This funding opportunity is provided to carry out the provisions as described in Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act (PPA 7721). This program makes funding available for the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) through PPA 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. 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. 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. Project Proposal Work Plan Applicants must submit a project proposal Work Plan that provides details on all aspects of the project. The Work Plan Template is available at the link above 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. Project Proposal Financial Plan Applicants must submit a project proposal Financial Plan that includes details about the project budget. The Financial Plan Template is available at the link above from the USDA APHIS NCPN website. 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 document, found in Appendix D of the FY 2026 PPA 7721 Implementation Plan, and · 2 CFR Subpart E, Cost Principles – General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost. Documentation of Pre-Proposal Review Process Applicants should provide a letter of support documenting pre-proposal review and coordination with the appropriate NCPN specialty crop governing body. This process is not required for proposals focused on cross-network special initiatives, but these proposals should be coordinated with the appropriate working group. Applicants may request working group or crop governing body contact information at
[email protected]. 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.