**Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program**

***[FY 2007 Request for Applications]{.underline}***

**EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 8, 2007**

![](media/image1.png)

#  U.S. Department of Agriculture

![](media/image2.png){width="0.47708333333333336in"
height="0.5923611111111111in"} **Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service**

**COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE; U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE**

**FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES NATIONAL NEEDS GRADUATE AND
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP GRANTS PROGRAM**

**INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT**

**CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE:** This program is listed in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.210.

**DATES:** Applications must be received by close of business (COB) on
June 8, 2007 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) through the **grants.gov**
**portal**. Applications received after this deadline will normally not
be considered for funding. Comments regarding this request for
applications (RFA) are requested within six months from the issuance of
this notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the
extent practicable.

**STAKEHOLDER INPUT:** The Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service (CSREES) is requesting comments regarding this RFA
from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the
development of the next RFA for the program, if applicable, and will be
used to meet the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act (AREERA) of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7613(c)(2)). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and consider
input on a current RFA from persons who conduct or use agricultural
research, education and extension for use in formulating future RFAs for
competitive programs. Written stakeholder comments on this RFA should be
submitted in accordance with the deadline set forth in the DATES portion
of this Notice.

Written stakeholder comments should be submitted by mail to: Policy,
Oversight, and Funds Management Branch; Office of Extramural Programs;
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; USDA; STOP
2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2299; or via
e-mail to: [RFP-<OEP@csrees.usda.gov>]{.underline}. (This e-mail address
is intended only for receiving comments regarding this RFA and not to
request information or forms.) In your comments, please state that you
are responding to the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs
Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program RFA.

**EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:** CSREES announces the availability of grant funds
and requests applications for the Food and Agricultural Sciences
National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program (NNF)
for fiscal year (FY) 2007 award cycle to provide traineeship programs to
eligible institutions for meeting the national need to develop
scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural
sciences, through graduate level training programs. In FY 2007 CSREES is
soliciting applications: (1) for Fellowships to train students for
Master's and doctoral degrees in food, agricultural and natural resource
sciences, and; (2) for Special International Study or
Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) **for eligible
USDA Fellows**. **Applicants should be institutions that confer a
graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas
(TESA).** Awards are made to eligible colleges and universities.
**Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants to support
their graduate education.** CSREES anticipates the amount supporting
this program for the FY 2007 award cycle to be \$3.5 million.

This notice identifies the objectives for NNF and IRTA projects, the
eligibility criteria for project applicants and beneficiaries; the
application forms and associated instructions needed to apply for an NNF
and IRTA grants. **Applicants should be institutions that confer a
graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas
(TESA). For further information about TESAs, see part I.B. and all of
part III of this announcement.** Awards are made to eligible colleges
and universities.

**Table of Contents**

[**PART I**---**FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION 5**\
](#I)[A. Legislative Authority and Background 5\
](#IA)[B. Purpose and Priorities 5\
](#IB)[C. Program Area Description 7](#IC)

[**PART II**---**AWARD INFORMATION 9**\
](#II)[A. Available Funding 9\
](#IIA)[B. Types of Applications 9\
](#IIB)[C. Project Types 9\
](#IIC)\
[**PART III**---**ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 11**\
](#III)[A. Eligible Applicants 11\
](#IIIA)[B. Cost Sharing or Matching 11](#IIIB)

[**PART IV**---**APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 12**\
](#IV)[A. Address to Request Application Package 12\
](#IVA)[B. Content and Form of Application Submission 13\
](#IVB)[C. Submission Dates and Times 20\
](#IVC)[D. Funding Restrictions 20](#IVD)\
[E. Other Submission Requirements 22](#IVE)

[**PART V**---**APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS 22**\
](#V)[A. General 22\
](#VA)[B. Evaluation Criteria 23\
](#VB)[C. Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality 26](#VC)

[D. Organizational Management Information 26](#VD)

[**PART VI**---**AWARD ADMINISTRATION 26**\
](#VI)[A. General 26\
](#VIA)[B. Award Notice 27\
](#VIB)[C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 27\
](#VIC)[D. Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements 29](#VID)

[**PART VII**---**AGENCY CONTACT 30**](#VII)

[**PART VIII**---**OTHER INFORMATION 30**](#VIII)\
[A. Access to Review Information 30](#VIIIA)\
[B. Use of Funds; Changes 30\
](#VIIIB)[C. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards 31\
](#VIIIC)[D. Regulatory Information 32\
](#VIIID)[E. Definitions 32\
](#VIIIE)[F. CSREES' Grants.gov Implementation Plans 35\
](#VIIIF)[G. DUNS Number 35\
](#VIIIG)

**PART I**---**FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION**[]{#I .anchor}

A.  **Legislative Authority and Background**[]{#IA .anchor}

[]{.mark}

**Legislative authority for this program is contained in section 1412.
\[Amendments to section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (99 Stat. 1548; 7 U.S.C.
3152)\]. This program is subject to administrative provisions that can
be found at 7 CFR 3402.** USDA/CSREES administers this federal
assistance grant program specifically designated for graduate degree
programs and postgraduate training of the next generation of policy
makers, researchers, and educators in the Food and Agricultural
Sciences. USDA initiated the National Needs Graduate Fellowship (NNF)
Grants Program in FY 1984.  This program, functioning collaboratively
with eligible higher education institutions, is developing intellectual
capital to ensure the preeminence of U.S. food and agricultural systems.

B.  **Purpose and Priorities**[]{#IB .anchor}

[]{.mark}

The purpose of the NNF Grants Program is to train students for Master's
and/or doctoral degrees and provide additional postdoctoral training for
Fellows who have completed their doctoral degrees at colleges and
universities that have demonstrable teaching and research competencies
in the food and agricultural sciences. Fellowships and IRTA awards are
specifically intended to support traineeship programs that encourage
outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees or obtain
postdoctoral training in areas where there is a national need for the
development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and
agricultural sciences.  Fellowships and IRTA awards invest in graduate
training and relevant international experiential learning for a cadre of
diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully
complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission
of the USDA.

For the FY 2007 award cycle CSREES intends to support graduate
Fellowship training grants for both Master's and doctoral levels of
study. Also, IRTA awards will provide support for **eligible USDA
Fellows** to conduct thesis/dissertation research or to undertake
studies at sites outside of the United States. IRTA awards for eligible
USDA Fellows will **[only]{.underline}** be available as provided for
within this announcement.  **[Post-doctoral Fellowships will not be
awarded]{.underline}** under this grant announcement. Future funding of
post-doctoral Fellowships will be dependent on the availability of
funds.

The objectives of the FY 2007 NNF program, working collaboratively with
eligible institutions, are:

1)  to provide award support for graduate training of students at the
    Master's level and the doctoral level, to matriculate
    workforce-ready and globally competitive personnel in the food and
    agricultural sciences;

2)  to provide awards that will support training to fill nationally
    identified expertise shortage areas in the food and agricultural
    sciences;

3)  to increase the number of outstanding students, including those from
    traditionally underrepresented groups, annually entering graduate
    training in higher education in the food and agricultural sciences;

4)  to support graduate training to develop core competencies in
    National Needs fellows to meet the emerging market demands in the
    food and agricultural sciences; and

5)  to support IRTAs securing enhanced training in food and agricultural
    sciences for eligible National Needs Fellows.

Applications are being solicited for grants to support graduate
Fellowship training stipends for NNF and/or IRTA for both Master's and
doctoral levels of study in the following **Targeted Expertise Shortage
Areas (TESA):**

1)  **Agricultural Genomics and Bioinformatics** -- specifically in
    resources and applicability to the food, agricultural and natural
    resource sciences**;**

2)  **Natural Resources and the Environment** -- particularly in forest
    ecosystem health and restoration, wood and fiber engineering and
    applicability, and natural resource economics**;**

3)  **Agricultural Systems Engineering** -- specifically biobased
    products, bioenergy and food products engineering**;**

4)  **Agricultural Management and Economics** -- specifically in
    agricultural trade policy, resource economics, and economics of
    alternative energy;

5)  **Food Science** -- specifically in food safety and foods for
    health**;**

6)  **Human Nutrition −** specifically in obesity**,** diet and
    exercise**;**

7)  **Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity** -- particularly in animal
    pathology and food animal diagnostics and other areas impacting the
    security of the food systems; and

8)  **Training in Sustainable Sciences** (integrative training in
    environmental, social and economic disciplines) for food,
    agricultural and environmental systems particularly in sustainable
    ecosystems and functional integrative natural resources management.

