Funding Opportunity: Plant Protection Act Section 7721 Fiscal Year 2027 National Clean Plant Network The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the availability of funds to carry out the Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) program. The purpose of the NCPN program is to establish a network of Clean Plant Centers for diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to produce clean propagative plant material and to maintain blocks of pathogen-tested plant material in sites located throughout the United States. The USDA APHIS NCPN website has additional details about the NCPN and this funding opportunity, including information for applicants and how to submit proposals. PPA 7721 funding for the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program is addressed in a separate Notice of Funding Opportunity.

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aphis.usda.gov%2Ffunding%2Fncpn&data=05%7C02%7Cheather.l.curlett%40usda.gov%7C3c7d7b0e5eec4810ca7408dda2d9d531%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638845778663482104%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FWUx%2FNAbi05H5MYFUpo3L3UQrsLEU70vKM1EoDNJfz0%3D&reserved=0%22%20%5Co%20%22Original%20URL:%20http://www.aphis.usda.gov/funding/ncpn.%20Click%20or%20tap%20if%20you%20trust%20this%20link.

Plant Protection Act Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network Fiscal Year 2027 Cooperative/Interagency Agreements

Fiscal Year 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-APHIS-10031-PPQ-NCPN-2027

Publication Date: July 27, 2026

Application Due Date: October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(1) BASIC INFORMATION

(2) FUNDING DETAILS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

(3) ELIGIBILITY

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

COST SHARING

FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

(4) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

COST GUIDANCE

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

(5) APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

OBTAINING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

CONTENT AND FORM OF THE APPLICATION PACKAGE

(6) SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

(7) APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

EVALUATION CRITERIA

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

RISK REVIEW

(8) FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

AWARD NOTICES

ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

REPORTING

PROJECT EVALUATION

OTHER INFORMATION

DEFINITIONS

(1) BASIC INFORMATION

Federal Agency Name: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)

Funding Opportunity Title: Plant Protection Act Section 7721 Fiscal Year 2027 National Clean Plant Network

(NCPN)

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-APHIS-10031-PPQ-NCPN-2027

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Assistance Listing Number: 10.031

(2) FUNDING DETAILS

APHIS is providing at least $10 million in funding for the Plant Protection Act (PPA) National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) program under Section 420 of the PPA (7 USC § 7721). The purpose of the NCPN program is to establish a network of Clean Plant Centers for diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to produce clean propagative plant material and to maintain blocks of pathogen-tested plant material in sites located throughout the United States. Additional details about the program are available on the USDA APHIS NCPN website. Funding for the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program under Section 420 of the PPA is addressed in a separate APHIS Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Key Dates: Proposals submitted for National Clean Plant Network funding must be submitted via email to ncpn@usda.gov by October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.

Anticipated Period of Performance: The agreement performance period for cooperative and interagency agreements is estimated to begin between May 1, 2027, and September 30, 2027, and end no later than 12 months after the start date, unless an extension has been approved in writing by APHIS.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announce this funding opportunity to carry out the Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) program. APHIS will consider project proposals that clearly and directly support the strategic goals and objectives of the National Clean Plant Network as described in the NCPN Strategic Plan. The purpose of the NCPN program is to establish a network of Clean Plant Centers for diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to produce clean propagative plant material and to maintain blocks of pathogen-tested plant material in sites located throughout the United States. The NCPN provides propagative plant material free of targeted plant pathogens to protect the environment and ensure the global competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.

Program priorities align with the goals specified in the NCPN Strategic Plan and include: 1) Optimizing the production, maintenance, and distribution of clean plants, 2) Advancing special initiatives by optimizing the adaptation and implementation of novel technologies and new ideas while increasing the awareness of the importance, availability, and use of clean plants, and 3) Optimizing network resources. Applicants should refer to the NCPN Request for Proposals on the USDA APHIS NCPN website for additional details.

Agency Contact Information: For questions about the NCPN program and this funding opportunity, please contact ncpn@usda.gov.

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Anticipated Awards: The program anticipates funding between 18-25 proposals, with the funding level depending on the scope and objectives of each proposal.

(3) ELIGIBILITY

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

PPA 7721 NCPN eligible applicants are:

1. Land grant universities

2. Non-land grant colleges of agriculture

3. State Departments of Agriculture

4. State and Federal agencies

5. Non-profit organizations

THRESHOLD ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Proposal packages must meet these initial screening criteria to be considered for further review. Proposals that do not meet these initial screening criteria will not be considered. Proposal packages with missing or incomplete documents or forms will not be eligible to receive further review.

