From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals

 

The Next Gen Program represents one part in a series of efforts led by USDA to achieve equitable participation of farmers, ranchers and forest land owners in USDA programs and services through an array of targeted technical assistance and outreach activities; to foster equity through meaningful, sustained engagement with diverse stakeholders to inform USDA policies and programs; and to support and prepare diverse students for future careers in agriculture through Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 The Next Gen Program is focused first and foremost on supporting and preparing students at MSIs for careers in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences across research, education, and extension, with an emphasis on federal government sector employment. The goal of this program is to enable a specific set of minority-serving institutions to engage, recruit, retain, train, and support students in order to help build and sustain the next generation of the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences workforce including the future USDA workforce. NEXTGEN Evaluation Program (NEXTE) is established to determine the impact and effectiveness of the NEXTGEN investment. Through a cooperative agreement, NIFA will collaborate with and fund the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) to perform a suite of evaluative activities to determine the effectiveness of the NEXTGEN program and inform USDAs career development and training initiatives.

Active 10.237 National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Not applicable. (Pub. L 117-2), Title American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Section Section 1006(b)(4) The MSI/Next Gen Program encourages implementing innovative and culturally responsive strategies and partnerships to inspire youth, adult learners, and other targeted audiences to pursue career paths in food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. Based on a wide range of diverse stakeholder engagement and feedback, as well as lessons learned from previous efforts in and out of USDA, expanding partnerships and investments with minority-serving institutions will result in cooperative and sustained development of the current and future workforce. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with 1862 Land Grant Universities, certified Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, technical and vocational schools and other academic institutions with food, agriculture, and allied disciplines programs, as appropriate and beneficial to meeting the objectives of proposed projects. It is also recommended that applicants propose efforts designed to build and sustain partnerships with organizations who have a vested public interest in developing a diverse workforce in food and agriculture. These entities serve as connectors between MSIs, their students, and USDA. Examples of these 'connector organizations' include MANRRS, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), the Association of 1890 Research Directors, and the Association of Extension Administrators for the 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The Next Gen Program seeks to support projects that: ? provide resources and support to students at the specified MSIs pursuing academic and career paths in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH); ? develop directed and meaningful interactions between research and extension/outreach that will directly impact the recruitment and retention of students in FANH; ? develop and facilitate meaningful domestic and/or international experiential learning opportunities which cultivate the acquisition of technical, leadership, and employability skills required to enter the FANH workforce; ? create opportunities for training and certifications for high-demand occupations in FANH for audiences outside of the college environment; ? extend knowledge on the wide range of career opportunities across the agriculture sector and at USDA by training advisors on those opportunities and connecting participants to USDA personnel and internship and scholarship opportunities through career development activities; ? attract and engage K-12 youth and other communities of learners that are underrepresented in FANH through non-formal education opportunities, including positive youth development activities, such as 4-H; ? increase awareness and understanding of diverse food and agricultural systems both from local, regional, and global perspectives including indigenous traditional ecological knowledge; ? build and sustain partnerships among organizations, who have a vested public interest in developing a diverse workforce in FANH; and/or ? develop or adapt innovative teaching, training and advising practices, curricula, learning materials, recruitment, mentoring, retention, or branding strategies to attract students from underserved communities to majors and career paths in FANH. 2) Program Key Information Program Code: Program Code Name: Financial Assistance Listing: 10.237 Project Type: Education Grant Type: Standard Grant Application Deadline: September 7, 2022 Number of Proposal Limit: Three proposals total per eligible institution regardless of funding tier selected. Duration: 60 Months Minimum Award Amount: $500,000 Maximum Award Amount: Tier 1: $20,000,000 Tier 2: $10,000,000 Tier 3: $5,000,000 An eligible institution may not submit more than three applications to this program as a lead institution, regardless of funding tier selected. Prospective applicants/project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of sponsored projects regarding processes used to select proposals for submission. NEXTGEN Evaluation Program (NEXTE) is established to determine the impact and effectiveness of the NEXTGEN investment. Through a cooperative agreement, NIFA will collaborate with and fund the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) to perform a suite of evaluative activities to determine the effectiveness of the NEXTGEN program and inform USDA's career development and training initiatives. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Pertinent details will be provided at a later date. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for more details. