Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000029
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000029
- The Agency for International Development in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 3, 2014 and posted on May 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2014 The closing date for this opportunity has been extended from September 1, 2014 at 400 PM EST (Washington, DC Local Time)to September 15, 2014 at 400PM EST (Washington, DC Local Time).. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law. The following types of organizations are eligible for a Prime Award under this RFA (1) U.S. and Non U.S. Non Profit Organizations, (2) U.S. and Non U.S. For Profit Organizations, (3) U.S. and Non U.S. Colleges and Universities, (4) Public International Organizations (PIOs). PLEASE NOTE, USAID will not accept applications from individuals. Please refer to Section III of the RFA for detailed Eligibility Information.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership is a USAID grant opportunity designed to push a small set of genetically engineered crop products through the full pathway from development to approval and eventual farmer use, while also strengthening local scientific and regulatory capacity in the countries involved. It builds on roughly a decade of USAID support under the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program, which focused on using modern biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, to solve major crop production problems that conventional breeding has struggled to address. Earlier efforts under that broader work included disease and nematode resistant banana, insect resistant eggplant, and late blight resistant potato, and this new partnership is meant to manage and accelerate the next stages for specific priority products in specific countries.
At the center of the program are two product tracks. The first is late blight resistant potato (often abbreviated as LBR potato) targeted for Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. Late blight is a destructive disease that can cause severe yield losses and often drives heavy fungicide use, so a resistant variety is positioned as a way to stabilize production and reduce losses and input costs. The second track is fruit and stem borer resistant eggplant (often referred to as Bt eggplant) targeted for Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines. Fruit and shoot/stem borers are major insect pests in eggplant production; insect-resistant varieties are intended to reduce crop damage and potentially reduce reliance on frequent insecticide applications. The partnership is not just doing lab research; it is meant to take these products through the real-world development pipeline country by country.
A key feature of the opportunity is its emphasis on end-to-end product development management and coordination across partners. USAID expects the awardee to lead and manage a product development and capacity-building program and to provide project management, oversight, and technical support to public and private sector partners. The scope covers all phases of the product development cycle as needed for each crop and country, including choosing and validating specific genetic events (event selection), conducting confined field trials, collecting regulatory biosafety data, and preparing and submitting regulatory dossiers. It also extends beyond approval into the practical steps needed for release and responsible use, including commercial launch planning and long-term stewardship. In practice, stewardship can include seed quality systems, insect resistance management approaches where relevant, compliance with regulatory conditions, and monitoring and training so that the technology is used as intended and remains effective.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically indicates that USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The funding activity category is Agriculture, and the CFDA number listed is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). USAID anticipated making a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning the selected prime recipient would likely serve as the central hub coordinating multiple country and institutional partners.
Financially, the opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $10,000,000, with an award ceiling of $10,000,000 and an award floor of $0. No cost sharing or matching was required. Eligibility was broad but organizational: applicants had to be legally recognized organizational entities, and individuals were explicitly not eligible. Eligible prime applicants included U.S. and non-U.S. nonprofit organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. for-profit organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities, and public international organizations. Additional eligibility specifics were referenced as being in Section III of the RFA.
In terms of timing and submission logistics, the opportunity was originally posted May 23, 2014. The original closing date was August 1, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (Washington, DC local time), with a separate deadline for submitting questions set for June 13, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. The application deadline was later extended, and the current closing date became September 15, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. The archive date was October 15, 2014. The opportunity number was RFA OAA 14 000029, and the title was Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a single large coordinating award meant to bring together scientific development, field testing, regulatory science, and deployment planning for two high-profile biotech crops across several Asian countries. The intent is not only to produce data and dossiers to meet biosafety and regulatory requirements, but also to ensure that, if approvals are obtained, there is a credible pathway to responsible commercialization and sustained performance in farmers fields, alongside strengthened local capacity to manage biotechnology products over time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership (USAID)
What is the Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership?
The Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership is a USAID grant opportunity designed to move a small set of genetically engineered crop products through the full pipeline from development to regulatory approval and eventual farmer use, while also strengthening scientific and regulatory capacity in the participating countries.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates USAID expects substantial involvement during implementation rather than a fully hands-off grant.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is end-to-end product development management for specific genetically engineered crops, including development coordination, field testing, regulatory data generation, dossier preparation and submission, and planning for responsible release and use if approvals are obtained.
Does this program focus only on laboratory research?
No. The partnership is intended to manage and accelerate real-world development steps country by country, including confined field trials, biosafety data collection, and regulatory submissions, and it also extends into launch planning and long-term stewardship after approval.
What are the product tracks included in this opportunity?
There are two product tracks: (1) late blight resistant potato (LBR potato) and (2) fruit and stem borer resistant eggplant (Bt eggplant).
Which countries are targeted for the late blight resistant (LBR) potato track?
The LBR potato track is targeted for Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia.
Which countries are targeted for the Bt eggplant track?
The Bt eggplant track is targeted for Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines.
Why is late blight resistant potato a priority in this program?
Late blight is described as a destructive disease that can cause severe yield losses and often drives heavy fungicide use. A resistant variety is positioned as a way to stabilize production and reduce losses and input costs.
Why is insect-resistant (Bt) eggplant a priority in this program?
