41240 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service

Request for Proposals (RFP): Fund for

Rural America Program.

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of

grant funds and request for proposals for

The Fund for Rural America—Rural

Information Infrastructure Program.

SUMMARY: The Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

established an account in the Treasury

of the United States to provide funds for

rural development programs and a

competitive grant program to support

research, education, and extension

activities.

This notice pertains only to the

competitive grant program for research,

education, and extension

telecommunications activities. It

identifies eligible participants in the

program, the program areas to be

supported, and the funding levels for

each area; provides instructions for

preparing and submitting proposals; and

describes the selection process and

evaluation criteria to be used to make

funding decisions. To obtain program

application materials, please contact the

Proposal Services Unit, Grants

Management Branch; Office of

Extramural Programs; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

STOP 2245; 1400 Independence

Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250–

2245; Telephone: (202) 401–5048. When

calling the Proposal Services Unit,

please indicate that you are requesting

materials for The Fund for Rural

America—Rural Information

Infrastructure Program. These materials

may also be requested via Internet by

sending a message with your name,

mailing address (not e-mail) and phone

number to psb@reeusda.gov which

states that you want a copy of the

application materials for the Fiscal Year

1997 Fund for Rural America—Rural

Information Infrastructure Program. The

materials will then be mailed to you

(not e-mailed) as quickly as possible.

DATES: Project grant applications must

be received on or before September 29,

1997. Proposals received after

September 29, 1997, will not be

considered for funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cathy Bridwell, Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

STOP 2207, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–

2207; telephone (202) 720–6084.

Table of Contents

Part I. General Information

A. Legislative Authority

B. General Definitions

C. Eligibility

D. Available Funds and Award Limitations

Part II. Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program

B. Scope of Program

C. Proposal Narrative

Part III. Preparation of a Proposal

A. Program Application Materials

B. Content of a Proposal

Part IV. Submission of a Proposal

A. What to Submit

B. Where and When to Submit

C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

Part V. Selection Process and Evaluation

Criteria

A. Selection Process

B. Technical Evaluation Criteria

C. Programmatic Relevance Review

Part VI. Supplementary Information:

A. Access to Peer Review Information

B. Grant Awards

C. Use of Funds; Changes

D. Other Federal Statutes and Regulations

That Apply

E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and

Awards

Part I. General Information

A. Legislative Authority

The Fund for Rural America (The

Fund), authorized under section 793 of

the Federal Agriculture Improvement

and Reform Act of 1996 (FAIR Act) (7

U.S.C. 2204(f)), provides $100 million

annually for the next three years. Onethird of the fund is available for

research, education, and extension

grants. These grants will be awarded on

a competitive basis and are not targeted

to specific priorities. One-third of the

fund is available for rural development

and must be administered through

existing rural development programs.

One-third of the fund is available either

for research, education, and extension

or rural development, or both at the

Secretary’s discretion. Note that the

Emergency Supplemental

Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 105–18,

rescinded $20 million of The Fund in

Fiscal Year 1997. As a result of this

rescission, research and rural

development will each sustain a

reduction of $10 million. The $10

million reduction of the research

component of The Fund will be applied

proportionately across all areas of the

component.

On January 29, 1997, the program

solicited proposals for two initiatives:

The Fund Core Initiative and The

Secretary’s Initiative. The Fund Core

Initiative was funded from the one-third

of the fund dedicated to research,

education, and extension. The

Secretary’s Initiative was funded from

the one-third of the fund to be used at

the Secretary’s discretion. While the

Fund for Rural America—Rural

Information Infrastructure Program also

is being funded from the discretionary

funds, it is separate from the solicitation

of January 29, 1997.

This portion of the discretionary

monies will be used for

telecommunications research to provide

the same economic opportunity for

those living in small towns and rural

areas as for those living in cities. To

help achieve this goal, approximately

$2.1 million in competitive grants will

be awarded through this separate

request for proposals (RFP). If an

applicant submitted a proposal to The

Fund under the January 29, 1997, RFP

which relates to telecommunications

research, they also may submit the

proposal under this RFP so long as the

proposal conforms to the guidelines

contained in this RFP.

These funds are to be competitively

awarded as grants on the basis of merit,

quality, and relevance to advancing the

purposes of federally supported

agricultural research, extension, and

education provided in Section 1402 of

the National Agricultural Research,

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of

1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101).

