortage
nomination form. Explicitly describe the strategies, tactics and/or business plan you
will employ, using the resources specifically acquired through support from this
grant, to achieve stated goals and objectives. Where applicable, this section may
include, but not necessarily be limited to, descriptions of:
i. Planned stakeholder/client involvement in veterinary service
prioritization, planning, implementation, and evaluation; include a
description of the relationships with local community leaders and
producers in identifying best strategies to mitigate veterinary service
shortages, and most effective methods of evaluating and effectiveness
of strategies employed.
ii. Describe proposed activities over the three-year grant period.
iii. Justification of expense for equipment and its clinical use, tracking
number of clients, farms, or number of animals that the new equipment
will provide enhancement of services.
iv. Business or veterinary services (including consultants) to be
employed, including feasibility and rationale.
v. Education or extension activities that will be offered including the
amount of time that will be devoted to these activities.
vi. Methods used to collect, analyze, and interpret evaluation/impact data.
vii. Plans to communicate increased/ enhanced services to clients in the
veterinary shortage situation area.
viii. Plans to communicate results to stakeholders and the public.
ix. Pitfalls that might be encountered; and
x. Limitations to proposed activities.
e. Anticipated Results
Estimate the magnitude of the impact of the proposed practice enhancements on local
livestock, livestock operators, and local economic vitality and to ongoing state-
Federal interests including health of animal populations, food safety, food security,
and public health. For example, describe how the funds will help you serve more
clients. These estimates should be supported by appropriate metrics (e.g., percent
increase in clientele base or service radius; increase in number of livestock served;
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decreased rates of morbidity or mortality, or other measures of animal health and
productivity; number of community outreach events presented and number of
attendees; projected impact on clientele profits and/or sustainability; projected return
on investment from equipment purchased or staff supported).
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f. Project Timetable
The proposal should outline important phases and major milestones as a function of
time, year by year, for the entire project, including periods beyond the grant funding
period. Timetable must meet the minimum three years.
The following table summarizes the sections of the project narrative for RPE applications,
suggests an approximate number of pages to allocate to each section, and shows the evaluation
criteria most relevant to each section:
Table 10: RPE Project Narrative
Narrative Section Suggested Related Evaluation
# of Pages Criteria (see Part
V, B. of this
NOFO)
Problem Identification 0.5 Technical Merit
Introduction and Background 1 Expertise and
Experience; Technical
Merit
Objectives 1 Technical Merit
Approach 3 Technical Merit
Anticipated Results 1 Technical Merit
Project Timeline 0.5 Technical Merit
Figures and Tables (optional) 2 Must be relevant to proposed
project; extended narrative in
these 2 pages will be rejected
3. Field 12, Add Other Attachments. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide.
Other attachments must include the following documents.
A. Resubmitted applications for RPE. If you submitted this same or a similar
application in the past and it was declined for an award you are required to submit a
response to the previous review and must check box number 8 “resubmission” on the
SF 424. The response to previous review must not exceed one, 1.5 spaced, page
titled: “RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS REVIEW” and saved as:
“ResponsetoPreviousReview.” This is a response to the stated weaknesses and should
include how you made adjustments based on the previous panel’s summary of your
proposal. If desired, additional comments may be included in the text of the Project
Narrative subject to the page limitations of that section. The response to previous
review must be saved as a PDF and uploaded as an additional document.
B. Shortage area information must be submitted as a pdf for the veterinary shortage
situation you wish to serve as an additional attachment. To do this, review the
Veterinary Shortage Situation Map for the correct Federal fiscal year you are
applying. Once the detailed information is viewable select the print option to either
save as a pdf or print. You will upload the veterinary shortage situation information
as a PDF attachment with your application materials.
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C. All RPE applicants must submit a map that clearly identifies the location of the
practice, the service area of the practice, and the counties of service identified on the
veterinary shortage situation nomination form. The map must be submitted as a PDF.
Two example maps are provided on the Veterinary Services Grant Program webpage.
D. Type I shortage area applications require a second map as a pdf. Type I shortage
areas may not be located exclusively in rural areas as Type II shortage areas are.
Therefore, a second map is required for applicants to Type I veterinary shortage
situation areas. This map must display that the Type I veterinary shortage situation is
eligible as rural on the USDA Property Eligibility Map. To search eligibility, enter
the street, city, and state of the center of the veterinary shortage situation area the
practice will serve. The search will indicate if the Type I shortage is in an eligible
area. Select the print option on the webpage to save the map as a PDF. This map must
be included with your application as a PDF.
R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded). The practitioner/owner of the practice will be
considered the Project Director (PD). For the PD and any other Senior Key Persons who are
implementing the grant, fill in all required fields as they apply to your application. If a field is
not pertinent, leave blank. See Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide for profile
requirements, details about the resume or biographical sketch, and suggested support templates.
Note that for RPE applications: There is no requirement for publications and that the
recommended length for the resume is not to exceed three pages.
R&R Personal Data. This information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award (see Part
V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide).
R&R Budget. Fill in all areas of the R&R budget sheet as they relate to your grant. See Part V
of the NIFA Grants Application Guide. Also see Part I.C.2.b above regarding limitations on
direct costs.
Budget Justification. The budget justification must not exceed five, 1.5 spaced pages of written
text, pictures, and numbers (the font size for tables should be no smaller than 11-point, Times
New Roman). The page limits outlined here ensure fair competition. The budget justification
should include a brief description of how funds will be used for specific activities or equipment.
Funds cannot be used to construct new buildings or facilities or to acquire, expand, remodel, or
alter an existing building or facility, including site grading and improvement and architect fees.
Indirect costs (IDC) – See Part IV C of this NOFO for funding restrictions regarding indirect
costs, USDA NIFA Policy on Indirect Costs, and Part V of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
for additional information.
Data Management Plan. A data management plan is required for this program. This data should
support the anticipated results and reporting of outcomes. Applicants should clearly articulate
how the PD plans to manage the data collected by the project. The data management plan will be
considered during the merit review process (see Part V B of this NOFO, and Part V.320 of the
NIFA Grants Application Guide and NIFA’s Data Management Plan). If you need help in
preparing a data management plan or have questions about what constitutes a data management
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plan for this program (including questions about data privacy, etc.), please contact the NIFA
program contacts listed at the end of this NOFO. NIFA conducts a technical assistance webinar
associated with this NOFO each year and provides information related to resources that will
assist with this task.
The data management plan can be one paragraph and must be no longer than one page. The data
management plan must be attached as a PDF with your application materials.
The data management plan must include a description of:
1. Expected data type: An example is documentation of enhancement of services
provided in the shortage area, such as increased numbers of clients or introduction of
new clinical procedures.
2. Data format: The selected data format is at the discretion of the PD, such as a table
or spreadsheet.
3. Data storage and preservation: Data must be stored in a secure environment with
adequate measures taken to secure the data for the length of the program and three
years after the grant end date. Applicants must describe plans for storing and
preserving their data during and after the project. Include any strategies, tools, and
contingency plans that will be used to avoid data loss, degradation, or damage.
4. Data sharing, protection, and public access: Include a statement, when applicable,
of plans to protect confidentiality, personal privacy, proprietary interests, business
confidential information, and intellectual property rights.
5. Roles and responsibilities: State who will implement the data management plan.
Supplemental Information Form. See Part V.300 of the NIFA Grants Application Guide
1. Field 2. Program to which the applicant is applying. Enter the program name
according to Table 13 below. Accurate entry is critical.
Table 11: Program Names and Codes
Program Name Code to enter
VSGP EET VSGPE
VSGP RPE VSGPR
2. Field 8. Conflict of Interest List. See Part V.300 of the NIFA Grants Application
Guide
D. Funding Restrictions for EET and RPE Program Areas
EET Program Area
1. Indirect Cost (IDC) is not to exceed 30 percent of the recipient’s Total Federal Funds
Awarded (TFFA) awarded (TFFA). 7 U.S.C. 3310 limits the recovery of IDC for the
overall award to 30 percent of the TFFA under a research, education, or extension grant.
