Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 007858
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds higher-education projects in the food and agricultural sciences. The core purpose is to support educational efforts that respond to an identified need at the state, regional, national, or even international level. Funded projects are expected to use creative or non-traditional strategies that can be replicated elsewhere, strengthen collaboration across the university science and education community and with private-sector partners, and produce results that last beyond the grant period and USDA support. In other words, the program is looking for high-impact education projects that solve a real problem, try something meaningfully different, build durable partnerships, and leave behind lasting improvements such as scalable curricula, teaching models, training systems, or institutional practices.
Eligibility centers on U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one food or agricultural sciences discipline. Eligible applicants include land-grant colleges and universities (including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas), institutions with significant minority enrollments that can clearly demonstrate capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences, and other colleges and universities that can demonstrate that same teaching capacity. The applicant must also meet the specific definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as described in the program’s Request for Applications (RFA), and the institution’s accreditation must come from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The opportunity clarifies how multi-campus systems are treated for eligibility. Branches of a state university system (or similar higher-education system) that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions are treated as separate institutions and can apply on their own. Campuses or branches that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions for this program. The program also allows a research foundation maintained by an otherwise eligible college or university to be considered an eligible applicant institution.
On personnel and participation rules, U.S. citizenship is not required for faculty serving as the project director (PD), co-PD, or other key personnel. However, any individual participant who will receive federal funds for developmental activities must be a U.S. citizen or national as defined in the RFA. The RFA emphasizes that missing any eligibility requirement by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed.
For certain project categories referenced as CG1 and CG2, an additional eligibility structure applies: the lead applicant institution must meet the RFA’s definition of an “eligible institution,” but partner organizations participating in the project do not necessarily have to meet that same institutional definition, nor do they have to meet the RFA’s definitions of “college” or “university.” More broadly, award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those organizations are necessary to carry out the project work.
Key opportunity details from the listing include the funding opportunity title Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program, funding opportunity number USDA NIFA CGP 007858, assistance listing (CFDA) number 10.217, and an award ceiling of $750,000. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a grant funding instrument, with the activity category listed as agriculture. The original closing date provided is March 18, 2021, and the posting creation date is October 16, 2020. The program also points new applicants to NIFA’s Grants Overview as a helpful starting resource for understanding federal financial assistance and the awards process.Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 007858
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-10-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-03-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program - FAQs
What is the Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program?
The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds higher-education projects in the food and agricultural sciences.
What is the main purpose of the HEC program?
The core purpose is to support educational efforts that respond to an identified need at the state, regional, national, or international level. The program prioritizes high-impact education projects that address a real problem and generate benefits that continue beyond the grant period and USDA support.
What types of approaches does HEC expect funded projects to use?
Funded projects are expected to use creative or non-traditional strategies that can be replicated elsewhere, strengthen collaboration across the university science and education community and with private-sector partners, and produce lasting results beyond the award period.
What kinds of lasting results does the program want to see?
The opportunity description emphasizes lasting improvements such as scalable curricula, teaching models, training systems, or institutional practices that continue after the grant ends.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility centers on U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one food or agricultural sciences discipline.
Are land-grant institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include land-grant colleges and universities, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas.
Are institutions with significant minority enrollments eligible?
Yes, institutions with significant minority enrollments may be eligible if they can clearly demonstrate capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences.
Are other colleges and universities eligible besides land-grant and minority-serving institutions?
Yes. Other colleges and universities may be eligible if they can demonstrate capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences and meet the RFA definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization.
Does the institution have to meet a specific definition in the Request for Applications (RFA)?
Yes. The applicant must meet the specific definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as described in the program's Request for Applications (RFA).
What accreditation requirements apply?
The institution must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
How does eligibility work for multi-campus university systems?
Branches of a state university system (or similar higher-education system) that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions are treated as separate institutions and can apply on their own. Campuses or branches that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions for this program.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
Yes. A research foundation maintained by an otherwise eligible college or university can be considered an eligible applicant institution.
Is U.S. citizenship required for the Project Director (PD) or key personnel?
No. U.S. citizenship is not required for faculty serving as the project director (PD), co-PD, or other key personnel.
Is U.S. citizenship required for participants who receive federal funds for developmental activities?
Yes. Any individual participant who will receive federal funds for developmental activities must be a U.S. citizen or national, as defined in the RFA.
What happens if an application misses an eligibility requirement?
The RFA emphasizes that missing any eligibility requirement by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed.
What are CG1 and CG2 project categories, and do they affect eligibility?
For project categories referenced as CG1 and CG2, the lead applicant institution must meet the RFA definition of an eligible institution. Partner organizations participating in the project do not necessarily need to meet that same institutional definition, and they do not have to meet the RFA definitions of "college" or "university."
Can award recipients subcontract with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. Award recipients are allowed to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those organizations are necessary to carry out the project work.
What is the funding opportunity title?
The funding opportunity title is Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA CGP 007858.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 10.217.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $750,000.
Is this opportunity discretionary or formula-based?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What activity category is this program listed under?
The activity category is listed as agriculture.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is March 18, 2021.
When was this opportunity posting created?
The posting creation date is October 16, 2020.
Where can new applicants learn more about NIFA grants and the awards process?
The program points new applicants to NIFA's Grants Overview as a helpful starting resource for understanding federal financial assistance and the awards process.
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