Section 1402 identifies the following

purposes:

‘‘(1) Enhance the competitiveness of

the United States agriculture and food

industry in an increasingly competitive

world environment;

(2) Increase the long-term

productivity of the United States

agriculture and food industry while

maintaining and enhancing the natural

resource base on which rural America

and the United States agricultural

economy depend;

(3) Develop new uses and new

products for agricultural commodities,

such as alternative fuels, and develop

new crops;

(4) Support agricultural research and

extension to promote economic

opportunity in rural communities and to

meet the increasing demand for

information and technology transfer

throughout the United States agriculture

industry;

(5) Improve risk management in the

United States agriculture industry;

(6) Improve the safe production and

processing of, and adding of value to,

United States food and fiber resources

using methods that maintain the balance
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices 41241

between yield and environmental

soundness;

(7) Support higher education in

agriculture to give the next generation of

Americans the knowledge, technology,

and applications necessary to enhance

the competitiveness of United States

agriculture; and

(8) Maintain an adequate, nutritious,

and safe supply of food to meet human

nutritional needs and requirements.’’

This program has the capability of

addressing each of the purposes through

the use of telecommunications;

however, the specific purposes to be

addressed is dependent on the funded

projects.

Section 793(c)(2)(A) of the FAIR Act

authorizes the Secretary to use The

Fund for competitive research,

education, and extension grants to:

‘‘(i) Increase international

competitiveness, efficiency, and farm

profitability;

(ii) Reduce economic and health risks;

(iii) Conserve and enhance natural

resources;

(iv) Develop new crops, new crop

uses, and new agricultural applications

of biotechnology;

(v) Enhance animal agricultural

resources;

(vi) Preserve plant and animal

germplasm;

(vii) Increase economic opportunities

in farming and rural communities; and

(viii) Expand locally-owned, valueadded processing.’’

B. General Definitions

For the purpose of awarding grants

under this program, the following

definitions are applicable:

(1) Administrator means the

Administrator of the Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service (CSREES) and any other officer

or employee of the Department to whom

the authority involved may be

delegated.

(2) Authorized departmental officer

means the Secretary or any employee of

the Department who has the authority to

issue or modify grant instruments on

behalf of the Secretary.

(3) Authorized organizational

representative means the president or

chief executive officer of the applicant

organization or the official, designated

by the president or chief executive

officer of the applicant organization,

who has the authority to commit the

resources of the organization.

(4) Budget period means the interval

of time (usually 12 months) into which

the project period is divided for

budgetary and reporting purposes.

(5) College or university means an

educational institution in any State

which 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, is

legally authorized within such State to

provide a program of education beyond

secondary education, provides an

educational program for which an

associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or

any other higher degree is awarded, is

a public or other nonprofit institution,

and is accredited by a nationally

recognized accrediting agency or

association.

(6) Communities of interest means

interests which bond individuals

together for the purpose of achieving a

common goal. Communities of interest

may coalesce around common locations,

commodity or production interests,

environmental concerns, economic

development opportunities, or other

shared commitments.

(7) Core initiative means the programs

encompassing the one-third of The

Fund designated for research,

education, and extension activities.

(8) Department or USDA means the

United States Department of

Agriculture.

(9) End users means the intended

audience or beneficiary of the program

or project.

(10) Grant means the award by the

Secretary of funds to a Federal research

agency, a national laboratory, a college

or university or a research foundation

maintained by a college or university, or

a private research organization to assist

in meeting the costs of conducting, for

the benefit of the public, an identified

project which is intended and designed

to accomplish the purpose of the

program as identified in these

guidelines.

(11) Grantee means the organization

designated in the grant award document

as the responsible legal entity to which

a grant is awarded.

(12) The National Information

Infrastructure (NII) includes, but is not

limited to, the physical facilities used to

transmit, store, process, and display

voice, data, and images, as well as a

wide range and ever-expanding range of

equipment including cameras, scanners,

keyboards, telephones, fax machines,

computers, switches, compact disks,

video and audio tape, cable, wire,

satellites, optical fiber transmission

lines, microwave nets, switches,

televisions, monitors, and printers.

(13) Partners are defined as all those

who will collaborate on and have a

substantial role and interest in the

project.

(14) Peer review panel means a group

of experts qualified by training and

experience in particular fields to give

expert advice on the merit of grant

applications in such fields, who

evaluate eligible proposals submitted to

this program in their personal area(s) of

expertise.

(15) Prior approval means written

approval evidencing prior consent by an

authorized departmental officer as

defined in (2) above.

(16) Private research organization

means any non-governmental

corporation, partnership,

proprietorship, trust, or other

organization with an established and

demonstrated capacity to perform

research or technology transfer which

(1) conducts any systematic study

directed toward new or fuller

knowledge and understanding of the

subject studied, or (2) systematically

relates or applies the findings of

research or scientific experimentation to

the application of new approaches to

problem solving, technologies, or

management practices; and (3) has

facilities, qualified personnel,

independent funding, and prior projects

and accomplishments in research or

technology transfer.

