Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003156

  • The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture disaster prevention and relief environment food and nutrition health natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Critical Issues Emerging and New Plant and Animal Pests and Diseases" 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 Apr 20, 2010 and posted on Apr 20, 2010.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 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 $370,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $90,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education.
  • Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (16 U.S.C. 582a et seq.) McIntire Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act, and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine for the purpose of facilitating or expanding ongoing State Federal food and agricultural research programs that (i) promote excellence in research on a regional and national level (ii) promote the development of regional research centers (iii) promote the research partnership between the Department of Agriculture, colleges and universities, research foundations, and State agricultural experiment stations for regional research efforts and (iv) facilitate coordination and cooperation of research among States through regional research grants. 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 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant opportunity titled "Critical Issues Emerging and New Plant and Animal Pests and Diseases" (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA OP 003156) is a discretionary grant program intended to deliver rapid, one-time seed funding for urgent research needs. The central purpose is to help teams start immediate, time-sensitive work on newly emerging or escalating pest and disease threats, with the understanding that these initial projects are meant to bridge the gap until longer-term funding or programmatic resources can be secured. Rather than operating as a once-a-year competition with broad topics, NIFA indicated it would solicit proposals on an as-needed basis during the year when particular threats require swift attention.

For this specific solicitation, NIFA focused on targeted plant pest and disease problems that were considered pressing at the time. The requested proposals needed to address one or more specific aspects of the following issues: Redbay ambrosia beetle impacts in avocados; brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) affecting agronomic crops as well as fruit and vegetable systems; Trochanter mealybug (Pseudococcus sorghiellus) in soybeans; the Uganda (Ug99) strain of wheat stem rust; and the spread and management challenges associated with glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds. In practical terms, the competition was geared toward applied research and near-term problem solving, such as improved detection and diagnostics, risk assessment, surveillance strategies, management tactics, or other research that could quickly inform responses by growers, researchers, and state and federal partners.

A notable emphasis of the program is collaboration and coordination. While all qualified applicants were encouraged to apply, NIFA stated that priority would be given to proposals that show clear evidence of collaboration and communication with relevant working groups and approved multistate research committees. This signals that projects were expected to fit into broader regional or national efforts rather than operate in isolation, and that reviewers would likely value proposals that demonstrate active partnerships, data sharing, and alignment with ongoing coordinated research frameworks.

The award mechanism is a standard grant, categorized under agriculture and research and development related areas, including disaster prevention and relief, environmental topics, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, and science and technology. NIFA expected to make about four awards from an estimated total funding pool of $370,000. Individual awards were anticipated to range from $30,000 to $90,000, and the opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can make it more accessible for teams needing quick-start resources.

Eligibility was oriented toward institutions that support and conduct public agricultural research. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and certain other entities described in the program’s eligibility language. Specifically, applications could be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, research foundations affiliated with land-grant institutions, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, eligible entities connected to the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act, and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. The broader intent behind these eligibility categories is to facilitate or expand ongoing state-federal food and agricultural research programs and to strengthen regional and national research excellence, encourage regional research centers, promote partnerships between USDA and academic research institutions, and improve coordination among states through regional research grants. The program also allowed award recipients to subcontract to organizations that may not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners were necessary to conduct the work, which opens the door to involving specialized labs, industry collaborators, or other technical partners under the lead institution’s award.

In terms of timing and administration, the opportunity was posted on April 20, 2010, with a closing date of June 21, 2010, and it was archived on July 21, 2010. The CFDA listing associated with this funding was 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants). For access issues related to the full announcement, NIFA directed applicants to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this USDA NIFA funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Critical Issues Emerging and New Plant and Animal Pests and Diseases" and is offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA OP 003156.

What type of grant is this?

This is a discretionary grant program using a standard grant award mechanism.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is intended to deliver rapid, one-time seed funding for urgent research needs tied to newly emerging or escalating plant and animal pest and disease threats. The idea is to enable immediate, time-sensitive work that helps bridge the gap until longer-term funding or programmatic resources can be secured.

Is this a recurring annual competition?

No. NIFA indicated it would solicit proposals on an as-needed basis during the year when particular threats require swift attention, rather than running it as a once-a-year competition with broad topics.

What issues were targeted in this specific solicitation?

For this solicitation, NIFA focused on specific plant pest and disease problems considered pressing at the time. Proposals needed to address one or more aspects of the following issues: redbay ambrosia beetle impacts in avocados; brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) affecting agronomic crops and fruit and vegetable systems; Trochanter mealybug (Pseudococcus sorghiellus) in soybeans; the Uganda (Ug99) strain of wheat stem rust; and the spread and management challenges associated with glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds.

What kinds of projects or activities fit this grant?

The competition was geared toward applied research and near-term problem solving. Examples of the kinds of work described include improved detection and diagnostics, risk assessment, surveillance strategies, management tactics, or other research that can quickly inform responses by growers, researchers, and state and federal partners.

How important is collaboration in this program?

Collaboration and coordination were emphasized. NIFA stated that priority would be given to proposals that show clear evidence of collaboration and communication with relevant working groups and approved multistate research committees, signaling that projects were expected to align with broader regional or national efforts.

How many awards were expected to be made?

NIFA expected to make about four awards.

What was the estimated total funding available?

The estimated total funding pool for this solicitation was $370,000.

What was the expected award size?

Individual awards were anticipated to range from $30,000 to $90,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was oriented toward institutions that support and conduct public agricultural research. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and certain other entities described in the opportunity, including: State agricultural experiment stations; land-grant colleges and universities; research foundations affiliated with land-grant institutions; colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962; eligible entities connected to the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Act; and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.

What is the broader intent behind the eligibility categories?

The intent described for these categories is to facilitate or expand ongoing state-federal food and agricultural research programs; strengthen regional and national research excellence; encourage regional research centers; promote partnerships between USDA and academic research institutions; and improve coordination among states through regional research grants.

Can the lead awardee subcontract with partners that are not eligible to apply directly?

Yes. The program allowed award recipients to subcontract to organizations that may not be eligible to apply directly, as long as those partners were necessary to conduct the work. This could allow involvement from specialized labs, industry collaborators, or other technical partners under the lead institution's award.

What subject areas does the award mechanism cover?

The grant was categorized under agriculture and research and development related areas, including disaster prevention and relief, environmental topics, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, and science and technology.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on April 20, 2010.

What was the application closing date?

The closing date was June 21, 2010.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on July 21, 2010.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing associated with this funding was 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).

Who should applicants contact if they have trouble accessing the full announcement?

NIFA directed applicants with access issues to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time).

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Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 003416
Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Category: Agriculture Disaster Prevention and Relief Environment Food and Nutrition Health Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Funding Amount: Case Dependent

 

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