Applicants for the FRSAN must meet all the requirements discussed in this NOFO. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. Entities eligible to apply to FRSAN are: 1. an Indian tribe (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304); 2. a State department of agriculture; 3. a State Cooperative Extension Service; 4. a qualified nonprofit organization, as determined by the Secretary; 5. an entity providing appropriate services, as determined by the Secretary, in 1 or more States; or 6. a partnership carried out by 2 or more entities described in items (1) through (5). Regional Center applications will only be accepted if submitted by a collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or a partnership of qualified public and/or private entities. For purposes of implementing FRSAN, a network is an organizational arrangement among three or more separately operated domestic public or private entities, including the applicant organization, with established working histories in the targeted region. Regional Center applications submitted by individuals, or by organizations that do not involve other entities in a network or partnership, are not eligible for consideration and will be excluded from review. USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292. Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – NIFA will accept the most recent application if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions.

NIFA Support Email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays