Overview

RFP: Foreign Animal Disease

Endemic disease continues to challenge the industry on a day-to-day basis and there are opportunities to mitigate the impact of endemic disease by addressing knowledge gaps such as transportation, biosecurity, vaccination and control/elimination of the various viral and bacterial pathogens such as Porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Streptococcus suis, Glaesserella parasuis (GPS), Rotavirus, Escherichia coli and Influenza A virus.  In addition to endemic disease, the US swine industry continues to prepare for foreign animal diseases (FADs) such as African and Classical swine fever and Foot and mouth disease. National Pork Board continues to support producers by utilizing Pork Checkoff dollars to identify and address knowledge gaps.  

What Problem Does This RFP Address?

This RFP focuses on knowledge gaps related to pathogen management and prevention, biosecurity and foreign animal disease response.  

The Swine Disease Research Task force, made up of producers, veterinarians and subject matter experts has identified the following research priorities for 2024.  

Research Priorities

Pathogen management and prevention

  • Manure management
    • Characterization of pathogens and the duration of their infectious status in manure, lagoon and/or pit slurry.
    • Development of protocols related to the reduction and inactivation of pathogens in manure, lagoon and/or pit slurry.
      • Emphasis should be placed on cost effective methods to inactivate pathogens.  
  • Vaccination
    • Evaluation of novel vaccination protocols for the prevention, control, and elimination of disease.
      • Evaluation/investigation for the use of currently established vaccines to eliminate endemic disease within a herd, production system, region, state, or country.
      • Exploration of DIVA-capable vaccinations or another method of quickly identifying vaccinated vs non-vaccinated herds for endemic disease vaccines.  
  • Diagnostics (endemic-focused) 
    • Development of field-based highly sensitive and specific novel diagnostic techniques to quickly assess the presence or absence of viral or bacterial pathogens. 
    • Improvement of current diagnostics for detection of pathogens and immune response such as MHP, Rotavirus, E coli, GPS, etc. 

Biosecurity

  • Transportation
    • Risk analysis of cleaning and disinfection protocols to reduce pathogen spread from  trucks, trailers, and equipment across all swine movements.
      • Focus on development of minimum C&D evidence-based standards for endemic and/or FAD pathogens with an emphasis on feasibility in all weather conditions.  
  • Downtime
    • Development of evidence-based requirements for downtime between sites dependent on health and disease status and biosecurity practices such as shower-in/shower-out.

Foreign animal disease response

  • Feral swine
    • Risk analysis for management of feral swine in case of positive FAD detection in the population.
      • Mortality management 
      • Disease spread 
      • Elimination 
      • Potential for disease transmission from feral swine into domestic swine herds 
    • A literature review of current feral swine disease management strategies across the United States.  

Criteria for Approval

There are three main categories for research within this RFP with multiple research priorities per category. Submitters may submit proposals focused on one research priority or multiple if the study design effectively addresses more than one. Submitters must identify which research priority they are addressing in their proposal.  

Proposals must directly address the research priorities and knowledge gaps identified above. Many of the research priorities are focused on both foreign and endemic pathogens. Submitters should clearly identify which class of pathogen their proposal will address. Submitters must submit proposals that are well written with a defined budget and robust study design that clearly addresses the research priorities.  

Due Date

Research proposals for this RFP are due May 15, 2024.

Evaluation

Individual projects contained within the proposal must meet the same standards of scientific rigor and statistical validity as typical National Pork Board research grants. Poorly written proposals that fail to demonstrate how researchers will address research priorities will not be considered.  

A Task Force comprised of pork producers, veterinarians, allied industry representatives and subject matter experts will evaluate each proposal for its approach to desired outcomes, application to and impact on the pork production industry.

Funding Amount

There is $500,000 available for this RFP. Budgets for submitted proposals should not exceed this amount.  

Applicants should not interpret the maximum allowable amount as a suggestion to expand their anticipated budget to this level. Reasonable budgets necessary to achieve desired outcomes are in favor of the applicant. 

Budgets not commensurate with proposed work or poorly justified will likely negatively impact the evaluation of the proposal. Indirect costs are not allowed; however, it is allowable to request salary and fringe benefit support.

Proposal Format Requirements

Submissions for this RFP should follow the National Pork Board’s standard instructions and format and requirements. Please ensure your proposal format includes all required information, specifically under the budget section.

Questions?

For questions, please contact:

Marisa Rotolo, DVM, PHD 

Director, Swine Health 

National Pork Board 

[email protected]