Based in part on stakeholder feedback, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) examined its processes to look for better ways to serve its community.  As a result, NIFA has been and is releasing Request for Applications (RFA) for most of the FY 2016 Capacity funding programs during late June through mid-July 2015. This will allow NIFA to move funds as soon as they are made available to the agency. Most of the applications for these recently released RFAs will be due during August through September 2015, approximately 30-45 days after NIFA’s release of the RFA. Please refer to the specific RFA for the exact deadline.
 
While NIFA awaits the passage of the FY 2016 budget, NIFA will fund capacity grants at a slightly reduced FY 2015 level. The pending budget affects the availability and/or level of funding for some or all of these programs. Once appropriations for the year are finalized, adjustments will be made to the FY 2016 allocations articulated in the Capacity RFAs based on the full year amount of funds available for each program.  

Also, a couple of new changes in the RFAs are highlighted: 

• Matching and Cost Sharing for programs requiring match: The source and amount of costs and/or the value of third-party in-kind contributions proposed by the applicant to meet a matching or cost sharing requirement must be identified in the application. If applicable, submit via Attachments Form as a PDF file format. See Part VI, Section 5. of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide.) Allowability of costs for cost sharing and matching purposes is determined by the applicable cost principles (2 CFR 200).
• Felony and Tax Representation form submission: To be submitted with each application. See Part V., Section 4.12 of the NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Field 12 on the Form) for instructions regarding Felony and Tax Representation. The form is located at https://nifa.usda.gov/resource/application-support-templates.

For questions, contact: Brenda Barnett, Branch Chief, Capacity Branch, via Formulagrantquestions@usda.gov.