Conduct animal disease surveillance and prepare response activities that will provide specific information to the recipient, aphis, and other interested parties for poultry and one health partners

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $225,209 Cooperative Agreement to the Delaware Department of Agriculture Poultry & Animal Health Division on April 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) to conduct animal disease surveillance and prepare response activities for poultry health.

The recipient will carry out at least 5,700 avian influenza tests across commercial, backyard, live bird market, and exhibition poultry operations using National Poultry Improvement Plan and state testing guidelines. The recipient will perform 45 necropsies for backyard poultry prioritizing birds with respiratory signs and conduct an avian influenza training exercise to review the state's initial response and containment plan. The recipient will also visit approximately nine farm stores selling live poultry to educate managers on biosecurity and the backyard flock registration process, attend weekly poultry auctions for 45 weeks of the year to perform testing and disease prevention outreach, and maintain personnel for NPIP visits and inspections, biosecurity audits, and sick bird response. The recipient will stockpile and maintain supplies and equipment for animal disease outbreak response and provide ongoing education to industries, accredited veterinarians, and the public on disease surveillance, biosecurity, sample collection, and identification.

Performance occurs in Delaware. The period of performance runs April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.

Purpose

The purpose of this agreement is to conduct animal disease surveillance and prepare response activities that will provide specific information to the recipient, aphis, and other interested parties for poultry and one health partners.

Activities

Support animal health staff, provide training, attend training, and carry out animal disease surveillance and laboratory activities to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health issues. In addition, continue to educate industries, accredited veterinarians and the public on disease surveillance, biosecurity, sample collection and identification. Avian • the recipient will: o carry out at least 5700 tests for avian influenza in commercial, backyard, live bird market, and exhibition poultry using the national poultry improvement plan and state testing guidelines o offer 45 necropsies for backyard poultry, prioritizing those with respiratory signs o conduct an avian influenza training exercise to review their initial state response and containment plan for avian influenza. O stockpile and maintain supplies and equipment to have on hand for animal disease outbreak response. Deliverables and expected outcomes: completion of metrics as outlined in the workplans for each commodity. Completion and evaluation of exercises outlined in the plan to ensure readiness in the event of an actual disease incident. Avian • the recipient will: o visit approximately 9 farm stores selling live poultry to the public to educate store managers on biosecurity and the backyard flock registration process in delaware so that the backyard flock registry can be maintained as new birds are sold. O attend weekly poultry auctions (45 weeks of the year) to perform testing and biosecurity/disease prevention outreach to poultry owners. O maintain personnel for national poultry improvement plan (npip) visits and inspections, conduct biosecurity audits, respond to sick bird calls, provide outreach on the npip program and provide emergency response when avian influenza cases are detected. Intended beneficiary/IES: recipient, aphis, and agriculture industry to maintain domestic food supply and international trade. Ultimately, the public benefits from this agreement by maintaining a stable supply and pricing for animal agricultural products. • by conducting at least 5700 tests for avian influenza for both backyard and commercial poultry the state is helping to ensure the health and safety of the people raising, processing and consuming these birds. The majority of these avian influenza tests will be for birds to be tested prior to going to processing which increases the safety of the food supply. • by exercising their avian influenza response and containment plan and maintaining the stockpile of needed supplies they are helping to ensure their readiness for an avian influenza outbreak which will lead to increased response efficiency and less disruption for farmers who are impacted by avian influenza detections on their farm and in their surrounding area.