Dear Colleagues,

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released frequently asked questions about impacts of the COVID-19 emergency on USDA NIFA grants.

You may review responses to the following common questions at this link: https://nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/NIFA-20-005-NIFA-Coronavirus-FAQs.pdf

Questions about USDA NIFA Applications

1. Are proposal submission deadlines being extended?
2. I have a project with relevance to COVID-19, where can I submit it?
3. Can FY 2020 proposals include study abroad programs which include sending students abroad in 2021?
   

Questions about NIFA Awards

1. Are NIFA awards covered under OMB's M-20-17, “Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID- 19) due to Loss of Operations?”
2. What are my options if the COVID-19 emergency does not allow me to complete the project?
3. What do we do with conference grants and conferences already scheduled?
4. If my organization cancels an approved conference due to the impacts of COVID-19, are the costs incurred allowable costs under our award?
5. My organization is under a shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. My team, whose salaries and benefit are charged directly to the award, cannot perform work while at their homes. Can we charge their time to the award during this time?
6. My organization is under a shelter-in-place order due to COVID-19. My project cannot perform research during this time. If the project cannot be completed in original duration or budget, what are my options?
7. Classes are cancelled, how do I complete the grant program requirements (my grant requires classroom instruction)?
8. How do I request a No-Cost Extension?
9. Our NIFA award includes study abroad program in summer 2020. Can that be postponed to 2021?

NIFA continues to evaluate options and flexibilities related to coronavirus impacts and will announce updates to this FAQ in the NIFA Update.

If you have a program specific question, please contact the National Program Leader listed as contact for your program.

Please contact your assigned analyst in the UC ANR Office of Contracts and Grants, or send an email to ocg@ucanr.edu should you have questions about an active ANR NIFA award.

Thank you,

Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)