Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 005435
Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 005435
- The USDA-NIFA 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 29, 2015 and posted on Oct 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Its core goal is to fund research that produces new, credible scientific information to help federal regulatory agencies make science-based decisions about what happens when genetically engineered (GE) organisms are introduced into the environment. In practical terms, the program is focused on risk assessment: generating data that regulators can use when evaluating environmental effects and regulatory questions tied to GE organisms.
The scope of organisms covered by BRAG is broad. The opportunity explicitly includes genetically engineered plants as well as microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It also extends to arthropods and a wide range of animals, including fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals. The only clear exclusion stated is humans. The program is not limited to agricultural settings; it recognizes that GE organisms can interact with both managed environments (like farms, aquaculture systems, and other controlled production settings) and natural environments (such as surrounding ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and broader ecological communities). Projects that examine effects in either or both of these contexts are considered relevant.
What distinguishes BRAG from more general biotechnology research programs is its emphasis on producing information directly relevant to regulatory decision-making. Rather than funding basic research for its own sake, BRAG aims to fill knowledge gaps that matter to federal oversight of environmental releases or environmental exposure scenarios involving GE organisms. The program description makes clear that the output of supported investigations should be the kind of scientific evidence that can inform regulatory issues, meaning studies are expected to be designed in a way that yields usable, decision-relevant data for agencies evaluating potential impacts, uncertainties, and risk management considerations.
This particular listing identifies the opportunity as “Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program” with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA BRAP 005435 and CFDA number 10.219, under the Agriculture funding activity category. The instrument type is a grant. Eligibility is summarized as “Others,” with the note that applicants should consult the full request for applications (RFA) for the exact eligibility rules and any clarifications. Key dates provided indicate it was created and posted on October 29, 2015, with an original and current closing date of April 15, 2016. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the excerpted fields, so those details would typically need to be pulled from the full RFA or associated program documents.
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 discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It funds research intended to produce credible scientific information that supports federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about genetically engineered (GE) organisms in the environment.
What is the main purpose of BRAG funding?
The program is focused on risk assessment. Its purpose is to generate data that regulators can use when evaluating environmental effects and regulatory questions associated with introducing GE organisms into the environment or scenarios where environmental exposure could occur.
How is BRAG different from general biotechnology research funding?
BRAG emphasizes producing information that is directly relevant to regulatory decision-making. Rather than funding basic research for its own sake, it is intended to fill knowledge gaps that matter to federal oversight of environmental releases or environmental exposure scenarios involving GE organisms.
What kind of research outcomes does BRAG expect?
Supported projects are expected to produce new, credible scientific evidence that can inform regulatory issues. In practical terms, studies should be designed to yield decision-relevant data that agencies can use to evaluate potential environmental impacts, uncertainties, and risk management considerations connected to GE organisms.
Which types of genetically engineered organisms are included in BRAG's scope?
The scope is broad and explicitly includes genetically engineered plants and microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. It also includes arthropods and a wide range of animals, including fish, birds, mammals, and other non-human animals.
Are humans included in the organisms covered by this opportunity?
No. The only clear exclusion stated is humans.
Does BRAG only support projects related to agriculture?
While the funding activity category is listed as Agriculture, the program is not limited to agricultural settings. It recognizes that GE organisms can interact with both managed environments (for example, farms and aquaculture systems) and natural environments (for example, surrounding ecosystems and wildlife habitats).
What environments can BRAG-funded research focus on?
Projects that examine effects in managed environments (such as farms, aquaculture systems, or other controlled production settings), natural environments (such as ecosystems and broader ecological communities), or both are considered relevant to the program's goals.
What types of questions is BRAG trying to help regulators answer?
BRAG aims to produce data that helps regulators evaluate environmental effects and address regulatory questions tied to GE organisms. The program description emphasizes that results should help with science-based decisions related to environmental releases or exposure scenarios.
Who administers the BRAG Program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Is this opportunity a grant or another type of federal assistance?
The instrument type listed for this opportunity is a grant.
What is the funding opportunity name and number?
The opportunity is identified as the "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program" with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA BRAP 005435.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 10.219.
What is the listed eligibility category?
Eligibility is summarized as "Others." The listing notes that applicants should consult the full request for applications (RFA) for the exact eligibility rules and any clarifications.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility requirements?
The excerpt indicates that the full request for applications (RFA) should be consulted for precise eligibility rules and clarifications.
When was this opportunity created and posted?
The listing indicates it was created and posted on October 29, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date shown in the listing is April 15, 2016.
Does the listing include the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
No. The excerpted fields do not provide an award ceiling, and those details would typically need to be obtained from the full RFA or associated program documents.
Does the listing state how many awards are expected?
No. The excerpted fields do not include the expected number of awards. That information would typically be found in the full RFA or related program materials.
What should applicants do if they need missing details like award size or number of awards?
Based on the listing, those details are not included in the excerpted fields and would typically need to be pulled from the full request for applications (RFA) or associated program documents.
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