The RFAP is listed in the Assistance Listings under number 10.246. RFAP is designed to provide financial assistance to qualifying institutions for the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of agricultural research facilities to conduct research in the fields of food and agricultural sciences (as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103, see Appendix III for definition).
Research Facilities Act Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture · Opportunity number USDA-NIFA-OP-011980
Details summarized from the official notice as of Sep 2, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.
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Key facts
| Opportunity number | USDA-NIFA-OP-011980 |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Institute of Food and Agriculture Department of Agriculture |
| Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA) | 10.246 |
| Posted | Jun 15, 2026 |
| Deadline | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $30,000,000 |
| Award floor | $100,000 |
| Expected number of awards | 30 |
| Estimated total program funding | $121,127,200 |
| Cost sharing or matching required | No |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Category | Agriculture |
| Last updated here | Sep 2, 2026 |
Summary from the notice
Who can apply
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:
- Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
Not listed as eligible
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits
- Colleges and universities
- State governments
- Local governments
- Tribal governments and organizations
- Larger for-profit companies
- Individuals
Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.
Eligibility details from the notice
Applicants for the RFAP 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. Applications may be submitted by: 1. 1994 Land-Grant Institutions 2. State Agricultural Experiment Stations 3. 1862 Land-Grant Institutions 4. Accredited school or college of veterinary medicine or State Agricultural Experiment Station that conducts animal health and disease research in accordance with section 1433(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) 5. 1890 Land-Grant Institutions 6. Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU) as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103 7. Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) - Institutions satisfying the eligibility requirements for NLGCA designation. 8. Insular Area Institutions-Institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1995 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a). 9. Institutions eligible for "McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act" (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.) 10. Other entities eligible to receive funds under a capacity and infrastructure program (as defined in section 6971(f)(1)(C)). See Appendix IV under ca...
Registrations you will likely need
Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.
- SAM.gov registration for your organization, which also gives you a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free.
- A Login.gov account, which Grants.gov uses for sign-in.
- A Grants.gov applicant registration linked to your organization's UEI.
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