Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 012281
The Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis (TCEP-SE) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.517. It is designed to support informal, community-focused extension pilot projects hosted at Tribal Colleges and Universities that are federally designated as "1994 Institutions." In practical terms, this program is meant to help these institutions test and deliver hands-on extension activities that respond directly to local community priorities, especially where a short, targeted pilot project can demonstrate value, build capacity, and lay the groundwork for longer-term extension programming.
The program places emphasis on projects that address emerging or pressing needs in Tribal communities. Examples of focus areas specifically highlighted include improving agricultural productivity, strengthening and modernizing food systems, supporting community vitality, advancing workforce and economic development, and promoting public health and overall well-being. The scope also explicitly encourages work that meaningfully engages Tribal youth and helps prepare the next generation of Tribal agriculture and natural resource leaders. Because it is framed as an "extension" pilot, the intent is typically practical education and community outreach (for example, trainings, demonstrations, local problem-solving, and applied learning), rather than purely academic research.
Eligibility is tightly restricted. Applications may only be submitted by colleges and universities that are designated by legislation as 1994 Institutions. The eligible institutions listed in the opportunity include: Aaniiih Nakoda College; Bay Mills Community College; Blackfeet Community College; Cankdeska Cikana Community College; Chief Dull Knife College; College of the Menominee Nation; College of the Muscogee Nation; Dine College; Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College; Fort Peck Community College; Haskell Indian Nations University; Ilisagvik College; Institute of American Indian Arts; Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College; Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa University; Leech Lake Tribal College; Little Big Horn College; Little Priest Tribal College; Navajo Technical University; Nebraska Indian Community College; Northwest Indian College; Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Oglala Lakota College; Red Lake Nation College; Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College; Salish Kootenai College; Sinte Gleska University; Sisseton Wahpeton College; Sitting Bull College; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; Stone Child College; Tohono O'odham Community College; Turtle Mountain Community College; United Tribes Technical College; and White Earth Tribal and Community College. Applicants are expected to meet all eligibility and application requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO); missing eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to the application being excluded or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the project is otherwise strong.
In terms of submission limits, each eligible institution may submit up to two applications. There is also generally a limit of two awards to any one eligible institution under this NOFO (with the details tied to the program's project and grant types as described in the NOFO). The opportunity also makes clear that duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed; if an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions, NIFA will disqualify both applications. This means institutions need to coordinate internally so that what they submit is intentional, distinct, and compliant with the stated cap.
Key funding details included in the listing indicate an award ceiling of $200,000, with an expected five awards. The funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is agriculture, and the opportunity is labeled discretionary. The opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 012281. The original closing date for applications is 2026-11-02, and the opportunity was created on 2026-09-02. The NOFO also includes a federal policy restriction stating that USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant and cooperative agreements that involve dangerous gain-of-function research as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
For applicants that are newer to federal funding, the opportunity points to NIFA's "About Grants" resources as a recommended starting point to understand how federal financial assistance works, what typical compliance expectations look like, and how to navigate the USDA/NIFA grants process. The overall theme of TCEP-SE is practical, community-centered extension work led by 1994 Institutions, with funding intended to help Tribal colleges pilot and deliver outreach and education that strengthens agriculture, food systems, and community well-being while supporting youth engagement and leadership development.Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 012281
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.517.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis (TCEP-SE) FAQs
1) What is the Tribal Colleges Extension Program Special Emphasis (TCEP-SE)?
TCEP-SE is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.517. It supports informal, community-focused extension pilot projects hosted at Tribal Colleges and Universities that are federally designated as "1994 Institutions."
2) What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program is meant to help eligible Tribal colleges test and deliver hands-on extension activities that respond directly to local community priorities. It is designed for short, targeted pilot projects that can demonstrate value, build capacity, and help lay the groundwork for longer-term extension programming.
3) What kinds of projects does TCEP-SE fund?
TCEP-SE emphasizes practical education and community outreach activities typical of extension work. Examples include trainings, demonstrations, local problem-solving, and applied learning that benefit Tribal communities, rather than purely academic research.
4) What community needs or topic areas are emphasized?
The opportunity highlights projects that address emerging or pressing needs in Tribal communities. Examples of focus areas specifically mentioned include improving agricultural productivity, strengthening and modernizing food systems, supporting community vitality, advancing workforce and economic development, and promoting public health and overall well-being.
5) Does the program encourage youth engagement?
Yes. The scope explicitly encourages work that meaningfully engages Tribal youth and helps prepare the next generation of Tribal agriculture and natural resource leaders.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to colleges and universities that are designated by legislation as 1994 Institutions. Only those institutions may submit applications under this opportunity.
7) Which institutions are listed as eligible 1994 Institutions in this opportunity?
The opportunity lists the following eligible institutions: Aaniiih Nakoda College; Bay Mills Community College; Blackfeet Community College; Cankdeska Cikana Community College; Chief Dull Knife College; College of the Menominee Nation; College of the Muscogee Nation; Dine College; Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College; Fort Peck Community College; Haskell Indian Nations University; Ilisagvik College; Institute of American Indian Arts; Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College; Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa University; Leech Lake Tribal College; Little Big Horn College; Little Priest Tribal College; Navajo Technical University; Nebraska Indian Community College; Northwest Indian College; Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College; Oglala Lakota College; Red Lake Nation College; Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College; Salish Kootenai College; Sinte Gleska University; Sisseton Wahpeton College; Sitting Bull College; Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; Stone Child College; Tohono O'odham Community College; Turtle Mountain Community College; United Tribes Technical College; and White Earth Tribal and Community College.
8) What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The opportunity states that applicants are expected to meet all eligibility and application requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Missing eligibility criteria by the deadline can lead to the application being excluded or can prevent NIFA from making an award even if the project is otherwise strong.
9) How many applications can each eligible institution submit?
Each eligible institution may submit up to two applications.
10) Is there a limit on the number of awards an institution can receive?
Yes. There is generally a limit of two awards to any one eligible institution under this NOFO, with details tied to the program's project and grant types as described in the NOFO.
11) Are duplicate submissions allowed?
No. The opportunity states that duplicate or multiple submissions are not allowed. If an applicant submits duplicate or multiple submissions, NIFA will disqualify both applications.
12) What does the duplicate-submission rule mean in practice?
It means an institution should coordinate internally so that what it submits is intentional, distinct, and compliant with the stated submission cap, because duplicative submissions can result in disqualification.
13) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $200,000.
14) How many awards does USDA NIFA expect to make?
The listing indicates an expectation of five awards.
15) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
16) How is the opportunity categorized?
The activity category is agriculture, and the opportunity is labeled discretionary.
17) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA SLBCD 012281.
18) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The opportunity is administered under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.517.
19) What is the application closing date?
The original closing date for applications is 2026-11-02.
20) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-09-02.
21) Is there a policy restriction related to dangerous gain-of-function research?
Yes. The NOFO includes a federal policy restriction stating that USDA will not accept competitive applications for grant and cooperative agreements that involve dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of Executive Order 14292.
22) Where can applicants learn more about the USDA/NIFA grants process?
For organizations newer to federal funding, the opportunity points to NIFA's "About Grants" resources as a recommended starting point to understand federal financial assistance, typical compliance expectations, and how to navigate the USDA/NIFA grants process.
23) What should applicants rely on for the full set of rules and requirements?
Applicants are expected to follow all eligibility and application requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The NOFO is the controlling document for requirements, limits, and restrictions referenced in the listing.
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