Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 14 000018
Apply for RFA OAA 14 000018
- The Agency for International Development in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management" 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 Jun 5, 2014 and posted on Apr 15, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 24, 2014 The closing date for this opportunity is June 24, 2014 at 500 p.m. EDT (Washington, DC local time). Questions are due at 4 p.m. EDT (Washington, DC local time) on April 29, 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $50,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a USAID grant opportunity designed to fund a long-term, university-led applied research and capacity-building program focused on reducing food insecurity and malnutrition in developing countries by improving how pests are managed in agriculture. This opportunity sits under the Feed the Future Innovation Labs framework (previously known as the Collaborative Research Support Programs, or CRSPs), which is authorized under Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act. In practical terms, the program uses U.S. university leadership to organize multi-disciplinary research, training, and institutional strengthening that can produce workable, science-based solutions to major constraints in global food systems, especially those affecting smallholder farmers.
At the center of this particular solicitation is the creation or continuation of an IPM Innovation Lab that leverages U.S. university expertise to conduct research on integrated pest management and, just as importantly, to tackle the real-world barriers that prevent IPM practices and technologies from being adopted at scale. The emphasis is not only on developing or refining pest management tools, but also on understanding and improving adoption among smallholder farmers and other groups served by USAID programs. That typically implies attention to how IPM fits into local farming systems, the economics and labor demands of different practices, farmer knowledge and incentives, supply chains for inputs, and the roles of extension services, the private sector, and policy environments in making IPM solutions stick over time.
The Innovation Lab model is collaborative by design. While it is managed by a U.S. university, the work is expected to be done in close partnership with scientists and institutions in developing countries, alongside national and international research centers, private sector actors, and non-governmental organizations. A major goal is to build the scientific and institutional capacity of partner organizations, not just to run short-term projects. That means supporting students, training researchers, strengthening research systems, and creating durable collaborations that continue producing results after specific projects end. The overall intent is to help generate and apply scientific knowledge that can reduce hunger and poverty by improving agricultural productivity and resilience in ways that are sustainable and appropriate for local conditions.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) using a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the funding agency during implementation compared with a more hands-off grant. The opportunity was posted April 15, 2014, with questions due by April 29, 2014 (4:00 p.m. EDT), and applications due June 24, 2014 (5:00 p.m. EDT, Washington, DC local time). USAID anticipated making one award, with an estimated total funding amount of up to $50,000,000 and an award ceiling listed at $50,000,000 (no stated minimum award floor). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, meaning the lead applicant must be a qualifying public university or similar state-controlled higher education institution in the United States.
In short, this solicitation is meant to fund a single, large-scale, long-duration IPM-focused Innovation Lab led by a public university, built around applied research plus training and capacity building, and structured to deliver practical pest management solutions and stronger adoption pathways for smallholder farmers in USAID partner countries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USAID grant opportunity under the Feed the Future Innovation Labs framework to support the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It is designed to fund a long-term, university-led applied research and capacity-building program focused on improving how agricultural pests are managed in developing countries to help reduce food insecurity and malnutrition.
What is the main goal of the IPM Innovation Lab?
The core goal is to generate and apply practical, science-based integrated pest management solutions that improve agricultural productivity and resilience in developing countries, especially for smallholder farmers, while also strengthening the ability of partner institutions to sustain research and impact over time.
How does this opportunity connect to Feed the Future Innovation Labs and Title XII?
This solicitation sits within the Feed the Future Innovation Labs framework (previously known as the Collaborative Research Support Programs, or CRSPs). The framework is authorized under Title XII of the Foreign Assistance Act and relies on U.S. university leadership to organize multidisciplinary research, training, and institutional strengthening focused on major constraints in global food systems.
What does "integrated pest management (IPM)" mean in the context of this program?
In this solicitation, IPM refers to improved approaches to managing agricultural pests that are grounded in applied research and are workable in real farming conditions. The program emphasis includes both developing or refining pest management tools and improving the real-world adoption of IPM practices and technologies at scale.
