# USDA NIFA Funds Maryland Data System

On November 4, 2026, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the University of Maryland a $936,310 grant through its Open Data Framework program to develop the NASA Acres Confidential, Co-created, Collaborative Computational (4-C) agricultural data system. The project is intended to support secure, privacy-preserving collaboration around agricultural data. The announcement describes a grant award, not a new solicitation or direct contracting opportunity.

- The University of Maryland is the awardee; NASA Acres 4-C is the system being developed, with NASA identified in the project name.
- For contractors and research organizations, the award signals federal investment in agricultural data infrastructure and privacy-preserving collaboration, but does not itself provide a procurement vehicle or open bid.
- Organizations offering relevant data infrastructure or privacy capabilities can assess whether their expertise aligns with future agricultural data collaboration needs; the announcement provides no specific follow-on procurement, requirements, or deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** November 05, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

### Vendors
- University of Maryland (awardee)

### Sources
- [NIFA Invests $900,000 in University of Maryland Open Data Project | NIFA](https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/award-announcements/nifa-invests-900000-university-maryland-open-data-project) - NIFA