Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 47 / Monday, March 12, 2007 / Notices 10973 

given approximately 5 minutes to 

present their views. All persons making 

oral presentations are requested to 

provide their comments in writing. 

Written submissions may contain 

information other than that presented at 

the oral presentation. Anyone may 

submit written comments at the 

meeting. Persons submitting written 

comments are asked to provide 30 

copies. 

Interested persons may visit the 

NOSB portion of the NOP Web site at 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop to view 

available meeting documents prior to 

the meeting, or visit 

www.regulations.gov to submit and view 

comments as provided for in ADDRESSES

above. Documents presented at the 

meeting will be posted for review on the 

NOP Web site approximately 6 weeks 

following the meeting. 

Dated: March 7, 2007. 

Lloyd C. Day, 

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 07–1156 Filed 3–7–07; 3:12 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 

Community Outreach and Assistance 

Partnership Program 

Funding Opportunity Title: 

Community Outreach and Assistance 

Partnership Program. 

Announcement Type: Request for 

Applications (RFA) Community 

Outreach and Assistance Partnership 

Program: Initial Announcement. 

CFDA Number: 10.455. 

Dates: The closing date and time for 

receipt of an application is 5 p.m. 

eastern time on May 1, 2007. 

Applications received after the deadline 

will not be considered for funding. All 

awards will be made and partnership 

agreements completed no later than 

September 30, 2007. 

Overview: In accordance with section 

522(d) of the Federal Crop Insurance 

Act (Act), the Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation (FCIC), operating through 

the Risk Management Agency (RMA), 

announces the availability of 

approximately $5 million in fiscal year 

2007 for collaborative outreach and 

assistance programs for limited 

resource, socially disadvantaged and 

other traditionally under-served farmers 

and ranchers, who produce Priority 

Commodities as defined in Part I.C. 

Awards under this program will be 

made on a competitive basis for projects 

of up to one year. Recipients of awards 

must demonstrate non-financial benefits 

from a partnership agreement and must 

agree to the substantial involvement of 

RMA in the project. This announcement 

lists the information needed to submit 

an application under this program. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David Wiggins, National Outreach 

Program Manager, Telephone (202) 690–

2686, Facsimile (202) 690–1518, E-mail: 

david.wiggins@rma.usda.gov. 

Application materials can be 

downloaded from the RMA Web site at 

http://www.rma.usda.gov; or from the 

Government grants Web site at http:// 

www.grants.gov. Click on ‘‘Find Grant 

Opportunities,’’ then select ‘‘Search 

Grant Opportunities,’’ then select ‘‘Basic 

Search,’’ type in ‘‘RMA’’ in the Keyword 

Search field and select ‘‘Search,’’ select 

‘‘Community Outreach and Assistance 

Partnership Program’’ under the 

Opportunity Title column to access the 

application package for this 

announcement. 

This announcement consists of seven 

parts. 

Part I—General Information 

A. Legislative Authority and Background 

B. Purpose 

C. Definition of Priority Commodities 

D. Program Description 

Part II—Award Information 

A. Available Funding 

B. Types of Applications 

Part III—Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

B. Project Period 

C. Non-Financial Benefits 

D. Cost Sharing or Matching 

E. Funding Restrictions 

Part IV—Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address to Submit an Application 

Package 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Part V—Application Review Process 

A. General 

B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights 

Part VI—Award Administration 

A. Notification of Award 

B. Access to Panel Review Information 

C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and 

Awards 

D. Reporting Requirements 

E. Administration 

F. Prohibitions and Requirements 

Regarding Lobbying 

G. Applicable OMB Circulars 

H. Confidentiality 

I. Civil Rights Training 

Part VII—Additional Information 

A Requirement to Use Program Logo 

B. Requirement to Provide Project 

Information to an RMA representative 

C. Private Crop Insurance Organizations 

and Potential Conflict of Interest 

D. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B Data Universal 

Numbering System) 

E. Required Registration for Grants.gov 

Part I—General Information 

A. Legislative Authority and 

Background 

This program is authorized under 

section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Act which 

authorizes FCIC funding for risk 

management training and informational 

efforts for agricultural producers 

through the formation of partnerships 

with public and private organizations. 

