It 2501

[Regenia Junke]

Highereducation institutions, nonprofit organizations, and non-governmental community-based associations or organizations that provide agricultural education or agriculturally related services to underserved or veteran farmers and ranchers in their region are eligible and may apply for a grant under the 2501 Program, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2279. Individuals are not eligible.

Funding will be awarded based on ranked scores comprised of the three categories described below. The OPPE has discretion to allocate funding among the three categories based upon the number and quality of applications received.

Under Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT Act), also known as the 1990 Farm Bill, P.L. 101-624, a socially disadvantaged group is defined as: A farmer or rancher who is a member of one or more of the following groups whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities, 7 U.S.C. 2279(e). Groups include, but are not limited to:

The term veteran farmer or rancher (VFR) means a person who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable and who also meets the definition of beginning farmer or rancher (BFR). The VFR must: a) not have operated a farm or ranch; or b) not have operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 consecutive years. For a legal entity or joint operation to be considered a VFR entity, all members must meet the definition of VFR.

Applicants must have the financial, legal, administrative, and operational capacity to carry out the objectives of the federal grant. They must have at least 3 years of documented evidence in providing agriculturally related education, training, or services to underserved or veteran farmers and ranchers.

Nonprofit organizations must provide a current 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 certification in their application or applicants awaiting certification of nonprofit status by the IRS must submit documentation in their application. Nonprofit organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) certification from the IRS must compete in Category 3. Nonprofit organizations must also submit Articles of Incorporation dated at least three years prior to application and must not engage in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Beginning with the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, organizations that are currently 2501grant recipients must be in the final year of their existing project, make every effort to complete their current project, expend all funding, and be ready to close their existing grant before being eligible to reapply. Current 2501 grant recipients with a Period of Performance that extends beyond 90 days of the current fiscal year are not eligible to reapply (this is not applicable to grantees with a no-cost extension). For example, current 2501 Grant recipients must complete their projects by the end of the current calendar year to be eligible to reapply.

All applications that meet the initial eligibility screening criteria are reviewed and scored by at least two members of an external Review Panel. The panel members are not associated with OPPE staff members. The panel members award discretionary points for Secretarial initiatives as stated in the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) currently posted.

Q. In terms of meeting the requirement to provide agricultural education or agriculturally related services to underserved or veteran farmers and ranchers, what types of education or services are considered acceptable activities?

Instructional and hands-on demonstration training on the farm, in classrooms, or in workshops are acceptable forms of activities. Assistance in USDA loan application processes, crop and livestock production, business and market planning, land acquisition or tenure, farmer-related legal assistance, establishment of local food systems, alternative enterprise opportunities, diversifying operations, and other value-added productions are just a few examples of acceptable forms of activities.

Grant funds are to be used for non-construction costs, as stated in 7 USC 2279(c)(4)(H). Instructional processes, for example, how to build a hoop house, are acceptable. Recipients may have to request guidance on disposition of any type of equipment purchased and used for training purposes at the close of the grant. As expressed in the Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations (2 CFR 200.402-408), to be allowable, costs must meet the following general criteria:

Yes. OPPE will work with all selected applicants to finalize budgets, statements of work, and project timelines prior to award issuance. The indirect cost rate may not exceed the 10 percent statutory limit for 2501 Program awards per the Farm Bill (PLAW-115pub1334).

Organizations that have a current NICRA agreement may apply their NICRA up to the statutory limit of 10 percent. In this case, the amount of indirect costs charged to the award would be based on Total Direct Cost (TDC). Your NICRA agreement must be included in your application and your budget proposal must indicate that you are applying your NICRA up to the 10 percent statutory limit based on TDC.

Organizations that do not have a NICRA agreement may claim the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate. The 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate is based on Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). Your budget proposal must indicate that you are applying the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate which is based on MTDC.

2 CFR 200.1 defines MTDC which means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

No more than three (3) subawards may be funded per project. Contractors are not subject to the same limitation. See 2 CFR 200.330 for Subrecipient (subawardee) and contractor determinations. In either case, OPPE will negotiate final statements of work, timelines, and budgets prior to award issuance to non-federal entities or recipients. At least 50 percent of grant funds must remain with the lead applicant/organization and cannot be reallocated.

Yes, but with a qualification. Recipients may partner with subawardees from other organizations already receiving federal funding as long as grant funds are not applied or used for the same single transaction. Organizations/institutions must avoid "double dipping" as USDA cannot and will not pay twice for the same service, activity, personnel expense, etc. If applying jointly, the organization with the necessary experience must be established and will be considered the lead applicant/organization and will be held responsible for carrying out the provisions of the grant.

Q. Concerning subawards and partnerships, is it considered a subaward when recipients render payment to a partner to cover meeting/travel costs or similar expenses, for example when funding individual projects in other locations for training purposes?

Partnering means a joint effort among two or more eligible entities with the capacity to conduct projects intended and designed to accomplish the purpose of the project. Payments to partners for activities conducted under the grant, including meeting expenses, are subawards and recipients will have to limit the number of subawards to three.

Participants are generally not charged to attend training. However, if charges are imposed, fees collected from participants are considered program income and must be deducted from the cost of training and must be included in your statement of work and reported on your semi-annual Federal Financial Reports (SF-425).

Yes. A stipend can be provided to participants of training programs, conferences, or workshops to cover attendance costs as long as costs are reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary. Participant support costs are direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or training projects. 2 CFR 200.75.

Supplies provided to attendees may be covered as part of the costs of a training program or workshop, provided they are necessary for the conduct of the project. Purchased materials and supplies must be charged at their actual prices, net of applicable credits. See 2 CFR 200.453.

Supporting documentation should include 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit certification from the IRS (if applicable), organizational documents indicating at least 3 years of experience assisting underserved and/or veteran farmers and ranchers, letters of support, letters of partnership with non-federal entities, resumes of key personnel, and any other supporting documents and certifications.

Applicants can indicate this in their Project Narrative. It should be stated which areas and individuals you are servicing on the links provided. An applicant could also document other Census data on those areas: population density, geographic information, lack of support services and infrastructure, percentage data on reduced school lunch costs, state or community rankings on health, food access, unemployment data, household income data, lack of economic resources, etc.

Please visit www.grants.gov if your organization is experiencing difficulties uploading its grant application. OPPE works closely with www.grants.gov personnel to resolve issues as they occur. However, only www.grants.gov can assist you with technical issues regarding its website.

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