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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img width=210 height=55 style='width:2.1875in;height:.5694in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DBE74E.075EA4B0"></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><br>Dear FHB Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI) was on track to announce the opening of the FY26 Request for Pre-Proposals (RFP) at the start of June. However, review and approval by the USDA-ARS is still underway. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After careful consideration, the <b>USWBSI Executive Committee decided to truncate our typical submission process and eliminate the Letter of Intent (LOI) component </b>for this funding cycle to provide additional time for USDA-ARS. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We will send out a notification as soon as the FY26 RFP has been approved and published. Depending on timing of the release, a quicker submission turnaround may be required but will be no less than 30 days. Keep in mind, this marks the start of a new funding cycle. All PIs, including those who are currently funded, will need to complete the requirements outlined in the RFP for consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#196B24'>Stay Tuned<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Once the FY26 RFP is available, access will be opened on the <a href="https://scabusa.org/request_research_funding">USWBSI Research Funding Opportunities</a> page. An official notification will also be distributed to the FHB Listserv. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#196B24'>Questions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If you have any questions please contact the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative's Networking & Facilitation Office by phone at 517.290.5023 or send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org">nfo@scabusa.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing FHB research.</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Please share this announcement with colleagues who may be interested.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>We apologize if you receive multiple copies of this message as it is being distributed to several mailing lists. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'>______</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><a name="m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#0E2841'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>495 Borlaug Hall | 1991 Upper Buford Circle | St. Paul, MN 55108</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></a> | 517.290.5023 | </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#414141'><a href="https://scabusa.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://scabusa.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Twitter </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="https://twitter.com/USWBSI"><span style='color:#156082'>@USWBSI</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> | Linkedin </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/uswbsi"><span style='color:#156082'>#uswbsi</span></a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>