Vet-LIRN Capacity-Building Project and Equipment Grants (U18)
Can you apply?
This grant is for veterinary laboratory capacity-building and equipment procurement in support of the FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN). Eligible applicants typically include state and territorial veterinary diagnostic laboratories, universities with veterinary programs, and other public health institutions that can demonstrate commitment to food safety, animal health, and disease surveillance. The program supports activities nationwide but prioritizes strengthening laboratory infrastructure to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases and chemical contaminants in food and animal products. Funding may support equipment purchases, facility improvements, training programs, and operational enhancements that increase diagnostic capacity and interoperability with the FDA's national network.
Program description
The goal of this NOFO is to fund veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the Vet-LIRN network for grants associated with projects and equipment. Specific objectives include:
1. Supporting the development, adaptation, or verification/validation of new methods associated with animal food issues or antimicrobial resistance.
2. Short-term surveillance or monitoring efforts aligned with the CVM mission.
3. Supporting equipment for testing or developing tests associated with animal food-related issues or antimicrobial resistance, including those for emerging technologies.
4. Developing projects related to antimicrobial stewardship, in alignment with CVM’s key initiatives in this area.
5. Contributing as part of Vet-LIRN’s AMR monitoring program, including sequencing isolates.
6. Supporting work associated with One Health, including emerging diseases such as COVID-19, when funding is available.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (budget narrative and justification)
- Project narrative (typically 15–20 pages describing goals, methods, timelines, and FDA alignment)
- Detailed budget and budget justification (equipment quotes, personnel, supplies, indirect costs)
- Equipment specifications and quotes (if applicable)
- Letters of commitment or support from institutional leadership
- Organizational capacity documentation (audited financials, infrastructure assessments)
- Letter from state veterinarian or regulatory authority (if applicable)
- Curriculum vitae or resumes for key personnel
- Data on current lab capacity, testing volume, and gaps addressed by the grant
Program contact
- 👤 Rene A Vasquez Grantor
- 📧 kimberly.pendleton@fda.hhs.gov
- 📞 301-796-3546
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.103 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$121,795,918
-
$76,105,626
-
$50,217,964
-
$47,940,304
-
$36,000,000
-
$35,573,997
-
$35,391,995
-
$30,732,300
-
$23,332,999
-
$21,347,288
Top States by Funding
- AZ 3 awards $131.4M
- MD 7 awards $108.5M
- CA 9 awards $106.5M
- VA 5 awards $96.6M
- PA 10 awards $77.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.103). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2016 | $170,482,435 | |
| 2017 est. | $208,900,832 | |
| 2018 | $173,077,408 | |
| 2019 | $198,507,896 | |
| 2020 | $212,448,590 | |
| 2021 | $218,918,739 | |
| 2022 est. | $255,910,458 | |
| 2023 est. | $246,894,600 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for Vet-LIRN equipment and capacity-building grants?
Public diagnostic laboratories, state veterinary authorities, universities with veterinary diagnostic capabilities, and similar institutions that serve a regional or state function in animal health and food safety diagnostics are typically eligible. For-profit entities and purely private laboratories are generally not eligible.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 4, 2028, for applications submitted through grants.gov. Verify the current funding opportunity details with FDA before submitting, as deadlines may shift.
What types of activities does this grant fund?
Common supported activities include equipment purchases (diagnostic instruments, laboratory technology), facility infrastructure improvements, personnel training and professional development, and operational enhancements that strengthen diagnostic capacity and FDA network integration.
How competitive is this grant?
This is a moderately competitive federal grant. Strong applications demonstrate clear alignment with FDA food safety and animal health priorities, quantified lab capacity gaps, and sustainable funding plans beyond the grant period.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding varies by project scope and institutional need, but equipment and capacity grants typically range from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on project scale. Review the current solicitation for specific funding levels.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your proposal tightly with FDA's current food safety, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness priorities. Show how your lab strengthens the national Vet-LIRN network and FDA's regulatory mission.
- Quantify existing capacity gaps with data: testing backlogs, equipment age/obsolescence, staff shortages, geographic coverage limitations. Concrete metrics make the case for funding much stronger.
- Include a detailed equipment justification: explain what diagnostic capability gaps each piece of equipment closes, provide quotes, and demonstrate how acquisitions will increase throughput or expand service areas.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. Describe how you will maintain the equipment, retain trained staff, cover operational costs, and integrate systems with FDA's network long-term.
- Engage stakeholders early. Letter of support from your state veterinarian, public health agency, university leadership, or food industry partners strengthens credibility and shows collaborative commitment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by proposing equipment purchases without clear lab capacity justification or FDA mission alignment. Another frequent issue is underestimating administrative burden and equipment maintenance costs in the project budget, which leads to unsustainable projects. Finally, many applicants neglect to demonstrate how their work integrates with FDA's existing Vet-LIRN infrastructure and national food safety goals, which significantly reduces competitiveness.
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