International Programs Trade, Invasive Species Program Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, through International Programs and Trade and its Invasive Species Program, is offering the International Programs & Trade, Invasive Species Program Funding Opportunity under Assistance Listing 10.684, International Forestry Programs. The program protects U.S. forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands by supporting work that improves the prevention and management of invasive species affecting U.S. lands. This funding opportunity focuses specifically on translating existing scientific knowledge about invasive species risks and pathways into actionable strategies that improve the ability of the United States to prevent and detect new invasive species before they damage American agriculture and ecosystems. Projects should bridge the gap between existing research knowledge and concrete improvements in regulatory frameworks, policies, procedures, prevention tools, and other actions. International collaboration is a program priority because invasive species prevention frequently requires cooperation with partners in pest native ranges, countries managing similar invasive pests, and countries sharing information about emerging pests and prevention strategies. Up to $500,000 in total program funding is available, with up to three awards anticipated and individual awards of up to $250,000. The Forest Service may award less than the amount requested based on funding availability, project eligibility, and proposed activities. Typical awards are expected to support projects lasting two or three years, although projects of substantial complexity may receive a longer period of performance not exceeding five years. Projects should use scientific knowledge to accelerate tangible improvements in invasive species prevention and detection in the United States, preferably include international collaborators, and support the federal policies and priorities identified in the notice. Expected results include one or more new strategies that improve invasive species prevention or detection. Performance measures include science-based recommendations formally shared with governing bodies or agencies, new or revised prevention tools or methodologies ready for implementation or piloting, and formal engagement with policymakers, regulators, or industry leaders. Costs must comply with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E. Applicants may use an established NICRA or the 15 percent de minimis indirect cost rate applied to Modified Total Direct Costs, as applicable. Eligible applicants include non-governmental and private nonprofit entities, universities and colleges, local governments, state governments, tribal governments, eligible foreign non-governmental organizations, commercial businesses, and corporations. International applicants generally must be legally registered and located in countries not sanctioned by the U.S. State Department. Individuals are not eligible. Only one application per organization will be considered. Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration and provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier. A required non-Federal match equal to at least 20 percent of the Forest Service funds requested must be provided. For example, a $100,000 Federal request requires at least $20,000 in applicant matching support. Match may consist of allowable cash or in-kind contributions, must be directly related to the proposed project, and must come from non-Federal sources. Third-party matching commitments must be documented through letters of support confirming cash or in-kind services up to the required minimum. Applicants that commit match beyond the required amount become obligated to provide the amount stated in the grant, although additional match receives no scoring preference. The application must include a project narrative of no more than five single-spaced pages using 11-point font, excluding references. The narrative must provide the project title, brief background, project goals and objectives, project description, project outcomes and impacts, project timeline, and qualifications of teams and partners. Applicants should clearly define the issue, challenge, or gap being addressed; explain how the project responds to the funding opportunity; describe specific activities and tasks; provide measurable outcomes and methods for measuring progress; and explain how the project will improve invasive species prevention or detection in the United States. Key personnel and partner roles must be identified, and CVs may be included as appendices. Applicants must also provide an itemized project budget organized by Federal budget categories in the SF-424A, together with itemized matching funds and in-kind contributions. The budget must be submitted in Excel format with formulas and calculations included. A NICRA letter is required when an applicant proposes to use an established NICRA. Successful applicants will subsequently be asked to complete the full Federal financial assistance forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and FS1500-35. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern time. Emailed, mailed, and faxed applications are not accepted, and the notice states there are no exceptions to the deadline. Applicants need an active SAM.gov registration, and the entity name and business address in SAM.gov must exactly match the information in the application. The application point of contact must create a Grants.gov account using the same email address used for SAM.gov registration and add the organization's UEI to the Grants.gov profile. The notice identifies no separate LOI, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline. At least one live question-and-answer session will be scheduled, with the date and time to be posted on Grants.gov. Assistant Director Beth Lebow, identified through the contact email as Elizabeth Lebow, may be contacted to discuss project ideas at Elizabeth.lebow@usda.gov. Grants.gov technical support is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. Applications will first be screened for completeness, compliance with application requirements, required cost share, and alignment with program goals. Incomplete applications, applications without the required match, late applications, and applications submitted through an unauthorized method will not proceed. Eligible proposals are scored on Project Goals and Objectives for 20 points, Project Description for 30 points, Project Outcomes and Impacts for 35 points, and Qualifications of Staff, Organization, and Partners for 15 points, for a maximum of 100 points. A panel of Forest Service and external invasive species experts will score proposals, and top-scoring proposals will be selected subject to funding availability. Before an award is made, the Forest Service will also conduct the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, considering financial stability, management systems, performance history, audit findings, and ability to implement Federal requirements. The notice contains inconsistent award timing information: the Basic Information section gives an anticipated award date and applicant notification in November 2026, while the Award Notices section states that award announcements are expected in October 2026. Applicants should therefore treat October through November 2026 as the stated notification period rather than relying on a single month. A notification of selection does not authorize project performance; the completed and fully signed Federal award documentation is the authorizing document. Award recipients must comply with applicable USDA and Forest Service General Terms and Conditions and any additional award-specific requirements. Financial reporting using SF-425 and performance reporting are required, and performance reports should address the program performance measures. Project costs incurred before the award announcement generally will not be reimbursed with Forest Service funds or accepted as match unless pre-award costs are specifically approved by Forest Service program staff. Application and progress-report materials may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, subject to applicable exemptions and consultation requirements. This announcement is identified as a new program rather than a recurring annual grant announcement, so no recurring future application cycle is established in the source.

Explicitly connect project goals to the Invasive Species Program goals; translate existing scientific knowledge into tangible improvements in U.S. invasive species prevention or detection; clearly define scope, methods, milestones, and a realistic timeline; identify specific and measurable products, outcomes, and expected impacts; demonstrate a logical link between activities and deliverables; quantify expected impact where possible; demonstrate significant return on investment and potential scalability; keep administrative costs justified and relatively low; include international collaborators where appropriate; clearly define partner roles and demonstrate relevant qualifications and organizational capacity.