National Germplasm Resources Laboratory FY2024 GUIDELINES FOR PLANT EXPLORATION PROPOSALS

Deadline for all exploration proposals: July 31, 2023 

Deadline for draft proposals (foreign explorations only): May 31, 2023 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) funds foreign and domestic plant explorations to acquire plant germplasm for inclusion in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. Plant Exploration Proposals may be submitted by any qualified U.S. scientist. Plant exploration proposals must be supported by the appropriate Crop Germplasm Committee (CGC), or other qualified crop specialists when there is no appropriate CGC. Proposals must also include a letter of support from the NPGS curator(s) responsible for the proposed collections. Scientists planning to submit a proposal are advised to first consult Anne Frances in the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Plant Exchange Office (PEO) in Beltsville, Maryland. The PEO can provide suggestions and assistance with technical matters when preparing a proposal. 

Proposals are recommended for funding by the Plant Germplasm Operations Committee (PGOC) and approved by the ARS Office of National Programs. The Guidelines presented here are for proposals to be funded during the period October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2024 (Fiscal Year 2024); previous versions are obsolete. The Guidelines for Plant Exploration Proposals are revised annually and may be obtained from the PEO.