All nahln level 1, level 2 and level 3 laboratories will receive annual infrastructure support from the USDA/aphis

This $256,300 federal Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) will provide annual infrastructure support to all National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 laboratories. The purpose is to assist these laboratories in meeting their designated responsibilities under the 2024 NAHLN participation agreement. This funding will support improving the laboratories' quality management systems, laboratory information management systems, staffing expertise, and equipment to enhance their diagnostic capabilities and response to animal health emergencies caused by emerging diseases or foreign animal diseases. The award will benefit the overall NAHLN network and help ensure a rapid response to adverse animal health events to protect American agriculture.

The purpose of this agreement is to assist the laboratory in meeting the responsibilities required of their designated level as outlined in the 2024 agreement for participation in the national animal health laboratory network (nahln). In addition, IT will support an overall increase in nahln capacity and capabilities to meet the needs faced during an adverse animal health event caused by the presence of an emerging disease or foreign animal disease. This will be accomplished by providing support for; quality management systems, laboratory information management systems to electronically submit testing data accurately and consistently, improving staffing expertise and proficiency, and enhancing equipment that will directly enhance work product, test outcomes, etc. This agreement will benefit the overall network as well as the american population by helping to ensure the rapid response to an adverse animal health event.