(17) Project means the particular

activity within the scope of the program

supported by a grant award.

(18) Project director means the single

individual designated by the grantee in

the grant application and approved by

the Secretary who is responsible for the

direction and management of the

project.

(19) Project period means the period,

as stated in the award document and

modifications thereto, if any, during

which Federal sponsorship begins and

ends.

(20) Secretary means the Secretary of

Agriculture and any other officer or

employee of the Department to whom

the authority involved may be

delegated.

(21) Secretary’s initiative means the

programs encompassing the one-third of

The Fund for rural development and/or

research, education, and extension

activities according to the Secretary’s

discretion.

(22) Smaller institution means a

college or university or a research

foundation maintained by a college or

university that ranks in the lower onethird of such institutions on the basis of

Federal research funds received

(excepting monies received under the

Fund).

(23) Stakeholder means those who

have a substantial interest in the project,

but are not the intended audience of the

program or project.

(24) The Fund means the Fund for

Rural America.
41242 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices

C. Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by

Federal research agencies, national

laboratories, colleges or universities or

research foundations maintained by a

college or university, or private research

organizations. National laboratories

include Federal laboratories that are

government-owned contractor-operated

or government-owned governmentoperated. If the applicant is a private

organization, documentation must be

submitted establishing that the private

organization has an established and

demonstrated capacity to perform

research or technology transfer. A

programmatic decision on the eligibility

status of the private organization will be

made based on the information

submitted.

D. Available Funds and Award

Limitations

Under this program, subject to the

availability of funds, the Secretary may

award competitive grants, for periods

not to exceed five years, for the support

of research, education, and extension

projects to further the programs of the

USDA. The first allocation to The Fund

from the U.S. Treasury is $100,000,000

on January 1, 1997. No less than onethird of the amount must be used for

rural development and competitively

awarded research, education, and

extension grants according to the

Secretary’s discretion. Funds for the

competitive grants program are available

to the Department for award during a

two-year period. Note that the

Emergency Supplemental

Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 105–18,

rescinded $20 million of The Fund in

Fiscal Year 1997. As a result of this

rescission, research and rural

development will each sustain a

reduction of $10 million. The $10

million reduction of the research

component of The Fund will be applied

proportionately across all areas of the

component. The Department expects to

award approximately $2.1 million as

grants to meritorious eligible applicants

under this request for proposals (RFP).

Not less than 15 percent of the total

funds awarded by CSREES under The

Fund for research, education, and

extension activities will be used for

grants to colleges, universities, or

research foundations maintained by a

college or university that rank in the

lowest one-third of such entities based

on Federal research funds received

(excepting monies received under The

Fund).

Funds awarded under this RFP may

not be used for the construction of a

new building or the acquisition,

expansion, remodeling, or alteration of

an existing building.

Part II. Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program

The ability of rural Americans to

access and use rural and agriculturally

based information is critical to ensuring

equal opportunity for economic growth.

The purpose of the program is to

examine ways to improve delivery of

rural economic, community

development and agricultural

knowledge to rural communities in

order to provide the same economic

opportunity for those living in small

towns and rural areas as for those living

in cities.

B. Scope of the Program

Proposals must address which

purposes described in Section 1402 of

the National Agricultural Research,

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of

1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101) will

be incorporated in the application of the

proposed telecommunications. In Fiscal

Year 1997, the Fund for Rural

America—Rural Information

Infrastructure Program will support

projects in three program categories: (1)

Rural Telecommunications

Technologies and Systems; (2)

Information Infrastructure; and (3)

Human Capacity Building. Applicants

must clearly state to which category

they are applying; each proposal will be

rated against other proposals in that

category; and applicants may not submit

identical proposals to more than one

category.

1. Rural Telecommunications

Technologies and Systems

Applicants may submit a proposal in

the Rural Telecommunications

Technologies and Systems category to

examine the special needs, limitations,

applicability, and use of existing and

cutting-edge telecommunications

technologies and systems in rural

America. Proposals in this category

must clearly target the

telecommunications infrastructure

needs of rural citizens not currently

connected to the National Information

Infrastructure (NII) and must

substantiate the choice of technology in

relation to the needs of the rural citizens

targeted by the project. Examples might

include, but are not limited to,

application of technology to solve the

education needs of a particular

community, or implementation of

technology systems to link citizens to

information, two-way interactive

communications and/or formal or nonformal educational opportunities.

