Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Department of Agriculture
Plant Protection Act Section 7721 Fiscal Year 2027 National Clean Plant Network (NCPN)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 19, 2026 · 12 days left
- Award size
- Up to $3.5M
- Total available
- $10M · about 25 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Public college or university, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), State government, Private college or university, and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Only 12 days left to apply
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 18
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/881ebc06-b741-480f-a9fb-688cb1407352 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/f228d9d2-cc00-4038-b78e-2b5ff08c6b34
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More from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
- Chronic Wasting Disease Cervid Management and Response Activities 2026 · Next round: about May 15 – Jun 15, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
About this grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announce this funding opportunity to carry out the Plant Protection Act Section 7721 (PPA 7721) National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) program. APHIS will consider project proposals that clearly and directly support the strategic goals and objectives of the National Clean Plant Network as described in the NCPN Strategic Plan. 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. The NCPN provides propagative plant material free of targeted plant pathogens to protect the environment and ensure the global competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop producers.
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. Applicants should refer to the NCPN Request for Proposals on the USDA APHIS NCPN website for additional details.
APHIS is providing at least $10 million in funding for the Plant Protection Act (PPA) National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) program under Section 420 of the PPA (7 USC § 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. Additional details about the program are available on the USDA APHIS NCPN website.
Program Goals: The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) was established under The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) Title X, Sec 10202. Its purpose is to support a network of clean plant centers in the United States for specialty crops to provide reliable sources of propagative material that are free of targeted propagative-borne pathogens. Network clean plant centers conduct diagnostic and pathogen elimination services and establish foundation blocks...
Who can apply, from the official notice
PPA 7721 NCPN eligible applicants are:
1. Land grant universities
2. Non-land grant colleges of agriculture
3. State Departments of Agriculture
4. State and Federal agencies
5. Non-profit organizations
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Sep28
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment (already past: do it now)
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Oct12
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Oct17
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Oct19
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice PPQ_PPA_7721_NCPN_FY_2027_NOFO_7.27.26.pdf (13 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Registrations you need first (2)
Grants.gov · p. 7
“OBT AINING AN APPLICATION PACKAGE Applicants can find all application materials on the ezFedGrants website or the Grants.gov website by searching Assistance Li sting number 10.031.” Open page 7
SAM.gov · p. 8
“UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) System for Award Management (SAM) All applicants (except Federal agencies) are required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to applying and must continue to maintain an…” Open page 8
The deadline is in 12 days. If your registration isn't already active, it may not be ready in time, so check it today. Get-ready checklist
Steps before the deadline
Pre-proposal · p. 8
“Documentation of Pre-Proposal Review Process Applicants submitting proposals focused on production and distribution of clean plant material must provide a letter of support documenting pre-proposal review and coordination with the appropriate NCPN specialty…” Open page 8
What to submit
Form SF-424 · p. 5
“The cost share must be included in the Work and Financial Plans, reported on Forms SF-424 and semiannual updates on Form SF-425, and is subject to audit.” Open page 5
Timeline or schedule of completion · p. 7
“CONTENT AND FORM OF THE APPLICATION PACKAGE The application package must include the documents listed below. □ Project proposal Work Plan.” Open page 7
Letters of support or commitment · p. 8
“Documentation of Pre-Proposal Review Process Applicants submitting proposals focused on production and distribution of clean plant material must provide a letter of support documenting pre-proposal review and coordination with the appropriate NCPN specialty…” Open page 8
Form SF-LLL · p. 11
“Required if the Federal Assistance portion of the project’s financial plan is greater than $100,000. □ SF-LLL “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities”.” Open page 11
Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 11
“Required if the Federal Assistance portion of the project’s financial plan is greater than $100,000. □ A signed copy of the current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) , if an awardee is applying their NICRA. □ If applicable, States that are…” Open page 11
Length limits
Proposal: 15 pages max · p. 7
“Proposal work plans should not exceed 15 pages (11-point font, single spaced) for proposals covering a single crop or special initiative.” Open page 7
Page limit (see quote): 5 pages max · p. 7
“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.” Open page 7
Page limit (see quote): 40 pages max · p. 7
“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.” Open page 7
Formatting rules
11-point font, single-spaced · p. 7
“Proposal work plans should not exceed 15 pages (11-point font, single spaced) for proposals covering a single crop or special initiative.” Open page 7
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 5
“COST SHARING Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required for PPA 7721 projects.” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 9
“While cost sharing is not required, for long term sustainability, applicants are expected to seek diversified sources of program funding in addition to NCPN program funds.” Open page 9
Dates in the notice
July 27, 2026 · p. 2
“July 27, 2026 Application Due Date:” Open page 2
October 19, 2026 · p. 4
“Proposals submitted for National Clean Plant Network funding must be submitted via email to ncpn@usda.gov by October 19, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.” Open page 4
May 1, 2027 · p. 4
“The agreement performance period for cooperative and interagency agreements is estimated to begin between May 1, 2027, and September 30, 2027, and end no later than 12 months after the start date, unless an extension has been approved in writing by APHIS.” Open page 4
Mistakes that get applications rejected (3)
Could get your application rejected: Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding. · p. 4
“Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for funding.” Open page 4
Could get your application rejected: Proposals that do not meet these initial screening criteria will not be considered. · p. 5
“Proposals that do not meet these initial screening criteria will not be considered.” Open page 5
Late or not validated: Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be considered. · p. 8
“Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be considered.” Open page 8
Who in Tennessee has won this program
18 awards to Tennessee groups in 4 counties since 2026. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Nashville, Davidson County | $135K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $105K | 2026 |
| Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Nashville, Davidson County | $83K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $60K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $60K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $59K | 2026 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville, Davidson County | $46K | 2026 |
| Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Nashville, Davidson County | $40K | 2026 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $38K | 2026 |
| Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Nashville, Davidson County | $24K | 2026 |
| Tennessee Department of Agriculture | Nashville, Davidson County | $22K | 2026 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Washington County | $20K | 2026 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
About the federal program
Plant Pest and Disease Management (PPDM)
Program number 10.031 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)
Match
None required (federal program listing).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: *Targeted antimicrobials to maximize the production and health of Anastrepha ludens, the Mexican fruit fly
*Targeted detection trapping for fruit flies based on lure attraction and likelihood of introduction
*Targeted identification of pheromones and related attractants for invasive cerambycid beetles in Asia
*Technical support for the development of genetic and other control technologies for management of phytosanitary risks for invasive species affecting agriculture in the United States.
*Testing commodity-relevant exposures to modified atmospheres on efficacy of phytosanitary irradiation treatments: science to evaluate the current 10% Oxygen limit
*The primary purpose of this agreement is to collect and rear select native species found in North Carolina in the family Fulgoridae to support host testing efforts of the spotted lanternfly (SLF).