Assisting Specialty Crop Exports: Increasing Data Generation for Codex and Harmonized MRL Setting

Background
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building, announces this funding opportunity to support the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports Initiative. This opportunity is to promote the export of U.S. specialty crops to current and prospective foreign markets.

Grant Details
The goal of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to reduce the number of missing and misaligned MRLs by supporting collaborative pesticide residue research and data generation capacity for the establishment of Codex MRLs.

The specific objectives include identifying, assessing, and prioritizing U.S. generated data packages that have been submitted to the U.S. EPA and that could be reformatted for consideration and possible granting of Codex MRLs; reformatting, completing additional trials, generating missing data, and submitting complete dossiers to the relevant authority for an upcoming JMPR review; leading international capacity building efforts that increase data generation, data generation capacity, and data sharing; engaging local research institutions and research networks to strengthen and ensure adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and expand capacity to generate, share, and submit data to JMPR for successful Codex MRL setting; coordinating and monitoring submissions´ progress and providing timely reports to stakeholders.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include colleges and universities in the United States, including State Cooperative Institutions as defined at 7 USC 3103; State governments; Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; international organizations; foreign entities; and any other entity.

All applicants must have an active registration in the U.S. Government System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) before the application submission deadline of the announcement.

Period of Performance
The projected period of performance start is August 30, 2024, with a projected period of performance end on December 31, 2027.

Grant Value
Total Available Federal Funding: Up to $2,000,000. The initial funding amount will be up to $500,000.

Subject to availability of funding, a cumulative total of up to $2,000,000 may be available throughout the period of performance of the award.

Place of Performance
Identification of the priority crop/chemicals can be conducted without travel, but foreign travel will be required to implement work within identified countries which best supports the creation of data packages for JMPR submission.