Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program

Post Date

February 2nd 2010

Application Due Date

March 17th 2010

Funding Opportunity Number

USDA-NIFA-BRAP-002896

CFDA Number(s)

10.219

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Agriculture
Disaster Prevention and Relief
Education
Energy
Environment
Natural Resources

Number of Awards

25

Eligibility Categories

Public and State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
Non-Profits With 501 (c) (3) Status With The IRS (Except Higher Education Institutions)
Private Institutions of Higher Education
Other

Applications may be submitted by any United States public or private research or educational institution or organization. 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 result in NIFA not accepting the application, or even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $4000000

• Award Range:

  $0 - $1000000

Grant Description

The purpose of the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants (BRAG) Program is to assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the effects of introducing genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Investigations of effects on both managed and natural environments are relevant. Applications to the USDA BRAG Program must seek partial funding for a conference or address one of the following areas: 1) Identify and develop practices to minimize risks associated with genetically engineered organisms; 2) Research methods to monitor the dispersal of genetically engineered organisms; 3) Research to increase knowledge about the characteristics, rates, and methods of gene transfer that may occur between genetically engineered organisms, and related organisms; 4) Perform assessments to provide analysis which compares impacts of organisms modified through genetic engineering to other types of production systems; 5) Other areas of research designed to further the purposes of the USDA BRAG program. Regular research proposals submitted to the BRAG program should be limited to a total budget of $400,000 (including indirect costs) for 2-5 years of support. Proposals on the priority areas of transformation-associated mutagenesis or environmental impacts of large-scale planting submitted to the BRAG program should not exceed $1 million. Proposals requesting more than $400,000 for a regular proposal and more than $1million for a priority proposal will be at risk of being excluded from NIFA review. Funds awarded will not exceed $400,000 for regular research proposals or $1 million for priority proposals. Project periods cannot exceed five (5) years, the statutory time limit. Conference proposal requests should be limited to a total budget of $20,000. See RFA for details.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of Agriculture

• Office:

  National Institute of Food and Agriculture

• Agency Contact:

  NIFA Help Desk
  Phone: 202-401-5048
  Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -5:00 pm ET, excluding Federal holidays
  

• Agency Mailing Address:

  For questions regarding this RFA.

• Agency Email Address:

  electronic@nifa.usda.gov

• More Information:

  Biotechnology Risk Assessment - FY 2010 RFA