Institutions that have not previously applied are especially encouraged
to do so. (See eligibility information in Part III of this RFA.)
**Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at
least one of the TESAs listed above.** Awards are made to eligible
colleges and universities. **Individuals are not eligible to apply for
these grants to support their graduate education.**

Funding preference will be given to applications that propose to:

1)  establish innovative frameworks for graduate training with
    collaborative research and technology transfer components that
    transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries in agriculture;

2)  establish Master's degree programs where Fellows can pursue related
    summer research opportunities (especially at other
    colleges**/**universities**,** industry or federal agencies); or
    establish doctoral programs with teaching opportunities in related
    topics;

3)  establish multidisciplinary graduate training programs in areas of:
    bio-security; food, agricultural and environmental sustainability;
    human nutrition and obesity;

4)  increase the multicultural (economic, social, cultural, racial,
    ethnic, geographical, gender, traditionally underserved populations)
    diversity of the nation's scientific and professional expertise;

5)  partner to provide exceptional graduate training in the food and
    agricultural sciences to develop human capital to participate in
    meeting the mission of the USDA and the strategic objectives of
    CSREES (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan.html);

6)  provide relevant leadership, teaching, research, management and
    international learning experiences for graduate training in such a
    way as to demonstrate the potential for USDA Fellows to become
    emerging knowledge experts in food and agricultural science
    disciplines;

7)  develop performance measures for evaluating the overall
    effectiveness of the graduate training; to include identification of
    the core competencies that USDA National Needs Fellows will attain
    while developing expertise in the TESAs listed above.

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C.  **Program Area Description**[]{#IC .anchor}**\
    **

Under the FY 2007 program, CSREES intends to support Master's, and
doctoral levels of study with NNF grants and the IRTA award, if
applicable. **[The Program Code is KK for all applications submitted
under this announcement]{.underline}.**

Through the IRTA, CSREES offers to secure diversity in the human
resource base by presenting opportunities for capable USDA Fellows to
pursue experiential learning through research and travel awards that
will contribute to the progress of the USDA Fellow toward an advanced
degree during their graduate study; therefore, the proposed activities
must contribute to the progress toward an advanced degree. IRTA
recipients must be USDA Fellows, or current applicants. Fellowships and
IRTA grants are provided to support current National Needs Graduate
Fellows in order to allow them to conduct thesis/dissertation research
or undertake studies outside the United States.

Applicants are encouraged to provide a five-year budget with a zero
dollar budget for any year where support is not allocated. Applicants
should factor into their application, a recruitment interval to meet the
program requirements. No extensions beyond the five-year period are
allowed. Institutions may, however, apply for new awards in any fiscal
year(s) in which appropriated funds are available for this program. The
title of ***your application*** should be different from the program
code name. **The Program Code name is** **[National Needs Graduate
Fellowships Program]{.underline}**.

[Beneficiary Eligibility for NNF]{.underline} -- Fellowships may be held
only by persons who meet the eligibility requirements below. Persons
eligible to receive Fellowship stipend support must:

1)  be citizens or nationals of the United States as defined in this
    announcement (see Part VIII, E., Definitions);

2)  have strong interest, as judged by the institution, in pursuing a
    degree in a national targeted expertise shortage area and in
    preparing for a career as a food or agricultural or natural
    resources scientist or professional;

3)  not have --

    a.  completed two semesters or equivalent hours (one (1) year) of
        full-time study as defined by the institution, or

    b.  passed candidacy/qualifying examinations, whichever is later;
        and

    c.  not have been enrolled previously in the academic program at the
        same degree level.

[Beneficiary Eligibility for IRTA]{.underline} -- At the time of travel
under the IRTA grant award, USDA Fellows conducting research outside the
United States must:

1)  be supported under a USDA National Needs Graduate Fellowship grant;

2)  have completed one academic year of full-time study, as defined by
    the institution under the fellowship appointment;

3)  have formalized arrangements to study and/or conduct research in the
    foreign location(s);

4)  have sufficient time remaining in the award to conduct the IRTA
    travel or research; and

5)  have a completed CSREES Form 2010 -- Fellowship Appointment Form
    with the funding agency (CSREES).

**Fellows must be identified and Fellowships must be awarded within
eighteen (18) months of the effective date of a grant.** Institutions
that fail to meet this deadline will be required to refund monies
associated with unawarded Fellowships to CSREES.

**Applicants may not request partial fellowships**. A USDA Fellow at the
Master's degree level who maintains satisfactory progress is eligible to
receive grant support for a maximum of **twenty-four (24) months**
during a thirty-month period. A USDA Fellow at the doctoral degree level
who maintains satisfactory progress is eligible to receive grant support
for a maximum of **thirty-six (36) months** within a forty-two-month
period.

**PART II---AWARD INFORMATION**[]{#II .anchor}

A.  **Available Funding**[]{#IIA .anchor}

**Grants may be awarded under this announcement.** There is no
commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or to make a
specific number of awards. CSREES anticipates \$**3.5** **million** will
be available to fund awards in the FY 2007 funding cycle. NNF typically
awards \$39,000 for each Master's level training \[\$18,000 per year for
two (2) years as student stipend\] and \$76,500 for each doctoral level
training \[\$24,000 per year for three (3) years as student stipend\].
For each level of student training, there is a \$1,500 per student per
year cost-of-education allowance for the institution. For the IRTA
awards there will be \$7,500 for doctoral level USDA Fellows and \$4,500
for IRTA Master's level USDA Fellows. At the Master's level training and
IRTAs approximately \$1.2 million will be available for awards. There
will be approximately \$2.3 million available for doctoral training
including IRTAs.

B.  **Types of Applications**[]{#IIB .anchor}

In FY 2007, applications may be submitted to the NNF/IRTA Program as one
of the following two types of requests:

1.  **[New application]{.underline}**. This is a project application
    that has not been previously submitted to the NNF/IRTA Program. All
    new applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection
    process and evaluation criteria described in Part V---Application
    Review Requirements.

2.  **[Resubmitted application]{.underline}**. This is an application
    that had previously been submitted to the NNF/IRTA Program but not
    funded. Resubmitted applications must be received by the relevant
    due dates, will be evaluated in competition with other pending
    applications in appropriate area to which they are assigned, and
    will be reviewed according to the same evaluation criteria as new
    applications. **PDs must respond to the previous review panel
    summary on no more than one page, titled "RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS
    REVIEW," and must be submitted using the CSREES Supplemental
    Information Form.**

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C.  **Project Types**[]{#IIC .anchor}

[]{.mark}

A single application may propose funding under any single TESA for any
of the Award Categories listed below, either singly or in any
combination, **up to a maximum of \$252,000 per application.**
Applicants may not request partial fellowships.

Award Category No. 1 \-- **Master's Level Training** -- **Funding at
\$39,000** for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of
\$18,000 per year for two years, plus \$1,500 per year cost-of-education
allowance.

Award Category No. 2 \--**Doctoral Level Training** -- **Funding at
\$76,500** for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of
\$24,000 per year for three years, plus \$1,500 per year cost-of
education allowance.

Award Category No. 3 \-- **Special International Study or
Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA)** -- **One-time
\$4,500** for **an eligible USDA National Needs** **Master's** Fellow
and **one-time \$7,500** for **an eligible USDA National Needs
doctoral** Fellow.

#### There is no limit to the number of applications an eligible institution may submit; however, an institution may only receive support up to a maximum of **\$504,000 in awards.** This support may be provided through multiple grant awards.

#### 

#### Each application may request any combination of **Award Category No. 1** **(**Master's**)**, **Award Category No. 2** **(**doctoral**)** or **Award Category No. 3** **(**IRTA**) funds**, **not to exceed** \$252,000. 

#### **[A separate application must be submitted for each targeted expertise shortage area]{.underline}** (see Part I, B**.)** for which support is requested. CSREES reserves the right to fund fewer Fellows than requested in an application, and to partially fund fellowship and/or IRTA requests.

