**Pre-Peer Review**

**[Signatures and Dates Must Be Complete Prior To Distributing this
Project Plan to Peer Reviewers]{.underline}**

**\[Lead Scientist, CRIS \# and Title\]**

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| This project plan was found to meet the peer review criteria, to be   |
| in compliance with the Project Plan Instructions and Format, and      |
| demonstrate how the research team will conduct research in a manner   |
| appropriate for this area of research. The funds committed toward     |
| this project are sufficient to support the planned research.          |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| Research Leader Date                                                  |
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| This project plan was prepared by a qualified research team and       |
| demonstrates the research team's best effort towards achieving the    |
| assigned research objectives.                                         |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| Center, Institute, or Lab Director Date                               |
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| This project plan is relevant to the Agricultural Research Service's  |
| National Program \_\_\_ Action Plan and was prepared in accordance    |
| with the outlined objectives, experimental approach, and project      |
| duration previously agreed to by the National Program Team and        |
| research team.                                                        |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| National Program Leader Date                                          |
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| This project plan was prepared by a qualified research team and       |
| demonstrates the research team's best effort towards achieving the    |
| assigned research objectives. All internal review and approval        |
| requirements have been met. To validate the plan's readiness for      |
| implementation and gain recommendations for improvement, the project  |
| plan is now available for peer review.                                |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| Area Director Date                                                    |
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These officials have not performed a scientific merit peer review. Their
statements do not necessarily require expertise in the specific subjects
associated with this research. The approval to implement this project
plan cannot be made without scientific peer review coordinated by the
Office of Scientific Quality Review, ARS, USDA.

Re-do this coversheet if the project plan requires a second peer review.

For labs that have a 3-tier organization structure (vs. the 4-tier
organization that is implied on the signature page), you may combine the
first and second signature block. If your lab uses a different title for
the Research Leader or Center Director, you may edit the title lines
accordingly.

**Post-Peer Review**

**[Signatures and Dates Must Be Complete Prior To Distributing this
Project Plan to Peer Reviewers]{.underline}**

**\[Lead Scientist, CRIS \# and Title\]**

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| This project plan was revised, as appropriate, according to the peer  |
| review recommendations and/or other insights developed while          |
| considering the peer review recommendations. A response to each peer  |
| review recommendation is attached. If recommendations were not        |
| adopted, a rationale is provided.                                     |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| Research Leader Date                                                  |
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| This final version of the project plan reflects the best efforts of   |
| the research team to consider the recommendations provided by peer    |
| reviewers. The responses to the peer review recommendations are       |
| satisfactory.                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| Center, Institute, or Lab Director Date                               |
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| This final version of the project plan reflects the best efforts of   |
| the research team to consider the recommendations provided by peer    |
| reviewers. The responses to the peer review recommendations are       |
| satisfactory.                                                         |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| National Program Leader Date                                          |
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| The attached plan for the project identified above was created by a   |
| team of credible researchers and internally reviewed and recognized   |
| by the team's management and National Program Leader to establish the |
| project's relevance and dedication to the Agricultural Research       |
| Service's mission and Congressional mandates. The project plan has    |
| completed a scientific merit peer review in accordance with the       |
| Research Title of the 1998 Farm Bill (PL105-185) and was deemed       |
| feasible for implementation. Reasonable consideration was given to    |
| each recommendation for improvement provided by the peer reviewers.   |
|                                                                       |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\                                               |
| _\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ |
| \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                            |
|                                                                       |
| **Area Director (original signature required)** Date                  |
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