Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 004935
Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 004935
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture 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 Feb 20, 2015 and posted on Feb 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,600,000.00 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 only be submitted by 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its core goal is to fund research that produces credible, decision-ready scientific information to help federal regulatory agencies evaluate environmental risks and impacts associated with releasing genetically engineered (GE) organisms. In practical terms, the program is designed to strengthen science-based regulation by filling key knowledge gaps regulators face when assessing how GE organisms might behave, spread, persist, or interact with ecosystems after environmental introduction.
BRAG specifically supports studies on a wide range of genetically engineered organisms, not limited to crops. Eligible research topics can involve GE plants as well as microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and also extends to animals and other organisms including arthropods, fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals. The program is explicitly interested in impacts in both managed settings (like farms, aquaculture systems, or other controlled production environments) and natural environments (such as surrounding habitats, wild populations, and broader ecological communities). The unifying theme is relevance to real regulatory questions, meaning projects should generate data that can inform environmental risk assessments, oversight decisions, and related policy determinations.
This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the agriculture funding activity area, listed under CFDA 10.219 (Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research). It includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, so applicants should plan for some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules in the Request for Applications (RFA). The total estimated funding for the competition is $3.6 million, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000, indicating the program can support both smaller targeted studies and larger, more comprehensive risk assessment research efforts.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. public or private research or educational institutions or organizations, which generally includes universities, colleges, nonprofit research institutes, and similar entities capable of conducting scientific research. The announcement emphasizes that additional eligibility details are contained in the official solicitation materials, so applicants are expected to consult the RFA for precise requirements, allowable costs, matching specifics, and how NIFA defines acceptable institutions and organizational structures.
Key timeline details from the notice indicate the opportunity was posted on February 20, 2015, with an application deadline of April 17, 2015, and an archive date of May 17, 2015. The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA BRAP 004935. For applicants needing help accessing the announcement or dealing with technical issues, NIFA directs them to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The full program announcement and instructions are provided through the official BRAG program link referenced in the posting, and applicants are expected to rely on that RFA for the detailed scope, required application components, and submission guidance.
Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program - FAQs
1. What is the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program?
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It funds research designed to produce credible, decision-ready scientific information that can help federal regulatory agencies evaluate environmental risks and impacts associated with releasing genetically engineered (GE) organisms.
2. What is the main purpose of BRAG funding?
The core purpose is to strengthen science-based regulation by supporting research that fills key knowledge gaps regulators face when assessing how GE organisms might behave, spread, persist, or interact with ecosystems after they are introduced into the environment.
3. What kinds of research does BRAG support?
BRAG supports studies that are relevant to real regulatory questions and that generate data usable in environmental risk assessments, oversight decisions, and related policy determinations about GE organisms released into the environment.
4. Does BRAG only fund research on genetically engineered crops?
No. BRAG supports research on a wide range of genetically engineered organisms and is not limited to crops.
5. What types of genetically engineered organisms are within scope?
BRAG-supported topics may involve GE plants and microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The scope also extends to animals and other organisms, including arthropods, fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals.
6. Are projects focused on managed environments eligible?
Yes. The program is explicitly interested in impacts in managed settings such as farms, aquaculture systems, and other controlled production environments.
7. Are projects focused on natural environments eligible?
Yes. BRAG is also interested in impacts in natural environments, including surrounding habitats, wild populations, and broader ecological communities.
8. What makes a BRAG project "relevant" to the program?
The unifying theme is relevance to real regulatory questions. Projects should generate information that can inform environmental risk assessment and decision-making related to environmental release of GE organisms.
9. What type of grant program is BRAG?
This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the agriculture funding activity area.
10. What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.219, titled Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research.
11. Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should plan for some level of non-federal contribution consistent with the program rules described in the Request for Applications (RFA).
12. How much total funding is available for this competition?
The total estimated funding for the competition is $3.6 million.
13. What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000.
14. Can this program fund both small and large projects?
Yes. The award range indicates the program can support smaller, targeted studies as well as larger, more comprehensive risk assessment research efforts.
15. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. public or private research or educational institutions or organizations. This generally includes universities, colleges, nonprofit research institutes, and similar entities capable of conducting scientific research.
16. Where can applicants find the precise eligibility rules?
The announcement emphasizes that additional eligibility details are contained in the official solicitation materials. Applicants are expected to consult the Request for Applications (RFA) for precise requirements.
17. Where are the application requirements and instructions provided?
The full program announcement and instructions are provided through the official BRAG program link referenced in the posting. Applicants are expected to rely on the RFA for detailed scope, required application components, and submission guidance.
18. What should applicants review in the RFA before applying?
Applicants should consult the RFA for allowable costs, matching specifics, eligibility details, and how NIFA defines acceptable institutions and organizational structures, as well as required application components and submission guidance.
19. What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA BRAP 004935.
20. When was this opportunity posted?
The notice indicates the opportunity was posted on February 20, 2015.
21. What was the application deadline?
The application deadline shown in the notice was April 17, 2015.
22. When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed in the notice is May 17, 2015.
23. Who should applicants contact for technical help accessing the announcement?
NIFA directs applicants who need help accessing the announcement or dealing with technical issues to the NIFA Help Desk.
24. What is the NIFA Help Desk phone number and availability?
The NIFA Help Desk can be reached at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays.
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