**Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and
Ranchers Competitive Grants Program**

**FY 2009 Request for Applications**

**Request for Determination Deadline: October 16, 2008**

**Application Deadline: December 12, 2008**

![](media/image1.png) **U.S. Department of Agriculture**

![](media/image2.png){width="0.5104166666666666in" height="0.71875in"}

> **Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service**

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

** **

**OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND
RANCHERS COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM**

** **

**INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT**

** **

**CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE**:  This program is listed in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under number 10.443, Outreach
and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Competitive Grants Programs.

 

**DATES: ** Applications must be received by Grants.gov by close of
business (COB) on December 12, 2008 (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
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. Requests for Determination must be received by COB October
16, 2008 (see Part III, A., 2. for details).

** **

**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. Such comments will be used
to meet the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 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. Comments should be submitted as provided for
in the DATES portion of this RFA.

** **

Written stakeholder comments should be submitted by mail to:  Policy and
Oversight 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>. This e-mail address is intended only for
receiving comments regarding this RFA and not requesting information or
forms.  In your comments, please state that you are responding to the
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Competitive Grants Program RFA.

The Competitive Programs staff utilizes the input of diverse stakeholder
groups to develop program descriptions that will solicit the
highest-quality applications to meet the needs of U.S. agriculture,
food, forestry, the environment, and rural communities. Setting program
priorities is an important means of facilitating the scientific and
technological advances needed to meet the challenges facing U.S.
agriculture. Program priorities are developed using several criteria,
including 1) mission relevance; 2) scientific opportunity; 3) impact to
science and society; 4) linkages to other Federal programs; and 5)
stakeholder input. The CSREES stakeholder Web page can be viewed at
[www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder.html](http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder.html)[.]{.underline}

** **

**EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: ** CSREES requests applications for the Outreach
and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR). This program provides outreach and
technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to
participate equitably in agriculture programs. CSREES anticipates that
approximately \$14.3 million will be available in fiscal year (FY) 2009
to support this program.

 

This notice identifies the objectives for OASDFR projects, the
eligibility criteria for projects and applicants, and the application
forms and associated instructions needed to apply for an OASDFR grant.
CSREES additionally requests stakeholder input from any interested party
for use in the development of the next RFA for this program.

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE FY 2009 OASDFR PROGRAM SOLICITATION

**\*\*\*\*\* PLEASE READ \*\*\*\*\***

**Electronic Application Submission Required:**

In FY 2009, OASDFR will [only]{.underline} accept electronic application
submissions through Grants.gov. Be aware that additional time is
required to complete the electronic application process. Applications
must be submitted via [Grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/) by Close of
Business (COB), 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on December 12, 2008.
Applications received after the applicable deadline will normally not be
considered for funding. Information about submitting an application
using Grants.gov can be found in Part IV.

**Note the attachment requirements (e.g., portable document format) in
Part III section 3. of the Guide. [Any proposals containing non-PDF
documents will be AT RISK OF BEING EXCLUDED FROM csrees
REVIEW.]{.underline} Partial applications will be excluded from CSREES
review. With documented prior approval, resubmitted applications will be
accepted until close of business on the closing date in the RFA.**

If you do not own PDF-generating software, Grants.gov provides online
tools to assist applicants. Users will find a link to "Convert Documents
to PDF" on (<http://grants.gov/assets/PDFConversion.pdf>).

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Helpful Submission              | **Website Address**               |
| Information**                     |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Information pertaining to the     | > [www.csrees.usda.gov/           |
| transition to electronic          | funding/electronic](http://www.cs |
| submission can be found at the    | rees.usda.gov/funding/electronic) |
| CSREES website.                   |                                   |
|                                   | This page will be updated         |
|                                   | frequently and should be checked  |
|                                   | for program-specific help.        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Applications for this grant       | To access the electronic          |
| program should be submitted       | application via Grants.gov, go to |
| through the Grants.gov website.   | [www.gra                          |
|                                   | nts.gov](http://www.grants.gov/), |
|                                   | under the "Apply for Grants"      |
|                                   | heading on the left side of page  |
|                                   | and click on "Download a Grant    |
|                                   | Application Package." Enter the   |
|                                   | CFDA number 10.443 in the         |
|                                   | appropriate box to search by      |
|                                   | Catalog of Federal Domestic       |
|                                   | Assistance (CFDA) number.         |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **The CSREES GRANTS.GOV           | **Each applicant should use the   |
| Application Guide provides        | CSREES document titled, "A Guide  |
| guidance for completing the forms | for Preparation and Submission of |
| required by Grants.gov and        | CSREES Applications via           |
| CSREES. Used in conjunction with  | Grants.gov" also known as the     |
| this RFA for the HEC grants       | "CSREES Application Guide," that  |
| program, this guide will assist   | is part of this RFA package       |
| applicants with most              | located at Grants.gov. This       |
| field-specific questions.**       | document provides guidance for    |
|                                   | completing the required forms at  |
|                                   | Grants.gov.**                     |
|                                   |                                   |
|                                   | **Applicants should also          |
|                                   | reference the RFA for additional  |
|                                   | guidance not found in the         |
|                                   | application guide.**              |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

If you have any questions related to preparing an application for
electronic submission, contact:

> Email: <electronic@csrees.usda.gov>
>
> Phone: 202-401-5048, Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -- 5:00 pm ET.

If you have any questions related to Grants.gov, contact:

> Email: <support@grants.gov>
>
> Toll Free: 1-800-518-4726, Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -- 9:00 pm
> ET, excluding Federal holidays.

**Budget Restrictions Require Strict Adherence to Funding Limits:**

OASDFR has mandatory funding limits for all applications. **Applications
requesting budgets exceeding the funding limit for the program [will be
at risk of being excluded from csrees]{.underline} review.** Applicants
are strongly encouraged to read the entire RFA and contact Dr. Dionne
Toombs, National Program Leader, for additional information on the
program (see Part VII).

**Annual Project Directors Meeting:**

If a project is funded, the Project Director will be required to attend
an annual Project Directors meeting each year for the duration of the
award. Reasonable travel expenses should be included as part of the
project budget.

**Multiple Submissions:**

In FY 2009, the OASDFR Program encourages that applicants submit one
comprehensive application rather than multiple applications.

**Evaluation Criteria:**

Please review the evaluation criteria located in Part V, B, of the RFA.

