Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 002716
Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 002716
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 20, 2009 and posted on Nov 20, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 20, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land grant colleges and universities, research foundations established by land grant colleges and universities, colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962, as amended (16 USC 582a et seq.), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project. An applicant s failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will preclude NIFA from reviewing the application and making an award.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SRGP 002716) is a discretionary grant program run by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to fund research aimed at developing and testing improved potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.). The central requirement is that the work must focus on varietal development and/or varietal testing, and the outputs must be, or must include, potato varieties. In practical terms, the program is looking for breeding-oriented research that results in new or improved cultivars, not just general potato studies. The announcement clarifies that "varietal development/testing" includes both traditional breeding approaches and biotechnological genetics, as long as the work is clearly tied to creating improved varieties. Supporting activities such as evaluation, screening, and testing are allowed and encouraged when they directly support or complement the development of those improved varieties (for example, screening breeding lines for disease resistance, quality traits, yield performance, storage characteristics, or other traits that make a variety commercially or agronomically better).
The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development. NIFA expected to make about five awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total program funding level of $1,300,000. The listed award ceiling is also $1,300,000 and the award floor is $0, which generally signals that awards could vary widely in size depending on project scope and agency decisions, up to the full amount available. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.
Eligibility is centered on the traditional agricultural research and land-grant university system. Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, and research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities. The opportunity also allows colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (as amended), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine. While the primary applicant must be an eligible entity, award recipients are permitted to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed work. The notice also emphasizes that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline will prevent NIFA from reviewing the proposal or making an award.
Key timing details reflect the historical cycle of this specific announcement. It was posted and created on November 20, 2009, with an original and current closing date of January 20, 2010, and an archive date of February 21, 2010. The CFDA program number associated with this funding is 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants), which is the broader catalog listing under which this potato breeding competition was offered.
For applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided a help desk contact at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The opportunity also references an additional information link for the full request for applications, which would contain the detailed program priorities, application format rules, review criteria, and administrative requirements beyond the summary provided here.
FAQs: Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research (USDA NIFA SRGP 002716)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research, a discretionary grant program administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Its purpose is to fund research focused on developing and testing improved potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SRGP 002716.
What type of funding instrument is being offered?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What kinds of projects does this program fund?
The program funds breeding-oriented research aimed at varietal development and/or varietal testing, where the outputs must be, or must include, potato varieties. In other words, the work needs to clearly tie to creating new or improved cultivars rather than supporting only general potato research.
What is the central requirement for project focus?
The central requirement is that the proposed work must focus on varietal development and/or varietal testing, and the outputs must be, or must include, potato varieties.
Does the program allow biotechnology or genetics approaches?
Yes. The announcement states that "varietal development/testing" includes traditional breeding approaches as well as biotechnological genetics, as long as the work is clearly tied to developing improved potato varieties.
Are supporting activities like screening and evaluation allowed?
Yes. Supporting activities such as evaluation, screening, and testing are allowed and encouraged when they directly support or complement the development of improved varieties.
What are examples of acceptable screening or testing activities?
The announcement gives examples such as screening breeding lines for disease resistance, quality traits, yield performance, storage characteristics, or other traits that make a variety commercially or agronomically better, provided these activities directly support varietal development/testing.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is Agriculture, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development.
How many awards does NIFA expect to make?
NIFA expected to make about five awards under this opportunity.
What is the estimated total funding level for the program?
The estimated total program funding level is $1,300,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $1,300,000.
What is the award floor?
The listed award floor is $0, which indicates award amounts may vary widely depending on project scope and agency decisions.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications may be submitted by State agricultural experiment stations, land-grant colleges and universities, and research foundations established by land-grant colleges and universities. The opportunity also allows colleges and universities receiving funds under the Act of October 10, 1962 (as amended), and accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.
Can award recipients work with partners that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. Award recipients are permitted to subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible to apply, as long as those partners are necessary to carry out the proposed work.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements?
The notice emphasizes that failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline will prevent NIFA from reviewing the proposal or making an award.
What is the CFDA program number for this opportunity?
The CFDA program number is 10.200 (Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants).
When was this opportunity posted?
It was posted and created on November 20, 2009.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed is January 20, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is February 21, 2010.
Where can applicants find the full request for applications?
The opportunity references an additional information link for the full request for applications, which would include detailed program priorities, application format rules, review criteria, and administrative requirements beyond the summary provided here.
Who should applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
NIFA provided a help desk contact at 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
What is the key takeaway for proposal scope?
Proposals need to be clearly centered on developing and/or testing potato varieties, with outcomes that are, or include, potato varieties. Supporting evaluations and tests are appropriate when they directly advance that varietal development/testing goal.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NIFA SRGP 002716) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Special Research Grants Program Potato Breeding Research Apply for USDA NIFA SRGP 003403 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SRGP 003403 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| New Technologies of Ag Extension Apply for USDA NIFA OP 003442 Funding Number: USDA NIFA OP 003442 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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