Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003504
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003504
- 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 29, 2011 and posted on Jul 29, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 2, 2011. (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 applicants 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 (USDA NIFA, Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 003504; CFDA 10.200) is a discretionary competitive grant opportunity focused on moving certain bio-based, agriculturally sourced industrial products closer to real-world use. The program is designed to support product development as well as demonstration and validation of performance under operational field conditions. In practical terms, it targets technologies that can be tested outside the lab in settings that reflect how they would actually be used by industry or government customers.
The solicitation highlights four main technology areas: industrial paints, industrial coatings, adhesives used for composites, and innovative aerial delivery systems or components. A core requirement across these areas is that the products or components must be manufactured from domestically produced agricultural materials, specifically crop-based or woody materials. The emphasis on domestic feedstocks is tied to strategic and industrial importance, with the program framing these innovations as beneficial to the nation in terms of economic strength, national defense needs, and overall public well-being.
A major motivation behind the program is substitution: many of the targeted products are intended to replace petroleum-based materials. By helping validate and demonstrate performance of bio-based alternatives, the program aims to reduce dependence on petroleum inputs while also opening doors for new businesses and new markets for U.S. agricultural materials. That can include creating higher-value outlets for crops and forest products, encouraging manufacturing based on renewable inputs, and supporting commercialization pathways that require field proof of performance.
For FY 2011, the opportunity anticipated making about 2 awards with an estimated total funding level of $1,000,000. The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000 and the award floor is $0, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants. The application window for this archived opportunity opened with a posted date of July 29, 2011, and had a closing date of September 2, 2011 (with an archive date of October 2, 2011).
Eligibility is broadly defined. Applications could be submitted by any person, or any public or private agency or organization. The announcement also notes that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that might not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those entities are necessary to carry out the proposed project. At the same time, the notice stresses that eligibility must be met by the application deadline; failure to meet criteria can lead to exclusion from consideration or prevent USDA NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed.
The sponsoring agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). For applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement or had questions about preparing application content, the notice provided the NIFA Help Desk contact (202-401-5048) during standard weekday business hours Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays, and referenced an additional information link labeled "FY 11 Critical Agricultural Materials RFA."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Critical Agricultural Materials Program?
The Critical Agricultural Materials Program is a discretionary, competitive grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is focused on moving certain bio-based, agriculturally sourced industrial products closer to real-world use by supporting product development and the demonstration and validation of performance under operational field conditions.
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to help develop, demonstrate, and validate bio-based industrial products in settings outside the lab that reflect how they would actually be used by industry or government customers. A central theme is helping bio-based materials substitute for petroleum-based materials by proving performance in real operational conditions.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 003504. The CFDA number listed is 10.200.
What types of projects or technologies does the program target?
The solicitation highlights four main technology areas:
- Industrial paints
- Industrial coatings
- Adhesives used for composites
- Innovative aerial delivery systems or components
Are projects required to be tested outside of the laboratory?
Yes. The program emphasizes demonstration and validation of performance under operational field conditions, meaning projects should be able to be tested in environments that reflect real-world use rather than remaining only at lab scale.
What materials must the products or components be made from?
A core requirement is that products or components must be manufactured from domestically produced agricultural materials, specifically crop-based or woody materials.
Does the opportunity require the agricultural feedstocks to be U.S.-produced?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes domestic feedstocks, requiring that the agricultural materials used be domestically produced.
What is meant by "substitution" in this program?
The opportunity frames many targeted products as intended to replace petroleum-based materials. By demonstrating and validating bio-based alternatives, the program aims to reduce dependence on petroleum inputs while enabling new markets for U.S. agricultural materials.
Why does the program emphasize domestic agricultural materials?
The notice ties domestic, crop-based and woody feedstocks to strategic and industrial importance, describing the innovations as beneficial to the nation in terms of economic strength, national defense needs, and overall public well-being.
How many awards were anticipated and what was the total estimated funding for FY 2011?
For FY 2011, the opportunity anticipated making about 2 awards with an estimated total funding level of $1,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000.
What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The listed award floor is $0.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for applicants in the information provided.
When did the application window open and close?
The posted date was July 29, 2011, and the closing date was September 2, 2011.
Is this an active opportunity or an archived one?
Based on the dates provided, this is an archived opportunity. An archive date of October 2, 2011 is listed.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly defined. Applications could be submitted by any person, or any public or private agency or organization.
Can award recipients use subcontractors that are not eligible to apply directly?
Yes. The announcement notes that award recipients may subcontract to organizations that might not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those entities are necessary to carry out the proposed project.
When must eligibility requirements be met?
The notice stresses that eligibility must be met by the application deadline. Failure to meet eligibility criteria can result in exclusion from consideration or prevent USDA NIFA from making an award even if the application is reviewed.
What kind of help was available for applicants?
For help accessing the full announcement or questions about preparing application content, the notice provided a NIFA Help Desk contact number and referenced an additional information link labeled "FY 11 Critical Agricultural Materials RFA."
What is the NIFA Help Desk phone number and availability?
The NIFA Help Desk number listed is 202-401-5048. The hours are standard weekday business hours Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
The notice referenced an additional information link labeled "FY 11 Critical Agricultural Materials RFA" for accessing the full announcement.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA OP 003504) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Critical Agricultural Materials Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003870 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 003870 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Environment Natural Resources Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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