2. Information Infrastructure

Applicants may submit a proposal in

the Information Infrastructure category

to examine ways to build the

information infrastructure to further the

education of rural Americans and to

improve access to research and

extension tools/sources. Proposals in

this category must clearly target the

development of the informative and

educational content of the NII

specifically relating to rural and

agricultural research, education and

extension. Proposals must seek to

enhance the applicability and

usefulness of this content to rural

citizens. Examples include, but are not

limited to, development of interactive

non-formal and formal distance

education opportunities and the

digitization and organization of subject

matter information for rural citizens.

3. Human Capacity Building

Applicants may submit a proposal to

the Human Capacity category to

examine the interaction among people,

technology, and knowledge. Proposals

in this category must clearly target the

human interface to technology, as well

as to information and formal and nonformal education made available

through telecommunications. Examples

include, but are not limited to,

development of new and more user

friendly applications of the information

and the technology and programs

designed to remove barriers to adoption

and use of technology by citizens of

rural America.

The Fund for Rural America—Rural

Information Infrastructure Program will

not fund the following types of projects:

Hardware or Software Development

Projects. While some hardware or

software development may be required

to implement a project, it may not be a

major emphasis of any project.

Internal Projects. While some internal

training and infrastructure may be

required to implement a project, this

program will not support projects whose

primary emphasis is on the internal

education, technology, or information

needs of an organization.

Replacement or Upgrade of Existing

Facilities. This program will not support

any projects whose primary emphasis is

the upgrade or replacement of existing

facilities.

Planning Projects. While planning is

an appropriate and encouraged activity

as a component of a project, this

program will not support projects whose

sole emphasis is on planning.

C. Proposal Narrative

The narrative should contain the

following sections set in the context of
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices 41243

the category under which funding is

requested:

1. Introduction

Include a clear statement of the goal(s)

and objective(s) of the project. The

problem should be set within the

context of work that has been previously

done in the category applied for, as well

as in the context of the present-day

situation. Summarize the body of

knowledge which substantiates the need

for the proposed project. Preliminary

information pertinent to the proposed

work should also be cited.

2. Rationale and Significance

Substantiate the need for the

proposed project. Describe the impact of

the project on the end user. Describe the

project’s specific relationship to the

purposes of The Fund and to the

identified need to be addressed.

3. Objectives and Approach

Cite and discuss the specific

objective(s) to be accomplished under

the project. A detailed description of the

approach must include:

• Techniques and/or procedures used to

carry out the proposed activities and

for accomplishing the objectives

• The results expected

• Limitations

• Time table

4. Evaluation

Provide a plan for assessing and

evaluating the accomplishments of the

stated objectives during the conduct of

the project and describe ways to

determine the effectiveness of the end

results upon conclusion of the project.

5. Relationship to Partners,

Communities of Interest, Stakeholders,

and End Users

Describe how the project will involve

partners and communities of interest.

Describe how and by whom the focus

and scope of the project were

determined, how partners will be

involved during the course of the

project, and how end users will be

impacted by results. Evidence must be

provided via letters by the parties

involved that arrangements necessary

for collaborative partnerships have been

discussed with the parties involved and

can realistically be expected to come to

fruition, or have actually been finalized

contingent on an award under this

program. A letter from a university must

be signed by the dean or research

director, a representative of the

university’s central administration, or a

higher university official. A letter from

a business or industry must be signed by

an official who has the authority to

commit the resources of the

organization. Such letters should be

placed immediately following the

Project Narrative in the proposal.

6. Outreach and Dissemination Plan

Clearly describe how results and

information will be disseminated or

transferred to end users, partners,

communities of interest, and

stakeholders.

7. Coordination and Management Plan

Describe how the project will be

coordinated among the various

participants and clearly describe the

nature of the collaborations. Describe

plans for management of the project to

ensure its proper and efficient

administration.

Part III. Preparation of a Proposal

A. Program Application Materials

Program application materials will be

made available to eligible entities upon

request. These materials include

information about the purpose of the

program, how the program will be

conducted, and the required contents of

a proposal, as well as the forms needed

to prepare and submit grant applications

under the program.

To obtain application materials,

please contact the Proposal Services

Unit, Grants Management Branch; Office

of Extramural Programs; Cooperative

State Research, Education, and

Extension Service; U.S. Department of

Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400

Independence Avenue, S.W.;

Washington, D.C. 20250–2245;

Telephone (202) 401–5048. When

calling the Proposal Services Unit,

please indicate that you are requesting

forms for The Fund for Rural America—

Rural Information Infrastructure

Program. These materials may also be

requested via Internet by sending a

message with your name, mailing

address (not e-mail) and phone number

to psb@reeusda.gov and state that you

want a copy of the application materials

for the Fiscal Year 1997 Fund for Rural

America—Telecommunications

Program. The materials will then be

mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly

as possible.

