The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking project proposals for fiscal 2020 funding for the National Animal Disease Preparedness & Response Program (NADPRP) and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

The 2018 farm bill provided funding for these programs as part of an overall strategy to help prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the U.S. and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions through advance planning and preparedness. Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Sept. 14, 2020.

In fiscal 2020, APHIS will make available up to $15 million in funds to be divided between NADPRP and NAHLN. Up to $10 million will be targeted toward NADPRP projects focused on increasing practical livestock biosecurity measures or advancing rapid depopulation and disposal abilities to be used during high-consequence animal disease outbreaks. These focus areas were identified as priorities for the current year by the NADPRP consultation board, a body that represents states, industry organizations, tribal organizations, academic institutions and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Up to $5 million will be directed toward NAHLN projects that address needs within the network related to receiving, testing and reporting results for animal samples.

NADPRP allows APHIS to enter into cooperative or interagency agreements with states, universities, livestock producer organizations, tribal organizations, land-grant universities and other eligible entities.

Application instructions and additional information are available on the NADPRP website. Applicants can also find information on the on the ezFedGrants website or the Grants.gov website by searching CFDA number 10.025 or Funding Opportunity Number USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-20-0001.

APHIS is offering two webinars to assist potential collaborators with the application process:

The NAHLN is a nationally coordinated network and partnership of federal, state and university-associated animal health laboratories providing animal health diagnostic testing to detect both endemic and high-consequence pathogens in the nation’s food animals, which is vital to protecting animal health, public health and the nation's food supply. These laboratories are the first line of defense for detecting animal diseases and pathogens. Should foreign animal disease strike, diagnosing and detecting the extent of the outbreak as rapidly as possible plays a key role in limiting the impact on producers.

The NAHLN Funding Opportunity Announcement and Work Plan template are available on the NAHLN website or can be requested from the NAHLN program office [email protected].

More information about both of these programs is available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/farmbill.