The maximum allowable IDC amount recoverable under the award, including the IDC
charged by the sub-awardee(s), if any, is the lesser of the following and is determined by
calculating the amount of IDC using:
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a. The sum of an institution’s negotiated indirect cost rate and the indirect cost rate
charged by sub-awardees, if any; or
b. 30 percent of TFFA.
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(f)). 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.
See NIFA Indirect Costs for information including additional resources and NIFA
Indirect Cost Guidance Chart.
Grant funds may not be used:
1. To construct a new building or facility; or
2. To acquire, expand, remodel, or alter an existing building or facility, including site
grading and improvement and architect fees.
RPE Program Area
IDC is not authorized for this NOFO.
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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 administrative requirements set forth in this NOFO. All administrative
requirements must be met in order for the application to proceed to the next level of review.
Second, a scientific peer-review process by a review panel is used to technically evaluate
applications that have met the administrative requirements (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, taking into account 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 targeted 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 non-profit
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.
After each peer review panel has completed its deliberations, the responsible program staff of
NIFA will recommend that your 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.
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).
B. Evaluation Criteria
Different criteria and differently composed peer review panels will be used to evaluate EET
proposals and RPE proposals, as described below. NIFA will use the following evaluation
criteria to evaluate applications submitted to this program.
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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 then evaluates the overall
likelihood that the project will have significant outcome and impact. These written reviews are
used to begin panel discussions with other reviewers serving on the panel. Through these
discussions, peer review panelists come to consensus on the final rating and ranking of
proposals. A complete description of NIFA’s peer review process can be found at the NIFA
website: NIFA Peer Review Process for Competitive Grant Applications.
EET Program Area Application Review Criteria:
Applications with collaborations between or among qualified entities are typically
considered stronger proposals.
Relevancy and Innovation (weight =20%) – Explanation and documentation that the
project is directed toward relieving the veterinarian shortage situation and is innovative or
novel in its approach. In addition, relevancy can be evaluated by the description of the
necessity of the skills being developed for the target audience, the involvement of
stakeholders in the conceptualization and development of project activities, the degree of
exposure of 11th and 12th-grade students to career opportunities in food animal medicine,
and demonstrated awareness of previous and alternative training and education programs.
Technical Merit (weight = 50%) - will be evaluated on the basis of:
1. Clarity and delineation of objectives, activities, and outcomes.
2. Conceptual adequacy of the proposed activities to meet the needs of the target
audience and mitigate veterinarian shortage situations including suitability and
feasibility of the approach.
3. Expected outputs and outcomes as indicated in the Project Evaluation Plan.
4. Science-based knowledge, skills, and capabilities gained are related to mitigating
veterinarian shortage situations and will enhance and sustain human capital beyond
the life of the project.
5. Adequacy of project evaluation plans to include number and expertise of evaluation
team members and the strength of measurements to assess outcomes and/or impact on
both the shortage areas and their communities.
6. Adequacy of plans to communicate results to stakeholders and the public.
7. Sustainability of the project, including (where applicable) partnerships and
collaborations, beyond the life of the grant.
8. Compliance with targeted categories of trainees (including 11th and 12th grade
students, if applicable); and
9. Reasonableness of the budget for planned activities. (While the size of the budget is
not an evaluation criterion, the reviewers will be asked to evaluate whether it matches
logically with the program described in the narrative and is cost-effective.)
Achievability (weight = 20%) – Probability of success of the project given the level of
originality, target audience and budget for each activity. Importance will be given to
description of potential pitfalls and how they will be addressed. There should be
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sufficient time commitment of the PD(s) for project activities including management. The
plans for management and collaborative arrangements of the proposed project should be
adequate, e.g., time allocated for systematic attainment of objectives; clearly defined
project roles and relationships among the key participants and collaborators; plan for
decision-making; and plan for administration of the proposed project and its maintenance,
partnerships, and collaborative efforts.