B. Content of a Proposal

A proposal should contain the

following:

1. Cover Page

Complete the ‘‘Application for

Funding’’, Form CSREES–661, in its

entirety.

a. Note that providing a Social

Security Number is voluntary, but the

number is an integral part of the

CSREES information system and will

assist in the processing of the proposal.

b. One copy of the ‘‘Application for

Funding’’ form must contain the penand-ink signatures of the project

director(s) and authorized

organizational representative for the

applicant organization.

c. Note that by signing the

‘‘Application for Funding’’ form the

applicant is providing the required

certifications set forth in 7 CFR part

3017, as amended by 61 Federal

Register 250, January 4, 1996, regarding

Debarment and Suspension and DrugFree Workplace, and 7 CFR part 3018,

regarding Lobbying. The certification

forms are included in the application

package for informational purposes

only. It is not necessary to submit the

forms to USDA.

2. Table of Contents

For ease in locating information, each

proposal must contain a detailed Table

of Contents immediately after Form

CSREES–661, ‘‘Application for

Funding.’’ The Table of Contents should

include page numbers for each

component of the proposal. Pagination

should begin immediately following the

Table of Contents.

3. Project Summary

The proposal must contain a project

summary of 250 words or less on a

separate page. This page must include

the title of the project and the names of

the primary project director(s) and the

applicant organization, followed by the

summary. The summary should be selfcontained, and should describe the

overall goals and relevance of the

project. The summary should also

contain a listing of all organizations

involved in the project. The Project

Summary should immediately follow

the Table of Contents.

4. Application Category

Each proposal must state the category

under which funds are requested (1)

Rural Telecommunications

Technologies and Systems (2)

Information Infrastructure; or (3)

Building Human Capacity.

5. Project Narrative

All proposals are to be submitted on

standard 8.5’’ x 11’’ paper with typing

on one side of the page only. In

addition, margins must be at least one

inch, type must be 12 characters per

inch (12 pitch or 10 point) or larger, no

more than 6 lines per inch, and there

should be no page reductions. If

applicable, proposals should include

original illustrations (photographs, color

prints, etc.) in all copies of the proposal
41244 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices

to prevent loss of meaning through poor

quality reproduction. Such illustrations

are not included in the page limitation

for project narratives.

The narrative portion of the proposal

is limited to 20 pages of text and should

contain the required information

described under section (c) of Part II.

Program Description.

6. Key Personnel

Identify the primary project director

and the co-project director(s) and other

key personnel required for this project.

Include vitae that provide adequate

information so that proposal reviewers

can make an informed judgment as to

their capabilities and experience.

7. Conflict of Interest List

A Conflict of Interest List must be

provided for individuals identified as

key personnel. Each list should be on a

separate page and include

alphabetically the full names of the

individuals in the following categories:

(1) All collaborators on projects within

the past five years, including current

and planned collaborations; (2) all coauthors on publications within the past

five years, including pending

publications and submissions; (3) all

persons in your field with whom you

have had a consulting or financial

arrangement within the past five years

who would stand to gain by seeing the

project funded; and (4) all thesis or

postdoctoral advisees/advisors within

the past five years.

8. Budget

A. Budget Form: Prepare the budget,

Form CSREES–55, in accordance with

instructions provided with the form. A

budget form is required for each year of

requested support. In addition, a

summary budget is required detailing

the requested total support for the

overall project period. The budget form

may be reproduced as needed by

applicants. Funds may be requested

under any of the categories listed on the

form, provided that the item or service

for which support is requested is

allowable under the authorizing

legislation, the applicable Federal cost

principles, and these program

guidelines, and can be justified as

necessary for the successful conduct of

the proposed project.

The following guidelines should be

used in developing your proposal

budget(s):

1. Salaries and Wages. Salaries and

wages are allowable charges and may be

requested for personnel who will be

working on the project in proportion to

the time such personnel will devote to

the project. If salary funds are requested,

the number of Senior and Other

Personnel and the number of CSREES

Funded Work Months must be shown in

the spaces provided. Grant funds may

not be used to augment the total salary

or rate of salary of project personnel or

to reimburse them for time in addition

to a regular full-time salary covering the

same general period of employment.

2. Fringe Benefits. Funds may be

requested for fringe benefit costs if the

usual accounting practices of your

organization provide that organizational

contributions to employee benefits

(social security, retirement, etc.) be

treated as direct costs. Fringe benefit

costs may be included only for those

personnel whose salaries are charged as

a direct cost to the project.

3. Nonexpendable Equipment.

Nonexpendable equipment means

tangible nonexpendable personal

property including exempt property

charged directly to the award having a

useful life of more than one year and an

acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per

unit. As such, items of necessary

instrumentation or other nonexpendable

equipment should be listed individually

by description and estimated cost and

justified.