Is the focus only on developing new pest management technologies?
No. The solicitation emphasizes not only the development or refinement of pest management tools, but also the barriers that prevent IPM practices from being adopted widely. This includes understanding how IPM fits within local farming systems and addressing practical constraints that affect uptake and sustained use.
What kinds of adoption barriers is the program expected to address?
Based on the description, the Innovation Lab is expected to consider factors such as:
- How IPM fits into local farming systems
- Economics and labor demands of different pest management practices
- Farmer knowledge, incentives, and decision-making
- Supply chains and access to necessary inputs
- Roles of extension services, private sector actors, and policy environments
- Conditions needed for IPM solutions to persist over time
Who is the intended beneficiary group?
The program is framed around improving outcomes for smallholder farmers and other groups served by USAID programs in partner countries, with the broader development objective of reducing hunger, poverty, and malnutrition through sustainable improvements in agriculture.
What type of applicant is eligible to lead the award?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. In practical terms, the lead applicant must be a qualifying U.S. public university or similar state-controlled higher education institution.
Can a private university apply as the lead applicant?
No. The eligibility statement limits lead applicants to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Can non-U.S. institutions apply as the lead applicant?
The solicitation describes eligibility as limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and emphasizes U.S. university leadership for the Innovation Lab model. Based on the provided information, the lead applicant must be a qualifying U.S. public or state-controlled higher education institution.
Are partnerships allowed or expected?
Yes. The Innovation Lab model is collaborative by design. While it is managed by a U.S. university, the work is expected to be conducted in close partnership with scientists and institutions in developing countries, as well as national and international research centers, private sector actors, and non-governmental organizations.
What is the expected role of developing-country partners?
Developing-country partners are expected to collaborate closely on research and implementation. A major goal is to build the scientific and institutional capacity of partner organizations, not just to complete short-term activities, which implies meaningful involvement in research, training, and institutional strengthening.
What does "capacity building" mean for this Innovation Lab?
Capacity building in this program context includes supporting students, training researchers, strengthening research systems, and creating durable collaborations that can continue producing results after specific projects end.
What type of award instrument will USAID use?
USAID plans to use a cooperative agreement for this discretionary funding opportunity.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by USAID during implementation compared with a more hands-off grant. In other words, the agency is expected to be more actively engaged during the life of the program.
How many awards does USAID expect to make?
USAID anticipated making one award.
What is the estimated total funding amount available?
The estimated total funding amount is up to $50,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed at $50,000,000.
Is there a minimum award size?
No minimum award floor is stated in the information provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on April 15, 2014.
When were questions due?
Questions were due by April 29, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. EDT.
When were applications due?
Applications were due on June 24, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. EDT (Washington, DC local time).
What is the overall program approach described in the solicitation?
The program approach combines applied research, training, and institutional strengthening organized under U.S. university leadership and implemented collaboratively with partners in developing countries. The intent is to produce workable pest management solutions and improve adoption pathways so that solutions can be implemented and sustained at scale.
What development outcomes is the program meant to support?
The solicitation frames the intended outcomes as reducing food insecurity and malnutrition in developing countries by improving pest management in agriculture, and more broadly helping reduce hunger and poverty by improving productivity and resilience in sustainable, locally appropriate ways.
What makes this a "long-term" program?
It is described as a long-term, large-scale, long-duration Innovation Lab intended to build durable research and institutional capacity and to maintain collaborations that continue generating results beyond individual short-term projects.
Is the Innovation Lab expected to work with the private sector and extension services?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly points to the roles of extension services, private sector actors, and policy environments as part of what can influence adoption and long-term success of IPM solutions.
Does the opportunity specify target countries?
The description references developing countries and USAID partner countries but does not list specific countries in the provided information.
What is the central organizing structure of the program?
The central structure is an IPM-focused Feed the Future Innovation Lab managed by a U.S. public university, coordinating multidisciplinary research and capacity building in collaboration with a range of partners to address pest management constraints and adoption challenges.
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