RMA promotes and regulates sound risk 

management solutions to improve the 

economic stability of American 

agriculture. One of RMA’s four strategic 

goals is to ensure that its customers and 

potential customers are well informed of 

the risk management solutions 

available. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does 

this by offering Federal crop insurance 

products through a network of privatesector partners, overseeing the creation 

of new risk management products, 

seeking enhancements in existing 

products, ensuring the integrity of crop 

insurance programs, providing risk 

management education and information 

and offering outreach programs aimed at 

equal access and participation of 

underserved communities. A priority 

must be given to reaching producers of 

Priority Commodities as defined in 

section C of this part. 

B. Purpose 

The purpose of this program is to 

fund projects that provide limited 

resource, socially disadvantaged, and 

other traditionally underserved 

producers of Priority Commodities with 

training, informational opportunities 

and assistance necessary to understand: 

(1) The kind of risks addressed by 

existing and emerging risk management 

tools; 

(2) The features and appropriate use 

of existing and emerging risk 

management tools; and 

(3) How to make sound risk 

management decisions. 

Each partnership agreement awarded 

through this program will provide the 

applicant with funds, guidance, and the 

substantial involvement of RMA to 

deliver outreach and assistance 

programs to producers in a specific 

geographical area. 

C. Definition of Priority Commodities 

For purposes of this program, Priority 

Commodities are defined as: 

• Agricultural commodities covered 

by (7 U.S.C. 7333). Commodities in this 

group are commercial crops that are not 

covered by catastrophic risk protection 

crop insurance, are used for food or 

fiber (except livestock), and specifically 

include, but are not limited to, 

floricultural, ornamental nursery, 


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Christmas trees, turf grass sod, 

aquaculture (including ornamental fish), 

and industrial crops. 

• Specialty crops. Commodities in 

this group may or may not be covered 

under a Federal crop insurance plan and 

include, but are not limited to, fruits, 

vegetables, tree nuts, syrups, honey, 

roots, herbs, and highly specialized 

varieties of traditional crops. 

• Underserved commodities. This 

group includes: (a) Commodities, 

including livestock, that are covered by 

a Federal crop insurance plan but for 

which participation in an area is below 

the national average; and (b) 

commodities, including livestock, with 

inadequate crop insurance coverage 

produced by limited resource, socially 

disadvantaged, and other traditionally 

underserved producers. 

A project is considered as giving 

priority to Priority Commodities if the 

majority of the educational outreach and 

assistance activities are directed to 

limited resource, socially disadvantaged 

and other traditionally under-served 

producers of one or more of the three 

classes of commodities listed above or 

any combination of the three classes. 

D. Program Description 

This program will support a wide 

range of innovative outreach and 

assistance activities in farm 

management, financial management, 

marketing contracts, crop insurance and 

other existing and emerging risk 

management tools FCIC, working 

through RMA, will be substantially 

involved in the activities listed under 

paragraph 2. The applicant must 

identify specific ways in which RMA 

could have substantial involvement in 

the proposed outreach activity. 

In addition to the specific, required 

activities listed under paragraph 1, the 

applicant may suggest other activities 

that would contribute directly to the 

purpose of this program. For any 

additional activity suggested, the 

applicant should identify the objective 

of the activity, the specific tasks 

required to meet the objective, specific 

time lines for performing the tasks, and 

specific responsibilities of the partners. 

1. In conducting activities to achieve 

the purpose and goal of this program, 

award recipients will be required to 

perform the following activities: 

• Develop and finalize a risk 

management outreach delivery plan that 

will contain the tasks needed to 

accomplish the purpose of this program, 

including a description of the manner in 

which various tasks for the project will 

be completed, the dates by which each 

task will be completed, and the partners 

that will have responsibility for each 

task. Task milestones must be listed to 

ensure that progress can be measured at 

various stages throughout the life of the 

project. The plan must also provide for 

the substantial involvement of RMA in 

the project. 

Note: All partnership agreements resulting 

from this announcement will include 

delivery plans in a table format. All 

applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to 

the table in the application package, when 

preparing a delivery plan and to use this 

format as part of the project description. 

• Assemble risk management 

instructional materials appropriate for 

producers of Priority Commodities to be 

used in delivering education and 

information. This will include: (a) 

Gathering existing instructional 

materials that meet the local needs of 

producers of Priority Commodities; (b) 

identifying gaps in existing instructional 

materials; and (c) developing new 

materials or modifying existing 

instructional materials to fill existing 

gaps. 