In addition, pursuant to Section

716(b) of Pub. L. No. 104–180 (the

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food

and Drug Administration, and Related

Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997), in

the case of any equipment or product

that may be authorized to be purchased

with funds provided under this

program, entities receiving such funds

are encouraged to use such funds to

purchase only American-made

equipment or products.

4. Materials and Supplies. The types

of expendable materials and supplies

which are required to carry out the

project should be indicated in general

terms with estimated costs.

5. Travel. The type and extent of

travel and its relationship to project

objectives should be described briefly

and justified. If foreign travel is

proposed, the country to be visited, the

specific purpose of the travel, a brief

itinerary, inclusive dates of travel, and

estimated cost must be provided for

each trip. Airfare allowances normally

will not exceed round-trip jet economy

air accommodations. U.S. flag carriers

must be used when available. See 7 CFR

part 3015.205(b)(4) for further guidance.

6. Publication Costs/Page Charges.

Anticipated costs of preparing and

publishing results of the research being

proposed (including page charges,

necessary illustrations, and the cost of a

reasonable number of coverless reprints)

may be estimated and charged against

the grant.

7. Computer (ADPE) Costs.

Reimbursement for the costs of using

specialized facilities (such as a

university- or department-controlled

computer mainframe or data processing

center) may be requested if such

services are required for completion of

the work.

8. All Other Direct Costs. Anticipated

direct project charges not included in

other budget categories must be

itemized with estimated costs and

justified on a separate sheet of paper

attached to Form CSREES–55. This also

applies to revised budgets, as the item(s)

and dollar amount(s) may change.

Examples may include space rental at

remote locations, subcontractual costs,

and charges for consulting services. You

are encouraged to consult the

‘‘Instructions for Completing Form

CSREES–55, Budget,’’ of the

Application Kit for detailed guidance

relating to this budget category.

9. Indirect Costs. If requested, the

current rate negotiated with the

cognizant Federal negotiating agency

should be used. Indirect costs may not

exceed the negotiated rate. If no rate has

been negotiated, a reasonable dollar

amount in lieu of indirect costs may be

requested, which will be subject to

approval by CSREES. In the latter case,

if a proposal is recommended for

funding, an indirect cost rate proposal

must be submitted to support the

amount of indirect costs requested.

CSREES will request an indirect cost

rate proposal and provide instructions,

as necessary.

In that grants supported by The Fund

may include numerous activities other

than traditional instruction or research,

the institution may choose to request

indirect costs rates that are lower than

the institution approved negotiated

research or instructional rate.

Applications from colleges and

universities that are not submitted

through an Office of Sponsored

Programs (or equivalent thereto) must

provide a statement in the budget

narrative verifying that the indirect

costs requested are in accordance with

institutional policies.

B. Budget Narrative: All salaries and

wages, nonexpendable equipment,

foreign travel, subcontracts, and all

other direct costs for which support is

requested must be individually listed

(with costs) and justified on a separate

sheet of paper and placed immediately

following the budget.

9. Current and Pending Support

All proposals must contain Form

CSREES–663 listing other current public

or private support (including in-house

support) to which key personnel
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices 41245

identified in the proposal have

committed portions of their time,

whether or not salary support for

person(s) involved is included in the

budget. Analogous information must be

provided for any pending proposals that

are being considered by, or that will be

submitted in the near future to, other

possible sponsors, including other

USDA programs or agencies. Concurrent

submission of identical or similar

proposals to the possible sponsors will

not prejudice proposal review or

evaluation by the Administrator for this

purpose. However, a proposal that

duplicates or overlaps substantially

with a proposal already reviewed and

funded (or that will be funded) by

another organization or agency will not

be funded under this program. NOTE:

This proposal should be identified in

the pending section of Form CSREES–

663.

10. Compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

As outlined in 7 CFR part 3407

(CSREES regulations implementing

NEPA), the environmental data for any

proposed project is to be provided to

CSREES so that CSREES may determine

whether any further action is needed. In

some cases, however, the preparation of

environmental data may not be

required. Certain categories of actions

are excluded from the requirements of

NEPA.

In order for CSREES to determine

whether any further action is needed

with respect to NEPA, pertinent

information regarding the possible

environmental impacts of a particular

project is necessary; therefore, Form

CSREES–1234, ‘‘NEPA Exclusions

Form,’’ must be included in the

proposal indicating whether the

applicant is of the opinion that the

project falls within a categorical

exclusion and the reasons therefor. If it

is the applicant’s opinion that the

proposed project falls within the

categorical exclusions, the specific

exclusion must be identified. Form

CSREES–1234 and supporting

documentation should be included as

the last page of the proposal.

