Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003198
Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003198
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture environment food and nutrition natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Critical Agricultural Materials" 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 May 12, 2010 and posted on May 11, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 14, 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 $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: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Applications may be submitted by any person, or public or private agency or organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant opportunity titled "Critical Agricultural Materials" (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 003198) is a discretionary research grant program intended to accelerate the domestic production and manufacturing of crop-based materials that have strategic and industrial value to the United States. The underlying purpose of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act is to strengthen the nation by supporting materials that advance the economy, contribute to defense-related needs, and improve the general well-being of the public. A core theme of the program is replacing petroleum-based inputs with renewable, agriculture-derived alternatives, which is positioned not only as an environmental or sustainability goal but also as an economic and industrial strategy that can stimulate new businesses, new supply chains, and new markets for U.S. agricultural producers and processors.
The solicitation emphasizes development and commercialization-relevant research around crop-based products, with specific interest areas including paints, coatings, and adhesives used for composites. In practical terms, this points to projects that take agricultural feedstocks (such as oils, starches, cellulose, proteins, and other plant-derived components) and convert them into functional industrial materials that can meet performance and cost expectations typically associated with petrochemical products. Because composites are widely used across transportation, construction, consumer goods, and defense-related applications, the program is effectively encouraging innovations that make composite systems more renewable, more domestically sourced, and less dependent on petroleum inputs.
From a funding standpoint, NIFA anticipated making two awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total program funding level of $1,000,000. The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000 and the award floor is $0, indicating that proposals could range in size up to the full program amount, depending on merit and scope. The program falls under CFDA 10.200, "Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants." Importantly, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated, which reduces barriers for applicants that may not have significant non-federal funding available.
Eligibility is broadly open. Applications may be submitted by any person, or by any public or private agency or organization, and the listing characterizes eligibility as unrestricted, subject to any clarifications that would normally appear in the full announcement. This kind of open eligibility suggests NIFA was aiming to attract proposals from a wide range of potential innovators, including universities, non-profits, private companies, and other research or development entities that can credibly advance crop-based industrial materials toward practical use.
Key dates for the opportunity reflect that it was posted on May 11, 2010, with a closing date of June 14, 2010, and it was archived on July 14, 2010. While the dates indicate this specific announcement is historical, the content captures a policy and research focus that is still commonly seen in federal agriculture and bio-based materials funding: reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials, strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, and supporting high-value markets for agricultural outputs through advanced materials development.
For support, NIFA provided a help desk contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically (NIFA Help Desk, 202-401-5048, business hours Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays), and directed programmatic questions toward assistance related to preparing application content as described in the announcement materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): USDA NIFA "Critical Agricultural Materials" (USDA NIFA OP 003198)
1) What is the "Critical Agricultural Materials" grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary research grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) titled "Critical Agricultural Materials" (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 003198). It is intended to accelerate domestic production and manufacturing of crop-based materials with strategic and industrial value to the United States.
2) What is the main purpose of this program?
The program supports materials that strengthen the nation by advancing the economy, contributing to defense-related needs, and improving the general well-being of the public. A central theme is replacing petroleum-based inputs with renewable, agriculture-derived alternatives, framed as an economic and industrial strategy that can help create new businesses, supply chains, and markets for U.S. agricultural producers and processors.
3) What kinds of projects is NIFA looking to fund?
The solicitation emphasizes development and commercialization-relevant research focused on crop-based industrial materials. It points toward projects that convert agricultural feedstocks (for example, oils, starches, cellulose, proteins, and other plant-derived components) into functional materials that can meet performance and cost expectations typically associated with petrochemical products.
4) What specific product areas are highlighted in the announcement?
The opportunity expresses specific interest in paints, coatings, and adhesives used for composites. This suggests projects aimed at making composite systems more renewable, more domestically sourced, and less dependent on petroleum-based inputs.
5) Why does the announcement emphasize composites?
Composites are widely used across transportation, construction, consumer goods, and defense-related applications. By focusing on composite-related materials (such as adhesives, coatings, and paints), the program is encouraging innovations that can reduce petroleum dependence while supporting domestic sourcing and manufacturing capability.
6) What types of feedstocks are contemplated for these materials?
The announcement describes agricultural feedstocks such as oils, starches, cellulose, proteins, and other plant-derived components. The core idea is to develop industrial materials derived from crops rather than petroleum.
7) How much funding is available under this opportunity?
NIFA anticipated making two awards under this opportunity. The estimated total program funding level is $1,000,000.
8) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000.
9) What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The listed award floor is $0. This indicates proposals could vary in size, potentially up to the full program amount, depending on merit and scope.
10) Does this program require cost sharing or a match?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided. This lowers the barrier for applicants that may not have significant non-federal funding available.
11) What is the CFDA number and program classification for this opportunity?
The program falls under CFDA 10.200, "Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants."
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broadly open. Applications may be submitted by any person, or by any public or private agency or organization. The listing characterizes eligibility as unrestricted, subject to clarifications that would normally appear in the full announcement.
13) What types of applicants might this opportunity be trying to attract?
Because eligibility is described as open and unrestricted, the announcement appears designed to attract proposals from a wide range of potential innovators, including universities, non-profits, private companies, and other research or development entities that can credibly advance crop-based industrial materials toward practical use.
14) Is this a current or historical opportunity?
Based on the dates provided, this specific announcement is historical. It was posted on May 11, 2010, closed on June 14, 2010, and was archived on July 14, 2010.
15) What were the key dates for this solicitation?
Posted date: May 11, 2010. Closing date: June 14, 2010. Archive date: July 14, 2010.
16) What is the policy and research focus reflected by this opportunity?
The content reflects a federal emphasis on reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials, strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, and supporting high-value markets for agricultural outputs through advanced materials development.
17) What does the opportunity mean by "development and commercialization-relevant research"?
The solicitation emphasizes research that is oriented toward practical use, with attention to performance and cost expectations typical of petrochemical products. In other words, the research is meant to move crop-based materials toward functional, market-relevant industrial applications.
18) What should applicants do if they cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The announcement provides a NIFA Help Desk contact for applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically: 202-401-5048. Help desk hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
19) Where should programmatic or application-preparation questions be directed?
The information provided indicates that programmatic questions should be directed toward assistance related to preparing application content as described in the announcement materials.
20) What is the connection to the Critical Agricultural Materials Act?
The underlying purpose of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act, as described here, is to strengthen the nation by supporting materials that advance the economy, contribute to defense-related needs, and improve public well-being. The grant program is positioned as a way to pursue those goals by accelerating crop-based industrial materials development and domestic production.
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