1. Proposals must be submitted by eligible entities.

2. Proposals must clearly address at least one NCPN Strategic Plan goal, as described in the Executive

Summary and detailed in the NCPN Request for Proposals on the USDA APHIS NCPN website.

3. Any commodity proposed as a target for Network program funding must qualify as a “specialty crop” as defined by the USDA (for the definition, see the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note), amended under section 10010 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79.

4. All required documents and forms listed in Application Content and Format must (a) be included in the proposal package, and (b) comply with the submission instructions described in Section 5 of this announcement.

5. Proposals must be received on or before the submission deadline. Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be eligible to receive further review.

COST SHARING

Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required for PPA 7721 projects. If an applicant includes voluntary committed cost sharing as part of a proposal and it is accepted by APHIS, the commitment of funds becomes legally binding. The cost share must be included in the Work and Financial Plans, reported on Forms SF-424 and semiannual updates on Form SF-425, and is subject to audit.

FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Funding restrictions, including unallowable costs, indirect cost cap, and cost restrictions, are provided in the FY 2027 PPA 7721 Implementation Plan under Appendix D: PPA 7721 Use of Funds. Generally unallowable costs are provided in 2 CFR Part 200 and described in 2 CFR Subpart E, Cost Principles – General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

Funds may not be used in any way as prohibited by applicable law or regulations, to include 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 400. Awards issued pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity may only be used for the purpose set forth in the award, consistent with the statutory authority for the award.

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The items below will not be funded:

• Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the agreement (unless a pre-award has been signed);

• Purchase of vehicles;

• Construction of a new building or facility, or the acquisition or expansion of an existing building or facility, including site grading, improvement, and architect fees;

• Land acquisition;

• Thank-you materials, incentives to encourage participation, or similar costs unallowable by OMB cost principles;

• Bonuses or commissions;

• Fundraising;

• Meeting, conference, symposia, or workshop honoraria which is payment to individuals or guests other than for documented professional services; and

• Compensation of Federal Employees. Salary payments, consulting fees, or other remuneration of full-time Federal employees are unallowable costs. Temporary duty assignment (TDY) and limited appointment (LA) costs are allowable.

Section 420(h) of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. § 7721(h)) restricts indirect costs charged against a cooperative agreement to the lesser of 15% of the total award provided under the cooperative agreement or the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement applicable to the recipient as established by law.

(4) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Program Goals: The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) was established under The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) Title X, Sec 10202. Its purpose is to support a network of clean plant centers in the United States for specialty crops to provide reliable sources of propagative material that are free of targeted propagative-borne pathogens. Network clean plant centers conduct diagnostic and pathogen elimination services and establish foundation blocks (nuclear stock) to provide pathogen-tested plant materials to nurseries, growers, and to state certification programs.

Expected Outcomes: Projects funded under this announcement are expected to support programs that provide propagative plant material free of targeted plant pathogens to protect the environment and ensure the global competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.

Performance Goals: Performance goals and data collection will be tailored to the specific project. Upon selection for funding, APHIS will consult with recipients to ensure they identify appropriate performance goals, indicators, targets, and data collection to successfully implement the project as outlined in the Work Plan.

Funding Priorities: APHIS will consider project proposals that clearly and directly support the strategic goals and objectives of the National Clean Plant Network. Program priorities align with the goals specified in the NCPN Strategic Plan and include: 1) Optimizing the production, maintenance, and distribution of clean plants,

2) Advancing special initiatives by optimizing the adaptation and implementation of novel technologies and new ideas while increasing the awareness of the importance, availability, and use of clean plants, and 3) Optimizing network resources. Projects that support one of the current crop groups in NCPN and show coordination with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body are prioritized for funding. Existing Federal or State facilities with demonstrated capacity to provide clean plant material are also prioritized for funding.

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Type of Assistance Instrument: Awards to non-Federal recipients will be funded via cooperative agreements.

Awards to Federal entities will be funded via interagency agreements. Cooperative agreements are expected to include substantial involvement by APHIS to assist in the completion of the goals and objectives of the work.

COST GUIDANCE

All APHIS awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, allowable and unallowable costs, direct and indirect costs, cost share and matching, and other considerations as described and defined in:

• PPA 7721 Use of Funds, found in Appendix D of the FY 2027 PPA 7721 Implementation Plan

• 2CFR 200

• APHIS General Terms and Conditions

• USDA General Terms and Conditions for Federal Awards

All applicants must submit a detailed Financial Plan that adheres to the documents referenced above.

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

The National Clean Plant Network program is authorized under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act.

(5) APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

Applicants may submit more than one project proposal and receive more than one award. Applicants who submit more than one project proposal must do so as a separate application package.

