The Center of Excellence for Land, Water, and Resource Management
(COE-LWRM)

Advancing applied, collaborative, and solution-oriented research across the 1890 system.

The 1890 COEs are hosted by 1890 Land-Grant Institutions with the goals of: 1) increasing profitability and rural prosperity in underserved farming communities; 2) addressing critical needs for enhanced international training and development; and 3) increasing diversity in the science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines.

Under the COE competitive process, the USDA/NIFA selected Tennessee State University (TSU) to host and implement the Center of Excellence for Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM). This Center is hosted in collaboration with eight additional 1890 institutions: Alabama A&M University, Southern University, Florida A&M University, Langston University, Fort Valley State University, Lincoln University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Prairie View A&M university. The COE-LWRM advances applied, collaborative, and solution-oriented research aligned with its thrust areas in 1) natural resource management, conservation and forest health, 2) precision agriculture and artificial intelligence 3) ecosystem health and water quality; and 4) workforce training and development. The Center is intended to unify research, teaching, Extension, and partnership activities across 1890 institutions while increasing the visibility, relevance, and practical impact of the work conducted under the Center.

This Request for Applications (RFA) calls for competitive proposals from eligible 1890 land-grant universities that address novel research aligned with the COE-LWRM thrust areas, with particular emphasis on regenerative agriculture and ecosystem health. The purpose of this RFA is to support projects that use artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, sensing, advanced analytics, decision-support tools, and related emerging technologies to improve decision-making and increase farm profitability while strengthening environmental and ecosystem outcomes. Proposed projects should clearly articulate expected outputs and demonstrate how the work will generate visible, actionable products such as datasets, decision tools, field-tested methods, protocols, extension-ready materials, publications, student training outcomes, or other measurable deliverables that advance the mission of the COE-LWRM.

The COE-LWRM also strongly encourages collaboration with TSU faculty and/or partner institutions to broaden participation, improve project visibility, and enhance scientific and programmatic synergy across the 1890 system. Collaboration may occur in multiple ways, including joint project design, shared field or laboratory activities, coordinated student training, data sharing, method development, co-authored products, cross-institutional mentoring, and dissemination of project results through multi-institutional teams.

The total available funding for the 2026 RFA cycle is $1,000,000.

Ten proposals for up to $100,000 each will be supported under this announcement. Two categories of projects will be funded, single-institution projects and collaborative projects. Submitted proposals must focus on research that is connected to COE-LWRM thrust areas and provide research that is complementary, but not duplicative, to ongoing Center activities.

For this RFA cycle, 10 proposals of up to $50,000 to $100,000 will be supported under this announcement.

• Projects must be executed, without the requirement of sharing grant funds with other project partners (subaward budgets are not allowable).

COE-LWRM thrust areas of interest for this RFA include:

Priority considerations for this cycle:

• Projects should demonstrate strong, clearly defined outputs and deliverables rather than broad conceptual intent alone.
• Projects are encouraged to incorporate AI, automation, sensing, robotics, modeling, decision-support systems, or related technologies where relevant to the proposed research across all four thrust areas.
• Projects should describe collaboration with TSU COE faculty and/or partner institutions COE faculty, including how such collaboration will improve visibility, scientific quality, training, and dissemination. For details about participating faculty visit center website at https://www.tnstate.edu/agriculture/centerofexcellence.aspx
• Projects may be single-institution or collaborative; however, proposals that show meaningful collaboration and clear task integration will be viewed favorably.

Project durations should be planned to occur between August 15, 2026, and August 14, 2028.

• a. Ten proposals for up to $1,000,000 will be supported under this announcement. Either single-institution or collaborative (i.e., two or more 1890 institutions) proposals will be accepted.
• b. Funding for conferences and/or workshops is not allowable under this announcement.

Eligibility, performance, and reporting expectations for awarded projects.

