Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 004388
Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 004388
- 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 "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.219 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 11, 2013 and posted on Dec 11, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 19, 2014 Letters of Intent (LOI) are required and must be received by 500 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 17, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that funds research aimed at improving the scientific evidence base used by US federal regulators when they evaluate genetically engineered (GE) organisms proposed for environmental release. The central goal is practical and regulatory: generate new, credible data that helps agencies make science-based decisions about potential environmental effects, risks, and uncertainties associated with introducing GE organisms outside contained settings. The program is explicitly interested in research that informs real regulatory questions, meaning projects should be designed to produce information that can be used in environmental risk assessments and related oversight decisions.
BRAG supports studies involving a wide range of genetically engineered organisms. The scope includes GE plants as well as microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and it also extends to engineered animals and animal-adjacent groups like arthropods (for example, insects), fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals. In terms of where impacts can be studied, the program recognizes that environmental introduction can occur in both managed environments (such as farms, aquaculture systems, or other production settings) and natural or semi-natural ecosystems, so proposals can focus on either context as long as the work is relevant to environmental effects and regulatory decision-making.
In administrative terms, this is a discretionary federal funding opportunity providing standard research grants under CFDA 10.219 (Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research). The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $4,000,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $25,000 up to a ceiling of $1,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.
Eligibility is broad for US-based research and education organizations. Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization, covering universities, colleges, nonprofit research institutes, and other qualifying entities. The funding activity category is Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development, reflecting that funded work may be basic, applied, or somewhere in between, as long as it produces information useful to environmental risk assessment of GE organisms.
The timeline in the announcement shows it was posted on December 11, 2013, with an original (and current) application closing date of March 19, 2014, and an archive date of April 18, 2014. A key requirement was a mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI), due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 17, 2014. That LOI requirement matters because it typically helps the agency plan for review workload and ensures applicants signal their intent early; missing it would generally jeopardize the ability to submit a full application.
For applicants needing help, NIFA provided a help desk contact for difficulties accessing the announcement electronically (phone 202-401-5048) during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, excluding federal holidays). The full program details, priorities, and submission instructions were indicated to be in the formal Request for Applications (RFA), which is where applicants would find the specific regulatory-focus areas, evaluation criteria, and expectations for how proposed research should connect to federal oversight needs.
Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program FAQs
What is the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program?
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is a competitive research grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds studies intended to strengthen the scientific evidence base that US federal regulators use when evaluating genetically engineered (GE) organisms proposed for environmental release.
What is the main purpose of BRAG funding?
The central purpose is practical and regulatory: to generate new, credible data that can be used in environmental risk assessments and related oversight decisions. Projects are expected to address real regulatory questions by improving understanding of potential environmental effects, risks, and uncertainties associated with introducing GE organisms outside contained settings.
What types of research does BRAG prioritize?
BRAG prioritizes research designed to inform environmental risk assessment and regulatory decision-making about GE organisms. The program is explicitly interested in studies that produce information usable by federal agencies evaluating environmental release proposals.
Does BRAG fund work focused on regulatory relevance rather than purely academic questions?
Yes. The program emphasizes research that informs real regulatory questions. Proposals should be designed to produce information that can be directly used in environmental risk assessments and oversight decisions.
Which genetically engineered organisms are eligible to be studied under BRAG?
BRAG supports studies involving a wide range of genetically engineered organisms, including GE plants and microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It also includes engineered animals and animal-adjacent groups such as arthropods (for example, insects), fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals.
Can BRAG-funded studies focus on both managed and natural environments?
Yes. The program recognizes that environmental introduction can occur in managed environments (such as farms, aquaculture systems, or other production settings) as well as in natural or semi-natural ecosystems. Proposals may focus on either context as long as the work is relevant to environmental effects and regulatory decision-making.
Is this a competitive funding opportunity?
Yes. BRAG is described as a competitive grant opportunity, meaning applications are reviewed and selected based on merit and alignment with program goals and requirements.
What federal agency runs and funds this program?
The program is run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What type of federal funding opportunity is BRAG?
This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity that provides standard research grants.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.219 (Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research).
How much total funding is estimated to be available?
The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $4,000,000.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards range from a floor of $25,000 to a ceiling of $1,000,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad for US-based research and education organizations. Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization, including universities, colleges, nonprofit research institutes, and other qualifying entities.
What is the funding activity category for BRAG?
The funding activity category is Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development. This reflects that funded work may be basic, applied, or somewhere in between, as long as it produces information useful to environmental risk assessment of GE organisms.
When was the opportunity posted?
The timeline in the announcement shows it was posted on December 11, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The original (and current) application closing date listed was March 19, 2014.
What does the archive date mean for this opportunity?
The announcement lists an archive date of April 18, 2014. This indicates the opportunity was archived after the active application period noted in the timeline.
Was a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. A mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) was required.
When was the mandatory LOI due?
The LOI was due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 17, 2014.
Why does the LOI requirement matter?
The LOI requirement typically helps the agency plan for review workload and ensures applicants signal their intent early. The announcement notes that missing the LOI would generally jeopardize the ability to submit a full application.
Where can applicants find the full details, priorities, and submission instructions?
The full program details, priorities, and submission instructions were indicated to be in the formal Request for Applications (RFA). The RFA is also where applicants would find the specific regulatory-focus areas, evaluation criteria, and expectations for connecting proposed research to federal oversight needs.
Who should be contacted for technical help accessing the announcement electronically?
NIFA provided a help desk contact for difficulties accessing the announcement electronically.
What is the NIFA help desk phone number and availability?
The help desk phone number is 202-401-5048. It is available during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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