Fiscal Year 2010 Cooperative Agreements for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Fiscal Year 2010 Cooperative Agreements for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability" opportunity?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement program from USDA APHIS Veterinary Services intended to strengthen the practical, day-to-day ability of States, Territories, and federally recognized Tribal governments to trace livestock movements quickly during an animal disease investigation.

Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?

The funding agency is USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), specifically APHIS Veterinary Services.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA GRANTS 030510 001.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is designed to improve animal disease response by strengthening the ability to identify specific animals, the locations they have been in, and the relevant timeframes, so officials can decide which animals should be included or excluded from an epidemiological investigation.

Why does APHIS emphasize traceability as a long-term national effort?

APHIS frames traceability as long-term because it depends on interoperable, standardized data and compatible information-sharing approaches across the country, building on USDA traceability standards introduced in 2004 and earlier exploration work from the 1990s.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include State governments, Territory governments, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement).

Are federally recognized Tribal governments explicitly included?

Yes. Tribal applications were explicitly included in the announcement.

How are Tribal government support applications coordinated?

Tribal government support applications were noted as being coordinated through the Federal Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC), the APHIS/VS Tribal liaison, and APHIS/VS regional staff.

What kinds of improvements is the funding intended to support?

The funding is meant to improve the availability and searchability of standardized traceability data within and across jurisdictions so animal health authorities can document disease absence, support surveillance, and coordinate scalable disease responses at local, regional, state/tribal/territorial, or national levels.

What were the FY2010 funding priorities?

APHIS identified three main priorities for FY2010:

1. Maintaining established animal disease traceability infrastructure already in place within States, Tribes, and Territories.
2. Outreach and engagement with key groups that generate or handle animal movement and identification information (including producers, accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and harvest facilities).
3. Advancing tracing capability by increasing both the volume and the searchability of traceability data collected through routine program channels (such as APHIS/VS State-Federal Cooperative Disease Program activities, interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs), and comparable approaches).

What types of stakeholders are specifically mentioned for outreach and engagement?

The announcement specifically mentions producers, accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and harvest facilities as key groups involved in generating or handling animal movement and identification information.

What data sources or routine program channels are mentioned for increasing traceability data?

The announcement references data collected through routine program channels such as APHIS/VS State-Federal Cooperative Disease Program activities, interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs), and comparable approaches.

How many awards did APHIS expect to make, and what was the estimated total funding level?

APHIS expected to make about 65 awards with an estimated total funding level of $5,783,440.

What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.025, titled Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required.

When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?

The opportunity was posted March 5, 2010. The application closing date was April 1, 2010, and the archive date was May 1, 2010.

What does the program mean by focusing on "performance and accountability"?

Applicants were expected to provide objective baseline information documenting current traceability capability and then propose measurable performance targets showing how the planned work would advance traceability under the cooperative agreement.

What reporting is required if an award is made?

Quarterly and final accomplishment reports were required. These reports needed to include objective data points that directly align with the application’s stated objectives and performance elements.

What is meant by providing "baseline information" in the application?

Baseline information refers to objective documentation of the applicant's current traceability capability, which is then used as the starting point for measuring progress against the proposed performance targets.

Does the program fund activities, or does it require demonstrated results?

The announcement emphasizes that the program was not only funding activities; it was funding demonstrable improvements in traceability capacity and requiring recipients to quantify progress over time.

Are pilot projects allowed under this funding opportunity?

No. The announcement explicitly states that it does not fund pilot projects run by the applicant or any subcontractor under the award.

Can funds be used to buy, develop, support, or maintain information systems?

No. The announcement prohibits using funds to purchase, develop, support, or maintain information systems, including software licensing.

If information systems are not allowed, what does the funding appear intended to support instead?

Based on the stated restrictions and priorities, the funds are intended to strengthen implementation and operational capability related to traceability, including data capture, data standardization, coordination, training, outreach, and the ability to search and use traceability data, rather than building or operating IT platforms.

Why does the announcement emphasize State, Tribal, and Territorial systems?

APHIS emphasizes that a credible national traceability network is only as strong as the traceability systems operating inside each State, Tribe, and Territory, especially given the diversity of U.S. livestock production and the reality that animals often move during their production life.

Who should be contacted for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed contact for access issues with the full announcement is Eileen Berke, Management Analyst, at 301-734-8330. The announcement also notes an email contact for technical issues.