Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
The program responds to the current shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural areas by encouraging veterinarians, through loan repayment, to provide veterinary service in designated shortage areas. To carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which the Secretary shall pay specified amounts of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
The Secretary may enter into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations.
Beneficiaries
- Other
The Secretary may enter into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
Applications should be submitted as outlined in the NOFO. Applications must follow the instructions provided per the VMLRP website at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp. Qualified individuals interested in participating in the VMLRP should visit the VMLRP website for all application forms and requirements. The application will be evaluated by a peer review panel, convened for this purpose by the NIFA. In selecting applicants for participation in the VMLRP, the panel will consider eligibility status, quality of the applicant, and the applicant’s career plan focus. All selections are subject to final approval by the VMLRP manager. The NIFA will notify the State Animal Health Official and the applicant of the outcome of the review. Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to VMLRP applications considered for review and to service agreements awarded under this program.
Award Procedure
Once the applicant is selected to participate in the VMLRP, the applicant and the NIFA Director (or Secretary of Agriculture) will sign a written binding agreement stating the terms and conditions for participating in the VMLRP.
The effective date of the agreement will be the date it is signed by the NIFA Director, or the date employment/service begins at an NIFA-designated veterinary shortage area, whichever is later.
Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the NOFOs or guidelines for each fiscal year.
Program details & compliance
Description
Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are generally released annually. See the program NOFO for specific and detailed information. Specific instructions in the NOFOs supersede the general information provided in the Assistance Listing.
Mission Categories
Primary: Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation
Other categories:
General Collection and Communication of Statistical Data
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
(1) SERVICE IN SHORTAGE SITUATIONS. The Secretary shall carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. For each year of such service under an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, as
determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians.
(2) SERVICE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
(A) IN GENERAL. The Secretary may enter into agreements of 1 year duration with veterinarians who have agreements pursuant to paragraph (1) for such veterinarians to provide services to the Federal Government in emergency situations, as determined by the Secretary, under terms and conditions specified in the agreement. Pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, in addition to the amount paid pursuant to the agreement in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians.
(B) REQUIREMENTS. Agreements entered into under this paragraph shall include the following:
(i) A veterinarian shall not be required to serve more than 60 working days per year of the agreement.
(ii) A veterinarian who provides service pursuant to the agreement shall receive a salary commensurate with the duties and shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as appropriate for the duration of the service.
Restrictions
None of the funds appropriated to the Secretary under subsection (f) may be used to carry out section 5379 of title 5, United States Code.
Required Documentation
Applicants must furnish the information required in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which include:
(1) a Loan Information Form for each loan to be considered for repayment;
(2) an Intent of Employment form providing assurance that the applicant will be engaged in employment at a NIFA-designated veterinary shortage area for not less than three years from the anticipated effective date of the VMLRP agreement between the individual and NIFA; and
(3) a signed VMLRP agreement by which the applicant agrees to serve the obligated minimum period of three years providing veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements