Cooperative Agreement AP23VSDB000C057

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will deliver animal health laboratory testing and network capacity building services under a $287,870 cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The purpose of this June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024 award is to assist the Department in meeting responsibilities as a designated member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network and support overall increases to the Network's capabilities. Funding will provide for quality management systems, laboratory information management systems to electronically submit testing data, staff expertise and proficiency enhancements, equipment upgrades, and limited facility projects directly improving work product and test outcomes. Delivering these capabilities ensures the rapid response necessary to address adverse animal health events involving emerging or foreign animal diseases, as outlined under the USDA program "Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care" (CFDA No. 10.025). No subawards are associated with this cooperative agreement funding.