Overview
The Research Facilities Act Program (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. 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 and teaching activities integral to preparing the next generation of researchers and professionals in these fields.
Facilities may encompass, but are not limited to, a wide range of infrastructure that supports research, research training, and integrated activities in the food and agricultural sciences. Eligible facilities may include single buildings, stand-alone structures, or multi-building complexes, provided they directly enable and enhance agricultural research capacity.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- Research laboratories designed for experimental, analytical, or applied scientific work.
- Specimen storage, instrumentation suites, and other specialized spaces for maintaining and utilizing research materials and technologies.
- Classroom, training, or experiential learning spaces that support hands-on research and research focused instruction.
- Integrated complexes that co-locate research, extension, and teaching functions to promote innovation and collaboration.
- Greenhouses, growth chambers, shade houses, screen houses, and other controlled environment facilities.
- Standalone agricultural research structures, including barns, animal care or husbandry facilities, aquaculture units, or other specialized facilities supporting agricultural research programs.
Eligibility
Applications may be submitted by:
- 1994 Land-Grant Institutions
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations (the terms “State” or “States” are defined to include the several States (including the District of Columbia), Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands)
- 1862 Land-Grant Institutions
- Accredited school or college of veterinary medicine that conducts animal health and disease research
- 1890 Land-Grant Institutions
- Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACU)
- Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA)
- Insular Area Institutions-Institution of higher education
- Institutions eligible for McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act
- Other entities eligible to receive funds under a capacity and infrastructure program. See Appendix IV of the NOFO.