Even though a project may fall within

the categorical exclusions, CSREES may

determine that an Environmental

Assessment or an Environmental Impact

Statement is necessary for an activity, if

substantial controversy on

environmental grounds exists or if other

extraordinary conditions or

circumstances are present which may

cause such activity to have a significant

environmental effect.

Part IV. Submission of a Proposal

A. What to Submit

An original and 15 copies must be

submitted. Each copy of each proposal

must be stapled in the upper left-hand

corner. (DO NOT BIND.) All copies of

the proposal must be submitted in one

package.

B. Where and When to Submit

Applications must be received by

September 29, 1997. Proposals sent by

First Class mail must be sent to the

following address: Proposal Services

Unit, Grants Management Branch, Office

of Extramural Programs, Cooperative

State Research, Education, and

Extension Service, STOP 2245, 1400

Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20250–2245,

Telephone: (202) 401–5048

Note: Hand-delivered proposals or those

delivered by overnight express service

should be brought to the following address:

Proposal Services Unit, Grants Management

Branch; Office of Extramural Programs;

Cooperative State Research, Education, and

Extension Service; U.S. Department of

Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace Center;

901 D Street, S.W.; Washington DC 20024.

The telephone number is (202) 401–5048.

C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

The receipt of all proposals will be

acknowledged in writing and this

acknowledgment will contain an

identifying proposal number. Once your

proposal has been assigned an

identification number, that number

should be cited in future

correspondence.

Part V. Selection Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process

Each proposal will be evaluated in a

two-part process. First, each proposal

will be screened to ensure it meets the

requirements as set forth in this RFP.

Proposals that meet these requirements

will be technically evaluated. Each

proposal will be judged on its own

merits.

B. Technical Evaluation Criteria

The review of applications submitted

for funding consideration will consist of

a technical evaluation conducted by

CSREES using the competitive peer

review process. Applications will

receive a technical evaluation using the

following criteria:

1. Merit

Scientific, technical, or educational

merit: Well defined problem; clearly

defined objectives; appropriateness of

approach, (including selection of proper

approach to address systems,

multifaceted, or multidisciplinary

problems); demonstrated integration of

components (such as research,

education and extension components);

degree of feasibility; soundness and

effectiveness of management plan.

2. Quality

Creativity and innovativeness in

addressing problem and issues;

selection of most appropriate and

qualified individuals to address

problem; competence and experience of

personnel; effective utilization of

knowledge base in addressing problem;

potential to contribute solutions to

stated problem; identified potential for

technology transfer and information

dissemination.

3. Relevance

Proposal advances purposes of The

Fund for Rural America; potential to

contribute solutions to priority

problems in agriculture; identification

and involvement of stakeholders;

involvement of communities of interest

and stakeholders in the identification of

problems set forth in proposal;

partnership with those affected by the

outcome.

C. Programmatic Relevance Review

The National Agricultural Research,

Education and Economics Advisory

Board will review collective groups of

recommended proposals (based on

technical evaluation) to ensure the

relevance of the work proposed for

funding toward achieving the

programmatic goals of The Fund.

Part VI. Supplementary Information

A. Access to Peer Review Information

After final decisions have been

announced, CSREES will, upon request,

inform the project director of the

reasons for its decision on a proposal.

Copies of summary reviews, not

including the identity of the reviewers,

will be made available to respective

project directors upon specific request.

B. Grant Awards

1. General

Within the limit of funds available for

such purpose, the awarding official of

CSREES shall make grants to those

responsible, eligible applicants whose

proposals are judged most meritorious

in the announced program areas under

the evaluation criteria and procedures

set forth in this request for proposals.

The date specified by the Administrator

as the effective date of the grant shall be

no later than September 30 of the

Federal fiscal year in which the project
41246 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices

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 practicable so that

project goals may be attained within the

funded project period. All funds granted

by CSREES under this request for

proposals shall be expended solely for

the purpose for which the funds are

granted in accordance with the

approved application and budget, these

application guidelines, the terms and

conditions of the award, the applicable

Federal cost principles, and the

Department’s assistance regulations

(parts 3015, 3016, and 3019 of 7 CFR).

2. Organizational Management

Information

Specific management information

relating to an applicant shall be

submitted on a one-time basis prior to

the award of a grant identified under

these application guidelines if such

information has not been provided

previously under this or another

program for which the sponsoring

agency is responsible. Copies of forms

recommended for use in fulfilling the

requirements contained in this section

will be provided by the sponsoring

agency as part of the preaward process.

