Cooperative Agreement AP24VSDB000C024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a $356,300 Cooperative Agreement to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. The purpose of this 1-year agreement, which runs from June 2024 to May 2025, is to provide annual infrastructure support to all National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) Level 1, 2 and 3 laboratories. This funding will assist the Florida laboratory in meeting its responsibilities as a NAHLN participant, while also increasing overall NAHLN capacity and capabilities to respond to emerging or foreign animal disease events. Specifically, the agreement will support the laboratory's quality management systems, laboratory information management systems, staffing expertise, and equipment enhancements to improve testing processes and outcomes. This agreement is funded under CFDA Program 10.025 - Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care, which focuses on protecting U.S. agriculture through disease surveillance, prevention, and response activities.