Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative - Extension Disaster Education Network | USDA NIFA ES 006632

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA ES 006632

The Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative - Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) grant opportunity (FY 2018) is a discretionary funding program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the award is intended to support a close working relationship between the recipient and the federal agency, typically involving substantial programmatic involvement from NIFA during the period of performance. The core purpose of the opportunity is to provide national-level coordination for EDEN, an outreach-focused network designed to strengthen disaster education and preparedness, with this specific initiative emphasizing the enhancement of biosecurity across the U.S. agriculture and food system.

The award is structured as multi-year support with annual renewals. The announcement indicates an anticipated funding level of about $383,000 per year for up to four years, with continuation each year dependent on two main factors: the availability of federal funds and satisfactory progress as demonstrated through required progress reporting. In practical terms, applicants should view this as a long-term coordination and leadership role rather than a one-time project grant, with expectations for sustained national coordination, measurable outcomes, and consistent documentation of activities and impacts year over year.

Eligibility is intentionally broad under Section 1472(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA). Applicants may include state agricultural experiment stations, state cooperative extension services, colleges and universities, and other research or education institutions and organizations. The eligibility also extends to federal and private agencies and organizations, individuals, and other domestic or foreign contractors or recipients, as long as the work supports USDA-related research, extension, or teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences. At the same time, the notice makes a strong compliance point: failing to meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to the application being excluded from consideration entirely, or even if reviewed, could still prevent NIFA from making an award. This underscores the importance of confirming eligibility status and meeting all submission requirements before the deadline.

Key administrative details from the source data include the funding opportunity title "Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative - Extension Disaster Education Network," funding opportunity number "USDA NIFA ES 006632," and CFDA number 10.304, which corresponds to NIFA-related assistance programs. The agency listed is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the original closing date for applications was July 26, 2018, with a creation date of June 25, 2018. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, it clearly signals that the intent is to support national coordination of EDEN activities rather than multiple small, local projects.

In summary, this opportunity is designed to fund an organization (or eligible entity) to serve as the national coordinating body for EDEN outreach efforts that improve agricultural and food system biosecurity. It offers approximately $383,000 per year for up to four years through a cooperative agreement with annual renewals based on performance and available funding, and it is open to a wide range of eligible applicants as authorized by NARETPA, provided all eligibility criteria are met by the application deadline.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative - Extension Disaster Education Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.304.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-06-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-07-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA ES 006632

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