Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 26 0018
This funding opportunity comes from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services through the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) and is focused on chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild mule deer and white-tailed deer in Northern Colorado. APHIS anticipates making one cooperative agreement award, with up to $413,380 total, to support a single project that helps determine whether CWD is acting as a population-limiting factor in these deer populations. A major theme is connecting disease status to real-world survival and mortality by examining how CWD interacts with other pathogens and with additional causes of death that may be suppressing deer numbers. The work is also intended to contribute directly to improving and optimizing live-animal (antemortem) testing approaches for CWD, which is a key need for managing wildlife disease in the field. Overall, the project aligns with the Wildlife Services mission of providing federal expertise and tools to reduce conflicts and impacts involving wildlife, including disease-related impacts.
The project is structured as a collaborative field and lab study built around GPS-collared deer and intensive sampling. The selected cooperator is expected to capture, GPS-collar, biologically sample, and then monitor two species from the same study population: approximately 30 to 40 mule deer and 30 to 40 white-tailed deer. During capture, the cooperator will collect a broad suite of samples following NWRC's established CWD project sampling protocol, including tissue biopsies, swabs, blood, feces, and hair. After release, the work shifts to ongoing monitoring of collar data and rapid response to mortality signals in the field, with timely retrieval of collars and carcasses so that postmortem investigations can be coordinated with NWRC. The expectation is that mortalities will be investigated quickly enough to support meaningful necropsy and diagnostic work, allowing the study to better distinguish CWD-related deaths from other disease processes, predation, nutritional stress, or other drivers.
Data management and analysis are central deliverables. The cooperator will be responsible for cleaning, organizing, and sharing GPS collar datasets (including associated metadata) with NWRC, and for conducting spatial analyses using the movement and location data. Sample analysis spans both live and dead animals, and the study is set up as a joint analytical effort: NWRC will lead the laboratory work, while the cooperator will lead the spatial ecology components, with results integrated across disciplines. The anticipated outputs are not just internal reports, but also products designed for broader use and decision-making, including reports, white papers, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and presentations that communicate findings to scientific and management audiences.
A notable element is that this Colorado effort is intended to align with similar studies in neighboring states using comparable study designs, so results can be combined into a larger regional dataset. That regional compatibility is meant to strengthen inference about how CWD and related mortality pressures play out across landscapes and jurisdictions, and it increases the value of standardized GPS and diagnostic data for broader-scale analysis.
From an administrative and compliance standpoint, the award is a cooperative agreement (not a contract), indicating substantial federal involvement and collaboration during the project. The award directly supports research activities and access to any facilities or equipment needed by the awardee's researcher to carry out the work. The awardee is responsible for preparing any necessary protocols and approvals for conducting the research (for example, IACUC for animal care and use and IBC where relevant). Funding beyond the first year is not guaranteed; any additional support would be optional for NWRC and would require an amendment to the agreement.
Key budget and indirect cost requirements are explicitly spelled out. If an applicant includes indirect costs, they must provide a current, fully executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) from their cognizant federal agency, unless they elect the de minimis indirect cost rate option (in which case no NICRA documentation is required). For eligible state or local governments receiving less than $35 million in direct federal funding in a single fiscal year, an indirect cost rate negotiation exemption letter may be provided in place of a NICRA. Indirect costs for any subaward also have to be disclosed. For higher education institutions and non-profit organizations, indirect cost recovery is capped at the lesser of 10 percent of total direct costs or their approved NICRA rate.
Eligibility is limited to public and private colleges and universities, state governments, and federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.028, with funding activity categorized under Agriculture, and it is identified as a discretionary opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 26 0018). The proposal deadline is firm: applications must be submitted through ezFedGrants (not Grants.gov) by August 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time, and late submissions will not be reviewed. The planned period of performance must begin on or before September 30, 2026, with the project completed within 24 months of the start date. No work or spending outside the approved performance period will be allowed. A single no-cost extension of up to 12 months may be requested to finish the project, but only if no additional funding is requested and the request follows APHIS and USDA general terms and conditions.
Finally, the announcement clarifies how to seek help and how prior recipients should proceed. Applicants needing help locating materials are asked to contact NWRC.Agreements@usda.gov at least 72 hours before the deadline, and technical submission support for ezFedGrants is available through the referenced USDA ezFedGrants contact while copying the NWRC agreements email. Organizations wishing to build on prior, completed work may apply again under this opportunity, but those with prior-year projects still in progress (and not previously extended) are directed to pursue a no-cost extension or contact the APHIS program manager rather than submitting a new proposal.Apply for USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 26 0018
- The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Spatial Ecology and Chronic Wasting Disease Dynamics of Wild White-tailed and Mule Deer in Northern Colorado" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.028.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-31. (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 $413,380.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by USDA APHIS Wildlife Services through the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC).
What is the focus of this cooperative agreement?
The project is focused on chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild mule deer and white-tailed deer in Northern Colorado, with an emphasis on determining whether CWD is acting as a population-limiting factor in these deer populations.
What is the main scientific goal of the project?
