Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA 1890COE 008561
The Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions opportunity (USDA NIFA 1890COE 008561; CFDA 10.523) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to strengthen and support the network of 1890 Centers of Excellence (COEs) that were originally established in 2015 to mark the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890. These Centers are housed at the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions and are meant to serve as high-impact hubs for research, education, extension, and community engagement that directly benefit historically underserved communities connected to agriculture and rural development.
Programmatically, the grant centers on three core goals. First, it seeks to increase profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities, meaning applicants are expected to focus on practical outcomes that improve economic resilience, farm viability, and community-level prosperity where resources and support have historically been limited. Second, it aims to address critical needs for enhanced international training and development, which signals that the program values efforts that build global competencies, international partnerships, training exchanges, or development-focused work that helps students, faculty, and stakeholders operate effectively in an interconnected agricultural economy. Third, it prioritizes increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline, encouraging projects that expand access, recruitment, retention, and advancement for underrepresented groups, particularly through education and workforce pathways tied to agriculture and related sciences.
Eligibility is tightly restricted. Full applications can only be submitted by a single eligible applicant or a consortium made up exclusively of the nineteen 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, as recognized under the Second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.). In other words, institutions outside the 1890 land-grant list cannot apply as the lead applicant. However, the opportunity explicitly allows awarded institutions to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those subcontracts support overall coordination and administration of the 1890 COE work. The notice also makes clear that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being removed from consideration or prevent NIFA from making an award, so institutional status and consortium composition are compliance-critical details.
From a funding and logistics standpoint, the instrument is a grant under the Agriculture funding activity category, with an award ceiling listed at $2,000,000. The opportunity record includes an original closing date of November 17, 2021, and a creation date of September 17, 2021. The number of expected awards is not clearly specified in the provided excerpt (it appears blank), so applicants typically would confirm anticipated award counts and other selection details in the full funding announcement. Finally, NIFA encourages applicants who are newer to federal financial assistance to review its Grants Overview resources to better understand expectations around federal grant applications, compliance, and award management, which is often important for navigating requirements tied to budgets, reporting, and grants administration.Apply for USDA NIFA 1890COE 008561
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.523.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-09-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-11-17. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions opportunity?
The Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions opportunity (USDA NIFA 1890COE 008561; CFDA 10.523) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is intended to strengthen and support the network of 1890 Centers of Excellence (COEs) housed at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions.
What does "1890 Centers of Excellence" mean in this program?
In this program, 1890 Centers of Excellence (COEs) refer to high-impact hubs located at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. They were originally established in 2015 in connection with the 125th anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890, and they focus on research, education, extension, and community engagement that benefits historically underserved communities connected to agriculture and rural development.
Which agency runs this grant program?
The program is run by USDA NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
Is this a discretionary grant or a formula program?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for the opportunity is 10.523.
What is the opportunity identifier?
The opportunity is identified as USDA NIFA 1890COE 008561.
What types of activities does the program support?
The program supports work aligned with research, education, extension, and community engagement, particularly where those activities directly benefit historically underserved communities connected to agriculture and rural development.
What are the main goals of the program?
The opportunity emphasizes three core goals: (1) increasing profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities, (2) addressing critical needs for enhanced international training and development, and (3) increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM) pipeline.
What does the program mean by increasing profitability and rural prosperity?
Based on the description, applicants are expected to focus on practical outcomes that improve economic resilience, farm viability, and community-level prosperity in underserved farming communities, especially where resources and support have historically been limited.
How does the program address international training and development?
The opportunity signals that it values efforts that build global competencies and may include international partnerships, training exchanges, or development-focused work that helps students, faculty, and stakeholders operate effectively in a globally connected agricultural economy.
What does increasing diversity in the STEAM pipeline mean for this opportunity?
The program prioritizes projects that expand access, recruitment, retention, and advancement for underrepresented groups in STEAM pathways, particularly where those pathways are tied to agriculture and related sciences.
Who is eligible to submit a full application?
Eligibility is restricted to a single eligible applicant or a consortium made up exclusively of the nineteen 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, as recognized under the Second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.).
Can an institution outside the 1890 Land-Grant list apply as the lead applicant?
No. Institutions outside the 1890 land-grant list cannot apply as the lead applicant based on the eligibility statement provided.
Can a consortium apply, and if so, who can be included?
Yes, a consortium can apply, but it must be composed exclusively of the nineteen 1890 land-grant institutions (including Tuskegee University) recognized under the Second Morrill Act.
Are subcontracts allowed with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly allows awarded institutions to subcontract with organizations that are not eligible to apply, as long as those subcontracts support overall coordination and administration of the 1890 COE work.
Does subcontracting make a non-eligible organization an applicant?
No. The information provided distinguishes between eligibility to apply as the lead applicant (restricted to eligible 1890 institutions/consortia) and the ability of an awarded institution to subcontract with non-eligible organizations to support coordination and administration.
How important is it to meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
It is compliance-critical. The notice states that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to an application being removed from consideration or can prevent NIFA from making an award.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under the Agriculture funding activity category.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as $2,000,000.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date shown in the opportunity record is November 17, 2021.
When was this opportunity record created?
The creation date listed is September 17, 2021.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
The number of expected awards is not clearly specified in the provided excerpt (it appears blank). Applicants would typically confirm anticipated award counts and selection details in the full funding announcement.
What should newer federal grant applicants do before applying?
NIFA encourages applicants who are newer to federal financial assistance to review its Grants Overview resources to better understand federal grant application expectations, compliance, and award management, including requirements related to budgets, reporting, and grants administration.
What law is referenced for recognizing eligible 1890 institutions?
The eligibility reference is tied to the Second Morrill Act (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.).
What is the intended impact for historically underserved communities?
The Centers of Excellence are described as serving historically underserved communities connected to agriculture and rural development through high-impact research, education, extension, and community engagement, with an emphasis on practical outcomes such as profitability, rural prosperity, global readiness, and workforce diversity.
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