[]{.mark}

**PART III**---**ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION**[]{#III .anchor}

A.  **Eligible Applicants**[]{#IIIA .anchor}

Pursuant to **section 1412,\[Amendments to section 1417 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (99
Stat. 1548; 7 U.S.C. 3152)\], and administrative provisions that can be
found at 7 CFR 3402,** applications may be submitted by: (1) land-grant
institutions, (2) colleges and universities having significant minority
enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of
food and agricultural sciences, and (3) other colleges and universities
having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food**,**
and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an
eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training
proposals under this RFA. **Applicants should be institutions that
confer a graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise
Shortage Areas (TESA).**

B.  **Cost Sharing or Matching**[]{#IIIB .anchor}

There are no matching requirements and matching resources will not be
factored into the review process as evaluation criteria.

**PART IV---APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION**[]{#IV .anchor}

A.  **Address to Request Application Package**[]{#IVA .anchor}

Only electronic applications may be submitted via Grants.gov to CSREES
in response to this RFA.

Prior to preparing an application, it is suggested that the PD/PI first
contact an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) to determine
if the organization is prepared to submit electronic applications
through Grants.gov. If the organization is not prepared, the AOR should
see <http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp> for steps for
preparing to submit applications through Grants.gov.

The steps to access application materials are as follows:

1.  Download and install PureEdge Viewer, a small, free program that
    provides access to the grant application. See
    <http://www.grants.gov/resources/download_software.jsp#pureedge>.

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2.  The application package must be obtained via Grants.gov, go to
    [http://www.grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/), click on "Apply for
    Grants" in the left-hand column, click on "**Step 1:** [Download a
    Grant Application Package and
    Instructions](https://apply.grants.gov/forms_apps_idx.html)**,"**
    enter the funding opportunity number **USDA-CSREES-HEP-000526** in
    the appropriate box and click "Download Package." From the search
    results, click "Download" to access the application package.

> Contained within the application package is the "[CSREES Grants.gov
> Application Guide: A Guide for Preparation and Submission of CSREES
> Applications via
> Grants.gov.](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/grant_forms/electronic_app_guide.pdf)"
> This Guide contains an introduction and general Grants.gov
> instructions, information about how to use a Grant Application Package
> in Grants.gov, and instructions on how to complete the application
> forms.
>
> **If assistance is needed to access the application package** (e.g.,
> downloading or navigating PureEdge forms, using PureEdge with a
> Macintosh computer), refer to resources available on the Grants.gov
> Web site first (<http://grants.gov/>). Grants.gov assistance is also
> available as follows:

-   Grants.gov customer support\
    Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726\
    Business Hours: M-F 7:00 am -- 9 pm Eastern Standard Time\
    Email: <support@grants.gov>

See <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/electronic.html> for additional
resources for applying electronically.

B.  **Content and Form of Application Submission**[]{#IVB .anchor}

::: Definition-Term
Electronic applications should be prepared following Part V and VI of
the document entitled "[A Guide for Preparation and Submission of CSREES
Applications via
Grants.gov](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/grant_forms/electronic_app_guide.pdf)."
This guide is part of the corresponding application package (see Section
A. of this Part). The following is **additional information** needed in
order to prepare an application in response to this RFA. If there is
discrepancy between the two documents, the information contained in this
RFA is overriding.
:::

**Note the attachment requirements (e.g., portable document format,
i.e., PDF) in Part III section 3. of the Guide.**

1.  **[R&R Other Project Information Form]{.underline}**

    a.  **Project Summary/Abstract (Field 6. on the Form).**

The summary should also include the relevance of the project to the
goals of the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program (NNF/IRTA). The summary should be
approximately 250 words. The summary should provide a clear overview of
the type of award -- fellowship and/or IRTA project -- succinctly
providing information about its major features and a specific
description of the activities to be undertaken.

The summary should focus on:

-   identifying Targeted Expertise Shortage Area(s) being addressed;

-   identifying the major academic program (discipline) being addressed;

-   overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives;

-   number and degree level (Master's and doctoral) of Fellows to be
    supported under the application;

-   number and degree level of IRTAs to be supported;

-   plans to accomplish project goal(s) for national targeted expertise
    shortage area;

-   relevance of the project to the program goals, and the USDA/CSREES
    Strategic Goals and Objectives
    http://www.csrees.usda.gov/about/strat_plan.html; and

-   anticipated impact on the National Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas
    (TESAs).

The importance of a concise, informative Project Summary cannot be
overemphasized. If the Project Summary does not specifically address
relevance, merit, and broader impacts on the USDA Fellows' research
program for meeting the National TESAs, the proposal will not be
reviewed.

The national targeted expertise shortage area(s) addressed by the
application should be identified in the Project Summary. Applicants also
should select one of the disciplines listed below that best describes
the major academic program area addressed by the application. The tables
that follow provide the TESAs for graduate training and the relevant
disciplines under this solicitation. **[The Project Summary must be
submitted as a .PDF attachment.]{.underline}**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) FY 2007 Funding Cycle**

  **Agricultural Genomics and Bioinformatics** -- specifically in
  resources and applicability to the food, agricultural and natural
  resource sciences

  **Natural Resources and the Environment** -- particularly in forest
  ecosystem health and restoration, wood and fiber engineering and
  applicability, and natural resource economics

  **Agricultural Systems Engineering** -- specifically biobased products,
  bioenergy and food products engineering

  **Agricultural Management and Economics** -- specifically in
  agricultural trade policy, resource economics, and economics of
  alternative energy

  **Food Science** -- specifically in food safety and foods for health

  **Human Nutrition −** specifically in obesity**,** diet and exercise

  **Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity** -- particularly in animal
  pathology and food animal diagnostics and other areas impacting the
  security of the food systems

  **Training in Sustainable Sciences** (integrative training in
  environmental, social and economic disciplines) for food, agricultural
  and environmental systems particularly in sustainable ecosystems and
  functional integrative natural resources management
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

  ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
  **Relevant Discipline for FY 2007 Funding Cycle**                **Code**

  Animal Science                                                   A

  General/Basic Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology       B

  Plant Sciences and Horticulture (includes Turf Grass/Weed        P
  Science/Plant Breeding)                                          

  Conservation and Renewable Natural Resources (includes any       C
  aspect of Forestry, Air Quality, Sustainable Agriculture)        

  Environmental Sciences/Management (includes Economics, Decision  L
  Management and Biometry)                                         

  Soil Sciences (includes Soil Quality; Processes)                 D

  Water Sciences/Resources (includes Water Quality)                W

  Agricultural/Biological Engineering (includes Rangeland,         E
  Urban/Rural Technology)                                          

  Agricultural Marketing and Management (includes Agricultural     M
  Economics)                                                       

  Food Science/Technology/Manufacturing/Safety                     F

  Human Nutrition (includes obesity and relevant to USDA Strategic N
  Goals)                                                           

  International Agriculture (includes Disciplines Related to       I
  Global Food and Agricultural Systems and Competitiveness)        

  Agricultural Social Sciences (includes Rural Sociology)          S

  Veterinary Medicine (graduate degree training)                   V

  Interdisciplinary, Sustainable Food, Agricultural and            G
  Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences and Economics Graduate   
  Degree Programs                                                  

  Agricultural Biosecurity                                         X
  ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------

a.  **Project Narrative (Field 7. on the Form).**

[PLEASE NOTE]{.underline}: The Project Narrative shall not exceed
twenty-five (25) pages of written text and up to five (5) additional
pages for figures and tables. This maximum of thirty (30) pages has been
established to ensure fair and equitable competition. Prepare the
application on only one side of the page using standard size (8 1/2\" x
11\") white paper, one-inch margins, using no type smaller than 12 point
font, and in **double space** (no more than three lines per vertical
inch). Acceptable fonts are Courier, Courier New or Arial, Geneva,
Helvetica, Times New Roman. [Applications that do not conform to the
preparation requirements will be returned unread]{.underline}. **[The
Project Narrative and any Appendices must be submitted as a .PDF
attachment.]{.underline}**

The **Project Narrative** must include all of the following:

**PLEASE NOTE:** Appendices to the Project Narrative are allowed if they
are directly germane to the proposed project. The addition of appendices
should not be used to circumvent the page limit. This portion of the
application should describe how the proposed project offers unique
opportunities for achieving the national objective of encouraging
outstanding students to pursue and complete graduate degrees in an area
of food and agricultural sciences where there is a national need for the
development of scientific and professional expertise. The Project
Narrative must include, and be organized into, the following four
sections. A description of the information that must be included in each
section is outlined below:

# Section 1

-   Discuss the quality of the institution's graduate students, the
    strength of its curriculum and instructional approaches, the
    availability of research training opportunities, and utilization of
    strategies for developing the leadership, management, critical
    thinking and problem-solving skills of students or unique mentoring
    experiences that may assist in preparing students for placement
    following graduation;

-   Present evidence that the overall academic program recognizes and
    addresses current trends and future needs, and prepares students for
    the national targeted expertise shortage area of the application and
    successful careers in the food and agricultural sciences
    professional and scientific workplaces;

-   Discuss current or planned programs at the institution designed to
    encourage outstanding graduate students, especially from
    traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue and complete
    further graduate/professional studies to pipeline into the workforce
    filling areas of management and leadership in food and agricultural
    sciences disciplines.

