Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001
This grant opportunity is a competitively awarded cooperative agreement from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), working in partnership with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), to create and operate a USDA RIDGE Partnership focused on food and nutrition assistance research. The selected awardee would serve as a research partner responsible for administering the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program, with an emphasis on generating timely, policy-relevant evidence about major USDA nutrition assistance programs and food security.
The core purpose of the USDA RIDGE Partnership is threefold. First, it is meant to bring renewed attention to the economic dimensions of food and nutrition assistance research, including how program rules, incentives, and market conditions shape participation and outcomes. Second, it aims to stimulate innovative work on domestic food and nutrition assistance issues by offering smaller, targeted research grants that fund new analyses of USDA's key nutrition assistance programs and broader food security topics. Third, it is designed to broaden and diversify the network of social scientists engaged in this area, expanding the range of disciplines, institutions, and perspectives contributing to the evidence base on economic, nutrition, and health outcomes tied to participation in USDA food assistance programs, as well as practical issues related to program implementation and service delivery.
Funding for this cooperative agreement is expected to be up to $750,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022, with one award anticipated. While the initial funding is tied to FY 2022, ERS notes that, if additional funds are available, the research partner may be asked to support additional rounds of small grants in FY 2023 and FY 2024. In other words, the award is structured to potentially serve as the hub for multiple years of grantmaking and research coordination, depending on future appropriations and agency priorities.
The opportunity is listed as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, signaling that USDA expects substantial involvement from the agency in guiding or collaborating on program operations beyond what is typical in a standard grant. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education, reflecting an intent to anchor this partnership within the university-based research community. The program is associated with CFDA number 10.253 and falls under activity categories that include agriculture, food and nutrition, and income security and social services.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001, a posting/creation date of July 7, 2022, and an application deadline of August 8, 2022. The award ceiling is $750,000 and the expected number of awards is one, meaning applicants are competing to become the single designated partner to run the RIDGE small-grants pipeline and help shape the research agenda in this space.Apply for USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001
- The Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service in the agriculture, food and nutrition, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Competitive Cooperative Agreement Award To Establish a USDA RIDGE Partnership for Food and Nutrition Assistance Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.253.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 07, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 08, 2022. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: USDA ERS/FNS RIDGE Partnership Cooperative Agreement (Food and Nutrition Assistance Research)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a competitively awarded cooperative agreement from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), working in partnership with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), to create and operate a USDA RIDGE Partnership focused on food and nutrition assistance research.
2) What is the selected awardee expected to do?
The selected awardee will serve as a research partner responsible for administering the Research Innovation and Development Grants in Economics (RIDGE) Program, with an emphasis on generating timely, policy-relevant evidence about major USDA nutrition assistance programs and food security. The awardee is expected to function as the hub for small, targeted research grants and related research coordination under the RIDGE framework.
3) What does "USDA RIDGE Partnership" mean in this context?
In this context, the USDA RIDGE Partnership refers to a formal research partnership established through this cooperative agreement, where the awardee helps operate the RIDGE Program by administering small grants and supporting research activity focused on food and nutrition assistance and food security, with ERS (and FNS) involved as partners.
4) What are the main goals of the USDA RIDGE Partnership?
The purpose is threefold: (1) bring renewed attention to the economic dimensions of food and nutrition assistance research, including how program rules, incentives, and market conditions shape participation and outcomes; (2) stimulate innovative work by offering smaller, targeted research grants for new analyses of USDA nutrition assistance programs and broader food security topics; and (3) broaden and diversify the network of social scientists engaged in this area by expanding disciplines, institutions, and perspectives contributing to evidence on economic, nutrition, and health outcomes, as well as practical issues in program implementation and service delivery.
5) Which USDA agencies are involved?
The opportunity is offered by USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) in partnership with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
6) What is a cooperative agreement, and why does it matter here?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which signals that USDA expects substantial involvement from the agency in guiding or collaborating on program operations beyond what is typical in a standard grant.
7) Is this opportunity competitive?
Yes. It is described as a competitively awarded cooperative agreement, and applicants are competing to be selected as the single designated partner.
8) How many awards does USDA expect to make?
One award is anticipated.
9) What is the maximum funding amount?
Funding is expected to be up to $750,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022, and the award ceiling is listed as $750,000.
10) What fiscal year does the funding apply to?
The funding is tied to FY 2022, with expected funding up to $750,000 for that fiscal year.
11) Is additional funding possible in later years?
Potentially. ERS notes that if additional funds are available, the research partner may be asked to support additional rounds of small grants in FY 2023 and FY 2024. This indicates the award could serve as a multi-year hub for grantmaking and coordination, depending on future appropriations and agency priorities.
12) What types of research topics are emphasized?
The emphasis is on generating timely, policy-relevant evidence about major USDA nutrition assistance programs and food security. The description highlights economic dimensions (program rules, incentives, and market conditions), outcomes (economic, nutrition, and health outcomes tied to participation), and practical issues related to program implementation and service delivery.
13) What is meant by "economic dimensions" of food and nutrition assistance research?
As described, this includes how program rules, incentives, and market conditions shape program participation and outcomes.
14) What role do small grants play in this partnership?
A central feature is offering smaller, targeted research grants intended to stimulate innovative work, fund new analyses of USDA nutrition assistance programs, and support research on broader food security topics. The selected partner is responsible for administering these RIDGE small grants.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
16) Does the opportunity appear to be designed for universities and academic research institutions?
Yes. Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private), reflecting an intent to anchor the partnership within the university-based research community.
17) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The program is associated with CFDA number 10.253.
18) What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The activity categories include agriculture, food and nutrition, and income security and social services.
19) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA ERS CDNR RIDGE 2022 001.
20) When was the opportunity posted?
The posting/creation date is July 7, 2022.
21) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is August 8, 2022.
22) What does "discretionary" mean for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as discretionary, meaning it is offered under a discretionary funding program rather than a mandatory entitlement.
23) What does it mean that the awardee would be the "single designated partner"?
With one expected award, the selected applicant becomes the single partner responsible for running the RIDGE small-grants pipeline and helping shape and support the research agenda within the scope described for food and nutrition assistance research.
24) What broader outcome is USDA aiming for through this partnership?
Beyond generating research findings, the partnership is designed to broaden and diversify the network of social scientists working on food and nutrition assistance and food security, expanding disciplines, institutions, and perspectives contributing to the evidence base.
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