Limited Competition International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (U19) | Apply Online

FAQs: Limited Competition International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) (U19) - RFA-TW-13-001

What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity was the Limited Competition International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups (ICBG) (U19), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-TW-13-001. It was a discretionary federal grant program offered as a cooperative agreement and jointly associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Is this opportunity currently open?

No. The announcement is archived (archive date: January 11, 2014), which indicates it is no longer an active solicitation.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on July 26, 2013. The original closing date was November 20, 2013, and it was later extended to December 11, 2013.

What is the main goal of the ICBG program?

The program aimed to build or continue multidisciplinary International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups that connect biodiversity discovery, human health research, conservation science, and sustainable economic development, especially in regions with high biological diversity.

What types of activities or outcomes was the program trying to support?

Teams were expected to explore biodiversity for potential health-related applications (for example, identifying biologically active compounds or other useful natural products) while also investing in research capacity and long-term infrastructure that supports sustainable use and conservation in partner countries.

How did the program define the connection between biodiversity and health?

The program was built around the idea that biodiversity discovery and human health research are tightly linked, and that research on natural resources can inform health-related applications while also supporting conservation and sustainable development goals.

What made this opportunity different from a typical research grant?

It used a cooperative agreement mechanism, which signals substantial programmatic involvement by the funding agencies compared with a standard grant. In practice, this means the funders typically take an active role in oversight, coordination, and keeping the project aligned with program goals.

What does the U19 mechanism imply for project structure?

The funding instrument was a U19, which generally supports multi-project, team-based research under a single umbrella program. This often includes multiple coordinated components and may include cores or shared resources working toward common objectives.

What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed for this announcement was $700,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed.

What was the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category was health.

What CFDA number was associated with this program?

The CFDA number associated with the program was 93.989 (International Research and Research Training).

Who could apply as the primary applicant?

Eligibility was limited primarily to U.S.-based applicant organizations. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status.

Were specific mission-driven institution types explicitly included as eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly included Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and related institution types listed in the opportunity description.

Could a foreign (non-U.S.) institution apply as the lead applicant?

No. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) were not eligible to apply as the primary applicant for this opportunity.

Could foreign partners still participate in the project?

Yes. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could participate, and foreign components (as defined under NIH policy) were allowed. This supported the program goal of strong, formal collaborations with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), even though the lead applicant needed to be U.S.-based.

What countries or partners were emphasized for collaboration?

A defining feature was structured partnership between U.S.-based research organizations and institutions located in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For this program, LMIC eligibility followed World Bank country classifications.

What kind of partnership approach did the program expect?

The opportunity emphasized equitable, structured partnerships with durable collaborations. The intent went beyond collecting samples or publishing findings and focused on strengthening local scientific capability, building long-term infrastructure, incorporating conservation and sustainability from the start, and establishing fair frameworks for collaboration and benefit-sharing.

What elements were applicants expected to integrate into their program?

Applicants were expected to integrate biodiversity exploration and potential biomedical or public health relevance with training, technology transfer or capacity building, and activities that contribute to conservation knowledge and sustainable use.

What kinds of discoveries or outputs were mentioned as examples?

The description gave examples such as identifying biologically active compounds or other useful natural products as part of exploring biodiversity for potential health-related applications.

Which agencies were associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was jointly associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Where could the full announcement be found?

The full announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide at the link provided in the source text for the opportunity.

Who was the listed contact for technical access or linking issues?

For technical access or linking issues, the contact point listed was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.