-   Identify the national targeted expertise shortage area (TESA)
    addressed by the application;

-   Identify the Award Category(ies) -- Master's, Doctoral, and/or IRTA
    -- and the [discipline]{.underline} addressed by the application;

-   Demonstrate the likelihood that the proposed program of graduate
    study will result in the development of outstanding graduates to
    meet the future needs of a globally interconnected, technologically
    advanced, rapidly diversifying and consumer-driven food and
    agricultural industry;

-   Substantiate clearly the quality graduate training and/or
    international experiential learning available through the
    institution\'s graduate teaching, research and experiential
    program(s) in the food and agricultural sciences in the
    discipline(s) for which Fellows are being recruited;

> Supportive information should include: (1) student enrollment,
> retention and graduation rates by gender, racial groups,
> socio-economic groups, and ethnic groups for the past five years; (2)
> the mean standardized college entrance exam scores of students from
> traditionally underrepresented groups and of other students for the
> past five years;
>
> \(3\) placement of graduates during the past five years; and (4) the
> enrollment and graduation rates of students from traditionally
> underserved groups and first generation college students and/or past
> Fellows;

[When applying for the IRTA type of award for a current USDA Fellow, the
Project Narrative should include all of the following]{.underline}: (a)
The anticipated, specific destination(s) and duration of the travel; (b)
information about the objectives, timeline, expected outcomes and
deliverables from the participating, eligible USDA Fellow(s); (c) the
specific study or thesis/dissertation research activities (specific
tasks) in which USDA Fellows will be engaged; (d) how the international
experience will contribute to the USDA Fellow's program of study; (e) a
budget narrative specifying and justifying the dollar amount requested
for the travel; (f) identify contact personnel where Fellowship and/or
IRTA activity will be undertaken and provide summary credentials of both
the U.S. and international faculty or other professionals with whom the
USDA Fellow will be working during the international experience and the
nature of support to be provided to insure success of the Fellow's
international experience; (g) a letter from the dean of the USDA
Fellow's college or equivalent administrative unit supporting the USDA
Fellow's travel request and certifying that the travel experience will
not jeopardize the USDA Fellow's satisfactory progress toward degree
completion; (h) a letter from the fellowships grant project director
certifying the USDA Fellow's eligibility, the accuracy of the USDA
Fellow's travel request, and the relevance of the travel to the USDA
Fellow's advanced degree objectives; and (i) the criteria that will be
used to evaluate success of the Fellowship and/or IRTA. In addition, a
copy of an updated CSREES Form 2010 -- Fellowship Appointment Form for
any current USDA Fellow participating in the proposed Fellowships and/or
IRTA opportunity should be placed immediately after the narrative text

[USDA Fellows who are to participate in the Special International Study
or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA]{.underline}) -
Should the proposed IRTA be for to-be-recruited Fellows, the Project
Director should provide: (a) anticipated objectives relating how the
IRTA will contribute to the program of study; (b) the specifics outlined
in [Part IV, B.6, Section 1]{.underline} the identity of the eligible
USDA Fellows should be provided at least 150 days prior to travel. USDA
Fellows selected to utilize IRTA funding should note that specific
program evaluation and dissemination will include the following -- the
plans for: (1) an *Outcomes Report* to be submitted to the USDA that
describes accomplishments of the Fellow(s) after completing the IRTA -
*this is [not]{.underline} an activity report with a daily log of
tasks;* [and]{.underline} (2) disseminating impacts and achievements to
a wide audience of educators and policy makers, in order to expand the
pipeline of outstanding students interested in careers in the food and
agricultural sciences.

[Section 2]{.underline}

Describe in detail the on-going and future planned activities for: (1)
recruitment and selection of Fellows; (2) academic advising, research
training, career counseling, mentoring, pipelining to further graduate
training or the workforce and student support services for Fellows; (3)
where applicable, establish plans for advance preparations for
experiential research and other learning activities so that there is
likelihood that the activities will occur; (4) measuring performance
outcomes; and (5) program evaluation and dissemination of impacts and
results of the graduate training program management and student
achievement to the funding agency and interested parties including the
general citizenry. Include:

-   Plans for the recruitment of outstanding Fellows, especially from
    traditionally underrepresented groups, including a brief
    justification for centering recruitment efforts on any particular
    group(s) and specific colleges and universities targeted for
    recruitment efforts with [institutional letters of
    support]{.underline}, and the rationale for using proposed
    strategies and procedures;

-   Strategies and procedures for recruiting and selecting students to
    participate in the Fellowship program, including selection criteria
    for choosing Fellows who are outstanding and [deemed likely to
    pursue degrees in national targeted expertise shortage
    areas]{.underline}; identify the core competencies that each Fellow
    will be expected to attain; and describe plans designed to prepare
    Fellows for careers as food and agricultural scientists or
    professionals;

-   Plans and procedures for assessing, monitoring, guiding, and
    sustaining Fellows' continued commitment and progress toward
    securing an education in preparation for a career that meets the
    need of national targeted expertise shortage areas in the food and
    agricultural sciences, including the nature of career counseling to
    be provided to Fellows;

-   Plans for achieving a completion rate of greater than the
    institutional average for the specific graduate program of study.
    Completion rate is computed as number of Fellows graduated divided
    by number of Fellows recruited, expressed as a percentage;

-   A description of the institution\'s mentoring and other support
    services and how they promote multicultural and/or first-generation
    college graduate student retention through graduation and pipelining
    to further graduate training or the workforce;

-   Plans for ongoing evaluating of the graduate training project
    management and effectiveness, measuring program outcomes and
    impacts, pipelining, and tracking Fellows\' accomplishments after
    graduation. The applicant should project a goal for tracking (e.g.
    expressed as a less than 10 percent \"unable-to-contact\" rate
    during the 36-month post-graduation follow-up phase). As an example,
    the Unable-to-Track Rate is computed as the number of
    "unable-to-contact" graduated USDA Fellows divided by the number of
    graduated Fellows, expressed as a percentage. An escalating
    unable-to-contact rate is of considerable concern. This project
    evaluation plan should include the process that will be used to
    evaluate the project management for successful outcomes. Include a
    discussion of how evaluation findings would be used to modify and
    improve future opportunities for Fellows; and

-   Plans for outcomes reporting, including experiential learning
    activities, of fellowship recipients; and disseminating project
    outcomes, impacts and achievements to funding agency, a wide
    audience of educators and policy makers.

[Section 3]{.underline}

Substantiate clearly, with supporting documentation, that: (1) the
facilities and equipment, instructional and research support resources
and other attributes (e.g., professional ranking of department, other
funding sources, CSREES program evaluation) are excellent for providing
outstanding teaching and research at the forefront of science and
technology related to the chosen discipline for the TESA(s); (2)
fellowship recipients will be provided with curricula and experiential
learning opportunities, including travel activities, that are germane to
their course of study to prepare graduates to meet the national need;
and (3) the institution is committed to supporting the Fellows'
education and research over and beyond the funds provided by USDA. Such
support beyond the USDA funding should be documented with signed letters
of support.

