National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreements Program | USDA GRANTS 090915 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA GRANTS 090915 001

The National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreements Program is a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) discretionary funding opportunity created to support the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) for Fiscal Year 2016. The authority for the program comes from the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill), specifically Section 10007. At its core, the program is designed to strengthen the US system for producing and distributing asexually propagated plant material that is free from targeted plant pathogens and pests. By ensuring that planting stock is clean and reliable, the program aims to protect the environment, reduce the spread of damaging diseases and pests, and help US specialty crop producers remain competitive in domestic and global markets.

The program focuses heavily on building and maintaining the infrastructure and coordination needed for a nationwide clean plant system, rather than supporting isolated one-off projects. One major priority is establishing and supporting governance and other administrative functions that keep the network organized, consistent, and effective across different crops and regions. Another key priority is the practical work of clean plant production: introducing plant material (from both domestic and foreign sources), diagnosing it for targeted pathogens and pests, applying treatments or therapies when needed, establishing verified clean material in foundation blocks, and ultimately releasing clean plant materials so they can be used for commercial development and propagation.

A related emphasis is on methods development, which includes improving and validating diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches so that pathogens and pests can be detected accurately and eliminated with confidence. This also extends into developing guidelines and standards that help ensure certification programs and clean plant status are maintained over time, not just achieved once. In addition, the program prioritizes partnerships and coordinated outreach, especially with extension and other outreach services such as universities and state departments of agriculture. These partnerships are meant to connect the technical clean plant work with real-world industry needs by engaging commercial nurseries, industry associations, and producers. Finally, the program calls for the development and implementation of best practices and quality control protocols so that clean plant operations are consistent, credible, and able to demonstrate strong biosecurity and process control.

Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project period and a more collaborative relationship between APHIS and award recipients than a standard grant. Eligibility is geared toward institutions and public entities that can build and sustain long-term capacity for clean plant work, including Land-Grant Universities, Non Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture, State Agricultural Experiment Stations, state or local governments, and federal agencies. While the program supports the broader NCPN mission, it explicitly gives funding priority to applications that focus on specialty crops and that present clear, detailed work plans showing how they will contribute to a comprehensive, cohesive, and efficient network rather than fragmented or duplicative efforts.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity title, National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreements Program, and the opportunity number USDA GRANTS 090915 001. The CFDA number is 10.025, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. The agency administering the program is USDA APHIS. The opportunity was created on 2015-09-09 and had an original closing date of 2015-11-18. The listing anticipated about 9 awards, and the award ceiling was not specified in the provided source data.

• The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Clean Plant Network Cooperative Agreements Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.025.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-11-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA GRANTS 090915 001

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