Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026
The Plant Protection Act Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Program is a USDA APHIS funding opportunity (Opportunity Number: USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026; CFDA 10.025) that supports work authorized under Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act. The program is aimed at protecting U.S. agriculture by reducing the spread and impact of plant pathogens through a coordinated national system that produces and sustains "clean" propagative plant material. In practical terms, the grant supports a nationwide network of Clean Plant Centers that provide diagnostic testing and pathogen elimination services, then maintain and distribute pathogen-tested plant stock from protected, well-managed foundation blocks located in different regions of the United States.
The core purpose of the program is to make sure that nurseries, growers, researchers, and other users can access plant material that has been tested and verified to be free of targeted pests and diseases. This matters because many high-impact plant diseases move through graftwood, cuttings, tissue culture, bulbs, tubers, or other propagation pathways. By investing in diagnostics, therapy/elimination methods, and long-term maintenance of tested source material, the NCPN program helps prevent costly outbreaks, improves plant health and productivity, and supports trade and market stability for specialty crops and other plant industries that rely on vegetative propagation.
Program priorities follow the NCPN Strategic Plan and are organized into three main areas. First is optimizing the production, maintenance, and distribution of clean plants, which generally includes activities that improve the efficiency, reliability, and scale of producing pathogen-tested material and keeping it clean over time. Second is advancing special initiatives, meaning the program is interested in proposals that bring in new technologies, novel methods, or innovative approaches, and that also increase awareness and adoption of clean plant materials by stakeholders. Third is optimizing network resources, which focuses on strengthening how the network functions as a coordinated national system, including effective use of facilities, expertise, and shared processes so that resources are not duplicated unnecessarily and gaps in service are addressed.
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, reflecting that the work is typically collaborative and coordinated with USDA APHIS and the broader NCPN structure. The listing indicates an award ceiling of $3,500,000 and an expectation of around 25 awards. The closing date shown is 2025-09-15. Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others," but applicants are expected to rely on the official Notice of Funding Opportunity and the NCPN program materials for the specific eligibility rules and any limitations tied to the network structure, crop categories, or institutional roles.
Applications must include three required components using USDA APHIS NCPN-provided templates and documentation requirements. The first is the Project Proposal Work Plan, which is the main narrative describing the project in detail across all aspects of the proposed work. The work plan has strict length limits: up to 15 pages (single-spaced, 11-point font) for a proposal covering a single crop or a single special initiative. If a proposal covers multiple crops or multiple entities, applicants may add up to 5 additional pages per crop or entity, with a hard maximum of 40 pages total for the work plan. Importantly, this page limit does not include cover pages, budget materials, or appendices.
The second required component is the Project Proposal Financial Plan, which lays out the project budget and supporting details using the NCPN Financial Plan Template. Budgeting is governed by APHIS award terms and federal cost principles, including the cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E. The opportunity also points applicants to specific APHIS and program guidance on allowable and unallowable costs, treatment of direct and indirect costs, and any cost share or matching considerations, referencing the PPA 7721 Use of Funds document (identified as #183) and additional guidance on selected items of cost (identified as #8211). In other words, applicants are expected to build budgets that comply with standard federal assistance rules as well as the more specific PPA 7721 program instructions.
The third required component is Documentation of the Pre-Proposal Review Process. For most proposals, this means submitting a letter of support showing that the applicant coordinated and completed pre-proposal review with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body. This requirement is meant to ensure proposed work fits within network priorities, avoids duplication, and aligns with crop-specific governance and standards. Proposals focused on cross-network special initiatives do not have to follow the same crop-governing-body pre-review requirement, but they are still expected to coordinate with the relevant NCPN working group. Applicants who need the right points of contact can request that information from ncpn@usda.gov.
Beyond the required items, applicants may optionally attach appendices such as strategic plans or annual reports, particularly if they are seeking network support and already produce these documents for their operating units. While optional, these attachments can help demonstrate organizational readiness, operational track record, and alignment with longer-term goals.
Overall, this grant is designed for projects that strengthen the national clean plant pipeline: detecting and eliminating pathogens, producing verified clean propagation material, maintaining it in secure and monitored settings, and ensuring it is distributed and used in ways that reduce disease risk across U.S. agriculture. The strongest applications are likely to be those that clearly align with the NCPN Strategic Plan priorities, demonstrate coordination with the relevant NCPN governance structures, and present a well-justified, compliant budget tied directly to deliverable outcomes in clean plant production and network capacity.Apply for USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026
- The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plant Protection Act Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.025.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-09-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAQs: Plant Protection Act Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Program (USDA APHIS)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USDA APHIS funding opportunity for the Plant Protection Act (PPA) Section 7721 National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) Program. It is listed as Opportunity Number USDA APHIS 10025 PPQ NCPN 2026 and CFDA 10.025.
What is the main purpose of the NCPN Program?
The program is designed to protect U.S. agriculture by reducing the spread and impact of plant pathogens. It supports a coordinated national system that produces and sustains "clean" propagative plant material so users can access plant stock that has been tested and verified to be free of targeted pests and diseases.
