Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 002896
Apply for USDA NIFA BRAP 002896
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture disaster prevention and relief education energy environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research 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 2, 2010 and posted on Feb 2, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2010. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. An applicant s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will result in NIFA not accepting the application, or even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
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Opportunity Summary:
The USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), funds research and limited conference activities that help federal regulatory agencies make science-based decisions about the environmental effects of introducing genetically engineered organisms. The program is focused on generating practical, decision-ready evidence about how genetically engineered organisms behave once released or planted, including potential impacts in both managed settings (like farms and production systems) and natural environments (like surrounding ecosystems and wild relatives).
BRAG applications must either request partial support for a conference or propose research aligned with the program purpose. The main research areas include developing practices that minimize or manage risks associated with genetically engineered organisms; creating or improving methods to monitor their dispersal in the environment; expanding knowledge about gene transfer (including how, how often, and under what conditions genes might move between genetically engineered organisms and related organisms); conducting comparative assessments that analyze impacts of organisms modified through genetic engineering relative to other production approaches; and proposing other research topics that clearly advance BRAG's core goal of improving environmental risk assessment and regulatory decision-making.
Funding limits depend on the type and priority of the proposal. Standard research projects are expected to stay within a total budget of up to $400,000 (including indirect costs) for a project period ranging from 2 to 5 years, with an absolute maximum project length of five years due to statutory limits. Larger proposals are only appropriate for certain identified priority areas, specifically transformation-associated mutagenesis or the environmental impacts of large-scale planting, and these priority proposals may request up to $1,000,000 total. Applications that exceed $400,000 for regular proposals or $1,000,000 for priority proposals risk being excluded from NIFA review, and awards will not exceed these ceilings. Separate from research awards, conference proposals are capped at $20,000 total.
For this opportunity cycle (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA BRAP 002896; CFDA 10.219), NIFA anticipated making about 25 awards from an estimated total funding pool of $4,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include U.S. public or private research or educational institutions and organizations, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain nonprofits such as 501(c)(3) organizations (with additional eligible categories noted in the full announcement). Award recipients may subcontract parts of the work to otherwise ineligible organizations when those partners are necessary to carry out the project. Eligibility must be met by the application deadline, or NIFA will not accept the application or will be unable to make an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
Key dates listed for this archived posting were a posted date of February 2, 2010 and an application closing date of March 17, 2010 (archived April 16, 2010). The full request for applications (RFA) was provided via an additional information link, and applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours, excluding federal holidays.
USDA BRAG Program FAQs
What is the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program?
The Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants (BRAG) Program is a USDA funding program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports research and limited conference activities that help federal regulatory agencies make science-based decisions about the environmental effects of introducing genetically engineered organisms.
What is the main purpose of BRAG funding?
BRAG is focused on generating practical, decision-ready evidence about how genetically engineered organisms behave once released or planted, including potential impacts in managed settings (such as farms and production systems) and in natural environments (such as surrounding ecosystems and wild relatives).
What types of projects can be funded under BRAG?
BRAG applications must either (1) request partial support for a conference, or (2) propose research aligned with the program purpose of improving environmental risk assessment and regulatory decision-making related to genetically engineered organisms.
What research topics does BRAG emphasize?
The opportunity highlights several main research areas, including:
- Developing practices that minimize or manage risks associated with genetically engineered organisms
- Creating or improving methods to monitor dispersal of genetically engineered organisms in the environment
- Expanding knowledge about gene transfer (including how, how often, and under what conditions genes may move between genetically engineered organisms and related organisms)
- Conducting comparative assessments of impacts of organisms modified through genetic engineering relative to other production approaches
- Other research topics that clearly advance BRAG's goal of improving environmental risk assessment and regulatory decision-making
Does BRAG fund conference proposals?
Yes. BRAG allows applications that request partial support for a conference, subject to a separate funding cap for conference proposals.
What is the funding cap for standard BRAG research projects?
Standard research projects are expected to stay within a total budget of up to $400,000, including indirect costs.
How long can a BRAG research project last?
Standard research projects may propose a project period ranging from 2 to 5 years. There is an absolute maximum project length of five years due to statutory limits.
Are larger budgets allowed for certain BRAG proposals?
Yes. Larger proposals are only appropriate for certain identified priority areas. For those priority proposals, applicants may request up to $1,000,000 total.
Which priority areas can request up to $1,000,000?
The opportunity identifies two priority areas that may justify a larger request: transformation-associated mutagenesis and the environmental impacts of large-scale planting.
What happens if a proposal budget exceeds the allowed ceiling?
Applications that exceed $400,000 for regular proposals or $1,000,000 for priority proposals risk being excluded from NIFA review, and awards will not exceed those ceilings.
What is the maximum amount available for conference proposals?
Conference proposals are capped at $20,000 total.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How many awards did NIFA expect to make for this cycle?
For this opportunity cycle, NIFA anticipated making about 25 awards.
What was the estimated total funding pool for this cycle?
The estimated total funding pool for this cycle was $4,000,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this posting?
The posting lists Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA BRAP 002896 and CFDA 10.219.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public or private research or educational institutions and organizations. The opportunity specifically mentions public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain nonprofits such as 501(c)(3) organizations, with additional eligible categories noted in the full announcement.
Can award recipients subcontract parts of the work?
Yes. Award recipients may subcontract parts of the work to otherwise ineligible organizations when those partners are necessary to carry out the project.
When must eligibility requirements be met?
Eligibility must be met by the application deadline. If eligibility is not met by the deadline, NIFA will not accept the application or may be unable to make an award even if the proposal is reviewed.
What were the key dates for this archived posting?
The archived posting lists a posted date of February 2, 2010 and an application closing date of March 17, 2010. It was archived on April 16, 2010.
Where could applicants find the full Request for Applications (RFA)?
The full request for applications (RFA) was provided via an additional information link associated with the posting.
Who should applicants contact if they had trouble accessing the announcement?
Applicants who had trouble accessing the announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours, excluding federal holidays.
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