Cooperative Agreement AP26VSSPRS00C090

AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE OF MONTANA'S CAPABILITY TO TRACE ANIMAL MOVEMENTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE AND TO BETTER MEET THE IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TRADE AND COMMERCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: ACTIVELY TRACE ANIMALS SUSPECTED OF BEING EXPOSED TO REPORTABLE DISEASES. TEST TRACING CAPABILITIES BY COMPLETING QUARTERLY TRACE PERFORMANCE MEASURES EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY - 4 TIMES PER YEAR. MONITOR AND DOCUMENT THE IMPORTATION OF ANIMALS INTO MONTANA AND REPORT COMPLIANCE FAILURES TO USDA FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION. PROVIDE SALES TIME IDENTIFICATION SOFTWARE TO LIVESTOCK MARKETS TO IMPROVE THE USE OF AND ACCURACY OF ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES OF VETERINARY INSPECTION. DISTRIBUTE OVER 250,000 840 RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAGS TO MONTANA VETERINARIANS FOR PLACEMENT IN MONTANA'S BREEDING CATTLE HERD AND REPORT COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH USDA FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION. SUBSIDIZE COSTS OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION READERS AND DATA DEVICES TO MONTANA VETERINARIANS. PURCHASE OF 1 RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION HANDHELD READER TO LOAN TO VETERINARIANS TO ASSIST WITH ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTATION. PROVIDE 12 ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY VETERINARIAN MONTHLY MOBILE DEVICE SUBSCRIPTIONS. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: INCREASED ABILITY FOR THE STATE OF MONTANA TO TRACE ANIMAL MOVEMENTS AT LIVESTOCK MARKETS, TRACE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND ACTUAL DISEASE TRACES. (A.) DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 250,000 RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION EAR TAGS TO MONTANA CATTLE PRODUCERS; (B.) QUARTERLY REPORTING OF ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES OF VETERINARY INSPECTION FOR ALL ANIMAL COMMODITIES; (C.) DOCUMENTATION OF ALL OUTREACH EFFORTS TO MONTANA PRODUCERS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS; (D.) COMPLETION OF 4 TRACE PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO EXERCISE AND DOCUMENT ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION TRACING PROFICIENCY; (E.) TRACING ANIMAL DISEASE INCURSIONS BY INVESTIGATING ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION OF ANY DISEASE EXPOSURES; (F.) DOCUMENTATION AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION NON-COMPLIANCE BY LIVESTOCK MARKETS, VETERINARIANS AND PRODUCERS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE EFFORTS WILL BE LIVESTOCK OWNERS AND STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES SINCE DISEASE SPREAD COULD BE LIMITED AND THE COST OF THE DISEASE INCLUDING DISEASE RESPONSE EFFORTS DECREASED. LIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES AND PRODUCERS IN MONTANA AND THE US AS WELL AS INDUSTRIES INVOLVED IN ANIMAL OR ANIMAL PRODUCTS TRADE BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONALLY WILL BENEFIT BY PROVIDING A WHOLESOME PRODUCT TO THE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET WITH ASSURANCES OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND TRACEABILITY WITH INCREASED VALUE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SALE TIME SYSTEMS - THEIR VETERINARY MODULE SOFTWARE FOR LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS WILL BE ABLE TO UPLOAD ELECTRONIC DATA, INCREASING ELECTRONIC SHARING OF DATA. TRACE FIRST CORE ONE IT CONTRACT.