Tribal Colleges Extension Program - Capacity Applications

The Tribal Colleges Extension Program - Capacity Applications (TCEP-CA) is a four-year continuation funding opportunity issued by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with an assistance listing number of 10.517. This solicitation, identified by USDA-NIFA-SLBCD-012120, aims to support informal, community-based extension projects that address critical areas such as agriculture, youth development, economic growth, healthy lifestyles, and natural resource management within Tribal communities. Each award will provide a fixed amount of $300,000 per year, totaling $1.2 million over the four-year performance period, with indirect costs explicitly prohibited. The anticipated program funding for FY 2026 is approximately $10.5 million, supporting an estimated 35 awards. Applicants must submit complete applications through Grants.gov by the deadline of August 14, 2026, using the SF-424 R&R form and adhering to strict formatting requirements, including Times New Roman 11-point font and PDF-only attachments. Project proposals must include specific, measurable objectives, a comprehensive integrated timeline, a robust data management plan detailing data types, storage, and access protocols, and a detailed evaluation strategy to assess participant outcomes and community impact. Key personnel must be clearly identified with demonstrated expertise and time commitment, and institutional capacity for sustained program delivery must be articulated. Applications undergo an administrative review as a mandatory pass/fail gate, followed by technical evaluation based on priority criteria including potential for advancing extension quality, approach, personnel and institutional support, budget effectiveness, evaluation rigor, and data management plan quality. Awards are made on a most meritorious basis. Awardees may subcontract no more than 50 percent of total award funds without prior written approval from the Authorized Departmental Officer, and any significant changes to scope, key personnel, or budget require prior NIFA approval in accordance with 2 CFR part 200. All applicants must be registered with Grants.gov, hold a Unique Entity ID, and comply with federal requirements including IRB or IACUC review for human subjects or vertebrate animal research. No-cost extensions must be requested at least 10 days before the project end date. Reporting requirements and award-specific conditions will be detailed in the official award notice, and awardees are prohibited from delegating fiscal responsibility for award funds unless explicitly permitted.