• Develop and conduct a promotional 

program. This program will include 

activities using the media, newsletters, 

publications, or other informational 

dissemination techniques that are 

designed to: (a) Raise awareness for risk 

management; (b) inform producers of 

the availability of risk management 

tools; and (c) inform producers of the 

training and informational opportunities 

being offered. Minority media and 

publications should also be used to 

achieve the broadest promotion of 

outreach opportunities for limited 

resource and socially disadvantaged 

farmers and ranchers possible. 

• Deliver risk management training 

and informational opportunities to 

limited resource and socially 

disadvantaged agricultural producers 

and agribusiness professionals of 

Priority Commodities. This will include 

organizing and delivering educational 

activities using the instructional 

materials identified earlier. Activities 

should be directed primarily to 

agricultural producers, but may include 

those agribusiness professionals that 

have frequent opportunities to advise 

farmers on risk management. 

• Document all outreach activities 

conducted under the partnership 

agreement and the results of such 

activities, including criteria and 

indicators used to evaluate the success 

of the program. The recipient will also 

be required to provide information to an 

RMA-selected contractor to evaluate all 

outreach activities and advise RMA as 

to the effectiveness of activities. 

2. RMA will be responsible for the 

following activities: 

• Review and approve in advance the 

recipient’s project delivery plan. 

• Collaborate with the recipient in 

assembling risk management materials 

for producers. This will include: (a) 

Reviewing and approving in advance all 

educational materials for technical 

accuracy; (b) serving on curriculum 

development workgroups; (c) providing 

curriculum developers with fact sheets 

and other risk management publications 

prepared by RMA; (d) advising the 

applicant on the materials available over 

the internet through the AgRisk 

Education Library; (e) advising the 

applicant on technical issues related to 

crop insurance instructional materials; 

and (f) advising the applicant on the use 

of the standardized design and layout 

formats to be used on program 

materials. 

• Collaborate with the recipient on a 

promotional program for raising 

awareness of risk management and for 

informing producers of training and 

informational opportunities. This will 

include: (a) Reviewing and approving in 

advance all promotional plans, 

materials, and programs; (b) serving on 

workgroups that plan promotional 

programs; (c) advising the applicant on 

technical issues relating to the 

presentation of crop insurance products 

in promotional materials; and (d) 

participating, as appropriate, in media 

programs designed to raise general 

awareness or provide farmers with risk 

management education. 

• Collaborate with the recipient on 

outreach activities to agricultural 

producers and agribusiness leaders. 

This will include: (a) Reviewing and 

approving in advance all producer and 

agribusiness educational delivery plans; 

(b) advising the applicant on technical 

issues related to the delivery of crop 

insurance education and information; 

and (c) assisting the applicant in 

informing crop insurance professionals 

about educational plans and scheduled 

meetings. 

• Reviewing and approving 

recipient’s documentation of risk 

management education and outreach 

activities. 

Part II—Award Information 

A. Available Funding 

The amount of funds available in FY 

2007 for support of this program is 

approximately $5 million dollars. There 

is no commitment by USDA/RMA to 

fund any particular project or to make 

a specific number of awards. No 

maximum or minimum funding levels 

have been established for individual 

projects or geographic locations. 

Applicants awarded a partnership 


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agreement for an amount that is less 

than the amount requested may be 

required to modify their application to 

conform to the reduced amount before 

execution of the partnership agreement. 

It is expected that awards will be made 

approximately 120 days after the 

application deadline. 

B. Types of Applications 

Applicants must specify whether the 

application is a new, renewal, or 

resubmitted application. 

1. New Application—This is an 

application that was not been 

previously submitted to the RMA 

Outreach Program. All new applications 

will be reviewed competitively using 

the selection process and evaluation 

criteria described in this RFA. 

2. Renewal Application—This is an 

application that requests additional 

funding for a project beyond the period 

that was approved in an original or 

amended award. Applications for 

renewed funding must contain the same 

information as required for new 

applications, and additionally must 

contain a Progress Report. Renewal 

applications must be received by the 

relevant due dates, will be evaluated in 

competition with other pending 

applications, and will be reviewed 

according to the same evaluation criteria 

as new applications. 

3. Resubmitted Application—This is 

an application previously submitted to 

the RMA Outreach office, but was not 

funded. Resubmitted applications must 

be received by the relevant due dates, 

and will be evaluated in competition 

with other pending applications and 

will be reviewed according to the same 

evaluation criteria as new applications. 

