Opportunity Information: Apply for 09 566
Apply for 09 566
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074 Biological Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 2, 2010 and posted on Jun 20, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2009 Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposers local time) August 05, 2009 Full Proposal Deadline(s) September 09, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Universities and colleges universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. US non profit research organizations, including museums, research laboratories, professional societies or similar organizations in the US that are directly associated with educational or research activities or consortia led by the eligible organizations listed here. A proposal from a consortium of organizations must be submitted as a single proposal with one US organization serving as the lead and all other organizations as subawardees. biSeparately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted and will be returned without review./b/i Subawards may be made to US or non US academic institutions, research organizations, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations that are directly associated with educational or research activities. PI Limit The PI must hold a position at an eligible US institution (as defined above).
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Opportunity Summary:
Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD), Funding Opportunity Number 09-566, is a discretionary grant program run by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The program is designed to fund innovative, high-impact basic research that tackles key scientific and technical barriers facing smallholder agriculture in the developing world. What sets BREAD apart from many standard NSF research programs is the requirement that every proposal clearly and convincingly connects the expected research outcomes to direct relevance and realistic potential application for agriculture in developing countries, particularly for smallholder farmers. In other words, the work should be fundamental and transformative, but it cannot be disconnected from an end use that matters in low-resource agricultural settings.
The program emphasizes novel, proof-of-concept stage research rather than later-stage product development, deployment, or extension. It builds on prior NSF activities in plant genomics by expanding the scientific scope beyond that narrower area and, importantly, by allowing funds to reach international collaborators through subawards. NSF expects projects to aim for breakthroughs that could unlock new approaches to improving crop productivity or production practices where constraints are most severe, such as limited inputs, harsh environments, pests and diseases, and other factors that commonly limit yields for farmers with small landholdings and limited access to capital.
While BREAD initially leans toward crop improvement, it is intentionally broad and open to researchers across science and engineering disciplines as long as the proposed work aligns with the core objective: addressing major constraints to smallholder agriculture in the developing world. Examples of the kinds of targets implied by the solicitation include foundational advances that could eventually lead to improved crop traits, more resilient farming systems, or more efficient and practical production methods. Proposals are also expected to describe broader societal impacts and, where appropriate for the research plan, to actively involve international partners through genuine scientific collaboration rather than superficial participation.
Financially, the opportunity anticipated about 20 awards with an estimated total program funding level of $6,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between an award floor of $300,000 and an award ceiling of $1,800,000. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is associated with CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences), reflecting the program’s strong connection to biology and agriculture even though proposals could span multiple fields.
Eligibility is centered on US-based institutions serving as the primary applicants. Proposals could be submitted by accredited US universities and colleges (including two-year and community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, acting on behalf of their faculty, as well as US nonprofit research organizations such as museums, research laboratories, and professional societies that are directly tied to education or research activities. Consortia were permitted, but only as a single, unified proposal with one eligible US organization as the lead and all other participating organizations included as subawardees; separately submitted collaborative proposals were explicitly not allowed and would be returned without review. Subawards could go to both US and non-US institutions and organizations, which is a key feature intended to strengthen and formalize international research partnerships relevant to developing-world agriculture. The principal investigator had to hold a position at an eligible US institution.
In terms of timing for this particular announcement cycle, a letter of intent was required and due August 5, 2009 (by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer), and full proposals were due September 9, 2009. The opportunity was originally posted June 20, 2009, and later archived August 1, 2010. For official details, applicants were directed to NSF Publication 09-566, with grants.gov support available through grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for access or submission-related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD) program?
BREAD is a discretionary grant program led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). It supports innovative, high-impact basic research aimed at overcoming key scientific and technical barriers limiting smallholder agriculture in the developing world.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 09-566 (NSF Publication 09-566).
What is the main purpose of the BREAD solicitation?
The program funds fundamental, potentially transformative research that targets major constraints affecting smallholder farmers in developing countries. A central requirement is that proposals must clearly connect expected research outcomes to direct relevance and realistic potential application in low-resource agricultural settings.
How is BREAD different from a typical NSF basic research program?
While BREAD emphasizes basic research, it requires a clear and convincing link between the research outcomes and their relevance to agriculture in developing countries, particularly for smallholder farmers. The research is expected to be fundamental and breakthrough-oriented, but not disconnected from an end use that matters in developing-world agriculture.
What stage of research does BREAD support?
BREAD emphasizes novel, proof-of-concept stage research. It is not focused on later-stage product development, deployment, or extension activities.
What kinds of problems or constraints is the program trying to address?
The solicitation targets breakthroughs that could enable new ways to improve crop productivity or production practices under severe constraints common to smallholder agriculture, such as limited inputs, harsh environments, pests and diseases, and other yield-limiting factors faced by farmers with small landholdings and limited access to capital.
Is the program limited to plant genomics?
No. The solicitation builds on prior NSF activities in plant genomics but expands beyond that narrower area. It is intentionally broad and open to researchers across science and engineering disciplines, as long as the work aligns with the goal of addressing major constraints to smallholder agriculture in the developing world.
Does BREAD only fund crop improvement projects?
While the program initially leans toward crop improvement, it is broadly open to foundational advances that could lead to improved crop traits, more resilient farming systems, or more efficient and practical production methods, provided the work remains aligned with smallholder agriculture needs in developing countries.
What is expected regarding societal or broader impacts?
Proposals are expected to describe broader societal impacts. Where appropriate for the research plan, proposals should also involve international partners through genuine scientific collaboration rather than superficial participation.
Are international research partners allowed or encouraged?
Yes. A key feature of BREAD is that funds can reach international collaborators through subawards, supporting stronger and more formal international research partnerships relevant to developing-world agriculture.
Can non-US institutions receive funding directly as the lead applicant?
No. Eligibility for the lead applicant is centered on US-based institutions. Non-US institutions may participate as subawardees under a proposal led by an eligible US organization.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead institution?
Eligible lead applicants include accredited US universities and colleges (including two-year and community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, as well as US nonprofit research organizations such as museums, research laboratories, and professional societies that are directly tied to education or research activities.
What are the rules for consortia and multi-organization projects?
Consortia are permitted only as a single, unified proposal with one eligible US organization as the lead and all other participating organizations included as subawardees. Separately submitted collaborative proposals are not allowed and would be returned without review.
Can subawards be made to both US and non-US organizations?
Yes. Subawards may go to US institutions and organizations as well as non-US institutions and organizations.
Where must the Principal Investigator (PI) be based?
The Principal Investigator must hold a position at an eligible US institution.
How much total funding was anticipated under this opportunity?
The anticipated total program funding level was estimated at $6,000,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
Approximately 20 awards were anticipated.
What was the expected size range for individual awards?
Individual awards were expected to range from an award floor of $300,000 to an award ceiling of $1,800,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding activity category for this solicitation?
The funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences).
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
This opportunity was originally posted on June 20, 2009, and was later archived on August 1, 2010.
Was a letter of intent required?
Yes. A letter of intent was required for this announcement cycle.
What was the letter of intent deadline?
The letter of intent was due August 5, 2009, by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer.
What was the full proposal deadline?
Full proposals were due September 9, 2009.
Where can applicants find the official solicitation information?
Applicants were directed to NSF Publication 09-566 for the official details.
Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access or submission issues?
For Grants.gov access or submission-related issues, support was available at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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