# New World Screwworm Grand Challenge

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/usda-aphis-10025-oa000000-26-0001-new-world-screwworm-grand-challenge/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361182

> Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service offered grants of up to $5.0 million to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes and small businesses. It expected to make about 20 awards worth $100 million in total. Applications closed on February 23, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | USDA-APHIS-10025-OA000000-26-0001 |
| Agency | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | February 23, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $5.0 million |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 20 |
| Total funding | $100 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.025 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Small businesses

Application packages must meet the initial screening criteria to be eligible to receive further review. Proposals that do not meet these initial screening criteria will not receive further review. Any application package with missing or incomplete documents or forms will not be eligible to receive further review.1. Proposals must be submitted by eligible entities with an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in SAM.gov. 2. Proposals must address one of the funding priorities listed in Section 1 and described in detail in Appendix 1 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.3. All required documents and forms listed in Section 4 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity must (a) be included in the application package, and (b) comply with the submission instructions described in Section 5 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.4. Proposals, including all associated documents and forms, must be received on or before the proposal submission deadline. Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be eligible to receive further review.

## What the grant funds

The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Protection Inspection Service announces this funding opportunity to support the sweeping plan to combat New World screwworm (NWS) as described in the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s August 15, 2025, press release, titled USDA Announces Sweeping Plans to Protect the United States from New World Screwworm. Through this Grand Challenge, APHIS is making up to $100,000,000 available to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread. APHIS is making rapid progress on the construction of additional sterile insect production facilities with full capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week expected to come online in March 2029. Through the Grand Challenge, APHIS hopes to identify both projects that will augment our rapid response to the growing threat of NWS to serve as an interim step while production increases, but also long-term investments that expand our ability to respond to the parasite now and into the future – technologies that, perhaps, could have applicability with other animal disease response programs. APHIS will support projects that enhance sterile NWS fly production, develop novel NWS traps and lures, develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutics/treatments in animals, or develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS. Funding Priorities: APHIS will support projects that: Topic 1: Enhance sterile NWS fly production. Topic 2: Develop novel NWS traps and lures. Topic 3: Develop and increase understanding of NWS therapeutic/treatments (i.e. products that could treat, prevent, or control NWS) for animals and that could be stockpiled and used in animals should NWS reach the United States. Topic 4: Develop other tools to bolster preparedness or response to NWS. Awards are not anticipated to exceed $5,000,000; however, APHIS reserves the right to award proposals in excess of $5,000,000 if the proposal significantly contributes to the prevention of NWS’ northward spread. This anticipated award amount should not deter new innovations; Major projects with a demonstrable ability to rapidly advance animal health outcomes and/or delay the spread of NWS will be considered in excess of this amount. You can See Appendix I for funding priority topics. APHIS may award less than the requested amount for a project. In these cases, applicants may accept or decline the award that is offered.

## Questions people ask

### Is USDA-APHIS-10025-OA000000-26-0001 still open?

No. It closed on February 23, 2026. A newer notice is open: USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-27-0002, closes January 7, 2027 (61 days left).

### Who can apply for New World Screwworm Grand Challenge?

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes and small businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for New World Screwworm Grand Challenge?

Closed February 23, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $5.0 million each. About $100 million in total across about 20 awards.

### Who has won Animal Disease and Animal Care grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were California Department of Food & Agriculture, Colorado State University, Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Florida. The program made 6,048 awards worth $1.7 billion in that time.