Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA GRANTS 050211 001
Apply for USDA GRANTS 050211 001
- The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Clean Plant Network Request for Applications" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.025 Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2011 and posted on May 2, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Land Grant Universities Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture State or Local Governments Federal Agencies
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Clean Plant Network Request for Applications is a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) cooperative agreement opportunity that continued FY 2011 funding authorized by Section 10202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The core purpose of the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) is to protect U.S. agriculture and the environment by ensuring the availability of high-quality, asexually propagated planting material that is free of targeted plant pathogens and pests that can cause significant economic losses. By supporting systems that keep planting stock clean and verifiably tested, the program aims to strengthen the long-term productivity and global competitiveness of specialty crop producers, where vegetative propagation can otherwise accelerate the spread of systemic diseases.
The opportunity emphasizes building and maintaining an organized, reliable national network rather than funding isolated projects. Priority activities include establishing and supporting network governance, along with the administrative and support systems needed to coordinate multiple clean plant centers and partners. A major operational focus is the rapid and safe introduction of plant materials from both foreign and domestic sources, including the capacity to diagnose problems, apply treatments or therapies when needed, establish foundation blocks, and release clean plant materials for commercial development. In practice, this means funding can support the infrastructure and workflows that move plant material through quarantine-like intake processes, pathogen testing, cleaning or therapy, and then into maintained collections that serve as trusted sources for propagation.
Another central priority is methods development and standard-setting. The program encourages work that improves the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic testing, advances treatment approaches to eliminate pathogens, and supports the development of guidelines and standards for different crop species so that certification and long-term maintenance can be consistent and credible. Because specialty crops vary widely in their pests, pathogens, and propagation systems, the program highlights the need for crop-specific standards that still fit within a cohesive national framework.
Partnership development and outreach are also explicitly prioritized. NCPN is designed to connect clean plant efforts with land-grant and other university extension programs, state departments of agriculture, and outreach services so the network can effectively engage commercial nurseries, industry associations, and producers. The goal is to ensure that clean plant materials and best practices move beyond research settings and into real-world production and nursery supply chains, reducing the risk of disease spread and improving overall plant health outcomes across the industry.
Finally, the opportunity calls for audit and quality control systems. This reflects an expectation that funded projects will not only produce clean plant material, but will also implement verification practices, documentation, and quality management approaches that help ensure consistency across the network. These controls are important for maintaining confidence in the health status of distributed plant material and for ensuring that participating centers meet shared expectations over time.
Funding details in the announcement indicate an estimated total of $4,500,000 with an expectation of about 10 awards. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial federal involvement or coordination during the project period compared with a standard grant. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed. The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.025 (Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care), and the activity category is Agriculture. The opportunity was posted May 2, 2011, with an application deadline of June 10, 2011, and it was archived July 10, 2011.
Eligibility is aimed at institutions and public entities positioned to operate or support clean plant infrastructure and services, including Land Grant Universities, Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, state governments, and federal agencies (particularly where industry stakeholders recommend support to federal clean plant centers). The notice also references small businesses in the eligibility field, but the narrative eligibility description centers on universities and government entities involved in plant health, diagnostics, and certification systems. Applications receive priority when they are built around specialty-crop-specific, coordinated plans that contribute to a comprehensive, cohesive, and efficient national network, reinforcing that APHIS is looking for integrated approaches that strengthen NCPN as a system rather than standalone efforts.
For access or administrative issues related to the full announcement, the listed contact was Eileen Berke, Management Analyst, at 301-734-8330, with an additional note about emailing for electronic access problems.
National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Request for Applications - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the National Clean Plant Network Request for Applications, a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) cooperative agreement opportunity that continued FY 2011 funding authorized by Section 10202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill).
What is the core purpose of the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN)?
The core purpose of NCPN is to protect U.S. agriculture and the environment by ensuring the availability of high-quality, asexually propagated planting material that is free of targeted plant pathogens and pests that can cause significant economic losses.
Why does the program focus on asexually (vegetatively) propagated planting material?
The opportunity emphasizes that vegetative propagation can accelerate the spread of systemic diseases. By keeping planting stock clean and verifiably tested, the program aims to reduce disease spread risks and support the long-term productivity and global competitiveness of specialty crop producers.