1. This RFA is only open to 1890 land grant universities. The submitting 1890 institutions may collaborate with other public and private partners to leverage these resources.
2. Proposals will not be accepted from universities where the Project Investigator (PI) is a primary COE-LWRM participant (i.e., Tennessee State University, Alabama A&M University, Southern University, Florida A&M University, Langston University, Fort Valley State University, Lincoln University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Prairie View A&M university). Applicants from these universities can serve as a Co-PI on a submission from another 1890 institution.
3. Eligible institutions may submit a maximum of one proposal, regardless of the project type. All proposals must include a letter of support from the Dean (or equivalent) of the submitting College within the 1890 institution at time of submission.
4. Project performance period is through August 14, 2028. All funds must be expended by the project end date.
5. Progress reports (financial and technical) are due on a quarterly basis, beginning October 15, 2026, and a final report will be due no later than October 31, 2028.
6. Projects are expected to provide novel research that evaluates issues relevant to Land, Water, and Resource Management. Successfully funded projects will require: (1) clear alignment with one or more COE-LWRM thrust areas; (2) multi-institutional partnerships where applicable; and (3) suitability of proposed projects for providing unique research that will contribute to the larger mission of the COE-LWRM.
7. If organized by the COE-LWRM, the PI will be required to attend one symposium during the period of performance for the award. Reasonable travel expenses must be included as part of the project budget.
8. To ensure eligibility of funding, all guidelines outlined in this RFA must be followed.
9. Successful applicants will be required to abide with all requirements and deadlines in the agreements between 1890 Universities Foundation and the COE-LWRM.
10. Projects are expected to provide novel research that evaluates the impacts of Agriculture and land-use change on "Land, Water, and Resource Management". Successfully funded projects will require: 1) multi-institutional partnerships where applicable, and 2) suitability of proposed projects for providing unique research that will contribute to the larger mission of the COE-LWRM.
11. Applications submitted under this Center must also adhere to all USDA/NIFA guidelines as they pertain. Please refer to the COE RFA for information on purpose and priorities (pg. 7) and award administration provisions (pg. 19-21). The RFA is accessible at the following link: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/centers-excellence-factsheet
12. Successful applicants must adhere to COE-LWRM communication and collaboration procedures established for the Center. This includes participation in designated communication platforms and activities intended to strengthen coordination, visibility, and interaction among funded participants and partner institutions.
13. Successful applicants must also adhere to COE-LWRM reporting and visibility requirements. This includes timely submission of quarterly progress and financial reports, as well as periodic sharing of student information, faculty and project spotlights, accomplishments, presentations, and other relevant materials that support documentation of impacts and broader dissemination of Center activities.

Innovative research and applied approaches relevant to land, water, and resource management.

Projects under this RFA are required to address innovative research and applied approaches relevant to land, water, and resource management. Proposed work must align with one or more COE-LWRM thrust areas and should clearly demonstrate how the project will contribute to regenerative agriculture, ecosystem health, and improved management outcomes. Proposals are strongly encouraged to incorporate artificial intelligence, robotics, sensing technologies, automation, advanced analytics, decision-support tools, or related emerging technologies where appropriate. In addition, proposed research should indicate how the work will foster collaboration among 1890 institutions, Tennessee State University faculty, and other relevant partners, while producing clear, measurable, and visible outputs.

The proposal narrative must identify the COE-LWRM thrust area(s) addressed by the proposed research, which must be completed by August 14, 2028. Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria listed below. The submitted proposal must clearly explain how the proposed work aligns with the Center's mission and priorities.

Applicants should clearly specify anticipated project outputs, with emphasis on tangible and applied products beyond traditional academic deliverables such as publications. More desirable outputs include field-tested tools, decision-support systems, protocols, datasets, sensing or automation applications, extension-ready materials, producer-focused resources, student training outcomes, and other practical products that improve utility, visibility, and collaboration. Publications may be included, but they will not be considered a primary project output under this RFA.

Structure, format, and length expectations for submissions.

5.1 Structure

Proposal narratives MUST use Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and 1.5-line spacing.

5.2 Format and Length

• aCover sheet (does not count towards page limit)1 page
• bSummary (does not count towards page limit)1 page
• cProposal Narrative — including clearly defined project rationale, goal(s), objectives and deliverables, novelty, methods, evaluation methods, data management plan, outputs, and collaboration[s]Up to 5 pp
• dDescription of Resources — Includes current campus program(s), institutional capabilities and resources, collaborations, and expertise that lend themselves to the objectives and scope of work.—
• eBudget Justification and Cost Effectiveness—
• fReferences (does not count towards page limit)—
• gBudget (format provided; does not count towards page limit). Indirect costs will not be supported under this RFA.—
• hLetter of support from Project Investigator's Dean (does not count towards page limit)≤ 1 page
• iTwo-page CV, Current and Pending, and Conflict of Interest form must be submitted for all project investigators (does not count towards page limit).2 pp ea.

Proposal Narrative components

Proposals will be evaluated based on all criteria identified below.

Four key dates from release through award notification.

• RFA Release Date: May 1, 2026
• Submission Deadline: June 5, 2026 (5:00 pm CST)
• Ad Hoc Review: June 30, 2026
• Notification of Decisions: July 31, 2026

How and where to submit your proposal.

The deadline for submission is June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm EST.

Proposals must be submitted as one portable document format (PDF). Submissions with non-PDF attachments or multiple PDF attachments WILL NOT be accepted for review.

Questions regarding this COE-LWRM RFA should be directed to:

Required information on the proposal cover sheet.

1890 Land Grant Universities Centers of Excellence Program — Land, Water, and Resource Management (COE-LWRM)