[Section 4]{.underline}

Identify any innovative, special features of the proposed project that
will be available **[especially]{.underline}** to USDA Fellows, or
required as a part of their degree programs. Such features may include:
(1) an interdisciplinary, multi-disciplinary, or cross-disciplinary
approach coupling research training with innovative training in ethics,
leadership, management and policy; (2) a multi-university collaborative
approach; (3) an emphasis on a collateral specialization or minor in a
related discipline; (4) graduate research opportunities, internships,
practicum, experiential learning opportunities, international
research/educational experiences, and related work experiences;

\(5\) graduate training using holistic concepts and analytical tools
from a variety of disciplines to address sciences (environmental, social
and economics) for sustainability to develop intellectual capital and
create knowledgeable leaders and managers of food and agricultural
sciences; (6) pipelining into other graduate or professional training
and/or the workforce;

\(7\) leadership and management experiences for the Fellows that enhance
the skills of the emerging professional to contribute to areas of
national targeted expertise shortage in the food and agricultural
sciences; (8) acquisition of skills to analyze issues, propose
solutions, assess values and conflicts arising from issues and solutions
in a diverse and global workforce; (9) plans and procedures to measure
and report performance outcomes and impacts; and (10) opportunities for
realignment of fellowship program to achieve successful project
outcomes.

[References]{.underline}

All references to works cited should be complete, including titles and
all co-authors, and should conform to an acceptable journal format.
References are not considered in the page-limitation for the Project
Narrative. **[The References must be submitted as a .PDF
attachment.]{.underline}**

Key Personnel

**[The biographical sketch for Key Personnel must be submitted as a .PDF
attachment]{.underline}**. Each vita may not exceed two (2) pages. The
following should be included, as applicable:

(a) The roles and responsibilities of each PD and/or collaborator should
    be clearly described;

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(a) Vitae of the PD and each co-PD, senior associate, and other
    professional personnel. This section should include vitae of all key
    persons who are expected to work on the project, whether or not
    CSREES funds are sought for their support. The vitae should be
    limited to two (2) pages each in length, excluding publications
    listings. The vitae must include a presentation of academic and
    research credentials, as applicable; e.g., earned degrees, teaching
    experience, employment history, **number of graduate students
    successfully mentored,** professional activities, honors and awards,
    and grants received. A chronological list of **[all]{.underline}**
    graduate students trained (with role identified as chair or
    committee member) during the past **[four (4) years]{.underline}**,
    **[all]{.underline}** publications in **[refereed
    journals]{.underline}** during the past **[four (4)
    years,]{.underline}** including those in press, must be provided for
    each project member for whom curriculum vitae is provided. Also list
    only those **[non-refereed]{.underline}** technical publications
    that have **[relevance]{.underline}** to the proposed project. All
    authors should be listed in the same order as they appear on each
    paper cited, along with the title and complete reference as these
    usually appear in journals; and

(b) Credentials of international or other personnel participating as
    mentors, trainers, advisors, teachers in directing the international
    travel experience or other training of the USDA Fellow, providing
    evidence for a scholarly experience that will enhance the graduate
    training. For to-be-recruited Fellows, this information should be
    submitted at least 150 days prior to the Fellows' participation in
    the IRTA.

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1.  **[Budget]{.underline}**

Use the R&R Budget Form for the NNF/IRTA program. Prepare a budget for
each year of requested support. In addition, a cumulative budget is
required detailing the requested total support for the overall project
period. Applicants are encouraged to provide a five-year budget with a
zero dollar budget for any year where support is not allocated. No
extensions beyond the five-year period are allowed.

On the R&R Budget Form Field E, the stipend is placed on Line 2, and the
cost-of-education allowance should appear on the line designated
"Other." The IRTA, if applicable, also appears in Field E on Line 3 of
the R&R Budget Form.

A budget narrative is required. All costs should be fully explained and
justified. **[The Budget Narrative must be submitted as a .PDF
attachment.]{.underline}**

[Matching]{.underline}

There are no matching requirements and matching resources will not be
factored into the review process as evaluation criteria.

[Indirect Costs]{.underline}

Indirect costs are unallowable. In lieu of indirect costs, institutions
receive a \$1,500 per year cost-of-education (CoE) allowance for each
Fellow supported by a Master's or Doctoral award. *The Project Director
is required to use part of the CoE to attend at least one
CSREES-sponsored Project Directors' Conference, held during the life of
the grant.* In addition, institutions may use the cost-of-education
allowance to defray program-related expenses including, but not limited
to, student retention and mentoring programs, Fellow travel to attend
professional meetings and/or to conduct research, laboratory fees and
educational expenses (e.g., books and supplies). An institution may
elect to apply the cost-of-education institutional allowance to a
Fellow's tuition and fees; however, such is not required.

2.  **[CSREES Supplemental Information Form]{.underline}**

    a.  Program Code (Field 2. on the Form). Enter the **Program Code
        name** as **National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program** and
        the **Program Code** as **KK**.

    b.  Conflict of Interest List (Field 4. on the Form).

> Conflicts of Interest for Key Personnel must be submitted. Provide the
> full names of the individuals in the following categories: (a) all
> co-authors on publications within the past four years, including
> pending publications and submissions; (b) all collaborators on
> projects within the past four years, including current and planned
> collaborations; (c) all thesis or postdoctoral advisees/advisors
> within the past four years; and (d) all persons in your field with
> whom you have had a consulting or financial arrangement within the
> past four years, who stand to gain by seeing the project funded. This
> form is necessary to assist program staff in excluding from
> application review those individuals who have conflicts of interest
> with the personnel in the grant application. The program contact must
> be informed of any additional conflicts of interest that arise after
> the application is submitted.

2.  **Submission Dates and Times**[]{#IVC .anchor}

**Instructions for submitting an application are included in Part IV,
Section 1.9 of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide.**

Applications must be received by close of business (COB) on **[June 8,
2007]{.underline}** (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) through the **grants.gov**
**portal**. Applications received after this deadline will normally not
be considered for funding.

The receipt of all applications will be acknowledged by e-mail.
Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide accurate e-mail
addresses, where designated, on the SF-424 R&R Application for Federal
Assistance.

If the AR has not received a confirmation message from CSREES within 30
days of submission of the application, please contact the Program
Contact identified in Part VII of the applicable RFA and request the
proposal number assigned to the application. **Failure to do so may
result in (for competitive programs) the application not being
considered for funding by the peer review panel or (for non-competitive
programs) a delay in the issuance of an award.  Once the application has
been assigned a proposal number, this number should be cited on all
future correspondence.**

3.  **Funding Restrictions**[]{#IVD .anchor}

[]{.mark}

NNF stipend funds for fellowship must be used to: (1) support the same
Fellow at the Master's degree level who maintains satisfactory progress
is eligible to receive grant support for a maximum of **twenty-four (24)
months** during a thirty-month period, and/or (2) support the same
Fellow at the doctoral degree level who maintains satisfactory progress
is eligible to receive grant support for a maximum of **thirty-six (36)
months** within a forty-two-month period. Institutions must use a
minimum stipend of \$18,000 per year for Master's Fellows and \$24,000
per year for Doctoral Fellows.

If funds remain as a result of USDA Fellows completing their studies
early (less than twenty-four months for a Master's degree or less than
thirty-six months for a doctoral degree) or Fellowships being terminated
prematurely, such funds may be used, within the time remaining on the
award, to support: (1) pursuit of a doctoral degree in a TESA in the
food and agricultural sciences by a Master's degree level Fellow at the
grantee institution, or (2) a Replacement Fellow. The tenure of such a
Replacement Fellow is limited to whatever time is remaining on the grant
before it expires; however, an institution may not appoint a Replacement
Fellow unless there is time for the student to complete at least one
semester/quarter of study before the expiration date of the grant.
Replacement Fellows must meet all of the eligibility criteria and other
requirements established for Fellow selection and are subject to the
same provisions as other Fellows during their tenure in the program.
Replacement Fellows are entitled, during their tenure, to the same
benefits that other Fellows receive from the grant award and National
Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants Program. Institutions
may, but are not required to, continue a replacement Fellow\'s tuition
and other benefits beyond the expiration date of the grant using
institutional or other funds. A Fellow may not be simultaneously
supported under multiple National Needs Graduate and Postdoctoral
Fellowship Grants Program awards.

Remaining funds cannot be used to increase annual Fellowship stipends
provided to existing Fellows. If less than one semester/quarter remains
on the award, the grantee must refund unexpended monies to CSREES.

Should a USDA Fellow require additional time beyond the grant period to
complete his or her degree, it is expected that the grantee will
consider alternatives to continue supporting the Fellow through other
means.

It is the intent of this program that USDA Fellows pursue full-time
uninterrupted study. However, USDA Fellows are permitted, at the
discretion of their institutions, to accept additional supplemental
employment that would positively contribute to their training (e.g.,
research or teaching assistantships), if tuition waivers are included as
compensation.