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for more details. Not applicable. The Next Gen Program is focused on supporting and preparing students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for careers in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences across research, education, and extension. The Next Gen program places special emphasis on federal government sector employment in order to close the gaps in diversity and also between supply and demand of professionals in these fields. Through meaningful, experiential learning experiences, scholarships, and student engagement activities, the MSI/Next Gen Program will support and prepare students at MSIs to join the agricultural workforce as a skilled, professional and/or scientific member of the sector. The primary areas of focus include: 1) Paid experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students (i.e., internships, fellowships, and career development activities, such as mentoring, shadowing, hands-on-learning, interviews, peer-to-peer engagement) in food, agriculture, natural resource, and human sciences across research, education, and extension; 2) Scholarships to support the recruitment, retention, and graduation of students with a degree, certification, and/or credential completion in food, agriculture, natural resource, and human sciences; 3) Non-formal education activities that cultivate interest in and exposure to food and agriculture careers among youth and other audiences on non-traditional academic paths (e.g., hosting Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences {MANRRS} Chapter, sponsoring field trips, K-12 school gardens, extension demonstrations, volunteer opportunities, or positive youth development activities, such as 4-H); 4) Innovative recruitment, retention, and branding strategies to attract students to majors and career paths in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The Next Gen Program seeks to support projects that:  provide resources and support to students at the specified MSIs pursuing academic and career paths in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (FANH);  develop directed and meaningful interactions between research and extension/outreach that will directly impact the recruitment and retention of students in FANH;  develop and facilitate meaningful domestic and/or international experiential learning opportunities which cultivate the acquisition of technical, leadership, and employability skills required to enter the FANH workforce;  create opportunities for training and certifications for high-demand occupations in FANH for audiences outside of the college environment;  extend knowledge on the wide range of career opportunities across the agriculture sector and at USDA by training advisors on those opportunities and connecting participants to USDA personnel and internship and scholarship opportunities through career development activities;  attract and engage K-12 youth and other communities of learners that are underrepresented in FANH through non-formal education opportunities, including positive youth development activities, such as 4-H;  increase awareness and understanding of diverse food and agricultural systems both from local, regional, and global perspectives including indigenous traditional ecological knowledge;  build and sustain partnerships among organizations, who have a vested public interest in developing a diverse workforce in FANH; and/or  develop or adapt innovative teaching, training and advising practices, curricula, learning materials, recruitment, mentoring, retention, or branding strategies to attract students from underserved communities to majors and career paths in FANH. 2) Program Key Information Program Code: Program Code Name: Financial Assistance Listing: 10.237 Project Type: Education Grant Type: Standard Grant Application Deadline: September 7, 2022 Number of Proposal Limit: Three proposals total per eligible institution regardless of funding tier selected. Duration: 60 Months Minimum Award Amount: $500,000 Maximum Award Amount: Tier 1: $20,000,000 Tier 2: $10,000,000 Tier 3: $5,000,000 An eligible institution may not submit more than three applications to this program as a lead institution, regardless of funding tier selected. Prospective applicants/project directors are advised to contact their institutional office of sponsored projects regarding processes used to select proposals for submission. Performance Reports: Additional Information: REEport GRANT REPORTING: All grant reporting must be completed using the Research, Education, and Extension project online reporting tool (REEport). Initial reporting (item a. below) is to be submitted through the REEport system. Annual progress and final reporting (items b. and c. below) must also be done through the REEport system. Information on REEport can be found on NIFA’s web site at https://nifa.usda.gov/tool/reeport and the REEport software can be found at https://portal.nifa.usda.gov. a. Initial Reporting Documentation in the REEport Database-- Research, Education, and Extension project online reporting tool (REEport). All projects must be documented in REEport. The NIFA contact for all REEport documentation is: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, ATTN: REEport, P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205. E-mail: electronic@usda.gov Progress Reports: b. Progress Report. All projects must report annually into REEport. An annual Progress Report is due 90 calendar days after the award’s anniversary date (i.e., one year following the month and day of which the project period begins and each year thereafter up until a final report is required). An annual Progress Report covers the most recent one-year period. The following information, when applicable, must be included in the Accomplishments section of the annual Progress Report. (1) A comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals established for the reporting period (where the output of the project can be expressed readily in numbers, a computation of the cost per unit of output should be submitted if the information is considered useful); (2) The reasons for slippage if established goals were not met; and (3) Additional pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or unexpectedly high unit costs. Final Report: c. Final Report. The Final Report is required within 90 calendar days after the expiration or termination of the award. The Final Report covers the entire period of performance of the award and must describe progress made during the entire timeframe of the project instead of covering accomplishments made only during the final reporting segment of the project. In addition to supplying the information required under item b. of this article, the final report must include the following when applicable: Identify equipment purchased with any Federal funds under the award and indicate subsequent use of such equipment. FINANCIAL REPORTING: As outlined in 2 CFR 200.329, the recipient must submit financial status reports by the frequency required in the terms and conditions of the award. The following are the financial reporting requirements for NIFA. Federal Financial Report, Form SF-425: NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. A “Federal Financial Report,” Form SF-425, is due on an annual basis no later than 90 days following the end of the award anniversary date (i.e., one year following the month and day when the project period begins and each year thereafter up until a final report is required). An annual Progress Report covers the most recent one-year period. A final “Federal Financial Report,” Form SF-425, is due 120 days after the expiration date of this award. The report must be submitted to the Awards Management Division (AMD) as a pdf attachment to an email sent to awards@usda.gov. If questions are encountered regarding financial reporting requirements, please contact: Awards Management Division (AMD) Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) P.O. Box 419205, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-6205 Courier/Package Delivery Address: 2312 East Bannister Road, Mail Stop 10000, Kansas City, MO 64141-3061 SPECIAL NOTES: (1) Refer to the Competitive Requests for Applications (RFAs) for further specific and pertinent details. RFAs are generally released annually and provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. (2) The details of the reporting requirements are included in the NIFA Research Terms and Conditions (dated November 12, 2020) https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/fedrtc/agencyspecifics/nifa_1120.pdf (3) Further guidance is provided under 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards and 2 CFR Part 400, USDA’s Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 Records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO). This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Relation to other audit requirements, but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office (GAO). This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. In accordance with 2 CFR Part 400 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, ? 200.334 Retention requirements for records. Grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three (3) year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart D applies to this program. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. In accordance with statutory time limits, project periods, including no-cost extensions of time, are not to exceed five (5) years. Further details are provided in the Award document Form NIFA-2009 and the This agreement is covered by the Research Terms and Conditions (RTC) as described on the NIFA webpage for terms and conditions (https://nifa.usda.gov/terms-and-conditions) including the NIFA specific terms and conditions dated Nov 2020 located at the following link: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/fedrtc/agencyspecifics/nifa_1120.pdf SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the Competitive Request for Applications (RFAs) for specific and pertinent details. The most current RFAs are available via: RFAs are generally released annually. Hence, the RFAs provide the most current and accurate information available. Any specific instructions in the Competitive RFAs supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: NIFA utilizes the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), a secure, web-based electronic payment and information system that allows federal agencies to administer funds. Currently, ASAP is the only payment source for new NIFA grantees. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Pertinent details will be provided at a later date. Pertinent details will be provided at a later date. 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 NIFA.workforce@usda.gov
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 419205, MS 10000
Kansas City, MO 64141 USA
NIFA.workforce@usda.gov
Phone: 202-445-5594 12-0115-0-1-352 (Project Grants) FY 22$245,000,000.00; FY 23 est $2,500,000.00; FY 24 FY 21 - FY 2023-NEXTGEN Evaluation Program is $2,500,000 Not applicable/available. As an administrator of U.S. government support, NIFA works in partnership with grantees to ensure responsible stewardship of federal funds. Our grantees and partners are required to comply with all relevant rules and regulations. The following resources are provided to NIFA's partners and award recipients to support their adherence to federal regulations governing program performance: NIFA's primary (main) website: https://nifa.usda.gov/regulations-and-guidelines The following represent specific documents and direct links: POLICY GUIDE NIFA's Federal Assistance Policy Guide describes agency policies and procedures. https://nifa.usda.gov/policy-guide CERTIFICATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS Certifications and representations provided through the NIFA application process. https://nifa.usda.gov/certifications-and-representations ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF USDA SUPPORT BY NIFA When acknowledging USDA support in accordance with 2 CFR Part 415, grantees must use the following acknowledgement for all projects or initiatives supported by NIFA. https://nifa.usda.gov/acknowledgment-usda-support-nifa FEDERAL REGULATIONS The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) lists all regulations published in the Federal Register. https://nifa.usda.gov/federal-regulations FOIA The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides that any person has the right to request access to federal documents and information such as research data. https://nifa.usda.gov/foia NEPA POLICY AND GUIDANCE The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Policy and Guidance set the standard for identifying potential environmental impacts. https://nifa.usda.gov/nepa-policy-and-guidance OGFM ISSUED CORRESPONDENCE The Office of Grants and Financial Management occasionally issues correspondence to applicants, grantees, and/or the general public for informational or clarification purposes. https://nifa.usda.gov/ogfm-issued-correspondence RESEARCH MISCONDUCT NIFA requires that all its awardees adhere to the USDA Scientific Integrity Policy and the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct. https://nifa.usda.gov/research-misconduct NIFA'S AWARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS Award terms and conditions are determined by statutory, regulatory, and agency requirements, as well as each grant's circumstances. Terms and conditions dictate important items related to your grant, including method of payment, reporting frequency and content, and prior approval requirements. References to the terms and conditions of awards are located on the NIFA 2009 Award Fact Sheet. NIFA's Research terms and conditions (see link below) is applicable to this program https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/fedrtc/agencyspecifics/nifa_1120.pdf Not applicable.