The core goal is to connect CWD disease status to real-world survival and mortality by examining how CWD interacts with other pathogens and with additional causes of death that may be suppressing deer numbers (for example, other disease processes, predation, and nutritional stress).
How does this project relate to wildlife management needs?
The work is intended to contribute directly to improving and optimizing live-animal (antemortem) testing approaches for CWD, which is described as a key need for managing wildlife disease in the field.
How many awards does APHIS expect to make?
APHIS anticipates making one cooperative agreement award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
Up to $413,380 total is anticipated for a single project under this opportunity.
What type of award is this (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is a cooperative agreement (not a contract), and it indicates substantial federal involvement and collaboration during the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and private colleges and universities, state governments, and federally recognized tribal governments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA APHIS 10028 WSNWRC00 26 0018. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.028 and categorized under Agriculture.
Is this a discretionary or mandatory funding opportunity?
It is identified as a discretionary opportunity.
Where must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted through ezFedGrants. Submissions through Grants.gov are not indicated for this opportunity.
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.
What happens if an application is submitted late?
Late submissions will not be reviewed.
When must the period of performance begin?
The planned period of performance must begin on or before September 30, 2026.
How long is the project period?
The project must be completed within 24 months of the start date.
Can costs be incurred before the start date or after the end date?
No. The announcement states that no work or spending outside the approved performance period will be allowed.
Is a no-cost extension allowed?
Yes. A single no-cost extension of up to 12 months may be requested to finish the project, but only if no additional funding is requested and the request follows APHIS and USDA general terms and conditions.
What are the main expected field activities for the selected cooperator?
The selected cooperator is expected to capture, GPS-collar, biologically sample, and monitor approximately 30 to 40 mule deer and 30 to 40 white-tailed deer from the same study population, using NWRC's established CWD project sampling protocol.
What kinds of biological samples are expected during capture?
Sampling is described as a broad suite following NWRC protocol, including tissue biopsies, swabs, blood, feces, and hair.
What monitoring is required after deer are released?
After release, the cooperator is expected to monitor GPS collar data and respond rapidly to mortality signals in the field, including timely retrieval of collars and carcasses so postmortem investigations can be coordinated with NWRC.
How fast must mortality investigations happen?
The expectation is that mortalities will be investigated quickly enough to support meaningful necropsy and diagnostic work, helping distinguish CWD-related deaths from other drivers such as other disease processes, predation, or nutritional stress.
What roles do NWRC and the cooperator each play in analysis?
The study is set up as a joint analytical effort: NWRC will lead the laboratory work, while the cooperator will lead the spatial ecology components (including spatial analyses using GPS movement and location data), with results integrated across disciplines.
What data management responsibilities does the cooperator have?
The cooperator is responsible for cleaning, organizing, and sharing GPS collar datasets (including associated metadata) with NWRC, and for conducting spatial analyses using movement and location data.
What kinds of deliverables are anticipated?
Anticipated outputs include reports, white papers, peer-reviewed manuscripts, and presentations communicating findings to scientific and management audiences.
Does the project need to align with efforts in other states?
Yes. The Colorado effort is intended to align with similar studies in neighboring states using comparable study designs so results can be combined into a larger regional dataset.
Why does regional compatibility matter for this opportunity?
Using comparable study designs is meant to strengthen inference across landscapes and jurisdictions and to increase the value of standardized GPS and diagnostic data for broader-scale analysis.
What compliance approvals or protocols are the awardee responsible for?
The awardee is responsible for preparing any necessary protocols and approvals for conducting the research, including IACUC for animal care and use and IBC where relevant.
Is funding beyond the first year guaranteed?
No. Funding beyond the first year is not guaranteed; any additional support would be optional for NWRC and would require an amendment to the agreement.
What are the indirect cost documentation requirements?
If indirect costs are included, applicants must provide a current, fully executed Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) from their cognizant federal agency, unless they elect the de minimis indirect cost rate option (which does not require NICRA documentation).
Is there an alternative to providing a NICRA for some state or local governments?
Yes. For eligible state or local governments receiving less than $35 million in direct federal funding in a single fiscal year, an indirect cost rate negotiation exemption letter may be provided in place of a NICRA.
Do indirect costs need to be disclosed for subawards?
Yes. The announcement states that indirect costs for any subaward have to be disclosed.
Is there a cap on indirect cost recovery for universities and non-profits?
Yes. For higher education institutions and non-profit organizations, indirect cost recovery is capped at the lesser of 10 percent of total direct costs or their approved NICRA rate.
What should applicants do if they need help locating materials or have questions close to the deadline?
Applicants needing help locating materials are asked to contact NWRC.Agreements@usda.gov at least 72 hours before the deadline.
Where can applicants get technical help with ezFedGrants submissions?
Technical submission support is available through the referenced USDA ezFedGrants contact, and applicants are instructed to copy NWRC.Agreements@usda.gov when seeking that support.
Can an organization apply if it wants to build on prior completed work?
Yes. Organizations wishing to build on prior, completed work may apply again under this opportunity.
What if an organization has a prior-year project still in progress?
If a prior-year project is still in progress (and not previously extended), the organization is directed to pursue a no-cost extension or contact the APHIS program manager rather than submitting a new proposal.
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