Is the program intended to fund individual, isolated projects?
No. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes building and maintaining an organized, reliable national network rather than funding isolated projects. Priority is placed on coordinated efforts that strengthen NCPN as a system.
What types of activities are prioritized under this opportunity?
Priority activities described in the announcement include network governance and coordination, administrative and support systems to manage multiple clean plant centers and partners, rapid and safe introduction of plant materials (foreign and domestic), diagnostic testing, treatments or therapies to eliminate pathogens, establishing foundation blocks, releasing clean plant materials for commercial development, methods development and standard-setting, partnership development and outreach, and audit and quality control systems.
What does the opportunity mean by "network governance" and coordination?
The announcement highlights establishing and supporting network governance and the administrative/support systems needed to coordinate multiple clean plant centers and partners, reflecting an emphasis on organized, multi-entity collaboration rather than stand-alone work.
Can funding support bringing in plant material from outside the U.S.?
Yes. A major operational focus is the rapid and safe introduction of plant materials from both foreign and domestic sources, including capacity to diagnose problems, apply treatments or therapies when needed, establish foundation blocks, and release clean plant materials for commercial development.
What steps in the clean plant pipeline can be supported?
Based on the description, support can cover infrastructure and workflows that move plant material through intake processes similar to quarantine, pathogen testing, cleaning or therapy, and then into maintained collections that serve as trusted sources for propagation.
What is meant by "foundation blocks" in this context?
The opportunity references establishing foundation blocks as part of the process for moving cleaned and tested plant material into maintained collections that can serve as trusted sources for propagation and commercial development.
Does the opportunity support developing new diagnostic methods and treatments?
Yes. Methods development is a central priority, including improving the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic testing and advancing treatment approaches to eliminate pathogens.
Does NCPN support creating standards and guidelines?
Yes. The program supports developing guidelines and standards for different crop species so that certification and long-term maintenance are consistent and credible, including crop-specific standards within a cohesive national framework.
Why are crop-specific standards emphasized?
The announcement notes that specialty crops vary widely in pests, pathogens, and propagation systems. It highlights the need for crop-specific standards that still fit within a cohesive national framework.
Is outreach and partnership building part of what APHIS wants to fund?
Yes. Partnership development and outreach are explicitly prioritized. The opportunity is designed to connect clean plant efforts with land-grant and other university extension programs, state departments of agriculture, and outreach services to engage commercial nurseries, industry associations, and producers.
What outcomes does the program seek from outreach and partnerships?
The stated goal is to ensure clean plant materials and best practices move beyond research settings and into real-world production and nursery supply chains, reducing disease spread risk and improving plant health outcomes across the industry.
Are audit and quality control systems required or encouraged?
They are specifically called for as a priority. The opportunity emphasizes audit and quality control systems, including verification practices, documentation, and quality management approaches to ensure consistency across the network and maintain confidence in the health status of distributed material.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The announcement indicates an estimated total of $4,500,000.
About how many awards are expected?
The announcement states an expectation of about 10 awards.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply compared with a standard grant?
The announcement notes that a cooperative agreement generally implies substantial federal involvement or coordination during the project period compared with a standard grant.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number associated with the program is 10.025 (Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care).
What is the activity category?
The activity category is Agriculture.
When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted May 2, 2011, and the application deadline was June 10, 2011.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The opportunity was archived July 10, 2011.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed at institutions and public entities positioned to operate or support clean plant infrastructure and services. The announcement lists Land Grant Universities, Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, state governments, and federal agencies (particularly where industry stakeholders recommend support to federal clean plant centers). The notice also references small businesses in the eligibility field, though the narrative eligibility description centers on universities and government entities.
What kinds of applications receive priority consideration?
Applications receive priority when they are built around specialty-crop-specific, coordinated plans that contribute to a comprehensive, cohesive, and efficient national network, reinforcing APHIS's preference for integrated approaches that strengthen NCPN as a system.
Who was the contact for administrative or access issues?
The listed contact was Eileen Berke, Management Analyst, at 301-734-8330, with a note about emailing for electronic access problems.
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