OBTAINING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants can find all application materials on the ezFedGrants website or the Grants.gov website by searching Assistance Listing number 10.031. Application materials and additional information are also available on the USDA APHIS NCPN website. All application materials are compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for accessibility.

CONTENT AND FORM OF THE APPLICATION PACKAGE

The application package must include the documents listed below.

□ Project proposal Work Plan. See below.

□ Project proposal Financial Plan. See below.

□ Documentation of Pre-Proposal Review Process. See below.

Any proposal with missing or significantly incomplete documents will result in a rejected application.

Project Proposal Work Plan

Applicants must submit a project proposal Work Plan that provides details on all aspects of the project. The template is available from the USDA APHIS NCPN website.

Proposal work plans should not exceed 15 pages (11-point font, single spaced) for proposals covering a single crop or special initiative. For proposals with multiple crops or multiple entities, the work plan may be increased up to 5 pages for each additional crop or entity, up to a maximum of 40 pages. This limitation does not include any proposal cover pages, budget, or appendices. Work plans may be submitted in the template format or converted to pdf format, with a file size limit of 10 MB.

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Project Proposal Financial Plan

Applicants must submit a project proposal Financial Plan that includes details about the project budget. When preparing a Financial Plan, applicants must comply with the guidance and funding restrictions described in Section 2. The Financial Plan Template is available from the USDA APHIS NCPN website.

Make sure that every item in the Financial Plan is described with enough detailed information so that reviewers can verify that the cost is reasonable and justifiable. Financial plans may be submitted in the template format or converted to pdf format.

Applicants may include indirect costs in the financial plan. The Plant Protection Act Section 7721 restricts indirect costs charged against a cooperative agreement to the lesser of 15% of the total award provided under the cooperative agreement or the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement applicable to the recipient as established by law.

Documentation of Pre-Proposal Review Process

Applicants submitting proposals focused on production and distribution of clean plant material must provide a letter of support documenting pre-proposal review and coordination with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body. Since the purpose of the program is to establish a network, NCPN crop governing bodies have been formed for the current crop groups of berries, citrus, grapes, fruit trees, hops, roses, and sweet potatoes. Members of the crop governing body operate under a self-administered charter and are composed of voting members representing clean plant centers, education/extension, the regulatory community, and relevant industry to provide planning and coordination for clean plant network activities. The pre-proposal review and letter of support is not required for proposals focused on cross-network special initiatives, but these proposals should be coordinated with the appropriate working group, if applicable. Working groups include interested clean plant center representatives across the network to provide coordination, planning, and support for specific initiatives, such as outreach, quality, and economics. Applicants may request working group or crop governing body contact information at ncpn@usda.gov.

(6) SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

The closing date and time for receipt of proposal submissions is October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be considered.

Applicants must submit the required application materials via email to ncpn@usda.gov by the deadline listed in this announcement. The electronic date and time stamp from the email system will be used to determine whether applications are received before the deadline. Applicants will receive confirmation of submission by email. Questions or requests for technical assistance may be sent by email to ncpn@usda.gov. Mailed paper applications are not permitted.

UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM)

System for Award Management (SAM)

All applicants (except Federal agencies) are required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to applying and must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information throughout the award period of performance (2 CFR §200.206). To register, go to the SAM website. When creating a SAM account, it may take up to two weeks before the account appears in federal systems.

Applicants should verify their SAM registration, and applicants who are not already registered in SAM are encouraged to complete this task as soon as possible. Applicants should also register for a Unique Entity ID within SAM; signing up for a SAM account and registering for a Unique Entity ID are separate processes. Entity https://www.aphis.usda.gov/funding/ncpn mailto:ncpn@usda.gov mailto:ncpn@usda.gov mailto:ncpn@usda.gov https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ registration is the process of providing information about yourself or your organization so the government can verify you are a legitimate entity that can apply for government contracts or assistance. To learn more and apply for a Unique Entity ID visit SAM.gov.

Additional instructions for SAM registration are available on APHIS’ How to Apply for APHIS Funding: Getting Started web page.

OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Optional Appendix: Strategic Plans or Annual Reports. Applicants seeking Network support that also have established strategic plans or issue annual entity reports for their operating units may include these as an appendix.

• APHIS complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

(7) APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

The USDA is responsible for selecting and approving PPA 7721 NCPN funded projects. The funding of any submitted proposals is at the discretion of USDA in consultation with the Network’s Governing Board which forms its proposal review panel.

Responsiveness Review

Criteria that make a suggestion ineligible are:

• Missing the proposal submission deadline

• Failure to align with the goals and objectives of the NCPN Strategic Plan

• Failure to submit all required information and forms

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria listed below.

