National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Grants Application Guide
NIFA Office of Grants and Financial Management
May 2022
1
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
,TABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents
I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3
II. Helpful Links & Contact Information ...................................................................................... 9
III. Prepare to Apply .............................................................................................................. 10
III.100 Step 1: Search for a funding opportunity .................................................................... 10
III.200 Step 2: Review your selected RFA ............................................................................... 12
III.300 Step 3: Determine eligibility........................................................................................ 13
III.400 Step 4: Register in SAM.gov, Obtain UEI and EIN ........................................................ 13
III.500 Step 5: Register in Grants.gov ..................................................................................... 14
IV. Develop your application ................................................................................................. 15
IV.100 Step 1: Start your Application in Workspace .............................................................. 16
IV.200 Step 2: Complete an Application with Workspace ...................................................... 17
IV.300 Step 3: Submit a Workspace Package ........................................................................ 19
V. Detailed Form Instructions .................................................................................................. 21
Category 1: Research and Related (R&R) Forms ...................................................................... 22
Category 2: Cross Agency Forms.............................................................................................. 22
Category 3: NIFA Specific Forms & Documents ....................................................................... 22
VI. Grant Application Package Management, Status & Awards ............................................ 80
VI.100 Track your Application ................................................................................................ 81
VI.200 Addressing Issues with Submitted Applications.......................................................... 82
VI.300 USDA/NIFA Application Status .................................................................................... 83
VII. Appendix .......................................................................................................................... 84
VII.100 Application Guide Version Change List ...................................................................... 84
VII.200 Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................... 86
2
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
,I. Introduction
This Application Guide will help you prepare and submit Grant applications to NIFA through
Grants.gov. Where appropriate, relevant sections of the Grants.gov User Guide & NIFA Policy
guide have been incorporated by reference.
Applicants for all types of NIFA grants can use this guide to prepare for the pre-award and
application processes.
I.100 Acronyms Used in this Guide
• ADO: Authorized Departmental Officer
• AFRI: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
• AO: Authorizing Official
• AOR: Authorized Organizational Representative
• CFDA: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
• FO: Funding Opportunity
• IRB: Institutional Review Board
• NIFA: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• OGFM: Office of Grants and Financial Management
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget
• RFA: Request for Application
• SAM: System for Awards Management
• SBIR: Small Business Innovation and Research
• UEI: Universal Entity Identifier
• USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture
3
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
, I.200 Glossary of Applicant Resources
Applicants to NIFA grant opportunities will have access to a variety of websites and guides to
help them through the grant process. A brief list of these essential resources is below.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is a government website that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to
find and apply for federal funding opportunities. Today, the Grants.gov system houses
information on over 1,000 grant programs and vets grant applications for federal grant-making
agencies.
NIFA’s funding opportunities are posted to Grants.gov, and applications can be submitted
through the Grants.gov Workspace portal.
NIFA Policy Guide
The NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide describes the statutory and regulatory responsibilities
of NIFA federally funded recipients.
The Policy Guide continues to provide comprehensive guidance on roles and responsibilities,
application and review processes, award notification and administration procedures, award
terms and conditions, uniform administrative requirements, allowable costs, reporting
requirements, close-out procedures and audit requirements.
The latest version of the NIFA Policy Guide can be found at NIFA's Federal Assistance Policy
Guide page.
4
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
Grants Application Guide
NIFA Office of Grants and Financial Management
May 2022
1
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
,TABLE OF CONTENTSTable of Contents
I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3
II. Helpful Links & Contact Information ...................................................................................... 9
III. Prepare to Apply .............................................................................................................. 10
III.100 Step 1: Search for a funding opportunity .................................................................... 10
III.200 Step 2: Review your selected RFA ............................................................................... 12
III.300 Step 3: Determine eligibility........................................................................................ 13
III.400 Step 4: Register in SAM.gov, Obtain UEI and EIN ........................................................ 13
III.500 Step 5: Register in Grants.gov ..................................................................................... 14
IV. Develop your application ................................................................................................. 15
IV.100 Step 1: Start your Application in Workspace .............................................................. 16
IV.200 Step 2: Complete an Application with Workspace ...................................................... 17
IV.300 Step 3: Submit a Workspace Package ........................................................................ 19
V. Detailed Form Instructions .................................................................................................. 21
Category 1: Research and Related (R&R) Forms ...................................................................... 22
Category 2: Cross Agency Forms.............................................................................................. 22
Category 3: NIFA Specific Forms & Documents ....................................................................... 22
VI. Grant Application Package Management, Status & Awards ............................................ 80
VI.100 Track your Application ................................................................................................ 81
VI.200 Addressing Issues with Submitted Applications.......................................................... 82
VI.300 USDA/NIFA Application Status .................................................................................... 83
VII. Appendix .......................................................................................................................... 84
VII.100 Application Guide Version Change List ...................................................................... 84
VII.200 Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................... 86
2
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
,I. Introduction
This Application Guide will help you prepare and submit Grant applications to NIFA through
Grants.gov. Where appropriate, relevant sections of the Grants.gov User Guide & NIFA Policy
guide have been incorporated by reference.
Applicants for all types of NIFA grants can use this guide to prepare for the pre-award and
application processes.
I.100 Acronyms Used in this Guide
• ADO: Authorized Departmental Officer
• AFRI: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
• AO: Authorizing Official
• AOR: Authorized Organizational Representative
• CFDA: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
• FO: Funding Opportunity
• IRB: Institutional Review Board
• NIFA: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• OGFM: Office of Grants and Financial Management
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget
• RFA: Request for Application
• SAM: System for Awards Management
• SBIR: Small Business Innovation and Research
• UEI: Universal Entity Identifier
• USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture
3
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
, I.200 Glossary of Applicant Resources
Applicants to NIFA grant opportunities will have access to a variety of websites and guides to
help them through the grant process. A brief list of these essential resources is below.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov is a government website that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to
find and apply for federal funding opportunities. Today, the Grants.gov system houses
information on over 1,000 grant programs and vets grant applications for federal grant-making
agencies.
NIFA’s funding opportunities are posted to Grants.gov, and applications can be submitted
through the Grants.gov Workspace portal.
NIFA Policy Guide
The NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide describes the statutory and regulatory responsibilities
of NIFA federally funded recipients.
The Policy Guide continues to provide comprehensive guidance on roles and responsibilities,
application and review processes, award notification and administration procedures, award
terms and conditions, uniform administrative requirements, allowable costs, reporting
requirements, close-out procedures and audit requirements.
The latest version of the NIFA Policy Guide can be found at NIFA's Federal Assistance Policy
Guide page.
4
Disclaimer: The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any
way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency
policies.
NIFA-5-2b-NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide 05.26.2022
