The purpose of the Research Facilities Act Program (RFAP) is to assist qualifying institutions with the costs related to constructing, purchasing, updating, renovating, or modifying agricultural research buildings to conduct research in the areas of agriculture and food sciences. The proposed agricultural research facility must expand the institution's capacity for long-term impactful research and must be the result of thorough strategic planning. Awards may be used to fund the construction of buildings or sites for agricultural research facilities or other facilities that store agricultural research experimental samples or specimens, as well as the purchase of real estate or durable equipment. Activities might include, but are not limited to:
- Evaluating infrastructure and sites
- Conceptual planning and design for a newly constructed, restored, or rebuilt structure or place
- Creating construction plans and schematics for the facility or site that is being built, restored, or rebuilt.
- Building, restoring, or remodeling a facility or location.
- Investing in and putting in permanent equipment for research monitoring and safeguarding samples and specimens.
- Investing in and putting in essential building systems like electricity, climate control, security, life safety, lighting, utilities, telecommunications, and energy management.