The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program, supported by USDA, is designed to fund projects that strategically address significant educational needs at various levels—state, regional, national, or international. This grant aims to back initiatives employing creative or non-traditional methodologies, intended to serve as replicable models for the broader educational community. A key purpose is to enhance collaboration and strengthen working relationships within the university science and education sectors, and between academic institutions and the private sector. The program emphasizes the development of solutions with lasting impact, ensuring benefits extend beyond the project’s timeframe and USDA funding, fostering sustainable advancements in higher education.
Opportunity ID: 329477
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | USDA-NIFA-CGP-007858 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Agriculture |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 10.217 — Higher Education – Institution Challenge Grants Program |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Oct 16, 2020 |
| Last Updated Date: | Oct 16, 2020 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Mar 18, 2021 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Mar 18, 2021 |
| Archive Date: | Apr 17, 2021 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $4,500,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $750,000 |
| Award Floor: | $30,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | A. Eligibility Requirements Applicants for the HEC must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Applications may be submitted by: (a) U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one discipline or area of the food and agricultural sciences; (a) land-grant colleges and universities, (including land grant institutions in the Insular Areas); (b) colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and (c) other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences. An applicant also must meet the definition of an Eligible Institution/Organization as stated in this RFA (see Appendix III). For the purposes of this program, the individual branches of a state university or other system of higher education that are separately accredited as degree-granting institutions are treated as separate institutions and are therefore eligible for HEC awards. Separate branches or campuses of a college or university that are not individually accredited as degree-granting institutions are not treated as separate institutions. An institution eligible to receive an award under this program includes a research foundation maintained by an eligible college or university. Accreditation must be by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. United States citizenship is not required of faculty that wish to serve as PD, co-PD, or key personnel on a HEC grant. Any individual (eligible participant) receiving Federal funds (for developmental activities) must be a citizen or national of the United States, as defined in this RFA (see Appendix III). Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award. The following applies to CG1 and CG2 applicants only: The applicant institution must meet the definition of “eligible institution” as specified in §3405.2(i); the other institutions participating in a CG1 and CG2 project proposals are not required to meet the definition of “eligible institution” as specified in §3405.2(i), nor required to meet the definition of “college” or “university” as specified in §3405.2(f). Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply, provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. 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 Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
| Description: |
Projects supported by the Higher Education Challenge Grants Program will: (1) address a state, regional, national, or international educational need; (2) involve a creative or non-traditional approach toward addressing that need that can serve as a model to others; (3) encourage and facilitate better working relationships in the university science and education community, as well as between universities and the private sector, to enhance program quality and supplement available resources; and (4) result in benefits that will likely transcend the project duration and USDA support. |
| Link to Additional Information: | Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
NIFA SUPPORT
Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays Email:policy@usda.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 329477 Full Announcement-FY2021-HEC-RFA -> FY21-Higher-Education-Challenge-HEC-Mod-RFA.pdf
Folder 329477 Revised Full Announcement-FY2021-HEC-Mod2-RFA -> FY21-Higher-Education-Challenge-HEC-Mod2-RFA.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | NIFA SUPPORT Key Information: Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays Email: policy@usda.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.217 | PKG00263795 | Oct 16, 2020 | Mar 18, 2021 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
329477 RR_SF424_2_0-2.0.pdf
329477 NIFA_Supplemental_Info_1_2-1.2.pdf
329477 PerformanceSite_2_0-2.0.pdf
329477 RR_Budget_1_4-1.4.pdf
329477 RR_PersonalData_1_2-1.2.pdf
329477 RR_OtherProjectInfo_1_4-1.4.pdf
329477 RR_KeyPersonExpanded_2_0-2.0.pdf
Optional forms
329477 RR_SubawardBudget30_1_4-1.4.pdf
329477 AD_3030_2_0-2.0.pdf
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