The purpose of the Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) is to strengthen the quality and expand the scope of fundamental and applied research at eligible institutions by providing them with opportunities to assist in the construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, and/or remodeling of research facilities. Awards may support the acquisition of real property and fixed equipment. Awards extend to both on-campus facilities and off-campus experiment stations and research centers.
This technical assistance webinar provides an overview of the FY26 Research Facilities Act Program Notice of Funding Opportunity, program goals and priorities, application submission guidelines, peer review process, and resources to aid in submitting the application to NIFA.
Frequently Asked Questions
For purposes of RFAP, an agricultural research facility refers to a proposed facility or facility complex that supports advancing research and training in the food and agricultural sciences. This includes spaces and infrastructure that enable basic, applied, and developmental research, as well as Extension/outreach and teaching activities integral to preparing the next generation of researchers and professionals in these fields.
For RFAP purposes, “parent institution” refers to the single, legally distinct institution of higher education that oversees its colleges, schools, and departments. A separate Unique Entity ID (UEI) by itself does not automatically make a campus or unit a different institution. Some campuses, divisions, or administrative units within a university system may maintain their own UEIs for grants management purposes while still operating under the governance, accreditation, and legal identity of a single parent institution.
In such cases, the parent institution, not the UEI, is the controlling factor in determining the one application limit. The one application limit applies to all subordinate units under the same institution. However, university systems with multiple independently accredited institutions may submit one application per eligible institution within the system. A multi-campus university system may submit more than one application only if each campus is recognized as a distinct institution based on its own independent accreditation and institutional identity.
*The following statement serves as a comprehensive response to multiple, interrelated questions regarding multisite, multifacility, multiobjective projects.
The FY 2026 RFAP NOFO does not restrict applicants to a single building, a single site, or a single type of renovation within a proposal. Applicants may request support for construction, renovation, modernization, or expansion across multiple facilities or multiple locations, including outlying experiment stations, as long as all proposed activities are integrated and collectively strengthen agricultural research capacity.
If your institution is proposing a project that addresses deferred maintenance across several sites, includes multiple facilities within one location, or includes new construction at multiple locations, you should present these components as part of a cohesive, well justified project.
In the Project Narrative, clearly articulate:
- How the group of facilities or sites functions together to advance your research mission;
- Why bundling these activities into a single proposal is appropriate and strategically aligned;
- How the overall project aligns with USDA’s Research and Development Priorities and national or multistate research needs; and
- How the institution will sustain long-term operations and maintenance across the proposed facilities.
Applicants may submit a portfolio-style application, as long as the activities are integrated, justified, and collectively support the goals of RFAP.
To remain fully compliant and competitive, all proposals should clearly articulate how each activity, including any collaboration, will advance U.S. agricultural objectives and benefit American stakeholders. Foreign engagement is permissible but only to the extent it enhances domestic results and capabilities.
Ensure lead institutions and primary funds remain based in the United States.
Per 42 U.S. Code § 19237, foreign countries of concern include The People’s Republic of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.