Part III—Eligibility/Funding 

A. Eligible Applicants 

Educational institutions, community 

based organizations, associations of 

farmers and ranchers, state departments 

of agriculture, and other non-profit 

organizations with demonstrated 

capabilities in developing and 

implementing risk management and 

other marketing options for priority 

commodities are eligible to apply. 

Individuals are not eligible applicants. 

Applicants are encouraged to form 

partnerships with other entities that 

complement, enhance, and/or increase 

the effectiveness and efficiency of the 

proposed project. Although an applicant 

may be eligible to compete for an award 

based on its status as an eligible entity, 

other factors may exclude an applicant 

from receiving Federal assistance under 

this program (e.g. debarment and 

suspension; a determination of nonperformance on a prior contract, 

cooperative agreement, grant or 

partnership; a determination of a 

violation of applicable ethical 

standards). Applications from ineligible 

or excluded persons will be rejected in 

their entirety. 

B. Project Period 

Each project will be funded for a 

period of up to one year from the project 

starting date for the activities described 

in this announcement. 

C. Non-Financial Benefits 

To be eligible, applicants must also 

demonstrate that they will receive a 

non-financial benefit as a result of a 

partnership agreement. Non-financial 

benefits must accrue to the applicant 

and must include more than the ability 

to provide employment income to the 

applicant or for the applicant’s 

employees or the community. The 

applicant must demonstrate that 

performance under the partnership 

agreement will further the specific 

mission of the applicant (such as 

providing research or activities 

necessary for graduate or other students 

to complete their educational program). 

Applications that do not demonstrate a 

non-financial benefit will be rejected. 

D. Cost Sharing or Matching 

Cost sharing, matching, in-kind 

contribution, or cost participation is not 

required. 

E. Funding Restrictions 

Indirect costs for projects submitted 

in response to this solicitation are 

limited to 10 percent of the total direct 

costs of the agreement. Partnership 

agreement funds may not be used to: 

1. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or 

construct a building or facility including 

a processing facility; 

2. To purchase, rent, or install fixed 

equipment; 

3. Repair or maintain privately owned 

vehicles; 

4. Pay for the preparation of the 

partnership application; 

5. Fund political activities; 

6. Pay costs incurred prior to 

receiving this partnership agreement; 

7. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 

CFR parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. 

Part IV—Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address To Submit an Application 

Package 

The address for submissions is USDA/ 

RMA, Community Outreach, and 

Assistance Partnership Program, c/o 

William Buchanan, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Room 6709, Stop 0805, 

Washington, DC 20250–0805. All 

applications must be submitted by the 

deadline. Late or incomplete 

applications will not be considered and 

will be returned to the applicant. 

Applications will be considered as 

meeting the announced deadline if they 

are received in the mailroom at the 

following address on or before the 

deadline. Applicants are cautioned that 

express, overnight mail or other delivery 

services do not always deliver as agreed. 

Applicants using the U.S. Postal Service 

should allow for the extra time for 

delivery due to the additional security 

measures that mail delivered to 

government offices in the Washington 

DC area now requires. Failure of the 

selected delivery services will not 

extend the deadline. Applicants are 

strongly encouraged to submit 

completed and signed application 

packages using overnight mail or 

delivery service to ensure timely 

receipt. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

1. General—Use the following 

guidelines to prepare an application. 

Each application must contain the 

following elements in the order 

indicated. Proper preparation of 

applications will assist reviewers in 

evaluating the merits of each 

application in a systematic, consistent 

fashion. 

(a) Prepare the application on only 

one side of the page using standard size 

(81⁄2′′ × 11′′) white paper, one-inch 

margins, typed or word processed using 

no type smaller than 12 point font, and 

single or double spaced. Use an easily 

readable font face (e.g., Geneva, 

Helvetica, Times Roman). 

(b) Number each page of the 

application sequentially, starting with 

the Project Description, including the 

budget pages, required forms, and any 

appendices. 

(c) Staple the application in the upper 

left-hand corner. Do not bind. An 

original and two copies of the 

completed and signed application (3 

total) and one electronic copy (Microsoft 

Word format preferred) on compact disc 

or diskette must be submitted in one 

package. Only hard copies of OMB 

Standard Forms should be submitted. 

Do not include the standard forms on 

the diskette. 

(d) Include original illustrations 

(photographs, color prints, etc.) in all 

copies of the application to prevent loss 

of meaning through poor quality 

reproduction. 

