USDA Equipment Grant Program (EGP)

Important Notes

Note: Due to the competitive nature of this funding program, this selection process is running with an anticipated deadline. We will keep all applicants informed of relevant updates in the guidelines, submission deadlines, and eligibility as soon as more information becomes available.

01/23/2025 Update: Due to administrative changes it's expected a delay in the publication of this and other federal programs.
02/03/2025 Update: All NIFA Requests for Applications are currently under review.

The Equipment Grant Program (EGP) serves to increase access to shared-use special purpose equipment/instruments for fundamental and applied research for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs at institutions of higher education, including State Cooperative Extension Systems.

EGP is designed to strengthen the fundamental and/ or applied research capacity (extension) of institutions by funding the purchase of one shared-use piece of equipment that may be too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NIFA grant programs. The EGP emphasizes shared-use instrumentation that will enhance the capabilities of researchers both within and outside the proposing institutions. An instrument acquired with support from EGP is expected to be fully operational by the conclusion of the first year of the project. The EGP emphasizes shared-use instrumentation that will enhance the capabilities of researchers both within and outside the proposing institutions.Proposals to the EGP are for the acquisition of a single, well-integrated piece of equipment/instrument. Well-integrated research instrument means that the ensemble of equipment that defines the instrument enables specific fundamental or applied research experiments in the food and agricultural sciences, including data science and data systems. It also means that separating or removing an element or component of such an integrated instrument would preclude any experiments from occurring or succeeding. Requests for computer equipment are allowed only if the equipment is part of a well-integrated instrument. Training and warranty costs must not exceed $7,000.

The EGP does not support the acquisition of suites of equipment to outfit research laboratories /facilities or to conduct independent experiments simultaneously. Similarly, the EGP does not fund common, general purpose ancillary equipment that would normally be found in a laboratory and/or is relatively easily procured by the organization or through other NIFA grant programs. Rather, it is intended to help fund items of equipment that will upgrade infrastructure. Moreover, EGP does not fund research projects, including research that uses the equipment acquired with support from the program nor does it support the operation and maintenance of facilities.

The EGP is aligned with the following USDA Strategic Goals FY 2022-2026:
1. Strategic Goal 1: Combat Climate Change to Support America’s Working Lands, Natural Resources and Communities
2. Strategic Goal 2: Ensure America’s Agricultural System is Equitable, Resilient, and Prosperous
3. Strategic Goal 3: Foster an Equitable and Competitive Marketplace for All Agricultural Producers
4. Strategic Goal 4: Provide All Americans Safe, Nutritious Food

The EGP is aligned with the following USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023–2026 priorities:
1. Priority 1. Accelerating Innovative Technologies & Practices
2. Priority 2. Driving Climate-Smart Solutions
3. Priority 3. Bolstering Nutrition Security & Health
4. Priority 4. Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems
5. Priority 5. Translating Research into Action

EGP does not:

• Fund research projects or personnel salaries or wages, including research or personnel that use equipment acquired with support from the program.
• Fund education projects, including education projects that use acquired equipment.
• Fund common, general purpose ancillary equipment that would normally be found in a laboratory and/or is relatively easily procured by other funding sources (for the purposes of this program, General Purpose Equipment is defined in 2 CFR 200.48).
• Support the operation, insurance, or maintenance of facilities, equipment, or research laboratories, or renovation of facilities that house the acquired equipment.
• Support the acquisition of a suite of instruments to outfit research laboratories/facilities or to conduct independent experiments simultaneously.

Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

NIFA encourages applications that engage diverse communities and have broad impacts through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future challenges.

Evaluation Criteria

Innovativeness of Proposed Approach: This criterion relates to the soundness of the proposed approach including objectives, justification of requested equipment model or well-integrated instrument configuration, plan of operation, timetable, management plan, data management plan, expected products and results. Justification should also address how the new or enhanced research capacity supports the innovation, multidisciplinary and/or problem-based focus of the proposed approach. A multidisciplinary focus infers the requested equipment supports multiple research programs, cross-disciplinary collaboration, broad-use with potential for significant local, regional, or national impact.

Potential Impact on Research Capacity: This criterion is used to assess the likelihood that the project will have an impact upon and advance the quality of fundamental and/or applied research activities by strengthening institutional capacities to meet clearly delineated needs. Consideration for impact may include existence and/or availability of comparable instrumentation at the applicant’s institution and/or institutions in close geographical proximity, or otherwise accessible through collaborations or cyberinfrastructure. Consideration for impact may also include impact on enhanced
access to the equipment by institutions or individuals traditionally underrepresented in the proposed areas of research. Elements considered include scientific merit, identification of a problem or opportunity to be addressed, alignment with institutional long-range goals, and alignment with USDA’s Strategic Goals.

Institutional Capability: This criterion relates to the institution's capability to acquire, install, operate the equipment and the degree to which the equipment will strengthen itsresearch capacity and support research training or extension goals. Elements include the institution’s commitment to operation and maintenance of the equipment, the adequacy institutional resources (administrative, facilities, and/or materials) available to maintain the equipment, adequacy of the number and qualifications of key personnel who will operate and carry out experiments or activities using the equipment, as well as plans for continued use beyond the period of USDA support.

Budget and Cost-Effectiveness: This criterion relates to the extent to which the total budget adequately supports the equipment acquisition and is cost-effective. Elements considered include the necessity and reasonableness of acquisition costs; and the degree to which the project maximizes the use of limited resources. Note: NIFA will not fund equipment purchase that is duplicative or overlaps substantially with efforts already funded (or to be funded) by other federal agencies or with other federal funds.

Award Limitations

a) No more than one award will be made per lead institution
b) To receive an award, the lead institution may not have received more than two EGP awards in the previous two EGP funding cycles. Based ons USDA records, Penn State is eligible.

This announcement provides only opportunity highlights. Please carefully review the program guidelines and the sponsor's website for any requirements and expectations related to eligibility, PI and Co-PI limits, budget, collaboration, priority research areas, letter of intent requirements, and review criteria before submitting to this internal competition.