Assist the laboratory in meeting theresponsibilities required of their designated level as outlined in THE2022 agreement for participation in the national animal healthlaboratory network (nahln)

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a $300,000 cooperative agreement to the Montana Department of Livestock to assist the laboratory in meeting responsibilities as an National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) member laboratory. The award will support increasing NAHLN capacity and capabilities to respond to emerging diseases or foreign animal diseases through quality management systems, a laboratory information management system to electronically submit testing data accurately and consistently, and technical expertise improvements such as staff proficiency or equipment enhancements. The award, issued June 1, 2022 for a one-year period, directly supports the APHIS Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) goal of protecting U.S. agriculture from economically injurious plant and animal diseases and pests.

In addition, IT will support an overallincrease in nahln capacity and capabilities to meet the needs facedduring an adverse animal health event caused by the presence of anemerging disease or foreign animal disease. This will be accomplished byproviding support for quality management systems, laboratory informationmanagement systems to electronically submit testing data accurately andconsistently, and support of technical expertise through improvingstaffing expertise and proficiency or by enhancing equipment. Thisagreement will benefit the overall network as well as the americanpopulation by helping to ensure the rapid response to an adverse animalhealth event.no subawards.