Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003870
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003870
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture environment natural resources other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Critical Agricultural Materials Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2012 and posted on Jul 2, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 3, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 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 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by any person, or public or private agency 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 may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Critical Agricultural Materials Program is a competitive grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is designed to move agriculture-based industrial materials closer to real-world use by funding product development, field demonstration, and validation of performance under operational conditions. The program focuses on products made from domestically produced agricultural materials that are considered strategically and industrially important, with an emphasis on strengthening the U.S. economy, supporting national defense needs, and improving general public well-being. A key theme is replacing petroleum-based inputs with bio-based alternatives, which can open the door to new businesses and expanded markets for U.S. agricultural commodities.
For the FY 2012 cycle described in the announcement, the program priority is the development and field demonstration of new paints, coatings, and adhesive products that are both agriculture-based and environmentally preferable. The intent is not just to create a promising formulation in a lab, but to prove it works in the kinds of settings where end users actually need reliability. Applicants are expected to demonstrate functional performance and also compare life-cycle environmental and economic performance against conventional products, including alignment with applicable industry requirements, military standards where relevant, and eco-labeling standards. In practical terms, the program is trying to help developers generate credible performance and sustainability evidence that can reduce adoption risk for buyers and speed commercialization.
The anticipated outcome is broader availability of safer, cost-effective, and environmentally preferable purchasing options for federal agencies, state and local entities, the military, industry, and consumers. By supporting validation and demonstration work, the program aims to bridge the gap between early-stage research and market readiness, particularly for bio-based materials that can meet demanding specifications while delivering environmental benefits.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants). NIFA expected to make around two awards under this specific funding notice, with an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000, with no stated minimum award amount (award floor of $0). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated for applicants, which can make participation more feasible for smaller organizations or early commercial-stage developers.
Eligibility is broad: applications may be submitted by any person, or by public or private agencies or organizations. Award recipients are permitted to subcontract to organizations that might not themselves be eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the proposed project work. The notice also cautions that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to exclusion from consideration or prevent NIFA from issuing an award even if the application is reviewed.
The funding opportunity number for this announcement is USDA NIFA OP-003870, titled "Critical Agricultural Materials Program." It was posted on July 2, 2012, with an application deadline of August 3, 2012, and it was archived on September 2, 2012. Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Eastern Time), and the announcement notes separate support is available for questions related to application content preparation.
Critical Agricultural Materials Program (USDA NIFA) - FAQs (FY 2012 Notice)
What is the Critical Agricultural Materials Program?
The Critical Agricultural Materials Program is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports work that moves agriculture-based industrial materials closer to real-world use by funding product development, field demonstration, and validation under operational conditions.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is designed to bridge the gap between early-stage development and market readiness by helping applicants generate credible evidence that agriculture-based products can perform reliably in real operational settings and provide environmental and economic benefits compared with conventional alternatives.
What types of materials or products does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes products made from domestically produced agricultural materials that are strategically and industrially important. A central theme is replacing petroleum-based inputs with bio-based alternatives to strengthen the U.S. economy, support national defense needs, and improve general public well-being.
What is the FY 2012 priority area for this funding notice?
For the FY 2012 cycle described in the announcement, the priority is the development and field demonstration of new paints, coatings, and adhesive products that are both agriculture-based and environmentally preferable.
Does the program fund only lab research or does it require real-world testing?
The intent goes beyond creating a promising lab formulation. Applicants are expected to validate performance under operational conditions and demonstrate the product works in settings where end users need reliability.
What kind of evidence is an applicant expected to provide?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate functional performance and also compare life-cycle environmental and economic performance against conventional products. The announcement also highlights alignment with applicable industry requirements, military standards where relevant, and eco-labeling standards.
Why does the program emphasize life-cycle comparisons?
Based on the notice description, the program is trying to reduce adoption risk for buyers and speed commercialization by supporting credible performance and sustainability evidence, including environmental and economic comparisons to conventional products.
Who is expected to benefit from the outcomes of funded projects?
The anticipated outcome is broader availability of safer, cost-effective, and environmentally preferable purchasing options for federal agencies, state and local entities, the military, industry, and consumers.
What is the grant type and CFDA number for this opportunity?
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program under CFDA 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
How many awards did NIFA expect to make under this specific notice?
NIFA expected to make around two awards under this specific funding notice.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this notice?
The estimated total funding amount listed for this notice is $1,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount is stated. The notice lists an award floor of $0.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the information provided for this notice.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Applications may be submitted by any person, or by public or private agencies or organizations.
Can award recipients use subcontractors that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. Award recipients are permitted to subcontract to organizations that might not themselves be eligible to apply, as long as those subcontractors are necessary to carry out the proposed project work.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The notice cautions that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can result in exclusion from consideration or prevent NIFA from issuing an award even if the application is reviewed.
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA OP-003870, and the title is "Critical Agricultural Materials Program."
When was this opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The notice was posted on July 2, 2012, and the application deadline was August 3, 2012.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The announcement was archived on September 2, 2012.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Eastern Time).
Is there support available for application content questions?
Yes. The announcement notes that separate support is available for questions related to application content preparation.
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