What does "clean" plant material mean in this program context?
In practical terms, "clean" refers to propagative plant material that is pathogen-tested (and verified to be free of targeted pests and diseases) and maintained in protected, well-managed foundation blocks so it remains clean over time.
What kinds of activities does the program support?
The grant supports work carried out through a nationwide network of Clean Plant Centers. Supported activities include diagnostic testing, pathogen elimination services (therapy/elimination methods), long-term maintenance of tested source material, and distribution of pathogen-tested plant stock from protected foundation blocks located in different regions of the United States.
Why is this program important for agriculture and plant industries?
Many high-impact plant diseases can move through propagation pathways such as graftwood, cuttings, tissue culture, bulbs, and tubers. By investing in diagnostics, pathogen elimination, and long-term maintenance of verified source material, the program helps prevent costly outbreaks, improve plant health and productivity, and support trade and market stability for crops and industries that rely on vegetative propagation.
Who benefits from projects funded under this opportunity?
The program is intended to benefit nurseries, growers, researchers, and other users who need reliable access to plant material that has been tested and verified to be free of targeted pests and diseases.
What are the program priorities?
Program priorities follow the NCPN Strategic Plan and are organized into three main areas:
- Optimizing the production, maintenance, and distribution of clean plants (improving efficiency, reliability, and scale; keeping plant material clean over time).
- Advancing special initiatives (new technologies, novel methods, innovative approaches, and activities that increase awareness and adoption of clean plant materials).
- Optimizing network resources (strengthening the network as a coordinated national system; effective use of facilities, expertise, and shared processes to avoid duplication and address gaps).
What is meant by "special initiatives" in this opportunity?
Special initiatives are proposals focused on new technologies, novel methods, or innovative approaches. They are also expected to increase awareness and adoption of clean plant materials by stakeholders.
What funding instrument will be used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. That indicates the work is typically collaborative and coordinated with USDA APHIS and the broader NCPN structure.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling shown is $3,500,000.
How many awards are expected?
The listing indicates an expectation of around 25 awards.
What is the application closing date?
The closing date shown is 2025-09-15.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed broadly as "Others." Applicants are expected to rely on the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and NCPN program materials for the specific eligibility rules and any limitations tied to network structure, crop categories, or institutional roles.
What are the required application components?
Applications must include three required components using USDA APHIS NCPN-provided templates and documentation requirements:
- Project Proposal Work Plan (main narrative describing the project).
- Project Proposal Financial Plan (budget and supporting details using the NCPN Financial Plan Template).
- Documentation of the Pre-Proposal Review Process (typically a letter of support showing pre-proposal review with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body, with different coordination expectations for cross-network special initiatives).
Is there a page limit for the Project Proposal Work Plan?
Yes. The work plan is limited to up to 15 pages (single-spaced, 11-point font) for a proposal covering a single crop or a single special initiative.
How do page limits work for proposals covering multiple crops or multiple entities?
If a proposal covers multiple crops or multiple entities, applicants may add up to 5 additional pages per crop or entity, with a hard maximum of 40 pages total for the work plan.
Do the work plan page limits include the cover page, budget, or appendices?
No. The page limit for the work plan does not include cover pages, budget materials, or appendices.
What template must be used for the budget?
The Project Proposal Financial Plan must use the NCPN Financial Plan Template.
What rules govern allowable and unallowable costs?
Budgeting is governed by APHIS award terms and federal cost principles, including 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart E. The opportunity also points applicants to APHIS and program guidance on allowable and unallowable costs, direct and indirect costs, and any cost share or matching considerations, including the PPA 7721 Use of Funds document (#183) and guidance on selected items of cost (#8211).
What is the pre-proposal review requirement?
For most proposals, applicants must submit documentation showing they coordinated and completed pre-proposal review with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body. This is typically provided as a letter of support.
Why is the pre-proposal review required?
The pre-proposal review process is intended to ensure proposed work fits within network priorities, avoids duplication, and aligns with crop-specific governance and standards.
Are special initiatives required to go through the same crop governing body pre-review?
Proposals focused on cross-network special initiatives do not have to follow the same crop-governing-body pre-review requirement, but they are still expected to coordinate with the relevant NCPN working group.
How can applicants find the right NCPN contacts for coordination?
Applicants who need the right points of contact can request that information by emailing ncpn@usda.gov.
Are appendices allowed, and what might be included?
Yes, appendices may be attached optionally. Examples mentioned include strategic plans or annual reports, especially for applicants seeking network support who already produce these documents for their operating units.
Do optional attachments matter?
While optional, attachments like strategic plans or annual reports can help demonstrate organizational readiness, an operational track record, and alignment with longer-term goals.
What would a strong application generally demonstrate?
Based on the opportunity description, strong applications are likely to clearly align with NCPN Strategic Plan priorities, demonstrate coordination with the relevant NCPN governance structures (or working groups for cross-network initiatives), and present a well-justified, compliant budget tied directly to deliverable outcomes in clean plant production and network capacity.
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