4.  **Other Submission Requirements**[]{#IVE .anchor}

The applicant should follow the submission requirements noted in the
document entitled "A Guide for Preparation and Submission of CSREES
Applications via Grants.gov."

**PART V---APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS**[]{#V .anchor}

A.  **General**[]{#VA .anchor}

Each application will be evaluated in a two-part process. First, each
application will be screened to ensure that it meets the administrative
requirements as set forth in this RFA. Second, applications that meet
these requirements will be technically evaluated by a review panel.

Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in
relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account
the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific,
technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well
as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research,
education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers
experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific,
education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers
other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and
consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted
audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers
experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges,
universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and
non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to
maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and
female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the
need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to
producers and the general public of each application.

B.  **Evaluation Criteria**[]{#VB .anchor}

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1.  ::: Definition-Term
    ***Applications for Graduate Training***
    :::

The evaluation criteria below will be used in reviewing all applications
submitted in response to this RFA, **except** those [only]{.underline}
requesting funds for IRTA grants for current USDA Fellows:

a.  **Potential for Advancing the Quality of Education (30 Points)**

This criterion is used to assess the likelihood that the proposed
program of graduate study (training) will result in the development of
outstanding graduates to meet the future needs of a globally
interconnected, technologically advanced, rapidly diversifying and
consumer driven food and agricultural industry. Elements include:
quality of the chosen academic program to prepare experts in the
national targeted expertise shortage area, current and future demand for
graduates in chosen discipline(s), strength of the curriculum,
instructional approaches, identification of the core competencies that
each Fellow will be expected to attain, strategies for developing
critical thinking and problem solving skills and prior success in or
potential for graduating Fellows.

b.  **Proposed Approach (25 Points)**

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i)  **Recruitment and selection:** The applicant\'s strategies and
    procedures for identifying and recruiting outstanding students who
    are committed to careers in food and agricultural sciences and for
    pipelining into further graduate training or professions to increase
    the multicultural diversity of the workforce.

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i)  **Academic advising, career counseling, mentoring, and student
    support services:** The applicant\'s plans and procedures for
    assessing, monitoring, guiding, and sustaining a Fellow's continued
    commitment, and securing progress toward an education in preparation
    for a career in the food and agricultural sciences, and for
    providing appropriate career counseling, mentoring, support
    services, and pipelining Fellows to further professional
    opportunities.

ii) **Program evaluation and dissemination:** The adequacy and
    reasonableness of the applicant\'s plans, as reflected in the
    proposal, for (1) evaluating project management; (2) determining
    overall effectiveness of the **graduate training** in Areas of
    National Targeted Expertise Shortage to prepare Fellows for careers
    as food and agricultural scientists or professionals; (3) tracking
    Fellows' accomplishments after graduation, (3) performance outcomes
    measurement, and (4) disseminating project outcomes and achievements
    to a wide audience of educators and policy makers, in order to
    expand the pipeline of outstanding students interested in careers in
    food and agricultural sciences into future training or workforce
    opportunities.

    a.  **Institutional Commitment and Resources (20 Points)**

::: Definition-Term
> The degree to which the proposal substantiates clearly: (1) that the
> facilities and equipment, instructional support resources and other
> academic attributes are excellent for providing outstanding teaching
> and research at the forefront of science and technology related to the
> chosen discipline; and (2) the commitment to support the Fellows
> education and research over and beyond the funds provided by USDA.
:::

b.  **Key Personnel (15 Points)**

> The qualifications and roles of key staff assigned to the project,
> particularly the project director and faculty or staff having the most
> frequent or influential contacts with Fellows. Elements include such
> attributes as competence and/or experience in graduating
> post-baccalaureate students, research, teaching, community service,
> working with diverse cultural groups, students at risk of not
> completing their degree programs, and leading similar projects.

c.  **Innovation (10 points)**

> The degree to which the proposal describes (see **[Part IV, B. b,
> Section 4]{.underline}**) any innovative, special features of the
> academic program(s) that will be available *especially* to Fellows or
> required as a part of their degree program(s), including: an
> interdisciplinary, multi-disciplinary, or cross-disciplinary approach;
> a focus on innovative, multi-disciplinary education programs,
> material, or curricula; a multi-university collaborative approach; an
> emphasis on a collateral specialization or minor in a related
> discipline; research opportunities, internships, practicum,
> experiential learning opportunities, developing leadership,
> management, critical thinking and problem solving skills that may
> integrally incorporate science and values for sustainability in food
> and agricultural sciences, international research/educational
> training, and related work experiences to effectively matriculate
> Fellows who meet the needs of the targeted expertise shortage areas.

2.  ***Applications for Special International Study or
    Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA)***

The following criteria will be used **to review applications requesting
only IRTA for current USDA Fellows. For FY 2007 applications that
propose funding for IRTA experiences in future years, the following
criteria will be used to evaluate the merit of the IRTA activity.**

a.  **Potential for Advancing the Quality of Education (30 Points)**

> This criterion is used to assess the likelihood that the proposed
> international/research learning experience for the eligible graduate
> Fellow(s) will contribute to training and will result in the
> development of outstanding graduates to meet the future needs of a
> globally interconnected, technologically advanced, rapidly
> diversifying and consumer driven food and agricultural industry.
> Elements include: quality of the chosen travel/research activity to
> enhance the graduate training program of the Fellow; and destination
> and duration - the degree to which the destination and duration of the
> travel experience is appropriate for enhancing the USDA Fellow's
> academic program.

b.  **Proposed Approach (40 Points)**

    1.  **Advanced preparation --** the degree to which the proposed
        study or research activities are well-planned, including the
        likelihood that these activities will come to fruition and that
        the participation of identified personnel will materialize based
        on: (1) the clarity of the learning objectives; (2) the planned
        activity(ies); (3) established and documented evidence of
        availability of facilities and personnel at host institution;
        and (4) the completeness of arrangements for the travel and the
        stay.

    2.  **Academic advising, career counseling, mentoring, and student
        support services --** the applicant\'s plans and procedures for
        assessing, monitoring, guiding, and sustaining a Fellow's
        progress in the research/international experiential activities
        toward securing a positive impact on the academic program of the
        Fellow(s); strategies for application of critical thinking and
        problem solving skills in Fellows.

    3.  **Program evaluation and dissemination --** the plans for (1) an
        *Outcomes Report* to be submitted to the USDA that describes
        accomplishments of the Fellow(s) after completing the IRTA -
        ***this is [not]{.underline} an activity report with a daily log
        of tasks;*** [and]{.underline} (2) disseminating impacts and
        achievements to a wide audience of educators and policy makers,
        in order to expand the pipeline of outstanding students
        interested in careers in food and agricultural sciences.

c.  **Institutional Commitment and Resources (10 Points)**

The degree to which the proposal substantiates clearly: (1) that the
facilities and equipment, instructional/learning support resources and
other academic attributes are excellent for providing outstanding
international/research experiential learning opportunities at the
forefront of science and technology related to the academic program of
the Fellow(s); and (2) the documented commitment (**letters**) to
support the Fellow(s) in the educational value of the international
research experience.

d.  **Key Personnel (10 Points)**

The degree to which the personnel, both U.S. and international, involved
with the research and/or travel experience have the appropriate
credentials and experience to direct the USDA Fellow's international
experience, and the likelihood that their participation as mentors,
trainers, advisors, or teachers will contribute to the educational value
of the travel experiences.

e.  **Innovation (10 points)**

The degree to which the proposal describes any innovative, special
features of the international and/or research experiential activities
that will focus on: (1) innovative approaches to generating a new body
of knowledge that strengthens the academic program of the Fellow(s),
and; (2) an emphasis on learning and understanding global influences and
competitiveness in a fast-evolving sphere.

C.  **Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality**[]{#VC .anchor}

During the peer evaluation process, extreme care will be taken to
prevent any actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may impact
review or evaluation. For the purpose of determining conflicts of
interest, the academic and administrative autonomy of an institution
shall be determined by reference to the current Higher Education
Directory, published by Higher Education Publications, Inc., 6400
Arlington Boulevard, Suite 648, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. Phone:
(703) 532-2300. Web site:
[[http://www.hepinc.com]{.underline}](http://www.hepinc.com/).