**Electronic Subscription to OASDFR Announcements:**

If you would like to receive notifications of all new announcements
pertaining to the OASDRF RFA, you can register via Grants.gov at
<http://www.grants.gov/search/subscribeAdvanced.do>.

-   Enter the e-mail address at which you would like to receive the
    announcements

-   Enter "10.443" for CFDA Number

-   Select "Subscribe to Mailing List"

Other criteria may be selected; however, your e-mail address and the
CFDA number are the only data required to receive OASDFR announcements.
You do not need to be a registered user of Grants.gov to use this
service. You may modify your email subscriptions or unsubscribe at any
time.

**Farm Bill Changes:**

**Eligibility:**

Section 2501(e)(5)(A)(ii) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)(5)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking
''work with socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers during the 2-year
period'' and inserting ''work with, and on behalf of, socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers during the 3-year period''. This means
to be eligible and receive funding, an applicant will have to now meet
the criteria.

**Legislative Authority:**

The legislative authority for the program has changed. The outreach and
technical assistance provided "shall be used exclusively" to:

\(1\) enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and
education efforts authorized under agriculture programs; and

[]{.mark}

\(2\) to assist the Secretary in (i) reaching current and prospective
socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in a linguistically
appropriate manner; and (ii) improving the participation of those
farmers and ranchers in Department programs.

**Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements:**

Grantees are required to submit annual reports that document outputs
{significant activities (including dissemination activities), events,
services or products} that contribute toward achieving the goals and
objectives of the project.  The reports should also include
outcomes/impacts (a change in knowledge, actions or conditions) such
as participation in USDA programs, changes in participant household
income, local and regional impacts, coordination with USDA research and
other activities, changes in delinquencies and/or foreclosure rates
within the Farm Service Agency programs and other outcomes/impacts that
demonstrate improvement of socially disadvantaged producers\'
operations. See Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements (see
Part VI, D).

**Table of Contents**

**PART I**---**FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION**\
A. [Legislative Authority and Background 8](#Legislative)\
B. [Purpose and Priorities 8](#Legislative)

**PART II**---**AWARD INFORMATION**\
A. [Available Funding 10](#Legislative)\
B. [Types of Applications 10](#Legislative)\
C. [Project Types 10](#Legislative)\
\
**PART III**---**ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION**\
A. [Eligible Applicants 12](#a.-eligible-applicants)\
B. [Cost Sharing or Matching 13](#Legislative)

**PART IV**---**APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION**\
A. [Electronic Application Package
14](#a.-electronic-submission-requirements)\
B. [Content and Form of Application Submission 15](#content)\
C. [Submission Dates and Times 20](#Legislative)\
D. [Funding Restrictions 21](#Legislative)\
E. [Other Submission Requirements 21](#Legislative)

**PART V**---**APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS**\
A. [General 22](#general)\
B. [Evaluation Criteria 22](#evaluation)\
C. [Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality 23](#Legislative)

D. [Organizational Management Information 23](#Legislative)

**PART VI**---**AWARD ADMINISTRATION**\
A. [General 24](#Legislative)\
B. [Award Notice 24](#Legislative)\
C. [Administrative and National Policy Requirements 25](#Legislative)\
D. [Expected Program Outputs and Reporting Requirements 26](#expected)

**PART VII**---[AGENCY CONTACT 27](#agency)

**PART VIII**---**OTHER INFORMATION**\
A. [Access to Review Information 28](#Legislative)\
B. [Use of Funds; Changes 28](#Legislative)\
C. [Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards 29](#Legislative)\
D. [Regulatory Information 29](#Legislative)\
E. [Definitions 29](#Legislative)

**PART I---FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION**

** **

## A. Legislative Authority and Background

 

Section 14004 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (FCEA) (P.L. 110-246) amended Section 2501(a) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990,  Pub. L.
101-624, November 28, 1990, (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)) which authorizes the
Secretary to make grants to eligible institutions and organizations so
that they may provide outreach and technical assistance to encourage and
assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate
farms and ranches and to participate equitably in the full range of
agricultural programs offered by the Department.  

The authorization was amended to require that the outreach and technical
assistance being provided shall be used exclusively (1) to enhance
coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, and education
efforts authorized under agriculture programs; and (2) to assist the
Secretary in (i) reaching current and prospective socially disadvantaged
farmers or ranchers in a linguistically appropriate manner; and (ii)
improving the participation of those farmers and ranchers in Department
programs. While Section 14013 of FCEA requires that the Secretary
establish an Office of Advocacy and Outreach that includes a Socially
Disadvantaged Farmers Group which \"shall carry out section 2501(a)\" of
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, in fiscal
year 2009, the Secretary delegated this authority to CSREES while the
Office of Advocacy and Outreach is being established. 

 

OASDFR brings the existing knowledge base to bear on farm and ranch
management issues faced by socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
throughout the Nation.

 

## B. Purpose and Priorities

 

The primary purpose of OASDFR is to deliver outreach and technical
assistance to assure opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers
and ranchers to successfully acquire, own, operate, and retain farms and
ranches; and assure equitable participation in the full range of USDA
programs. OASDFR will support a wide range of outreach and assistance
activities in farm management, financial management, marketing,
application and bidding procedures, and other areas.

 

Applications must contain documentation of the socially disadvantaged
group that is being targeted for assistance (see Part VIII, E.,
definitions 33 and 34) and justification as to why the targeted group is
appropriate for assistance under this program. If a targeted group is
not defined as socially disadvantaged in Part VIII, E., then, a Request
for Determination must be submitted to CSREES for consideration (see
Part III, A2).

 

Proposed projects might include one or more of the following:  (1) the
use of existing and the formation of new, outreach and assistance
networks focused on increasing participation in various USDA and other
programs by socially disadvantaged agricultural producers; (2) further
development or modification of farm and ranch management (including
marketing) and financial management curricula and materials designed to
enhance the potential for farm and ranch ownership by socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; (3) the development of innovative
delivery systems that improve the effectiveness of these programs; and
(4) the development or improvement in the means by which assistance is
provided to the targeted audiences.

