Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA 9008 004957
Apply for USDA NIFA 9008 004957
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomass Research and Development Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.312 Biomass Research and Development Initiative Competitive Grants Program (BRDI).
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2015 and posted on Feb 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 27, 2015 Concept Paper Due Date 03/27/2015, 500 PM Eastern Time. Full Application Due Date 7/27/2015, 500 PM Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- All entities listed under Section 9008(e)(5) of FSRIA, as amended (7 U.S.C. 8108(e)(5)), are eligible to apply. Eligible entities are (A) An institution of higher education (B) A National Laboratory (C) A Federal research agency (D) A State research agency (E) A private sector entity (F) A nonprofit organization or (G) A consortium of 2 or more entities described in (A) through (F) above.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) is a joint, interagency competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), working in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) via the Bioenergy Technologies Office and the Golden Field Office. The overall purpose of the program is to strengthen and expand a U.S.-based biomass industry by supporting research, development, and demonstration efforts that help move biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies closer to real-world deployment. BRDI is grounded in federal law, originally established under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and reauthorized by amendments to Section 9008 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The program is explicitly designed to reflect USDA-DOE collaboration, with DOE funding also guided by administrative provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
BRDI funding is organized around three main technical areas defined in statute. The first area is feedstocks development, which covers work to improve biomass supply options, including how biomass is produced, collected, stored, and delivered in ways that are cost-effective and sustainable. The second area is biofuels and biobased products development, which focuses on converting biomass into fuels, chemicals, materials, and other biobased products, including advancing processes, catalysts, organisms, or integrated biorefinery concepts that can scale. The third area is biofuels development analysis, which emphasizes analytical work that helps validate and de-risk technology pathways, such as techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and other systems-level evaluations that clarify environmental impacts, performance, and market feasibility. In practice, BRDI is meant to support projects that connect agricultural and forestry realities with energy-sector performance needs, helping innovations move from the lab toward commercial relevance.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NIFA-9008-004957; CFDA 10.312) was offered as a mandatory grant program within the broader categories of agriculture and science and technology research and development. The posting date and creation date were February 26, 2015, with a two-step submission structure that required a concept paper first and then a full application. The concept paper was due March 27, 2015 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, and the full application deadline was July 27, 2015 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The opportunity later archived on August 26, 2015. The estimated total funding available under this announcement was $8.7 million, and the program required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost in accordance with the program rules.
Eligibility was intentionally broad to encourage cross-sector teams capable of taking on biomass challenges from multiple angles. Entities eligible under Section 9008(e)(5) include institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, federal research agencies, state research agencies, private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and consortia made up of two or more eligible entity types. This structure signals that BRDI is not limited to academic research alone; it also aims to bring in industry and mission-driven organizations to help ensure research outcomes are practical, scalable, and aligned with market and infrastructure realities.
Administratively, NIFA served as the named agency for the opportunity, with support available through the NIFA Help Desk for applicants who had difficulty accessing the announcement electronically. The listing also indicates a contact pathway for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that the program expects applicants to follow detailed federal application requirements and timelines. Overall, BRDI is best understood as a coordinated USDA-DOE investment tool for accelerating U.S. bioenergy and biobased product innovation, spanning feedstock improvements, conversion technology development, and rigorous analysis to support sustainable commercialization.
Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) FAQs
What is the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI)?
BRDI is a joint, interagency competitive grant program designed to strengthen and expand a U.S.-based biomass industry by supporting research, development, and demonstration projects that move biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies closer to real-world deployment.
Which federal agencies run BRDI?
BRDI is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE participation is specifically tied to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Bioenergy Technologies Office and the Golden Field Office.
What is the purpose of BRDI funding?
The purpose is to accelerate bioenergy and biobased product innovation in the United States by supporting work that connects agricultural and forestry realities with energy-sector performance needs, helping innovations advance from laboratory research toward commercial relevance.
What kinds of projects does BRDI support?
BRDI supports research, development, and demonstration efforts related to biomass. The program is focused on advancing biomass feedstocks, conversion technologies, and analytical work that helps validate and reduce risk for technology pathways on the way to deployment.
What are the three main technical areas funded under BRDI?
BRDI funding is organized around three statutory technical areas: (1) Feedstocks development, (2) Biofuels and biobased products development, and (3) Biofuels development analysis.
What does "feedstocks development" mean under BRDI?
Feedstocks development covers improvements to biomass supply options, including how biomass is produced, collected, stored, and delivered in ways that are cost-effective and sustainable.
What does "biofuels and biobased products development" include?
This area focuses on converting biomass into fuels, chemicals, materials, and other biobased products. It includes advancing processes, catalysts, organisms, and integrated biorefinery concepts that can scale.
What does "biofuels development analysis" focus on?
This area emphasizes analytical work that helps validate and de-risk technology pathways, including techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and other systems-level evaluations related to environmental impacts, performance, and market feasibility.
Is BRDI intended only for academic research?
No. Eligibility is intentionally broad and includes private sector entities, nonprofits, and consortia, reflecting a goal of bringing in cross-sector teams so outcomes are practical, scalable, and aligned with market and infrastructure realities.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this BRDI announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA-NIFA-9008-004957.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 10.312.
When was this grant opportunity posted and created?
The posting date and creation date were February 26, 2015.
What was the application submission structure?
This announcement used a two-step submission process: applicants were required to submit a concept paper first, followed by a full application if invited or allowed under the process described in the opportunity.
When was the concept paper due?
The concept paper deadline was March 27, 2015 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
When was the full application due?
The full application deadline was July 27, 2015 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity later archived on August 26, 2015.
How much total funding was estimated to be available under this announcement?
The estimated total funding available was $8.7 million.
Did BRDI require cost sharing or matching?
Yes. The program required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources toward the total project cost according to the program rules.
Who was the named agency for this opportunity?
NIFA (within USDA) was the named agency for the opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply under BRDI based on the announcement?
Eligible entities under Section 9008(e)(5) include institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, federal research agencies, state research agencies, private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and consortia comprised of two or more eligible entity types.
Are consortia allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes consortia made up of two or more eligible entity types.
What makes BRDI an interagency program in practice?
The program is structured to reflect USDA-DOE collaboration, with USDA administering through NIFA while DOE participates through EERE (Bioenergy Technologies Office and the Golden Field Office). This is intended to align biomass work with both agricultural/forestry conditions and energy-sector deployment needs.
What legal authorities is BRDI grounded in?
BRDI was originally established under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 and was reauthorized by amendments to Section 9008 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. DOE funding is also guided by administrative provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
What program category was this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity was offered as a mandatory grant program and was listed within broader categories of agriculture and science and technology research and development.
Where could applicants get help if they had trouble accessing the announcement electronically?
Support was available through the NIFA Help Desk for applicants who had difficulty accessing the announcement electronically.
Was there a contact pathway for application content questions?
Yes. The listing indicated a contact pathway for questions related to preparing application content, reinforcing that applicants were expected to follow detailed federal application requirements and timelines.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03)
Previous opportunity: National Consumer and Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Centers (Short Title Consumer and Consumer Supporter TA Centers)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NIFA 9008 004957
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA 9008 004957) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 005277 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 005277 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 002716 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 002716 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 003403 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 003403 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| New Technologies of Ag Extension Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003442 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 003442 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NIFA 9008 004957", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.