APHIS Extends Deadline to Apply for $25 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding Supporting Research on SARS-CoV-2 in Animals

Print

Media Contact:
Travis Weger
travis.weger@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2023 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is extending the deadline for the general funding opportunity to further its understanding and ability to address SARS-CoV-2 in animals.

Applications for the $25 million in general funding will now be accepted until Jan. 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The application deadline for the $5 million in Tribal funding will remain unchanged at Jan. 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

APHIS is offering two additional webinars on Jan. 17 from 1-2 p.m. EST, and Jan. 19 from 11a.m. to 12 p.m. EST, to assist applicants with technical questions related to ezFedGrants. Links to these webinars, various documents, information on how to apply, and Grants.gov, are located on APHIS’ One Health funding site under the “American Rescue Plan Funding Opportunity” dropdown selection.

About this Funding Opportunity

APHIS is making $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding available to address SARS-CoV-2 in animals and advance the nation’s ability to protect the health of humans and animals. The funding opportunity includes $25 million in general cooperative or interagency agreement funding for cooperators within U.S. states and territories, including state and federal agencies, Tribal nations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and private entities and $5 million specifically for Tribes, Tribal organizations and those working on their behalf.

This funding opportunity is part of APHIS’ multipronged approach under its American Rescue Plan Strategic Framework (362.4 KB) to build an early warning system to potentially prevent or limit the next zoonotic disease outbreak or global pandemic. APHIS is using a One Health approach and conducting multiple projects under the American Rescue Plan Act aimed at understanding how the SARS-CoV-2 virus behaves in different animals, how it moves between animals and people, and what the agency can do to interrupt the chain of transmission.

For questions regarding these funding opportunities, required documents or the ezFedGrants process, please email APHIS.ARP.Agreements@usda.gov.

#

APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps people and wildlife coexist. We also certify the health of U.S. agricultural exports and resolve phytosanitary and sanitary issues to open, expand, and maintain markets for U.S plant and animal products.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.