agriculture · USDA-NIFA
Research Facilities Act Program
National Institute of Food and Agriculture · USDA-NIFA-OP-011980
Award Range
$100K – $30.0M
Total Program Funding
$121.1M
Expected Awards
30
Deadline
July 24, 2026
GRANTQUICK SUMMARYPlain-English Overview
USDA's Research Facilities Act Program funds 30 grants (up to $30M each!) for constructing, renovating, or improving agricultural research facilities at colleges/universities. Major capital funding for labs, greenhouses, animal facilities, and research infrastructure.
Who Should Apply
Colleges and universities (especially land-grant institutions) with agricultural research programs needing facility construction or renovation.
Who Should NOT Apply
Non-academic institutions, organizations without agricultural research programs.
Key Requirements (Plain English)
- •Must construct/renovate agricultural research facilities
- •30 awards up to $30M each
- •Must be a college or university
- •No cost-sharing required
💡 GrantQuick Tip
30 awards of up to $30M is extraordinary capital funding. If your ag research building is 50 years old with outdated labs, this is your opportunity. Show how new facilities will enable research that current facilities cannot support. Architectural plans and cost estimates strengthen applications.
Competitiveness: Moderate — 30 awards for colleges. Institutions with documented facility deficiencies and shovel-ready plans succeed.
What This Grant Funds
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).
Attachments
Who Can Apply
Eligible Applicant Types
Funding Details
- Minimum Award
- $100K
- Maximum Award
- $30.0M
- Total Program Funding
- $121.1M
- Expected Number of Awards
- 30
- Cost Sharing Required?
- No
- Funding Instrument
- grant
Key Dates
Agency Contact
NIFA Support Email grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov Business hours: Monday thru Friday, 7a.m. – 5p.m. ET, except federal holidays
grantapplicationquestions@usda.govReady to apply?
View the full NOFO and submit your application on Grants.gov