 

To assure equitable participation by socially disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers, OASDFR will give priority to projects that provide outreach
and assistance in applying for and receiving aid under USDA programs
administered by various agencies within the Department of Agriculture.
In general, these include, but are not limited to, loan programs,
guaranteed loan programs, allocations of crop base in each program crop,
and various conservation programs. Specifically, pertinent programs
include, but are not limited to, the following, identified by the
Federal Domestic Assistance title and number:  Emergency Conservation
Program (10.054); Direct and Counter Cyclical Payments Program (10.055);
Conservation Reserve Program (10.069); Emergency Loans (10.404); Farm
Ownership Loans (10.407); and Soil Survey (10.903). There may be other
Federal and State agricultural programs that also could assist members
of socially disadvantaged groups. Applicants should provide a brief,
relevant synopsis on the program(s) they are incorporating in their
proposed project.

 

 

 

 

 

#  PART II--- AWARD INFORMATION

 

## A. Available Funding

*** ***

CSREES anticipates that approximately \$14.3 million will be available
in FY 2009 to support this program. To the extent that funds are
available for this purpose, CSREES will award grants for applications
found to be meritorious by a peer review panel. The funding limit is set
at \$100,000 per year for a maximum project period of three years;
multi-year projects are given preference. There is no commitment by USDA
to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of
awards.

 

## B. Types of Applications

> ** **

In FY 2009, applications may be submitted to OASDFR as "New".

 

1\. **New application** **-** This is a project application that has not
been previously submitted to OASDFR. All new applications will be
reviewed competitively using the selection process and evaluation
criteria described in Part V---Application Review Requirements.

 

## C. Project Type

 

For FY 2009, OASDFR will support Standard projects (This is a grant
instrument by which CSREES agrees to support a specified level of effort
for a predetermined project period without the announced intention of
providing additional support at a future date). OASDFR projects should
provide technical assistance and outreach to socially disadvantaged
farmers and ranchers with the ultimate aim of increasing and retaining
ownership. Standard projects that incorporate multiple collaborators,
particularly community-based collaborators, are encouraged. It is
incumbent upon applicants (1) to adequately define and justify the needs
of targeted groups; and (2) to document the potential impact of their
project upon socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Proposed projects should, as appropriate, address needs as determined
by:  (1) producer audiences (for example, producer\'s ability to market
fresh produce, specialty crops, and dairy); (2) commodity mixes in the
area(s) of interest; (3) type of outreach and assistance needs
associated with available and appropriate USDA and other agricultural
programs; (4) production, marketing, financial, legal, and human
resource conditions in the area(s) being addressed; and/or (5) other
factors that hold great potential for assisting producers in gaining and
maintaining ownership of their farms and ranches, or enhance their
opportunities for ownership.

Applicants should provide information about the degree to which
partnerships and collaborations enhance: (1) the services to be
delivered; and (2) the areas and numbers of the targeted audience that
the applicant expects to assist. Applicants should explicitly discuss
outreach designed to inform the targeted audience of the assistance
available through a project, and the expected outcomes in terms of
increased ownership of farms and ranches. While applicants may develop a
needs assessment, applications that use existing needs assessments to
justify proposed projects are often more competitive than those that
include the development of an assessment as one of the project
objectives. Applicants can strengthen their submission by documenting
how certain methodologies or results can be transferred to another
geographical area.

 

Applicants are encouraged to coordinate with other existing regional
projects, as well as complement pertinent and relevant cross-regional
activities. Projects that build on existing information networks and
offer innovative or expanded activities are encouraged. Applicants are
encouraged to closely examine the evaluation criteria noted in Part V,
B. as the application is prepared.

 

In addition, applications should address or target one or more of the
specific items below:

 

1\. Meet a specialized OASDFR need that is local, State-specific,
regional, or national in scope, (e.g., national coordination of OASDFR
efforts) and that has common characteristics that can be addressed in a
single project. Projects that are local or State-specific need to
provide evidence that the need being addressed exists elsewhere and that
the methodologies and results may apply in these other areas; and

2\. Be willing to share findings with USDA and other interested entities
and organizations by providing information on methodologies, data,
analytical techniques, findings, etc.

 

#  PART III---ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

** **

## A. Eligible Applicants

 

1\. Applications may be submitted by:

 

\(a\) Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of
community-based organizations that:

 

> \(1\) Has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education
> or other agriculturally related services to socially disadvantaged
> farmers and ranchers during the two-year period preceding the
> submission of the application;

 

> \(2\) Has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with,
> [and on behalf of]{.underline} (i.e., advocacy group) socially
> disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the three-year period
> preceding the submission of an application for assistance under this
> program (documentary evidence shall include a narrative with specific
> information regarding: the scope of past projects; the number of
> socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers served or located in the
> area served by the organization; activities conducted; community
> involvement; and copies of prior agreements, press releases, news
> articles, and other contemporaneous documents supporting the
> narrative); and

 

> \(3\) Does not engage in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3)
> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Therefore, only non-profit
> organizations may apply.

 

\(b\) An 1890 institution, including Tuskegee University and West
Virginia State University (as defined in the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601))or 1994
institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note)).

 

\(c\) An Indian Tribal Community College or an Alaska Native Cooperative
College.

 

\(d\) A Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 1404 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).

 

\(e\) Any other institution of higher education (as defined in the
Higher Education Act of 1965\
(20 U.S.C. 1001)) that has demonstrated experience in providing
agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region.

 

\(f\) An Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or a
national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in
providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services
to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in a region.

 

\(g\) An organization or institution that received an award under this
program before\
January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary
considers similar to projects previously carried out by the organization
or institution under this program.

 

Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply
provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the
project; however, the subcontracted amount may not exceed one-third of
the total grant award.

 

2\. Request for determination

*** ***

If a potential applicant proposes to fund a program targeted to a
socially disadvantaged group not specifically identified in the
Definitions section of this RFA (see Part VIII, E., definition 33 and
34), the potential applicant must submit a request to CSREES by COB on
October 16, 2008 (5:00 p.m., Eastern Time). The request must contain
documentation to support the target group being considered socially
disadvantaged. The Secretary or designated individual will determine
whether the group identified is eligible under this Program. The Request
for Determination should be e-mailed to the Agency Contact identified in
Part VII. The subject of the email must read "REQUEST FOR
DETERMINATION."  In addition, the following information must be provided
in the order specified below:

 

\(a\) Description of racial or ethnic group submitted for determination;
and

 

\(b\) Data or studies supporting designation of racial, ethnic, or
socially disadvantaged group.

 

Each applicant in this category will be notified as to the outcome of
the determination. If the determination is positive, the applicant will
be invited to submit an application as outlined in this RFA.

 

## B. Cost Sharing or Matching

* *

CSREES does not require matching support for this program and matching
resources will not be factored into the review process as evaluation
criteria.

# PART IV---APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

** **

## A. Electronic Submission Requirements

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 Representative (AR)(also referred to as Authorized
Organizational Representative or AOR) to determine if the organization
is prepared to submit electronic applications through Grant.gov. If the
organization is not prepared, the AR 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>.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
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-ICGP-001825 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." 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: Monday through Friday 7:00 am -- 9:00 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

 

::: Definition-Term
Electronic applications should be prepared according to the document
entitled "CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for Preparation
and Submission of CSREES Applications via Grants.gov." This guide is
part of the corresponding electronic 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 any discrepancy
between the two documents exists, the information contained in this RFA
is overriding**.
:::

**Note the attachment requirements (e.g., portable document format) in
Part III section 3. of the Guide. [Any proposals containing non-PDF
documents will be AT RISK OF BEING EXCLUDED FROM csrees
REVIEW.]{.underline} Partial applications will be excluded from CSREES
review. With documented prior approval, resubmitted applications will be
accepted until close of business on the closing date in the RFA.**

**If you do not own PDF-generating software, Grants.gov provides online
tools to assist applicants. Users will find a link to "Convert Documents
to PDF" on <http://grants.gov/assets/PDFConversion.pdf>.**

**\*\*Double check page limits after converting the document to PDF
format.\*\***

#### **[SF-424 (R&R) Cover Sheet]{.underline} -- (Required Form)**

**Complete all applicable fields. The following, additional information
may be helpful:**

**Field 2. Applicant Identifier** -- This field is provided for the
Applicant's use if they have an internal tracking system they would like
to use in tracking applications they have submitted. This field is not
required.

**Field 3. Date received by State** and **State Application Identifier**
-- This is not applicable for OASDFR applications; these fields do not
need to be completed.

**Field 5. Applicant Information** -- This must be the legal name of the
eligible college or university/organization (See Part III. A, Eligible
Applicant). **Official correspondence will be directed to either the
Project Director (Field 15) or the Authorized Representative (Field
19).**

**Field 8. Type of Application** -- Only 'New' applications are
permitted.

**Field 13. Proposed Project Start Date** **and** **End Date** -- Please
select the start date of the project at least six months after the
submission due date for the program. Choose the end date to correspond
to the correct duration of the project.

**Field 20. Pre-application** -- Do not fill out this portion of the
form. OASDFR is not accepting pre-applications in FY 2009.

**[2. R&R Other Project Information (Required Form)]{.underline}**

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in
detail in Part V, 3. of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide. **Note:
If a 'Yes' response is provided for Fields 1, 2, or 4.a, the applicant
must provide the necessary assurances prior to an award being made.**

Field 6. Project Summary/Abstract -- **PDF Attachment**. The Project
Summary is limited to **250 words**. Title the attachment as 'Project
Summary' in the document header [and]{.underline} save file as 'Project
Summary'. A suggested template for the Project Summary/Abstract can be
found at:
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/templates/project_summary.doc>.

The Project Summary must indicate which specific FY 2009 Program
Priority(ies) the proposed project addresses. The importance of a
concise, informative Project Summary cannot be overemphasized.

Field 7. Project Narrative -- **PDF Attachment. 25-Page Limit.** Title
the attachment as 'Project Narrative' in the document header
[and]{.underline} save file as 'Project Narrative'.

**PLEASE NOTE: The Project Narrative section may not exceed a total of
25 single- or double-spaced pages, including figures and tables.** These
page limitations apply regardless of whether figures or tables are
included. All pages, including those with figures and tables, should be
numbered sequentially. Applications exceeding the applicable page
limitation will be at risk of being excluded from CSREES review. These
maximums have been established to ensure fair and equitable competition.

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

\(1\) *Introduction* -- Include a clear statement of the long-term
goal(s) and supporting objectives of the proposed project. Summarize the
body of knowledge or other past activities that substantiate the need
for the proposed project. Describe ongoing or recently completed
significant activities related to the proposed project including the
work of key project personnel. Include preliminary data/information
pertinent to the outreach and technical assistance program. Include
in-depth information on the following, when applicable:

\(a\) Estimates of the magnitude of the issues and their relevance to
stakeholders, including growers, processors, buyers, and consumers, as
well as ongoing State-Federal food and agricultural research. Indicate
the pay-off of this project to producers and to other stakeholders;

\(b\) Role of the stakeholders in problem identification, planning, and
implementation and evaluation, as appropriate; and

\(c\) Reasons for having the work performed at the proposing
institution.

\(2\) *Objectives* -- Clear, concise, complete, and logically arranged
statement(s) of specific aims of the proposed effort must be included in
all applications.

\(3\) *Methods* -- The procedures or methodology to be applied to the
proposed effort should be explicitly stated. This section should
include, but not necessarily be limited to:

\(a\) A description of stakeholder involvement in problem
identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation, including
documentation of participation or reference to documentation, where
appropriate;

\(b\) A description of the proposed project activities in the sequence
in which it is planned to carry them out;

\(c\) Techniques to be employed, including their feasibility and
rationale for their use in this project;

\(d\) Kinds of results expected;

\(e\) Means by which data will be analyzed or interpreted;

\(f\) Pitfalls that might be encountered;

\(g\) Limitations to proposed procedures; and

\(h\) Best practices and plans on dissemination of models.

\(4\) *Project Timetable* --  The application should outline all
important phases as a function of time, year by year, for the entire
project, including periods beyond the grant funding period.

\(5\) *Evaluation Component* -- Applications need to incorporate a
project evaluation component that will permit a qualitative and
quantitative assessment of expected project impacts. Identify parameters
for how success of the proposed project will be measured. Such
assessments need to relate to increases in participation rates in USDA
programs and in increasing the ownership of farming and ranching
operations by socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Field 9. Facilities & Other Resources -- **PDF Attachment. No Page
Limit.** Title the attachment as 'Facilities & Other Resources' in the
document header [and]{.underline} save the file as 'Facilities & Other
Resources'.

All facilities which are available for use or assignment to the project
during the requested period of support should be reported and described
briefly.

Field 10. Equipment **-- PDF Attachment.** **No Page Limit.** Title the
attachment as 'Equipment' in the document header [and]{.underline} save
file as 'Equipment'.

All items of major equipment or instrumentation available for use or
assignment to the proposed project should be itemized. In addition to
describing available equipment, items of nonexpendable equipment
necessary to conduct and successfully complete the proposed project
should be listed in Field C. of the R&R Budget and described in the
Budget Justification (Field K of the R&R Budget).

Field 11. Other Attachments*.*

-   **Appendices to Project Narrative** -- **PDF Attachment.** Title the
    attachment as 'Appendices' in the document header [and]{.underline}
    save file as 'Appendices'. 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
    limitations.

-   **Collaborative Arrangements -- PDF Attachment. No Page Limit.**
    Title the attachment as 'Collaborative Arrangements' in the document
    header and save file as 'Collaborative Arrangement'. If it is
    necessary to enter into formal consulting or collaborative
    arrangements with others, such arrangements should be fully
    explained and justified. If the consultant(s) or collaborator(s) are
    known at the time of the application, a vitae or resume should be
    provided. In addition, evidence (e.g., letter of support signed by
    the AR of the consultant/collaborating organization) should be
    provided indicating that the collaborators involved have agreed to
    render these services. The applicant also will be required to
    provide additional information on consultants and collaborators in
    the budget portion of the application.

```{=html}
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```
-   **Management Plan** -- **PDF Attachment. 3-Page Limit.** Title the
    attachment as 'Management Plan' [and]{.underline} save file as
    'Management Plan'. Clearly articulate the management plan for the
    project. Include a coordination strategy to enhance communication,
    data sharing, and reporting among members of the project team, as
    well as a time line for project implementation and delivery of
    project products.

-   **Results from Prior OASDFR Support** -- **PDF Attachment.** **1
    Page Limit per award.** Title the attachment as 'Results from Prior
    OASDFR Support' in the document header [and]{.underline} save file
    as 'Results from Prior OASDFR Support'.

> If the PD or a co-PD has received OASDFR support in the past 5 years,
> information on results from that prior funding is required. This
> information will be used in the review of the application. For renewal
> applications, provision of the Progress Report (see below) is
> sufficient and information need not be repeated in this section. For
> each award, list the CSREES award number, the amount and period of
> support, the title of the project, and a summary of the results of the
> completed work.

-   **Cooperation and Institutional Units Involved** **-- PDF
    Attachment. No Page Limit.** Title the attachment as 'Cooperation
    and Institutional Units Involved' and save file as 'Cooperative and
    Institutional Units Involved'. Cooperative, multi-institutional, and
    multi-disciplinary applications are encouraged. Identify each
    institutional unit contributing to the project and designate the
    lead institution or institutional unit. When appropriate, the
    project should be coordinated with the efforts of other State and/or
    national programs. Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of
    each institutional partner of the project team.

::: Definition-Term
**[3. R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded)]{.underline}**
:::

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in
detail in Part V, 4. of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide.

A Senior/Key Person Profile should be completed for the PD and each
co-PD, senior associate, and other professional personnel, including
collaborators playing an active role in the project. Collaborators only
providing services or materials should not be listed in the R&R
Senior/Key Person Profile. Evidence (letters of support) for this type
of collaboration should be provided in the Documentation of
Collaboration, see section B, 2. Field 11) of this part.

a\. Biographical Sketch -- **PDF Attachment. 2 Page Limit (excluding
publications listings) per PD, co-PD, senior associate, and other
professional personnel.** Title the attachment as 'Biographical Sketch'
in the document header [and]{.underline} save file as 'Biographical
Sketch'. A biographical sketch (vitae) of the PD and each co-PD, senior
associate, and other professional personnel should be included.

b\. Current and Pending Support -- **PDF Attachment. No Page Limit.**
Title the attachment as 'Current and Pending Support' in the document
header [and]{.underline} save file as 'Current and Pending Support'. A
suggested template for the Current and Pending Support can be found at:
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/templates/current_pending.doc>.

Current and pending support information is required only for personnel
with PD or co-PD(s) indicated as Project Role on the R&R Senior/Key
Person Profile. All applications must contain a list of Current and
Pending Support detailing public or private support (including in-house
support) to which personnel identified in the application have committed
portions of their time, whether or not salary support for person(s)
involved is included in the budget. **Please note that the project being
proposed should be included in the pending section of the form.** Total
project time listed for each PD should not exceed 100 percent for
concurrent projects.

::: Definition-Term
**[4. R&R Personal Data]{.underline}**
:::

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in
detail in Part V, 5. of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide.
**PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF PROJECT DIRECTOR /
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.**

::: Definition-Term
**[5. R&R Budget]{.underline}**
:::

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in
detail in Part V, 6. of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide.

a\. Budget Periods. Applications must contain a budget for each budget
period for the entire duration of the proposed project. Annual and
cumulative budgets are required. All budgets should include reasonable
amounts to attend annual investigator meetings. Applicants must complete
the mandatory fields on each page of the first budget period and attach
the Budget Justification (see item (5) Field K. Budget Justification, of
this section) to enable the "Next Period" button to become active.

b\. Subcontract Arrangements. If it will be necessary to enter into a
formal subcontract agreement with another institution, financial
arrangements must be detailed in the "R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s)
Form." Annual and cumulative budgets and a budget justification are
required for each subcontract agreement. Refer to Part V, 7. of the
CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions on completing this
form.

Field H. Indirect Costs -- See Section D., Funding Restrictions, of this
Part for indirect cost information.

Field K. Budget Justification -- **PDF Attachment. No Page Limit.**
Title the attachment as 'Budget Justification' in the document header
[and]{.underline} save file as 'Budget Justification'.

All budget categories, with the exception of Indirect Costs, for which
support is requested, must be individually listed (with costs) in the
same order as the budget. If consulting, collaborative, or
subcontractual arrangements are included in the application, these
arrangements should be fully explained and justified. The rate of pay
for any consultant must be included, if known at the time of
application. Please include a cost breakdown for the consultant. Letters
of consent or collaboration or other evidence should be provided to show
that collaborators have agreed to participate (Field 11, Other Project
Information). A proposed statement of work, vitae, and a budget for each
arrangement involving the transfer of substantive programmatic work or
the provision of financial assistance to a third party must be supplied.
In multi-institutional applications, a budget and budget narrative must
be included for each institution involved. The lead institution and each
participating institution must be identified.

**[6. Supplemental Information Form]{.underline}**

Information related to the questions on this form is dealt with in
detail in Part VI, 1. of the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide.

Field 2. Program to which you are applying -- Enter "OASDFR" or
"Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
Competitive Grants Program" for Program Code Name and "2501" for Program
Code.

Field 8. Conflict of Interest List -- **PDF Attachment. No Page Limit.**
Title the attachment as 'Conflict of Interest' in the document header
and save file as 'Conflict of Interest'.

**A Conflict of Interest List is required for all applications submitted
to the OASDFR. The Conflict of Interest List should be provided as a
separate PDF attachment and not included in the vitae or resume.** A
suggested template for the Conflict of Interest List can be found at:
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/templates/conflict_of_interest.doc>.
A Conflict of Interest List must be provided for all individuals who
have submitted a Biographical Sketch in response to item d., (1) of this
section.

## C. Submission Dates and Times

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

Electronic applications must be submitted to Grants.gov by COB on
December 12, 2008

(5:00 p.m., Eastern Time). Applications received after this deadline
will normally not be considered for funding.

Requests for Determination must be e-mailed to the Agency Contact
identified in Part VII by COB on October 16, 2008 (5:00 p.m., Eastern
Time). Requests received after this deadline will not be considered. See
Part III, A., 2. for instructions.

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 the application not being considered for funding by the peer
review panel.  Once the application has been assigned a proposal number,
this number should be cited on all future correspondence.**

## 

## D. Funding Restrictions 

Section 7132 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, amended
the National Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310(a)), limiting indirect costs to 22 percent of the
total Federal funds provided under each award. Therefore, when preparing
budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect
costs to the lesser of their institution's official negotiated indirect
cost rate or the equivalent of 22 percent of total Federal funds
awarded.

Funds may not be used for the renovation or refurbishment of research
spaces (including energy retrofitting); purchase or installations of
fixed equipment in such spaces; or planning, repair, rehabilitation,
acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities.

## 

No more than one-third of the total award may be subcontracted to a
third party.

## E. Other Submission Requirements 

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

           

## A. General

** **

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. A
number of expert reviewers will conduct a merit review based on the
evaluation criteria. The views of the individual reviewers will be used
by CSREES to determine which applications will be recommended to the
Administrator for funding. Evaluated applications will be ranked based
on merit. Final approval of those applications recommended for award
will be made by the Administrator.

 

Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in
relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account
the following factors:  (a) level of relevant formal scientific,
technical education, or outreach and extension experience of the
individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged or
has been engaged in providing outreach and assistance to disadvantaged
groups; (b) experts from various areas of specialization within relevant
community based and/or scientific, education, or extension fields that
provide outreach and assistance to disadvantaged groups; (c) other
experts (e.g., members of community-based organizations, producers,
range or forest managers/operators, processors and/or consumers) who can
assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to
program needs; (d) experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g.,
colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, or private
and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) maintaining
a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and gender
representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) reviewers who
can judge the effective usefulness of outreach and assistance programs
for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

** **

## B. Evaluation Criteria

 

To assure equitable participation by socially disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers, OASDFR will give priority to projects that provide outreach
and assistance in applying for and receiving aid under USDA programs
administered by various agencies within the Department of Agriculture.
In general, these include, but are not limited to, loan programs,
guaranteed loan programs, allocations of crop base in each program crop,
and various conservation programs. Specifically, pertinent programs
include, but are not limited to, the following, identified by the
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance title and number:  Emergency
Conservation Program (10.054); Direct and Counter Cyclical Payments
Program (10.055); Conservation Reserve Program (10.069); Emergency Loans
(10.404); Farm Ownership Loans (10.407); and Soil Survey (10.903). There
may be other Federal and State agricultural programs that also could
assist members of socially disadvantaged groups. Applicants should
provide a brief, relevant synopsis on the program(s) they are
incorporating in their proposed project.

The evaluation criteria noted below will be used in reviewing
applications submitted in response to this RFA. 

 

1\. The degree to which the proposed project addresses the major
purposes of OASDFR to reach socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
as described in Part I. B; Note: Applications that do not directly
address at least one of the major purposes of the OASDFR program will
not receive consideration for funding.

 

2\. The degree to which the statement of work reflects effective
strategies for providing outreach and assistance to socially
disadvantaged groups and the potential for achieving project objectives.

 

3\. Adequacy of managing the project and the experience and expertise of
key personnel in working with and on behalf of socially disadvantaged
clientele, adequacy of facilities and institutional commitment and
collaborations.

 

4\. The quality of stakeholder/participant involvement in the proposed
project.

  

5\. The soundness of the plan for assessing and evaluating project
outcomes and the accomplishment of project goals.

 

## C. Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality

 

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](http://www.hepinc.com/).

 

Names of submitting institutions, 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

** **

Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be
submitted on a one‑time 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 pre-award
process. Although an applicant may be eligible based on the status as
one of these entities, there are factors that 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**

 

## A. General

** **

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 (2 CFR 215 and 7
CFR 3430).

** **

## B. Award Notice 

 

The USDA award document shall include at a minimum the following:

>  

1\. Legal name and address of performing organization or institution to
whom the Administrator has awarded a grant 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 grant number assigned by the Department;

 

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

 

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

 

7\. Legal authority(ies) under which the grant is awarded;

 

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 grant award; and

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

 

## C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

           

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

2 CFR Part 215---Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other
Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-110). 

     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 3017---USDA implementation of Government wide Debarment
and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government wide 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 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.

7 CFR Part 3430---CSREES procedures to implement Competitive and
Noncompetitive Nonformula Grant Programs---General Grant Administrative
Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions for the
Specialty Crop Research Initiative.

 

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

 

Grantees are required to submit initial project information and annual
and summary reports to CSREES' Current Research Information System
(CRIS). The CRIS database contains narrative project information,
progress/impact statements, and final technical reports that are made
available to the public. For applications recommended for funding,
instructions on preparing and submitting project documentation will be
provided to the applicant by the agency contact. **Documentation must be
submitted to CRIS before CSREES funds will be released**. Project
reports will be requested by the CRIS office when required. For more
information about CRIS, visit
[http://cris.csrees.usda.gov](http://cris.csrees.usda.gov/).

If a project is funded, the Project Director will be required to attend
annual investigator meetings. Reasonable travel expenses should be
included as part of the project budget.

# PART VII---AGENCY CONTACT

** **

Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact Dr.
Dionne Toombs; National Program Leader; Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service; U. S. Department of Agriculture; STOP
2241; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20250-2241;
telephone:  (202) 401-2138; fax:  (202) 401-6488; e-mail:
<dtoombs@csrees.usda.gov>.

 

# PART VIII---OTHER INFORMATION

 

## A. Access to Review Information

 

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

 

1\. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility

 

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

 

2\. Changes in Project Plans

           

\(a\) The permissible changes by the grantee, PD(s), or other key
project personnel in the approved project grant 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
grantee or the PD(s) is uncertain as to whether a change complies with
this provision, the question must be referred to the USDA 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
grantee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such
changes. In no event shall requests for such changes be approved that
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
grantee 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 grantee and
approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such transfers, unless
prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of the grant.

 

\(e\) Changes in Project Period:  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 grantee and approval in writing by
the ADO, unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of a
grant.

 

\(f\) 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.

** **

## C. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards

 

When an application results in a grant, it becomes a part of the record
of CSREES' transactions, available to the public upon specific request.
Information that CSREES 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 a grant 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

 

For the reasons set forth in the final Rule‑related Notice to 2 CFR,
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 

** **

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

 

[Agriculture Programs]{.underline} means those activities established or
authorized by:  the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.);
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act

(7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.); the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7
U.S.C. 1281 et seq.); the Soil Conservation Act; the Domestic Allotment
Assistance Act; the Food Security Act of 1985; and other such acts as
determined by the Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service, USDA, on a case-by-case basis either at the
Administrator's initiative or in response to a written request with
supporting explanation for inclusion of an Act. Covered programs
include, but are not limited to, agricultural conservation program,
programs comprising the environmental conservation acreage reserve
program (ECARP), conservation technical assistance program, emergency
conservation program, forestry incentives program, Great Plains
Conservation Program, integrated farm management option program, price
support and production adjustment program, rural environmental
conservation program, soil survey program, water bank program, and the
farm loan programs (farm ownership, operating soil and water, and
emergency loans).

[Alaska Native]{.underline} means a citizen of the United States who is
a person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian
Indians not enrolled in the Metlaktla Indian Community), Eskimo, or
Aleut blood, or combination thereof. It also includes, in the absence of
proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen of the United States who
is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native Village or Native group of
which he claims to be a member and whose father or mother is (or if
deceased, was) regarded as Native by any village or group.

[Alaska Native cooperative colleges]{.underline} means any
post-secondary education institution that at the time of application,
has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 20 percent
Alaska Native students.

[Assistance]{.underline} means providing hands-on educational and
technical assistance through workshops, site visits and other means of
contact with socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to enable them
to understand the application process and to apply for or to take
advantage of USDA and other relevant and pertinent programs. Assistance
is also defined as providing guidance and help in understanding the
process and procedures for applying for grants, loans,  mortgages, or
other financial resources that assist socially disadvantaged farmers and
ranchers in gaining ownership of their farming and ranching operations.

[Community-based organization]{.underline} means a nongovernmental
organization with a well-defined constituency that includes all or part
of a particular community; e.g. communities consisting of socially
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

[Farmer/Rancher]{.underline} means an owner and /or operator who has a
vested interest in the operation of the farm or ranch.

[]{.mark}

[Hispanic serving post-secondary educational institution]{.underline}
means a post-secondary educational institution that: (a) at the time of
application, has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent
students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students; and (b) provides
assurances that not less than 50 percent of the institution's Hispanic
students are low-income individuals.

[Indian Tribe or national tribal organization]{.underline} means any
Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community,
including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation
as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by
the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

[]{.mark}

[Indian Tribal Community Colleges]{.underline} means a post-secondary
education institution which: 

\(a\) is formally controlled, or has been officially sanctioned, or
chartered, by the governing body of an Indian tribe or tribes, except no
more than one such institution shall be recognized with respect to any
such tribe; and (b) includes an institution listed in the Equity in
Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended (7 U.S.C. 301
note). The 1994 Land-Grant Institutions are:  Bay Mills Community
College, Blackfeet Community College, Cankdeska Cikana Community
College, Chief Dull Knife Memorial College, College of Menominee Nation,
Crownpoint Institute of Technology, D-Q University, Dine' Community
College, Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College, Fort Belknap College,
Fort Berthold Community College, Fort Peck Community College, Haskell
Indian Nations University, Ilisagvik College, Institute of American
Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, Lac Courte
Orielles Ojibwa Community College, Leech Lake Tribal College, Little Big
Horn College, Little Priest Tribal College, Nebraska Indian Community
College, Northwest Indian College, Oglala Lakota College, Salish
Kootenai College, Sinte Gleska  University, Sisseton Wahpeton Community
College, Si Tanka/Huron University, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College,
Sitting Bull College, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Stone
Child College, Tohono O'odham Community College, Turtle Mountain
Community College, United Tribes Technical College, and White Earth
Tribal and Community College.

[]{.mark}

[Institution of Higher Education]{.underline} means an educational
institution in any State that (a) 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;
(b) is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of
education beyond secondary education; (c) provides an educational
program for which the institution awards a bachelor's degree or provides
not less than a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward
such a degree; (d) is a public or other nonprofit institution; and (e)
is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or
association, or if not so accredited, is an institution that has been
granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or association that
has been recognized by the Secretary of Education for the granting of
pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary of  Education has determined
that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the
accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a
reasonable time.

[Junior or Community College]{.underline} means an institution of higher
education:  (a) that admits as regular students persons who are beyond
the age of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the
institution is located and who have the ability to benefit from the
training offered by the institution; (b) that does not provide an
educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's degree
(or an equivalent degree); and (c) that (i) provides an educational
program for not less than 2 years in duration that is acceptable for
full credit toward such a degree; or

\(ii\) offers a 2-year program in engineering, mathematics, or the
physical or biological sciences, designed to prepare a student to work
as a technician or at the semiprofessional level in engineering,
