Hawaii Department Of Agriculture And Biosecurity

Hawaii Department Of Agriculture And Biosecurity Agriculture Division is a U.S. state government entity and a child division of the State of Hawaii that serves as a federal grant recipient, operating entirely as a prime recipient (100% of recent awards) across agricultural biosecurity, plant quarantine, invasive species prevention, and animal disease surveillance programs funded by USDA and the Department of the Interior. The division does not hold federal prime contracts except for a single $113,605 purchase order for kennel rental services awarded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in May 2023 with completion through April 2028; its portfolio otherwise consists entirely of federal grants.

The division's federal work centers on four concrete capability areas anchored in USDA funding. Plant quarantine and invasive species detection form the largest program cluster: the Hawaii Detector Dog Program, which conducts canine-handler inspections for brown tree snakes in aircraft and vessels arriving from Guam, Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea; the BTS Survey and Monitoring Program, deploying strategically positioned traps and spotlighting operations; and the Rapid Response Program, training inspectors on search and handling techniques in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey. This integrated program has received multiple cooperative agreements from the Department of the Interior Insular Affairs program (CFDA 15.875 — Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories), including a $300,000 Project Grant awarded November 6, 2025, running through September 30, 2027, and earlier awards of $400,000 (August 2023) and $375,000 (July 2024). Animal disease surveillance and foreign animal disease prevention constitute the second major program area, supported by recurring cooperative agreements from USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (CFDA 10.025 — Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care). Recent awards include a $104,167 cooperative agreement (April 1, 2026) covering avian surveillance with PCR testing, cattle brucellosis and tuberculosis surveillance on Molokai, and One Health coordination with state and federal partners; earlier awards support imported fire ant detection surveys, honeybee disease surveillance, and animal disease traceability implementation. The division also receives specialty crop competitiveness funding from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (CFDA 10.170), with a $512,663 award (September 30, 2025) supporting sub-awards to growers for kukui nut, breadfruit, taro, sweet potato, and banana production. Food security and local food production constitute a third program area, funded through AMS Micro-Grants for Food Security (CFDA 10.179), with a $3.793600 million cooperative agreement (September 30, 2025) distributing competitive sub-awards to support small-scale gardening and livestock operations in food-insecure communities through September 29, 2029, and an earlier $2.235219 million award from September 30, 2024. Additional work includes poultry and shell egg grading and inspection services under USDA AMS cooperative agreements, pesticide compliance monitoring under EPA Region 9 funding ($251,956, October 1, 2023), produce safety rule implementation under FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2027), and aquatic animal disease training for veterinarians under APHIS (August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027).

Customer concentration is heavily USDA-weighted, with the Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service accounting for 149 awards (57% of the portfolio) with $118 thousand combined potential value. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service ranks second with 41 awards. The Department of the Interior Insular Affairs placed 12 awards. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service comprise the remaining significant customers among 16 distinct federal agencies. The division's combined potential value across all awards stands at $752 thousand, though obligated dollars across all awards total $65.6 million — reflecting a portfolio heavily weighted toward performance-based grants. Awards per year declined from 14 in 2023 to 5 in 2026 (through August), indicating reduced recent award velocity. Ten awards totaling $114 thousand in combined potential value face ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months.

The division works exclusively in Hawaii, with performance occurring statewide across the Hawaiian Islands. Sub-recipient activities are minimal; the division acts as prime recipient on grant awards and identifies downstream eligible entities for micro-grant and specialty crop sub-awards but does not typically subcontract on grant work. The division maintains two parent vehicle seats: a Blanket Purchase Agreement (AG6395B140018) with 4 task orders valued at $26 thousand combined potential value, and an Indefinite Delivery Contract (AG6395C100004) with 4 task orders valued at $50 thousand combined potential value.