Fruit and shoot/stem borers are described as major insect pests in eggplant production. Insect-resistant varieties are intended to reduce crop damage and potentially reduce reliance on frequent insecticide applications.
What does USAID expect the awardee to do?
USAID expects the awardee to lead and manage the product development and capacity-building program and to provide project management, oversight, and technical support to public and private sector partners.
What phases of the product development cycle are included in the scope?
The scope covers all phases of the product development cycle as needed for each crop and country, including selecting and validating genetic events (event selection), conducting confined field trials, collecting regulatory biosafety data, and preparing and submitting regulatory dossiers.
Does the scope include activities after regulatory approval?
Yes. The scope extends beyond approval into practical steps needed for release and responsible use, including commercial launch planning and long-term stewardship.
What is meant by long-term stewardship in this opportunity?
Stewardship can include seed quality systems, insect resistance management approaches where relevant, compliance with regulatory conditions, and monitoring and training to help ensure the technology is used as intended and remains effective.
How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), meaning the selected prime recipient would likely serve as the central coordinating hub across multiple partners and countries.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $10,000,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling is $10,000,000 and the award floor is $0.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching was required.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Agriculture.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Who is eligible to apply as a prime applicant?
Eligibility is organizational (individuals are not eligible). Eligible prime applicants include U.S. and non-U.S. nonprofit organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. for-profit organizations, U.S. and non-U.S. colleges and universities, and public international organizations. Additional eligibility specifics were referenced as being in Section III of the RFA.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals were explicitly not eligible.
What is the opportunity number for this RFA?
The opportunity number is RFA OAA 14 000029.
What is the official title of the opportunity?
The title is Feed the Future Biotechnology Partnership.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The opportunity was originally posted on May 23, 2014.
What was the original closing date and time?
The original closing date was August 1, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time (Washington, DC local time).
Was the application deadline extended?
Yes. The application deadline was later extended.
What was the extended (current) closing date and time?
The extended closing date became September 15, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
What was the deadline for submitting questions?
The deadline for submitting questions was June 13, 2014 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
What is the archive date listed for the opportunity?
The archive date was October 15, 2014.
How does this opportunity relate to earlier USAID biotechnology work?
This partnership builds on roughly a decade of USAID support under the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Program, which focused on using modern biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, to address major crop production problems that conventional breeding has struggled to solve.
What examples of earlier biotech crop efforts are mentioned?
Examples mentioned include disease and nematode resistant banana, insect resistant eggplant, and late blight resistant potato.
What is the overall structure of the grant as described?
It is described as a single large coordinating award intended to bring together scientific development, field testing, regulatory science, and deployment planning for two priority biotech crops across several Asian countries, alongside strengthened local capacity.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Agency for International Development
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Agriculture
Next opportunity: Community Strengthening Project
Previous opportunity: Community Economic Development Healthy Food Financing Initiative Projects
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000029
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA OAA 14 000029) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Soil Health and Conservation Outreach Workshops Apply for USDA NRCS MO 14 01 Funding Number: USDA NRCS MO 14 01 Agency: Missouri State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Renewable Resource Extension Act National Focus Fund Projects Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004541 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004541 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Healthy Homes Partnership Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 004538 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 004538 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for USDA AMS NOP NATL 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS NOP NATL 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| Organic Certification Cost Share Program Apply for USDA AMS NOP AMA 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS NOP AMA 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Alfalfa and Forage Research Program Apply for USDA NIFA OP 004536 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 004536 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 1890 Facilities Grant Program (Renewals) Apply for USDA NIFA EF47 004542 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EF47 004542 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Specialty Crop Research Initiative/Citrus Disease Research and Extension Apply for USDA NIFA SCRI 004544 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SCRI 004544 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 004553 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 004553 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| 1890 Facilities Grant Program (Central State University) Apply for USDA NIFA EF47 004554 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EF47 004554 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,299,263 |
| 2014 Local Food Promotion Program Grants Extension Apply for USDA AMS LFPP 2014 EXTEND Funding Number: USDA AMS LFPP 2014 EXTEND Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| 2014 Farmers Market Promotion Program Grants Extension Apply for USDA AMS FMPP 2014 EXTEND Funding Number: USDA AMS FMPP 2014 EXTEND Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Request for Proposal to Collect Positive Samples for Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, and Classical Swine Fever Apply for USDA GRANTS 07012014 001 Funding Number: USDA GRANTS 07012014 001 Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA TCRGP 004555 Funding Number: USDA NIFA TCRGP 004555 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program Apply for USDA NIFA NLGCA 004556 Funding Number: USDA NIFA NLGCA 004556 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Wetland Restoration Assistance Apply for 68 6114 14 XXX Funding Number: 68 6114 14 XXX Agency: USDA NRCS Iowa State Office Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Military Families Learning Network Apply for USDA NIFA EXCA 004573 Funding Number: USDA NIFA EXCA 004573 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| UNR Seed Project Apply for F14AS00334 Funding Number: F14AS00334 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $411,814 |
| 2014 Sheep Production and Marketing Grant Program Apply for USDA AMS LSP SPMG 2014 Funding Number: USDA AMS LSP SPMG 2014 Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Family Support Programs Evaluation Plan Development Implementation Apply for USDA NIFA COOP 004594 Funding Number: USDA NIFA COOP 004594 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA OAA 14 000029", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.