2. Application for Federal Assistance, 

OMB Standard Form 424—Please 

complete this form in its entirety. The 


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original copy of the application must 

contain a pen-and-ink signature of the, 

authorized organizational representative 

(AOR), individual with the authority to 

commit the organization’s time and 

other relevant resources to the project. 

The Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number (block 10) is ‘‘10–

455—Community Outreach and 

Assistance’’. 

3. Table of Content—Each application 

must contain a detailed Table of 

Contents immediately following OMB 

SF 424. 

4. Project Summary—(Limited to one 

page, placed after the Table of Contents) 

The summary should be a selfcontained, specific description of the 

activity to be undertaken and should 

focus on: overall project goals(s) and 

supporting objectives; plans to 

accomplish project goals; and relevance 

of the project to the goals of the 

community outreach and assistance 

program. 

5. Progress Report—(Limited to three 

pages, placed immediately after the 

Project Summary) Renewal applications 

of an existing project supported under 

the same program should include a 

clearly identified summary progress 

report describing the results to date. The 

progress report should contain a 

comparison of actual accomplishments 

with the goals established for the 

project. 

6. A Project Description—(Limited to 

twenty-five single-sided pages) that 

describes the outreach project in detail, 

including the program delivery plan and 

a Statement of Work. The description 

should provide reviewers with 

sufficient information to effectively 

evaluate the merits of the application 

under the criteria contained in Part V. 

The description should include the 

circumstances giving rise to the 

proposed activity; a clear, concise 

statement of the objectives; the steps 

necessary to implement the program to 

attain the objectives; an evaluation plan 

for the activities; and a program delivery 

plan and statement of work that 

describes how the activities will be 

implemented and managed by the 

applicant. 

The statement of work in table format 

should identify each objective and the 

key tasks to achieve the objective, the 

entity responsible for the task, the 

completion date, the task location, and 

RMA’s role. Applicants are strongly 

encouraged to refer to the sample table 

in the application package, when 

preparing a delivery plan and to use this 

table format in that portion of the 

application narrative that addresses the 

delivery plan. 

7. Budget, OMB Standard Form 424– 

A, ‘‘Budget Information, NonConstruction Program’’—Indirect costs 

allowed for projects submitted under 

this announcement will be limited to 10 

percent of the total direct cost of the 

partnership or cooperative agreement. 

Applicants should include reasonable 

travel costs associated with attending at 

least two RMA designated two-day 

events, which will include a Project 

Directors’ meeting and civil rights 

training. 

8. Budget Narrative—A detailed 

narrative in support of the budget 

should show all funding sources and 

itemized costs for each line item 

contained on the SF–424A. All budget 

categories must be individually listed 

(with costs) in the same order as the 

budget and justified on a separate sheet 

of paper and placed immediately behind 

the SF–424A. There must be a detailed 

breakdown of all costs, including 

indirect costs. Include budget notes on 

each budget line item detailing how 

each line item was derived. Also 

provide a brief narrative description of 

any costs that may require explanation 

(i.e., why a specific cost may be higher 

than market costs). Only items or 

services that are necessary for the 

successful completion of the project will 

be funded as permitted under the Act, 

the applicable Federal Cost principles, 

and are not prohibited under any other 

Federal statute. Salaries of project 

personnel should be requested in 

proportion to the effort that they would 

devote to the project. 

9. Key Personnel—The roles and 

responsibilities of each PD and/or 

collaborator should be clearly described; 

and the vitae of the PD and each co-PD, 

senior associate and other professional 

personnel. 

10. Collaborative Arrangements 

(including Letters of Support)—If it will 

be necessary to enter into formal 

consulting or collaborative 

arrangements, such arrangements 

should be fully explained and justified. 

If the consultants or collaborators are 

known at the time of application, a vitae 

or resume should be provided. Evidence 

(e.g., letter of support) should be 

included if the collaborators involved 

have agreed to render these services. 

Additional information on consultants 

and collaborators are required in the 

budget portion of the application. 

11. Current and Pending Support—

All applications must list all current 

public or private support to which 

personnel identified in the application 

have committed portions of their time, 

whether or not salary support for 

persons involved is included in the 

budget. An application that duplicates 

or overlaps substantially with an 

application already reviewed and 

funded (or to be funded) by another 

organization or agency will not be 

funded under this program. The projects 

proposed for funding should be 

included in the pending section. 

12. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, 

OMB Standard Form LLL—All 

applications must contain a signed copy 

of this form (See Part VI (F)). Applicants 

who are not engaging in lobbying 

activities should write ‘‘Not Applicable’’

and sign the form. 

13. A completed and Signed 

‘‘Certification Regarding Debarment, 

Suspension, and Other Responsibility 

Matters (Primary Covered Transactions), 

AD 1047.’’

14. A completed and Signed 

‘‘Certifications Regarding Drug-Free 

Workplace, AD–1049.’’

15. Appendices are allowed if they are 

directly germane to the proposed 

project. 

C. Acknowledgment of Applications 

Applications submitted by facsimile 

or through other electronic media 

(except grants.gov), regardless of the 

date or time of submission or the time 

of receipt, will not be considered and 

will be returned to the applicant. 

Receipt of applications will be 

acknowledged by e-mail, whenever 

possible. Therefore, applicants are 

encouraged to provide an e-mail address 

in the application. If an e-mail address 

is not indicated on an application, 

receipt will be acknowledged in writing. 

There will be no notification of 

incomplete, unqualified, or unfunded 

applications until the awards have been 

made. RMA will assign an identification 

number to the application when 

received. This number will be provided 

to applicants when the receipt of 

application is acknowledged. 

Applicants should reference the 

assigned identification number in all 

correspondence regarding the 

application. 

If receipt of application is not 

acknowledged by RMA within 15 days 

of the submission deadline, the 

applicant should contact David Wiggins 

at (202) 690–2686 or electronically at 

david.wiggins@rma.usda.gov. 

Part V—Application Review Process 

A. General 

Each application will be evaluated 

using a two-part process. First, each 

application will be screened by RMA 

personnel to ensure that it meets the 

requirements in this announcement. 

Applications that do not meet the 

requirements of this announcement or 


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are incomplete will not receive further 

consideration. 

Second, a review panel will consider 

the merits of all applications that meet 

the requirements in the announcement. 

A panel of not less than three 

independent reviewers will evaluate 

each application. Reviewers will be 

drawn from USDA, other Federal 

agencies, and others representing public 

and private organizations, as needed. 

The project description and any 

appendices submitted by applicant will 

be used by the review panel to evaluate 

the merits of the project being proposed 

for funding. The panel will examine and 

score applications based on each of the 

four criteria contained in paragraph B of 

this part ‘‘Evaluation Criteria and 

Weights’’. 

The panel will be looking for the 

specific elements listed with each 

criterion when evaluating the 

applications and scoring them. For each 

application, panel members will assign 

a point value up to the maximum for 

each criterion. After all reviewers have 

evaluated and scored each of the 

applications, the scores for the entire 

panel will be averaged to determine an 

application’s final score. 

After assigning points for each 

criterion, applications will be listed in 

initial rank order and presented, along 

with funding level recommendations, to 

the Manager of FCIC, who will make the 

final decision on awarding of a 

partnership agreement. Applications 

will then be funded in final rank order 

until all available funds have been 

expended. Applicants must score 50 

points or more to be considered for 

funding. If there are unused remaining 

funds, RMA may conduct another round 

of competition through the 

announcement of another RFA. 

An organization, or group of 

organizations in partnership, may apply 

for funding under other FCIC or RMA 

programs, in addition to the programs 

described in this announcement. 

However, if the Manager of FCIC 

determines that an application 

recommended for funding under this 

announcement is sufficiently similar to 

a project that has been funded or has 

been recommended to be funded under 

another FCIC or RMA education or 

outreach program, then the Manager 

may elect to not fund that application in 

whole or in part. 

B. Evaluation Criteria and Weights 

1. Project Benefits—Maximum 40 Points 

The applicant must demonstrate that 

the project benefits to limited resource, 

socially disadvantaged and other 

traditionally underserved producers 

warrant the funding requested. 

Applicants will be scored according to 

the extent they can: (a) Reasonably 

estimate the number of producers 

reached through the project; (b) justify 

the estimates with clear specifics related 

to the delivery plan; (c) identify the 

actions producers will likely be able to 

take as a result of the project; and (d) 

identify specific measures for evaluating 

the success of the project. Reviewers’

scoring will be based on the scope and 

reasonableness of the applicants’

estimate of the number of producers 

reached through the project, clear 

descriptions of specific expected project 

benefits for producers, and wellconstructed plans for measuring the 

project’s effectiveness. 

