Program Overview

The USDA New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge is a Fiscal Year 2026 funding opportunity administered by USDA APHIS to support innovative projects that strengthen U.S. preparedness, detection, treatment, and response capabilities related to New World Screwworm.

Through this program, APHIS seeks to safeguard U.S. agriculture, animal health, wildlife, and trade by supporting advancements in sterile fly production, surveillance technologies, therapeutics, and operational response tools.

Program Objectives

Funded projects are expected to deliver measurable improvements in New World Screwworm prevention and response capabilities. Key objectives include:

• Increasing efficiency and performance of sterile NWS fly production
• Improving surveillance and detection through advanced traps, lures, and differentiation tools
• Advancing treatment, therapeutic, and preventive tools for livestock and wildlife
• Enhancing operational preparedness through improved dispersal, repellents, ecological models, or surveillance approaches

Funding Priorities

APHIS invites proposals that address one or more of the following priority areas:

• Enhancement of sterile New World Screwworm fly production capacity
• Development of novel traps and lures for improved detection and monitoring
• Development and validation of NWS therapeutics or treatments for animals
• Other tools or approaches that strengthen preparedness or response capabilities

Cost Sharing Requirements

Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not required for projects funded under the New World Screwworm Grand Challenge.

Eligible Applicants

A wide range of applicant types are eligible, including:

• Colleges and universities, including university research foundations
• State, national, allied, or regional producer organizations
• Veterinary organizations or specialty boards recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association
• Federal agencies
• Nonprofit organizations, with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding Institutions of Higher Education)
• State Departments of Agriculture and state emergency agencies
• Small businesses and other for-profit organizations
• Non-U.S. entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations

Funding Details

• Total Funding Available: $100,000,000
• Funding Mechanism: Competitive grant awards
• Application Deadline: February 23, 2026

For complete eligibility criteria, application requirements, and official updates, applicants should review the USDA APHIS Notice of Funding Opportunity:

USDA New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge – FY 2026 (via Grants.gov)

How LEC Partners Supports NWS Grand Challenge Applicants

LEC Partners supports public and private organizations pursuing complex federal funding opportunities related to animal health, biosecurity, and agricultural resilience.

Our team assists applicants with:

• Program alignment and funding strategy
• Technical scoping and feasibility assessment
• Strengthening technical narratives and implementation plans
• Risk identification and mitigation strategies
• Coordination of multidisciplinary teams and partners

LEC brings deep experience across agriculture, bioeconomy technologies, regulatory environments, and applied research, helping applicants develop credible, well-structured proposals.

Questions We Often Get About the NWS Grand Challenge

Further Reading

LEC Insights

• Current Federal Funding Opportunities
  
• Overview of USDA Funding Programs
  
• Funding and Due Diligence for Bioeconomy Projects
  

Other Trusted Industry Sources

• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture