§ 550.101 Definitions. As used in this part: *Agency Principal Investigator* means the REE Agency technical representative, acting within the scope of delegated authority, who is responsible for participating with the cooperator in the accomplishment of a non-assistance cooperative agreement's objective(s), and monitoring and evaluating the cooperator's performance (*i.e.,* ARS PI).
*Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO)* means the REE Agency's official with delegated authority to negotiate, award, administer, and terminate non-assistance cooperative agreements.
*Award* means an executed non-assistance cooperative agreement.
*Cooperator* means an eligible entity, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 3318(b), who enters into a non-assistance cooperative agreement with a REE Agency to further research, extension, or teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences.
*Cooperator resource contributions* means a real and substantial contribution of resources (more than nominal), in furtherance of the objective(s) of the award, in order to evoke a partnership such that all parties to the agreement have a true stake in the project.
*Funding period* means the period of time when Federal funding is available for obligation by the cooperator (start date through end date).
*Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (NACA)* means a legal instrument which is neither a procurement contract nor an assistance-type cooperative agreement, that furthers agricultural research, extension, or teaching programs in which the objectives of the agreement serve a mutual interest of the parties in agricultural research, extension, and teaching activities and all parties contribute resources to the accomplishment of those objectives.
*Peer Review* is a process utilized by REE Agencies to determine if agency sponsored research projects have scientific merit and program relevance; to provide peer input, and make improvements to project design and technical approaches; and to provide insight on how to conduct the highest quality research in support of REE Agency missions and programs.
*Principle Investigator (PI)* means the individual, designated by the cooperator, responsible for directing and monitoring the performance, the day-to-day activities, and the scientific and technical aspects of the cooperator's portion of a REE funded project. The PI works jointly with the REE Agency PI in the development of project objectives and all other technical and performance related aspects of the program or project. See additional responsibilities of PI in § 550.111 of this part.
*REE Agency* means the USDA, REE Mission Area agency (ARS, ERS, NASS, or NIFA) that enters into a non-assistance cooperative agreement.
*State Cooperative Institution* is defined in 7 U.S.C. 3103(18) as institutions designated or receiving funds pursuant to the following eight statutory requirements, as may be amended: ( 1 ) The First Morrill Act—The Land Grant Institutions.
( 2 ) The Second Morrill Act—The 1890 Institutions, including Tuskegee University.
( 3 ) The Hatch Act of March 2, 1887 (24 Stat. 440-442, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 361a-361i)—The State Agricultural Experiment Stations.
( 4 ) The Smith-Lever Act of May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 372-374, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 341-349)—The State Extension Services.
( 5 ) The McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act; 16 U.S.C. 582a *et seq.*—Cooperating Forestry Schools.
( 6 ) Public Law 95-113, Section 1430—A college or university having an accredited college of veterinary medicine or a department of veterinary science or animal pathology or similar unit conducting animal health and disease research in a State Agricultural Experiment Station.
( 7 ) Public Law 95-113, Section 1475(b), as added by Public Law 97-98, section 1440—Colleges, universities, and Federal laboratories having a demonstrated capacity in aquaculture research.
( 8 ) Public Law 95-113, section 1480, as added by Public Law 97-98, section 1440—Colleges, universities, and Federal laboratories having a demonstrated capacity of rangeland research.