3. Grant Award Document and Notice of

Grant Award

The grant award document shall

include at a minimum the following:

a. Legal name and address of

performing organization or institution to

whom the Administrator has awarded a

grant under the terms of this request for

proposals;

b. Title of Project;

c. Name(s) and address(es) of project

director(s) chosen to direct and control

approved activities;

d. Identifying grant number assigned

by the Department;

e. Project period, specifying the

amount of time the Department intends

to support the project without requiring

recompetition for funds;

f. Total amount of Departmental

financial assistance approved by the

Administrator during the project period;

g. Legal authority(ies) under which

the grant is awarded;

h. Approved budget plan for

categorizing allocable project funds to

accomplish the stated purpose of the

grant award; and

i. Other information or provisions

deemed necessary by CSREES to carry

out its respective granting activities or

to accomplish the purpose of a

particular grant.

The notice of grant award, in the form

of a letter, will be prepared and will

provide pertinent instructions or

information to the grantee that is not

included in the grant award document.

C. Use of Funds; Changes

1. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility

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, project director(s), or other key

project personnel in the approved

project grant shall be limited to changes

in methodology, techniques, or other

aspects of the project to expedite

achievement of the project’s approved

goals. If the grantee and/or the project

director(s) are uncertain as to whether a

change complies with this provision,

the question must be referred to the

Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO)

for a final determination.

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 be approved for

changes which are outside the scope of

the original approved project.

c. Changes in approved project

leadership or the replacement or

reassignment of other key project

personnel shall be requested by the

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.

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. 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:

Changes in an approved budget must be

requested by the grantee and approved

in writing by the ADO prior to

instituting such changes if the revision

will:

(1) Involve transfers of amounts

budgeted for indirect costs to absorb an

increase in direct costs;

(2) Involve transfers of amounts

budgeted for direct costs to

accommodate changes in indirect cost

rates negotiated during a budget period

and not approved when a grant was

awarded; or

(3) Involve transfers or expenditures

of amounts requiring prior approval as

set forth in the applicable Federal cost

principles, Departmental regulations, or

in the grant award.

D. Other Federal Statutes and

Regulations That Apply

Several other Federal statutes and

regulations apply to grant proposals

considered for review and to project

grants awarded under this program.

These include but are not limited to:

7 CFR part 1.1—USDA

implementation of the Freedom of

Information Act.

7 CFR part 1c—USDA

implementation of the Federal Policy for

the Protection of Human Subjects.

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 3015—USDA Uniform

Federal Assistance Regulations,

implementing OMB directives (i.e.,

Circular Nos. A–21 and A–122) and

incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C.

6301–6308 (formerly the Federal Grant

and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977,

Pub. L. No. 95–224), as well as general

policy requirements applicable to

recipients of Departmental financial

assistance.

7 CFR part 3017, as amended by 61

FR 250, January 4, 1996—USDA

implementation of Governmentwide

Debarment and Suspension

(Nonprocurement) and

Governmentwide Requirements for

Drug-Free Workplace (Grants).

7 CFR part 3018—USDA

implementation of New Restrictions on

Lobbying. Imposes prohibitions and

requirements for disclosure and

certification related to lobbying on

recipients of Federal contracts, grants,

cooperative agreements, and loans.

7 CFR part 3019—USDA

implementation of OMB Circular No. A–

110, Uniform Administrative

Requirements for Grants and

Agreements With Institutions of Higher

Education, Hospitals, and Other

Nonprofit Organizations.

7 CFR part 3051—USDA

implementation of OMB Circular No. A–

133 regarding audits of institutions of
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 147 / Thursday, July 31, 1997 / Notices 41247

higher education and other nonprofit

institutions.

7 CFR part 3407—CSREES procedures

to implement the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended.

48 CFR part 31—Contract Cost

Principles and Procedures of the Federal

Acquisition Regulation.

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).

E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals

and Awards

When a proposal results in a grant, it

becomes a part of the record of the

Agency’s transactions, available to the

public upon specific request.

Information that the Secretary

determines to be of a privileged nature

will be held in confidence to the extent

permitted by law. Therefore, any

information that the applicant wishes to

have considered as privileged should be

clearly marked as such and sent in a

separate statement, two copies of which

should accompany the proposal. The

original copy of a proposal that does not

result in a grant will be retained by the

Agency for a period of one year. Other

copies will be destroyed. Such a

proposal will be released only with the

consent of the applicant or to the extent

required by law. A proposal may be

withdrawn at any time prior to the final

action thereon.

Done at Washington, D.C., on this 25th day

of July 1997.

Colien Hefferan,

Associate Administrator, Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20236 Filed 7–30–97; 8:45 am]

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