1. Overall Merits of Projects. The merit and value of projects as they relate to the implementation of Network operations and initiatives is among the most important factors for consideration. This includes the extent to which the project outcomes and deliverables provide significant impact and value to stakeholders. Applicants should carefully consider what is asked of them in the suggested work plan template and provide the requested information concisely, but with sufficient detail to convey the impacts of the proposed work. While cost sharing is not required, for long term sustainability, applicants are expected to seek diversified sources of program funding in addition to NCPN program funds. Priority will be given to applicants that show evidence of this effort in their proposal.

2. Goal Alignment. Proposals are assessed on how closely they align with the stated mission and goals of NCPN. Applicants must clearly state how their requests align with the NCPN Strategic Plan.

3. Stakeholder Participation and Focus. Broad stakeholder participation in projects is expected and evidence of this should be captured in a proposal. Priority is given to proposals that provided realistic projected information on program deliverables, specifically outcomes impacting nurseries, growers, and other users of clean plant material.

4. Governing Bodies and Harmonization. Networking is one of the hallmarks of NCPN, through NCPN-focused specialty crop governing bodies and their activities to coordinate proposals within their respective crop groups for Network consideration. Proposals that are discussed and harmonized among clean plant centers working on the same crop groups are given priority funding consideration.

https://sam.gov/ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/apply-for-funding https://www.aphis.usda.gov/apply-for-funding https://www.fcc.gov/general/section-508-rehabilitation-act https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ncpn-strategic-plan.pdf https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ncpn-strategic-plan.pdf

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

USDA APHIS, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as represented by the members of NCPN’s Governing Board Core Working Group are responsible for making recommendations of NCPN projects for funding through cooperative agreements and submits their recommendations to USDA for final approval. The NCPN Governing Board also includes state department of agriculture members from each of the four regions of the National Plant Board to provide consultation in the evaluation process of proposals. The NCPN Governing Board may seek counsel from subject-matter experts as appropriate. Measures are in place to avoid potential conflicts of interest. In the event of a real or perceived conflict of interest, a panel member shall recuse themselves as appropriate. USDA APHIS PPQ has final funding obligating authority in determining which projects are funded for this program.

Based on reviewer recommendations and funding availability, APHIS may award less than the requested amount of funds for a project. In these cases, applicants may accept or decline the award that is offered. If applicants accept a reduced funding level, applicants will submit a revised work plan that addresses reviewer comments and aligns with the award amount within 60 days of the award notification. Additional information on award administration is in section 8. Federal Award Administration Information. APHIS will also provide additional guidance to applicants in these situations.

RISK REVIEW

Prior to making a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency is required by 2 CFR 200.206, 31 USC 3321, and 41 USC 2313 to review information available through any OMB designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: (1) financial stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards; (3) history of performance in managing a Federal award; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

Prior to making a federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $350,000, the Federal agency must review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov (41 USC 2313).

• An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available at SAM.gov.

Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.

(8) FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

APHIS will have substantial involvement in the administration and implementation of these agreements.

APHIS will work closely with project recipients by providing ongoing guidance, reviewing and commenting on project documents, monitoring progress, and maintaining regular communication to ensure timely advancement of project activities. This collaboration will include jointly identifying obstacles, resolving concerns, and refining project approaches as needed. Performance goals and data collection requirements will be tailored to each project, and upon selection for funding, APHIS will actively consult with recipients to establish appropriate performance goals, indicators, targets, and data collection methods to support https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title31-section3321&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title41-section2313&num=0&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-C/section-200.206 successful project implementation as outlined in the Work Plan. APHIS will ensure the work aligns with the goals of the NCPN Strategic Plan.

Recipients will track performance and expenditures, provide progress reports and project deliverables in accordance with the project Work Plan, and communicate with PPQ staff to assess and evaluate progress in accordance with the terms and conditions of 2CFR 200, APHIS General Terms and Conditions, and USDA General Terms and Conditions for Federal Awards.

AWARD NOTICES

Period of Performance: Funding is awarded for a single year with the option to extend up to one year as may be allowed by Federal regulations if USDA determines a justification to be acceptable. Funding will not be allowed, nor activities approved to occur, either before or after the designated period of performance. A pre-award must be established if activities need to occur before the period of performance. If pre-award costs are allowed, beginning performance is at the applicant’s own risk.

APHIS will announce the funding decisions by releasing the FY 2027 Spending Plan through a Stakeholder Registry Notice, anticipated to occur in February 2027. All applicants, both funded and unfunded, will be notified by email after the list of awarded projects is announced by USDA APHIS.