scientific, or other technological fields requiring an understanding and
application of basic engineering, scientific, or mathematical principles
of knowledge.

[Low-income individual]{.underline} means an individual from a family
whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent
of an amount equal to the poverty level determined using criteria of
poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.

[Outreach]{.underline} means the use of formal and informal educational
presentations, materials, website materials, etc., that are designed to
inform socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers about USDA programs,
other relevant and pertinent programs, and improvements in farm and
ranch management in its many dimensions with the purpose of increasing
participation in USDA programs and rates of ownership and operation of
farms and ranches by members of socially disadvantaged groups.

[Partnering]{.underline} means a joint effort among two or more
institutions, organizations and/or other entities with the capacity to
conduct projects intended and designed to accomplish the purpose of the
program.

[]{.mark}

[Peer review]{.underline} means an evaluation of a proposed project for
scientific or technical quality and relevance performed by experts with
the scientific knowledge and technical skills to conduct the proposed
work or to give expert advice on the merits of a project.

[]{.mark}

[Performance target]{.underline} means expected measurable
accomplishments that can be used to document the extent of change
brought about by the project.

[Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher]{.underline} means a farmer or
rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.

[Socially disadvantaged group]{.underline} means a group whose members
have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices because of their
identity as members of a group without regard to their individual
qualities. Socially disadvantaged groups include, but are not limited
to, African Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics,
Asians, and Pacific Islanders. The Secretary will determine on a
case-by-case basis whether additional groups qualify under this
definition, either at the Secretary's initiative or in response to a
written request with supporting explanation.

 

## *OASDFR Application Checklist* 

Only electronic applications may be submitted to CSREES via Grants.gov
in response to this RFA. All applications submitted under the OASDFR
program must contain the applicable elements outlined in these
guidelines. The following checklist has been prepared to assist in
ensuring that the application is complete prior to submission:

� Have all attachments been submitted in portable document format (PDF)?
CSREES will only accept PDF attachments. See Part III of the CSREES
Grants.gov Application Guide.

� Have you followed the guidelines for filling out your electronic
application provided in the CSREES Grants.gov Application Guide, which
is posted along with the electronic SF 424 R&R application package on
Grants.gov?

� Have you followed the guidelines for filling out your electronic
application provided in this RFA?

� Do all submitted PDF documents have one-inch margins and are typed or
word processed using no font size smaller than 12 point and six lines
per inch? Are all PDF documents numbered sequentially on each page of
the attachment? Are all page limitations for a given attachment
followed? Submitted proposals that do not meet these requirements for
PDF attachments will be at risk of being excluded from CSREES review.

� Have all components of the SF 424 Research and Related (R&R)
Application Package been completed? Did you use the "Check Package for
Errors" feature of the PureEdge viewer (see section 1.8 of the CSREES
Grants.gov Application Guide)?

-   SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet

-   R&R Other Project Information

-   R&R Senior/Key Person Profile

-   R&R Budget

-   CSREES Supplemental Information Form

-   R&R Subaward Budget Attachment Form (if applicable)

� **[SF 424 R&R Cover Sheet]{.underline}**

-   Have all required fields been completed?

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

-   [Project Summary/Abstract]{.underline}

> Did you use the suggested Project Summary/Abstract Template found at:
> <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/templates/project_summary.doc>?
>
> Has the Project Summary PDF been attached to this form in Field 6?
>
> Are the names and affiliated organizations of all Project Directors
> listed at the top of the page in addition to the title of the project?
>
> Has a specific program priority been identified in the Project
> Summary?
>
> Does the Project Summary include research, education, and/or extension
> objectives, as appropriate?
>
> Does this section adhere to the formats?
>
> If the application is a resubmission, does it respond to previous
> review?

-   [Project Narrative]{.underline}

> Has the Project Narrative PDF been attached to this form in Field 7?
>
> Is the project fully described?
>
> If a renewal application, is a clearly marked progress report
> included?
>
> Does this section adhere to the format and page limitations?

-   [Response to Previous Review]{.underline} (for resubmitted
    applications)

> Has the Response to Previous Review been included in the Project
> Narrative?
>
> Are comments from the previous review addressed?
>
> Has the application been clearly and meaningfully revised and are the
> revisions briefly described?

-   [Bibliography & References Cited]{.underline}

> Has the Bibliography & References Cited PDF been attached to this form
> in Field 8?
>
> Are all references cited and are all citations referenced?
>
> Do all citations contain a title, the names of all authors, and are
> they in accepted journal format?

-   [Facilities & Other Resources]{.underline}

> Has the Facilities & Other Resources PDF been attached to this form in
> Field 9?
>
> Has a description of facilities, sufficient to indicate you will be
> able to carry out this project, been given?

-   [Equipment]{.underline}

> Has the Equipment PDF been attached to this form in Field 10?
>
> Is the description of your equipment sufficient to indicate that you
> will be able to carry out this project?

-   [Management Plan]{.underline}

> Has the Management Plan PDF been attached to this form in Field 11?
>
> For integrated projects only, are the management plan and timeline for
> project implementation clearly described?

-   [Collaborative Arrangements]{.underline}

> Has the Collaborative Arrangements PDF been attached to this form in
> Field 11?

-   [Results from Prior OASDFR Support (if appropriate)]{.underline}

> Has the Results from Prior NRI Support PDF been attached to this form
> in Field 11?
>
> Does this section adhere to the format and page limitations?

-   [Appendices to Project Description]{.underline}

> Has the Appendices to Project Description PDF been attached to this
> form in Field 11?
>
> Are the reprints/preprints limited to 2 (as described in the
> instructions)?

� **[R&R Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded)]{.underline}**

-   [Biographical Sketch]{.underline}

> Has the biographical sketch (vitae) PDF for the PD and each co-PD,
> senior associate, and other professional personnel been attached?
>
> Are roles and responsibilities of the PD, co-PD(s), and/or
> collaborator(s) clearly described?

-   [Current and Pending Support]{.underline}

> Did you use the suggested Current and Pending Support Template found
> at:
> <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/templates/current_pending.doc>?
>
> Has the Current and Pending Support PDF for personnel with PD or
> co-PD(s) been attached?
>
> Have all current and pending projects been listed and summarized,
> **including this proposal**?

� **[R&R Personal Data (Optional)]{.underline} DO NOT PROVIDE THE SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER OF THE PROJECT DIRECTOR/PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.**

-   Have all fields been completed?

� **[R&R Budget]{.underline}**

-   ::: Definition-Term
    Have all fields been completed for each PD and co-PD(s)?
    :::

-   Are annual and summary budgets included? For multi-institution
    applications, has a subaward budget been included for each
    institution involved?

-   [Budget Justification]{.underline}

> Has the Budget Justification PDF been attached to this form in Field
> K?
>
> Are budget items individually justified?
>
> For multi-institutional applications, has a budget justification been
> included for each institution involved?
>
> Have any matching requirements been addressed, if applicable?

� **[Supplemental Information Form]{.underline}**

-   Does Field 2 indicate the Program Code Name and Program Code to
    which you are applying?

-   Have you included the required Conflict of Interest List (PDF)
    attachment? Include this one-page attachment even if your responses
    to the questions are "N.A.".

[]{#Legislative .anchor}