Names of submitting institutions and individuals, as well as application
content and peer evaluations, will be kept confidential, except to those
involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In
addition, the identities of peer reviewers will remain confidential
throughout the entire review process. Therefore, the names of the
reviewers will not be released to applicants.

D.  **Organizational Management Information**[]{#VD .anchor}

Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be
submitted on a one time basis, with updates on an as needed basis, as
part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of a grant
identified under this RFA, if such information has not been provided
previously under this or another CSREES program. CSREES will provide
copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements as
part of the preaward process. Although an applicant may be eligible
based on its status as one of these entities, there are factors which
may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and
nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment
or suspension of an individual involved or a determination that an
applicant is not responsible based on submitted organizational
management information).

**PART VI---AWARD ADMINISTRATION**[]{#VI .anchor}

A.  **General**[]{#VIA .anchor}

Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the awarding
official of CSREES shall make grants to those responsible, eligible
applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the
procedures set forth in this RFA. The date specified by the awarding
official of CSREES as the effective date of the grant shall be no later
than September 30 of the Federal fiscal year in which the project is
approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, unless
otherwise permitted by law. It should be noted that the project need not
be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon thereafter as
practical so that project goals may be attained within the funded
project period. All funds granted by CSREES under this RFA shall be
expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are granted in
accordance with the approved application and budget, the regulations,
the terms and conditions of the award, the applicable Federal cost
principles, and the Department\'s assistance regulations (parts 3015 and
3019 of 7 CFR).

B.  **Award Notice**[]{#VIB .anchor}

The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information
including, at a minimum, the following:

1.  Legal name and address of performing organization or institution to
    whom the Administrator has issued an award under the terms of this
    request for applications;

2.  Title of project;

3.  Name(s) and institution(s) of PDs chosen to direct and control
    approved activities;

4.  Identifying award number assigned by the Department;

5.  Project period, specifying the amount of time the Department intends
    to support the project without requiring recompetition for funds;

6.  Total amount of Departmental financial assistance approved by the
    Administrator during the project period;

7.  Legal authority(ies) under which the award is issued;

8.  Appropriate Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number;

9.  Applicable award terms and conditions (see
    <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/awards/awardterms.html> to view
    CSREES award terms and conditions);

10. Approved budget plan for categorizing allocable project funds to
    accomplish the stated purpose of the award; and

11. Other information or provisions deemed necessary by CSREES to carry
    out its respective awarding activities or to accomplish the purpose
    of a particular award.

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C.  **Administrative and National Policy Requirements**[]{#VIC .anchor}

Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant applications
considered for review and to project grants awarded under this program.
These include, but are not limited to:

7 CFR Part 1, subpart A**---**USDA implementation of the Freedom of
Information Act.

7 CFR Part 3**---**USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129
regarding debt collection.

7 CFR Part 15, subpart A**---**USDA implementation of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

7 CFR Part 331 and 9 CFR Part 121**---**USDA implementation of the
Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002.

7 CFR Part 3015**---**USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations,
implementing OMB directives (i.e., OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-122, now
codified at 2 CFR Parts 220 and 230) and incorporating provisions of 31
U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement
Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-224), as well as general policy requirements
applicable to recipients of Departmental financial assistance.

7 CFR Part 3017**---**USDA implementation of Governmentwide Debarment
and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and 7 CFR Part 3021**---**Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug Free Workplace (Grants).

7 CFR Part 3018**---**USDA implementation of Restrictions on Lobbying.
Imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification
related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, grants,
cooperative agreements, and loans.

7 CFR Part 3019**---**USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-110, Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements With
Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit
Organizations.

7 CFR Part 3052**---**USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-133,
Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non profit Organizations.

7 CFR Part 3407**---**CSREES procedures to implement the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.

29 U.S.C. 794 (section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973) and 7 CFR Part
15b (USDA implementation of statute) **---**prohibiting discrimination
based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs.

35 U.S.C. 200 et seq. **---**Bayh Dole Act, controlling allocation of
rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and
domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally
assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR Part
401).

D.  **Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements**[]{#VID
    .anchor}

[]{.mark}

1.  **Documentation of Progress on Funded Projects**

Pursuant to 7 C.F.R Part 3402.23, Project Directors will be required to:

(a) Project Directors are required to complete and submit a
    Fellowships/Scholarships Entry Form, Form CSREES-2010, and an Annual
    Progress Report for each Fellow supported. This information must
    also be provided for replacement Fellows appointed under the
    program. Annual Progress Reports are used to assess the continuing
    progress of Fellows through their graduate programs of study and
    institutional adherence to program guidelines.

(b) Project Directors must also complete and submit a
    Fellowships/Scholarships Exit Form, Annual Performance and Exit
    Reports Form CSREES-2010, as soon as a Fellow either (1)
    graduates; (2) is officially terminated from the Fellowship or the
    academic program due to unsatisfactory academic progress or
    disciplinary action; or (3) voluntarily withdraws from the
    Fellowship or academic program. If a Fellow has not completed all
    degree requirements at the end of the five-year award duration,
    CSREES may request a preliminary Fellowships/Scholarships Exit Form
    (Annual Performance and Exit Reports Form CSREES-2010 found at
    <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/pdfs/natl_needs.pdf>). In such a
    case, a final Fellowships/Scholarships Exit Form would be required
    at a later date. When CSREES has accepted a final
    Fellowships/Scholarships Exit Form for each Fellow supported by a
    grant, the grantee has satisfied the requirement of a final
    performance report for the grant. Additional follow-up reports to
    track Fellows' career patterns also may be requested.

Grantees are also required to submit annual and summary evaluation
reports via the CSREES Current Research Information System (CRIS). CRIS
is an electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both
grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information
on Federally funded projects. This information should include
performance metrics. For additional information on the contents of CRIS
reports see Part VII for agency contact details.

2.  **IRTA Outcomes Report**

An Outcomes Report must be submitted to the USDA program contact
personnel within 90 days of completion of the IRTA. This report is
prepared by the USDA Fellow and submitted through the Project Director
of the active Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and
Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant Program award. ***This is
[not]{.underline} an activity report with a daily log of tasks.*** The
Outcomes Report describes accomplishments and may include images.

3.  **Impacts**

An impact assessment should be included in the Annual Performance and
Exit Reports (CSREES Form 2010) that includes a summary of the overall
progress toward project objectives, current problems or unusual
developments, the next year\'s activities, and any other information
that is pertinent to the ongoing project/concluding project or which may
be specified in the terms and conditions of the award.

4.  **Evaluation of Program**

::: Definition-Term
Grantees should be aware that CSREES may, as a part of its own program
evaluation activities, carry out in-depth evaluations of assisted
activities through independent third parties. Thus, grantees should be
prepared to cooperate with evaluators retained by CSREES to analyze both
the institutional context and the impact of any supported project.
:::

**PART VII---AGENCY CONTACT**[]{#VII .anchor}

Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact: Dr.
Audrey A. Trotman; National Program Leader, Higher Education Graduate
Fellowships, Science and Education Resources Development Unit;
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture; Stop 2251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW;
Washington, DC 20250-2251; telephone: 202-720-1973; fax: 202-720-2030;
e-mail: NNF@CSREES.USDA.GOV.

**PART VIII---OTHER INFORMATION**[]{#VIII .anchor}

A.  **Access to Review Information**[]{#VIIIA .anchor}

Copies of reviews, not including the identity of reviewers, and a
summary of the panel comments will be sent to the applicant PD after the
review process has been completed.

B.  **Use of Funds; Changes**[]{#VIIIB .anchor}

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1.  **[Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility]{.underline}**

Unless the terms and conditions of the award state otherwise, the
awardee may not in whole or in part delegate or transfer to another
person, institution, or organization the responsibility for use or
expenditure of award funds.