2. Project Management—Maximum 20 

Points 

The applicant must demonstrate an 

ability to implement sound and effective 

project management practices. Higher 

scores will be awarded to applicants 

that can demonstrate organizational 

skills, leadership; and experience in 

delivering services or programs using 

the appropriate language service, that 

assist limited resource, socially 

disadvantaged and other traditionally 

underserved producers. If the applicant 

has been a recipient of other Federal or 

other government grants, cooperative 

agreements, or contracts, the applicant 

must also detail that they have 

consistently complied with financial 

and program reporting and auditing 

requirements. Applicants that will 

employ, or have access to, personnel 

who have experience in directing 

agricultural programs or providing 

educations programs that benefit 

producers will receive higher rankings. 

Higher scores will be awarded to 

applicants with no more than two ongoing projects funded by RMA under 

this program in previous years. 

3. Collaborative Partnering—Maximum 

20 Points 

The applicant must demonstrate 

experience and capacity to partner with 

and gain the support of other agencies, 

grower organizations, agribusiness 

professionals, and agricultural leaders to 

enhance the quality and effectiveness of 

the program. Applicants will receive 

higher scores to the extent that they can 

document and demonstrate: (a) That 

partnership commitments are in place 

for the express purpose of delivering the 

program in this announcement; (b) that 

the project will incorporate training on 

the benefits and implementation of the 

Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR–

LITE) insurance coverage plan; (c) that 

the project promotes energy alternatives 

for small farmers and ranchers; (d) that 

a broad and diverse group of farmers 

and ranchers will be reached; and (e) 

that a substantial effort has been made 

to partner with organizations that can 

meet the needs of producers that are 

small, have limited resources, are 

minorities, or are beginning farmers and 

ranchers. 

4. Delivery Plan—Maximum 20 Points 

The applicant must demonstrate that 

its program delivery plan is clear and 

specific. For each of the applicant’s 

responsibilities contained in the 

description of the program, the 

applicant must demonstrate that it can 

identify specific tasks and provide 

reasonable time lines that further the 

purpose of this program. Applicants 

will obtain a higher score to the extent 

that the tasks of the project are specific, 

measurable, and reasonable, have 

specific periods for completion, relate 

directly to the required activities, the 

program objectives described in this 

announcement, and use the appropriate 

language service. 

5. Diversity—Maximum 20 Points 

Management reserves the right to 

award applications up to 20 additional 

points to promote the broadest 

geographic diversity. 

Part VI—Award Administration 

A. Notification of Cooperative or 

Partnership Agreement Awards 

Following approval by the RMA 

awarding official, project leaders whose 

applications have been selected for 

funding will be notified. Within the 

limit of funds available for such a 

purpose, the awarding official of RMA 

shall enter into partnership agreements 

with applicants whose applications are 

judged to be most meritorious under the 

procedures set forth in this 

announcement. The agreements provide 

the amount of Federal funds for use in 

the project period, the terms, and 

conditions of the award and the time 

period for the project. 

The effective date of the agreement is 

the date the agreement is executed by 

both parties. RMA will extend to award 

recipients, in writing, the authority to 

draw down funds for conducting the 

activities listed in the agreement. All 

funds provided to the applicant by FCIC 

must be expended solely for the purpose 

for which the funds are obligated in 

accordance with the approved 

agreement and budget, the regulations, 

the terms and conditions of the award, 

and the applicability of Federal cost 

principles. No commitment of Federal 

assistance beyond the project period is 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
10978 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 47 / Monday, March 12, 2007 / Notices 

made or implied for any award resulting 

from this notice. 

Applicants that are not funded will be 

notified within 120 days after the 

submission deadline. 

B. Access to Panel Review Information 

Upon written request from the 

applicant, your score from the 

evaluation panel, not including the 

identity of reviewers, will be sent to the 

applicant after the review and awards 

process has been completed. 

C. Confidential Aspects of Proposals 

and Awards 

When an application results in a 

partnership agreement, it becomes a part 

of the official record of RMA 

transactions, available to the public 

upon specific request. Information that 

the Secretary of Agriculture 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 be considered 

confidential, privileged, or proprietary 

should be clearly marked within an 

application, including the basis for such 

designation. The original copy of a 

proposal that does not result in an 

award will be retained by RMA for a 

period of one year. Other copies will be 

destroyed. Copies of proposals not 

receiving awards will be released only 

with the express written consent of the 

applicant or to the extent required by 

law. A proposal may be withdrawn at 

any time prior to award. 

