The eXtension Foundation is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for Land Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) for the fiscal year 2018. In September 2017, eXtension received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and administer a national sub-award program in support of pesticide applicator education, and training for certified applicators of restricted used pesticides.
The National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) has been invited to collaborate with eXtension to lead the professional development part of the grant and to assist PSEPs in enhancing some of the educational products they develop as part of the expectations attached to the funding. Together, eXtension and NPSEC are working to create a user-friendly and seamless transition to the new process. eXtension has implemented a new online application process, administration of sub-awards, compliance of subrecipients and reporting. Based on program changes, here’s what is new:
- Subrecipients are required to:
- agree to share one educational material or product in coordination with NPSEC for the purposes of enhancing PSEP programs both regionally and nationally.
- agree to participate in the national network of educators through NPSEC to increase resource sharing. Participation can include but is not limited to, engaging in online workshops or training, attending onsite meetings and sharing materials developed with other PSEPs both regionally and nationally.
- submit progress reports every six (6) months using a standard online template.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be affiliated with a U.S. Land Grant University. Only one application per state will be eligible for funding and preference will go to 1862 Land Grant Universities. Please contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator if you have any questions about participation by your institution.
Funding Period
The funding period for this sub-award will be Jan. 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018.
Funding Available
Each PSEP will be eligible to apply for a base amount of $22,500.00 USD plus 5% of the funds after they have been divided proportionately based on the percentage of the number of certified applicators in each state or territory. The number of certified applicators in a state or territory will be based on the most recent figures of certified applicators as supplied by the EPA. The additional amount available to the state or territory will be listed in the budget section. Paments to successful sub-awardees will be made January 15 – 25, 2018.
Key Dates
Application System Opens: December 6, 2017, at 8 am EST
First round of reviews: December 16, 2017
Second round of reviews: December 23, 2017
Remaining Applications Due: January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST
Final round of reviews: January 10, 2018
Sub-Award Notification Announcement: January 11, 2018
Funds distributed by January 25, 2018
Application Review Process
eXtension is using a multi-step approach in the receiving and review of applications for this program. Each application will be reviewed by eXtension and an advisory panel including representatives from NPSEC for eligibility, compliance, completeness and the potential for enhancing educational materials or products to be shared through NPSEC. Additionally, through this new process, applicants will have the unique opportunity to engage with NPSEC and serve as a participant in an NPSEC subject group and be involved in creating educational materials if they wish to do so.
Application Submission
In an effort to make the application process as streamlined and user-friendly as possible, applicants will be able to download the sub-award agreement from the application site allowing for the opportunity to provide these documents signed, with the submitted application. Before an application can be submitted there must be a signed sub-award agreement uploaded. An application CAN NOT be submitted without this signed document and therefore will not be considered for funding.
Those interested in participating in this opportunity should contact your state’s pesticide safety education coordinator. The deadline for applications is January 9, 2018, at 8 pm EST.
About eXtension Foundation
The United States Cooperative Extension System, with funding from Cooperative Extension
directors and administrators, and USDA-NIFA, shares resources and tools through eXtension
that enables the Extension workforce to scale up its local and national impact. eXtension is an
integral part of the national Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) and is
organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization. Its Board of Directors represents
the five regions of Cooperative Extension, ECOP, and USDA-NIFA.
About National Pesticide Safety Education Center
The NPSEC seeks to strengthen the national system of university extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs by improving the quality, consistency, and accessibility of educational offerings, promoting collaboration and leveraging of educational resources and learning assessment tools, and increasing revenue generation. The Center has received start-up funding from CropLife Foundation and crop protection companies BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, and Syngenta.
