Grant Types
1. Standard Grants
Standard Grants support targeted, original scientific Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated
Projects.
2. Coordinated Agricultural Project Grants
The Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) is a type of Research, Education, Extension, or Integrated
Project that supports large-scale, multi-million dollar projects to promote collaboration, open
communication, and the exchange of information; reduce duplication of effort; and coordinate
activities among individuals, institutions, States, and regions. Integrated CAP Grants address
problems through multi-function projects that incorporate at least two of the three components of the
agricultural knowledge system (i.e., research, extension, and education). Please note that there
occasionally may be programs in which an Integrated CAP Grant is required to address all three
components of the agricultural knowledge system. In a CAP, participants serve as a team that
conducts targeted research, education, and/or extension in response to emerging or priority area(s) of
national need. Applications articulate how a CAP will complement and/or link with existing programs
or projects at the national level. A CAP contains the needed science-based expertise in research,
education, and/or extension, as well as expertise from principal stakeholders and partners, to
accomplish project goals and objectives. Applications should outline the potential of the project, the
structure, coordination, and plan of implementation, and propose several research, education, and/or
extension areas that will be evaluated during the study period. All Research, Education, Extension,
and Integrated Project requirements described earlier apply to CAP Grants. CAP Grants are solicited
by a limited number of Program Area Priorities. Note that Food and Agricultural Science
Enhancement Grants (see Part II, D. 5 (page 15)) can be submitted to Program Areas that solicit CAP
Grants. Refer to Part I, C (page 4) for Program Area Description.
3. Planning/Coordination Grants
Planning/Coordination Grants provide assistance to applicants in the development of quality future
CAP applications. Applications must articulate benefits accrued from formal planning activities and
provide evidence of a high likelihood that quality future applications will be submitted. Applications are
encouraged to develop events/meetings that bring together biological, physical, and social scientists
and others as appropriate, including end-users and technology providers, to identify research,
education, and/or extension needs, foster collaboration, and create networking opportunities. These
activities can take the form of workshops or symposia. The application must include a preliminary
agenda for the planned activity. These events and the information they generate should be used to
build teams that can develop applications to address identified Program Area Priorities.
Planning/Coordination Grants are solicited by a limited number of Program Area Priorities. Note that
ONLY Planning/Coordination Grants may be submitted to these Program Area Priorities. Refer to
Part I, C (page 4) for Program Area Description. Grants range from $25,000 - $50,000 for one year
depending on the size and scope of the project and are not renewable. An institutional allowance not
exceeding $2500 is allowed. Indirect costs are not permitted on Planning/Coordination Grant awards.
4. Conference Grants
Conference Grants to support scientific meetings that bring together scientists to identify research,
education, or extension needs, update information, or advance an area of science are recognized as
integral parts of scientific efforts. Support for a limited number of meetings covering subject matter
encompassed by this solicitation will be considered for partial or, if modest, total support. Individual
conference grants are not expected to exceed $50,000 for one year and are not renewable. Indirect
costs are not permitted on Conference Grant awards.
5. Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement Grants
Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants strengthen science capabilities in
research, education, extension, and integrated programs. FASE Grants are designed to help
institutions develop competitive research, education, extension, and integrated projects, and to attract
new scientists and educators into careers in high-priority areas of National need in agriculture, food,
and environmental sciences. The FASE Grants provide support for Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships
which are solicited in a separate NIFA Fellowships Grant Program, New Investigators, and
Strengthening Grants. Specific eligibility requirements for these grants are described below.
a. Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants
Beginning in FY 2010, all Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants will be solicited via a separate
NIFA Fellows Program RFA. AFRI invites applications from doctoral candidates and individuals who
will soon receive or have recently received their doctoral degree for a Pre- or Postdoctoral Fellowship
Grant, as appropriate, for research, education, extension, or integrated activities. The AFRI program
anticipates awarding at least $6 million in Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants. Information on
the NIFA Fellowship Grants program RFA, including the anticipated release date, is available at
www.nifa.usda.gov/afri.
b. New Investigator Grants
An individual who is beginning his/her career, does not have an extensive scientific publication
record, and has less than five years postgraduate, career-track experience is encouraged to submit
an application for a New Investigator Grant for research, education, extension, or integrated activities.
The new investigator may not have received competitively awarded Federal research funds with the
exception of pre- or postdoctoral grants or USDA NRI or AFRI Seed Grants. The application must
contain documentation that lists all prior Federal research support. The work proposed for New
Investigator Grants must address a specific program area priority described under Program Area
Description in Part I, C (page 4), and the application must be submitted directly to that Program Area
by the designated deadline date.
c. Strengthening Grants
These funds are expected to enhance institutional capacity with the goal of leading to future funding
in the project area, as well as strengthen the competitiveness of the investigator‘s research,
education, extension, or integrated activities. Strengthening Grants consist of Standard Grant types
(both Single-function and Multi-functional Projects) as well as Seed Grants, Equipment Grants, and
Sabbatical Grants. The work proposed for Strengthening Grants must address a specific Program
Area Priority described under Program Area Description in Part I, C (page 4), and the application
must be submitted directly to that Program Area by the designated deadline date. All applications
submitted for Strengthening Grants must fulfill the eligibility requirements described below.