2.  **[Changes in Project Plans]{.underline}**

    a.  The permissible changes by the awardee, PD(s), or other key
        project personnel in the approved project shall be limited to
        changes in methodology, techniques, or other similar aspects of
        the project to expedite achievement of the project\'s approved
        goals. If the awardee or the PD(s) is uncertain as to whether a
        change complies with this provision, the question must be
        referred to the Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) for a
        final determination. The ADO is the signatory of the award
        document, not the program contact.

    b.  Changes in approved goals or objectives shall be requested by
        the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to
        effecting such changes. In no event shall requests for such
        changes be approved which are outside the scope of the original
        approved project.

    c.  Changes in approved project leadership or the replacement or
        reassignment of other key project personnel shall be requested
        by the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to
        effecting such changes.

    d.  Transfers of actual performance of the substantive programmatic
        work in whole or in part and provisions for payment of funds,
        whether or not Federal funds are involved, shall be requested by
        the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to
        effecting such transfers, unless prescribed otherwise in the
        terms and conditions of the award.

    e.  The project period may be extended by CSREES without additional
        financial support, for such additional period(s) as the ADO
        determines may be necessary to complete or fulfill the purposes
        of an approved project, but in no case shall the total project
        period exceed five years. Any extension of time shall be
        conditioned upon prior request by the awardee and approval in
        writing by the ADO, unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and
        conditions of award.

    f.  Changes in Approved Budget: Unless stated otherwise in the terms
        and conditions of award, changes in an approved budget must be
        requested by the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO
        prior to instituting such changes if the revision will involve
        transfers or expenditures of amounts requiring prior approval as
        set forth in the applicable Federal cost principles,
        Departmental regulations, or award.

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C.  **Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards**[]{#VIIIC
    .anchor}

When an application results in an award, it becomes a part of the record
of CSREES transactions, available to the public upon specific request.
Information that the Secretary determines to be of a confidential,
privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the
extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant
wishes to have considered as confidential, privileged, or proprietary
should be clearly marked within the application. The original copy of an
application that does not result in an award will be retained by the
Agency for a period of three years. Other copies will be destroyed. Such
an application will be released only with the consent of the applicant
or to the extent required by law. An application may be withdrawn at any
time prior to the final action thereon.

D.  **Regulatory Information**[]{#VIIID .anchor}

For the reasons set forth in the final Rule related Notice to 7 CFR part
3015, subpart V (48 FR 29114, June 24, 1983), this program is excluded
from the scope of the Executive Order 12372 which requires
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. Under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter
35), the collection of information requirements contained in this Notice
have been approved under OMB Document No. 0524-0039.

E.  **Definitions**[]{#VIIIE .anchor}

For the purpose of this program, the following definitions are
applicable:

[]{.mark}

*Administrator* means the Administrator of CSREES and any other officer
or employee of the Department of Agriculture to whom the authority
involved is delegated.

*Authorized departmental officer (ADO)* means the Secretary or any
employee of the Department who has the authority to issue or modify
grant instruments on behalf of the Secretary.

*Authorized organizational representative (AOR)* means the president, or
chief executive officer or other designated official of the applicant
organization who has the authority to commit the resources of the
organization.

*Citizen* or *national of the United States* means (1) A citizen or
native resident of a State, the District of Columbia, or any Insular
Area; or, (2) a person defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8
U.S.C. 1101(a)(22), who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes
permanent allegiance to the United States.

*College* or *university* means an educational institution in any State
which (1) admits as regular students only persons having a certificate
of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the
recognized equivalent of such a certificate, (2) is legally authorized
within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary
education, (3) provides an educational program for which a bachelor\'s
degree is awarded, (4) is a public or other nonprofit institution, and
(5) is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or
association.

*Department* or *USDA* means the United States Department of
Agriculture.

*First generation* means an individual neither of whose parents
completed a baccalaureate degree, or in the case of any individual who
regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an
individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate
degree.

*Food and agricultural sciences* means basic, applied, and developmental
research, extension, and teaching activities in food and fiber,
agricultural, renewable natural resources, forestry, and physical and
social sciences in the broadest sense of these terms, including but not
limited to, activities concerned with the production, processing,
marketing, distribution, conservation, consumption, research, and
development of food and agriculturally related products and services,
and inclusive of programs in agriculture, natural resources,
aquaculture, forestry, veterinary medicine, family and consumer
sciences, rural economic, community, or business development, and
closely allied disciplines.

*Graduate degree* means a Master's or doctoral degree.

*Grantee* means the institution designated in the grant award document
as the responsible legal entity to which a grant is awarded.

*Insular Area* means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic
of Palau, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.

*Land-grant colleges and universities* means those institutions eligible
to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503-505, as
amended; 7 U.S.C. 301-305, 307 and 308), including the land grant
institutions in the Insular Areas or the Act of August 30, 1890 (26
Stat. 417-419, as amended 7 U.S.C. 321-326 and 328), including Tuskegee
University, West Virginia State University, and 1994 Land Grant
Institutions per the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of
1994.

*Matching or Cost-sharing* means that portion of project costs not borne
by the Federal Government, including the value of third party in-kind or
cash contributions.

*Minority* means Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Black
(African‑American), Hispanic American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific
Islander, or any other group underrepresented in undergraduate and first
professional degree study in the food and agricultural sciences as
indicated in standard statistical references, or as documented on a
case-by-case basis by national survey data submitted to and accepted by
the Secretary.

*Multi-institutional* means a request for funding for a single academic
program or an interdisciplinary program involving two or more
institutions in a graduate training program.

*Peer review* is an evaluation of a proposed project for scientific,
technical, or teaching quality and relevance performed by experts with
the knowledge and skills to conduct the proposed work or to give expert
advice on the merits of a proposal.

*Prior approval* means written approval evidencing prior consent by an
authorized departmental officer as defined in this section.

*Project* means the particular activity within the scope of one or more
of the targeted need areas identified in the annual program solicitation
supported by a grant awarded under this program.

*Project director* means the single individual, designated by the
grantee in the grant application and approved by the Secretary, who is
responsible for the management and technical direction of the project.

*Project period* means the period during which Federal sponsorship
begins and ends, as stated in the award document and any modifications
thereto.

*Secretary* means the Secretary of Agriculture and any other officer or
employee of the Department to whom the authority involved may be
delegated.

*State* means any one of the fifty States, any Insular Area as defined
in this announcement, and the District of Columbia.

*Traditionally underrepresented in the food and agricultural sciences*
means groups that have been historically, and are currently,
underrepresented among recipients of undergraduate and first
professional degrees in the food and agricultural sciences.

*Teaching* means formal classroom instruction, laboratory instruction,
and practicum experience in the food and agricultural sciences and
matters related thereto (such as faculty development, student
recruitment and services, curriculum development, instructional
materials and equipment, and innovative teaching methodologies)
conducted by colleges and universities offering associate,
baccalaureate, or higher degrees.

*Underrepresented* means proportionate representation as measured by
degree recipients that is less than the proportionate representation in
the general population\--(i) As indicated by (A) The most current
edition of the Department of Education\'s [Digest of Education
Statistics]{.underline}; (B) The National Research Council\'s [Doctorate
Recipients from]{.underline} [United States Universities]{.underline};
or (C) Other standard statistical references, as documented by national
survey data submitted to and accepted by the Secretary on a case-by-case
basis.

F.  **CSREES' Grants.gov Implementation Plans**[]{#VIIIF .anchor}

CSREES is continuing to develop its capacity to exchange proposal and
grant data electronically with its grantees through
[Grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/) and to process, review, and award
proposals and grants electronically.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, CSREES offered an electronic application
option for select grant programs and partnered with five institutions to
use Grants.gov Apply.  CSREES utilized the SF-424 R&R (Research and
Related) forms package (see 70 FR 9656, published in the Federal
Register on February 28, 2005) along with CSREES Agency-specific forms
and instructions to receive the electronic applications. These pilot
activities were successful and provided lessons for applicants and
CSREES.

As a result, for the FY 2007 (October 1, 2006-September 30, 2007) cycle,
CSREES is requiring electronic submission through Grants.gov. Please
visit <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/fy07changes.html> for
information about FY 2007 submission requirements by program. For more
information about CSREES' Grants.gov plans, including important
announcements, program implementation, and detailed requirements, see
the CSREES' web site,
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/other_links/egov/egov.html>. The
information on these web sites will be updated as appropriate.  It is
suggested that the sites be visited periodically for important updates.

G.  **DUNS Number**[]{#VIIIG .anchor}

A Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number
is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for
identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide. A
Federal Register notice of final policy issuance (68 FR 38402) requires
a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for
a grant or cooperative agreement (except applications from individuals)
submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Therefore, project directors
should contact an AOR to obtain the DUNS number or have the AOR begin
the steps needed to obtain one.

For information about how to obtain a DUNS number go to
<http://www.grants.gov/RequestaDUNS>. Please note that the registration
may take up to 14 business days to complete.