Applicants selected for funding will receive instruction on next steps to process a Notice of Award (NOA) via ezFedGrants. The Notice of Award will provide pertinent instructions and information including but not limited to the information described in 2 CFR § 200.210 and a reference to the APHIS General Terms and Conditions.

Non-Federal applicants whose proposals are selected for funding may be required to submit the following forms:

□ Certification Regarding Lobbying. Required if the Federal Assistance portion of the project’s financial plan is greater than $100,000.

□ SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”. Required if the Federal Assistance portion of the project’s financial plan is greater than $100,000.

□ A signed copy of the current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if an awardee is applying their NICRA.

□ If applicable, States that are required to comply with Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, will need to include a waiver or approval response letter from the State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Check the Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (usda.gov) for the most current list of required States for APHIS CFDA 10.

Federal applicants selected for funding will receive further communication from APHIS regarding requirements and processes to establish Interagency Agreements.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Successful applicants must comply with the requirements contained in the 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Successful applicants also must comply with the APHIS General Terms and Conditions, USDA General Terms and Conditions for Federal Awards, the approved project Work Plan, and the approved project Financial Plan.

Before accepting an award, applicants should thoroughly review all award documents for instructions on administration and applicable terms and conditions. By signing the Notice of Award, the recipient agrees to all conditions in this funding opportunity and any Special Terms and Conditions included in the Notice of Award.

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Prior to obligating funds, APHIS will conduct a risk assessment of applicants. Applicants will be verified in the SAM to ensure they have not been disbarred or suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any federal department or agency. APHIS may not issue a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements, APHIS may determine that the applicant is not eligible to receive a federal award.

When anticipated total federal share exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, APHIS is required to review and consider information about the applicant included in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. An applicant, if desired, may review and comment on any information about their organization previously entered and currently in the system. When completing the risk assessment, APHIS will consider applicant comments in addition to other information in the designated integrity and performance system to assess an applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards.

Successful applicants, and any and all contracts entered into by the awardee with respect to the award, shall ensure that geospatial data required to be collected and provided to the agency conforms with the requirements of USDA Department Regulation DR-3465-001 and the Geospatial Metadata Standards set forth in DM 3465-001, which can be obtained online at usda.gov/directives/dr-3465- 001andusda.gov/directives/dm-3465-00.

REPORTING

The Recipient shall provide semiannual program reports (SF-425) to the PPQ Authorized Departmental Officer’s Designated Representative (ADODR) through the ezFedGrants system and in compliance with the APHIS General Terms and Conditions and USDA General Terms and Conditions.

Semiannual performance and financial reports are required and must be submitted in ezFedGrants. The reports will be used to verify compliance with provisions of the Cooperative or Interagency Agreement.

The performance report should include:

• A comparison of actual accomplishments to the established goals for the period.

• The reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate

Closeout

No later than 120 calendar days after the end date of the period of performance or after an amendment has been issued to closeout a USDA/APHIS financial assistance agreement, whichever comes first, recipients must submit a final financial report and final progress report detailing all accomplishments and a qualitative summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the period of performance.

After final reports have been reviewed and approved by the Agency, and any residual amount due to the recipient or due to be returned to the Agency is disbursed, the award is subject to closeout. Acceptance of final reports by USDA/APHIS constitutes a closeout of the award with no further notice or obligation to either party. This acceptance will indicate the period of performance has expired, and any remaining funds will be returned to the awarding agency. Records must be retained for a minimum of three years after the final financial report is submitted.

PROJECT EVALUATION

The project will be monitored in compliance with 2 CFR 200.329. The Recipient’s performance will be reviewed through semiannual performance and financial reports, as well as periodic discussions of project progress with the PPQ Program Manager. Performance is evaluated based on the following criteria to https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR36520e4111dce32/section-200.329 determine if the Recipient met the project standards included in the proposal Work and Financial Plans and if expected results and benefits were achieved:

1. Adherence to the project objectives.

2. Adherence to project schedule.

3. Adherence to project budget.

4. Delivery of results that meet the agreement performance standards and achieve stated outcomes.

OTHER INFORMATION

The USDA is not obligated to make any awards because of this announcement nor to make any changes to future announcements. Only the APHIS Authorized Departmental Officer can bind the Government to an expenditure of funds and this obligation of funds shall only occur in writing by authorized officials and under the approved USDA, APHIS Cooperative Agreement format.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control numbers for this information collection are 0503-0028. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden statement or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to APHIS.PRA@usda.gov.

DEFINITIONS

This announcement uses definitions as described in Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act. Per the Plant Protection Act 7 (USC Ch. 104), the term “specialty crop” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 and includes fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, including floriculture.

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