D. Reporting Requirements 

Applicants awarded partnership 

agreements will be required to submit 

quarterly progress and financial reports 

(OMB Standard Form 269) throughout 

the project period, as well as a final 

program and financial report no later 

than 90 days after the end of the project 

period. 

E. Administration 

All partnership agreements are subject 

to the requirements of 7 CFR part 3015. 

F. Prohibitions and Requirements With 

Regard to Lobbying 

All partnership agreements are subject 

to the requirements of 7 CFR part 3018. 

A copy of the certification and 

disclosure forms must be submitted 

with the application. 

G. Applicable OMB Circulars 

All partnership and cooperative 

agreements funded as a result of this 

notice will be subject to the 

requirements contained in all applicable 

OMB circulars. 

H. Confidentiality 

The names of applicants, the names of 

individuals identified in the 

applications, the content of 

applications, and the panel evaluations 

of applications will be kept confidential, 

except to those involved in the review 

process, to the extent permitted by law. 

In addition, the identities of review 

panel members will remain confidential 

throughout the entire review process 

and will not be released to applicants. 

At the end of the fiscal year, names of 

panel members will be made available. 

However, panelists will not be 

identified with the review of any 

particular application. 

I. Requirement To Participate in Civil 

Rights Training 

All recipients of federally assisted 

programs are required to comply with 

Federal civil rights laws and 

regulations. USDA/RMA policies and 

procedures requires recipients of 

federally assisted programs to attend 

mandatory civil rights training 

sponsored by RMA, to become fully 

aware of civil rights requirements and 

responsibilities. Applicants should 

include in their budgets reasonable 

travel costs associated with attending at 

least two two-day RMA designated 

events that includes a Project Directors 

meeting and required civil rights 

training. 

Part VII—Additional Information 

A. Requirement To Use Program Logo 

Applicants awarded partnership 

agreements will be required to use a 

program logo and design provided by 

RMA for all instructional and 

promotional materials. 

B. Requirement To Provide Project 

Information to an RMA-selected 

Contractor 

Applicants awarded partnership 

agreements will be required to assist 

RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of 

its outreach program by providing 

documentation of outreach activities 

and related information to any 

contractor selected by RMA for program 

evaluation purposes. This requirement 

also includes providing demographic 

data on program participants. 

C. Private Crop Insurance Organizations 

and Potential Conflicts of Interest 

Private organizations that are 

involved in the sale of Federal crop 

insurance, or that have financial ties to 

such organizations, are eligible to apply 

for funding under this announcement. 

However, such entities will not be 

allowed to receive funding to conduct 

activities that would otherwise be 

required under a Standard Reinsurance 

Agreement or any other agreement in 

effect between FCIC and the entity. 

Such entities will also not be allowed to 

receive funding to conduct activities 

that could be perceived by producers as 

promoting one company’s services or 

products over another’s. If applying for 

funding, such organizations are 

encouraged to be sensitive to potential 

conflicts of interest and to describe in 

their application the specific actions 

they will take to avoid actual and 

perceived conflicts of interest. 

D. DUNS Number 

A Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

number is a unique nine-digit sequence 

recognized as the universal standard for 

identifying and keeping track of 

businesses worldwide. A Federal 

Register notice of final policy issuance 

(68 FR 38402) requires a DUNS number 

in every application (i.e., hard copy and 

electronic) for a grant or cooperative 

agreement. Therefore, potential 

applicants should verify that they have 

a DUNS number or take steps needed to 

obtain one. For information about how 

to obtain a DUNS number, go to 

http://www.grants.gov. Please note that 

the registration may take up to 14 

business days to complete. 

E. Required Registration for Grants.gov 

The Central Contract Registry (CCR) is 

a database that serves as the primary 

Government repository for contractor 

information required for the conduct of 

business with the Government. This 

database will also be used as a central 

location for maintaining organizational 

information for organizations seeking 

and receiving grants from the 

Government. Such organizations must 

register in the CCR prior to the 

submission of applications via 

grants.gov (a DUNS number is needed 

for CCR registration). For information 

about how to register in the CCR, visit 

http://www.grants.gov. Allow a 

minimum of 5 days to complete the CCR 

registration. 

Signed in Washington, DC on March 6, 

2007. 

James Callan, 

Acting Manager, Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. E7–4334 Filed 3–9–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–08–P 


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