Expertise, Experience, and Institutional Resources (weight = 10%) – Includes the
expertise of consultants and collaborators, sufficiency of the educational facilities and
equipment for the proposed education and outreach methods. Importance will be given to
the demonstration of expertise through successful multi-year experience in education,
outreach, and mentoring and/or technical assistance in veterinary medicine supporting
agriculture. Also important are qualifications of applicant (individual or team) to conduct
the proposed project activities and in evaluating project outcomes; and demonstrable
institutional/organizational experience and competence in serving the needs of the
identified target audience.
RPE Program Area Application Review Criteria:
Expertise and Experience (weight = 30%) – Importance will be given to the
demonstration of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience of key personnel relative to
veterinary shortage situation area needs and resources requested to address the activities
and needs on the nomination form.
Technical Merit (weight = 70%) – Evaluated on the basis of:
1. Clarity and delineation of objectives, activities, and outcomes.
2. Clarity of current practice operations to include baseline metrics (e.g., current service
radius, number, and location of clients within the veterinarian shortage situation,
current number of calls/visits).
3. Value of proposed equipment, overhead, and/or mobile or haul-in practice facilities to
the goal of mitigating the veterinarian shortage situation.
4. Content and delivery approach(es) for education or extension activities (if funds are
to be used to purchase or expand mobile facilities), including time commitment, size
and demographics of intended audiences (e.g., X hours of educational opportunities to
X number of producer groups, 4-H chapters, and/or community groups representing
X number of people per month, year, or project period), and the degree of exposure, if
any, of 11th and 12th-grade students to career opportunities in food animal medicine.
5. Conceptual adequacy of the proposed activities to meet the needs of the veterinarian
shortage situation (e.g., how will services be established or expanded, market/client
recruitment or development strategies).
6. Likelihood to achieve proposed outcomes, including realistic benchmarks for
assessing progress and assessing outcomes for their clients and community (e.g.,
increasing clientele in shortage area by X% each year of grant period; increased
average number of farm calls per month from X to Y over the life of the grant;
improving clients’ profits by X% through enhanced diagnosis, treatment, or
management); and
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7. Reasonableness of the budget for proposed resources. (While the size of the budget is
not an evaluation criterion, reviewers will be asked to comment on whether it matches
logically with the program described in the narrative.)
C. Organizational Management Information
Applicants must submit specific management information prior to an 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.
(see 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;
and
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.
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 per 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
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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.
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
For Programmatic questions please email:
VSGP@usda.gov
For administrative questions related to:
1. Grants.gov, see Part IV of this NOFO.
2. 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
U.S. 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
Authorized Departmental Officer – ADO
Authorized Representative – AR
Assistance Listing Number – ALN
Automated Standard Application for Payments – ASAP
American Veterinary Medical Association – AVMA
Code of Federal Regulations – CFR
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – DVM
Education, Extension, and Training – EET
Full Time Equivalent – FTE
Fiscal Year – FY
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Indirect Cost – IDC
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act – NARETPA
National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA
National Veterinary Medical Services Act – NVMSA
Notice of Funding Opportunity – NOFO
Office of Management and Budget – OMB
Project Director – PD
Portable Document Format – PDF
Rural Community Development Initiative – RCDI
Rural Practice Enhancement – RPE
System for Award Management – SAMS
Total Federal Funds Awarded – TFFA
Unique Entity ID – UEI
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program – VMLRP
Veterinary Services Grant Program – VSGP
Veterinary services Grant Program – Rural Practice Enhancement - VSGPR
Veterinary Services Grant Program – Education, Extension, and Training - VSGPE
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
Continuation Award:
An award instrument by which NIFA agrees to support a specified level of effort for a
predetermined period of time with a statement of intention to provide additional support
at a future date, provided that performance has been satisfactory, appropriations are
available for this purpose, and continued support would be in the best interest of the
Federal government and the public.
Education Activity or Teaching Activity:
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.
Extension Activity:
An act or process that delivers science-based knowledge and informal educational
programs to people, enabling them to make practical decisions.
Insular Area:
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
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.
Resubmitted Application:
A project application that was previously submitted to a program, but the application was
not funded.
Rural Area:
Defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1991(a)).
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