42376 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service

Applications for FY 1998, National

Research Initiative Competitive Grants

Program

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service,

USDA

ACTION: Notice of Availability of

Program Description and Solicitation for

Applications for Fiscal Year 1998

National Research Initiative Competitive

Grants Program.

SUMMARY: Applications are invited for

competitive grant awards in

agricultural, forest, and related

environmental sciences under the

National Research Initiative Competitive

Grants Program (NRICGP) administered

by the Competitive Research Grants and

Awards Management Division,

Cooperative State Research, Education,

and Extension Service (CSREES), for

fiscal year (FY) 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

USDA/CSREES/NRICGP, Stop 2241,

1400 Independence Ave., SW,

Washington, DC 20250–2241. Phone:

(202) 401–5022. E-mail:

nricgp@reeusda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

Authority

Applicable Regulations and Statutory

Guidance

Conflicts of Interest

Project Types

I. Conventional Projects

II. Agricultural Research Enhancement

Awards

Funding Categories for FY 1998

Research Topic Areas

Application Materials

Materials Available on Internet

Electronic Subscription to NRICGP

Documents

NRICGP Deadline Dates

Authority

The authority for this program is

contained in Section 2(b) of the Act of

August 4, 1965, as amended (7 U.S.C.

450i(b)). Under this program, subject to

the availability of funds, the Secretary

may award competitive research grants,

for periods not to exceed five years, for

the support of research projects to

further the programs of the United

States Department of Agriculture

(USDA). Proposals may be submitted by

any State agricultural experiment

station, college, university, other

research institution or organization,

Federal agency, private organization,

corporation, or individual. Proposals

submitted by non-United States

organizations will not be considered for

support.

It is expected that Congress, in the

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food

and Drug Administration, and Related

Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, will

prohibit CSREES from using the funds

available for the NRICGP for FY 1998 to

pay indirect costs exceeding 14 per

centum of the total Federal funds

provided under each award on

competitively awarded research grants.

It is also expected that Congress, in the

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food

and Drug Administration, and Related

Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, will

encourage entities to use grant funds to

purchase only American-made

equipment or products in the case of

any equipment or product that may be

authorized to be purchased with the

funds provided under this program.

Applicable Regulations and Statutory

Guidance

The regulations governing the

NRICGP currently are found at 7 CFR

part 3411. The regulations set forth

procedures to be followed when

submitting grant proposals, rules

governing the evaluation of proposals

and the awarding of grants, and

regulations relating to the post-award

administration of grant projects.

Other regulations and statutes

applicable to this program (as specified

in those regulations) include, but are not

limited to, the following: (a) The USDA

Uniform Administrative Requirements

for Grants and Agreements with

Institutions of Higher-Education,

Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit

Organizations, 7 CFR part 3019; (b) the

USDA Uniform Administrative

Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements to State and

Local Governments, 7 CFR part 3016; (c)

the USDA Uniform Federal Assistance

Regulations, 7 CFR part 3015; (d)

Section 1402 of the National

Agricultural Research, Extension, and

Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 3101); and (e)

Section 1404 of the National

Agricultural Research, Extension, and

Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 3103), which defines

‘‘sustainable agriculture.’’

Conflicts of Interest

For the purpose of determining

conflicts of interest in accordance with

7 CFR 3411.12, the academic and

administrative autonomy of an

institution shall be determined by

reference to the January 1997 issue of

the Codebook for Compatible Statistical

Reporting of Federal Support to

Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit

Institutions, prepared by Quantum

Research Corporation for the National

Science Foundation. Copies may be

obtained from Quantum Research

Corporation, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue,

Suite 400W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Project Types

The project types for which proposals

are solicited include:

I. Conventional Projects

(a) Standard Research Grants:

Research will be supported that is

fundamental or mission-linked,

conducted by individual investigators,

co-investigators within the same

discipline, or multidisciplinary teams.

Any State agricultural experiment

station, college, university, other

research institution or organization,

Federal agency, private organization,

corporation, or individual may apply.

Proposals submitted by non-United

States organizations will not be

considered for support.

(b) Conferences: Scientific meetings

that bring together scientists to identify

research needs, update information, or

advance an area of research are

recognized as integral parts of research

efforts. Any State agricultural

experiment station, college, university,

other research institution or

organization, Federal agency, private

organization, corporation, or individual

is an eligible applicant in this area.

Proposals submitted by non-United

States organizations will not be

considered for support.

II. Agricultural Research Enhancement

Awards

In order to contribute to the

enhancement of research capabilities in

the research program areas described

herein, applications are solicited for

Agricultural Research Enhancement

Awards. Such applications may be

submitted by any State agricultural

experiment station, college, university,

other research institution or

organization, Federal agency, private

organization, corporation, or individual;

however, further eligibility

requirements are defined in 7 CFR

3411.3(d) and restated in the FY 1998

NRICGP Program Description.

Applications submitted by non-United

States organizations will not be

considered for support. However,

United States citizens applying as

individuals for Postdoctoral

Fellowships may perform all or part of

the proposed work at a non-United

States organization. Agricultural

Research Enhancement Awards are

available in the following categories:
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 1997 / Notices 42377

(a) Postdoctoral Fellowships.

(b) New Investigator Awards.

(c) Strengthening Awards: Institutions

in USDA EPSCoR entities are eligible for

strengthening awards. For FY 1998,

USDA EPSCoR states consist of the

following:

Alaska

Arkansas

Connecticut

Delaware

Hawaii

Idaho

Maine

Mississippi

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Mexico

North Dakota

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Utah

Vermont

West Virginia

Wyoming

For FY 1998, other USDA-EPSCoR

entities consist of the following:

American Samoa

District of Columbia

Guam

Micronesia

Northern Marianas

Puerto Rico

Virgin Islands

Investigators at small and mid-sized

institutions (total enrollment of 15,000

or less) may also be eligible for

Strengthening Awards. An institution in

this instance is an organization that

possesses a significant degree of

autonomy, as determined by reference

to the January 1997 issue of the

Codebook for Compatible Statistical

Reporting of Federal Support to

Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit

Institutions, prepared by Quantum

Research Corporation for the National

Science Foundation. Copies may be

obtained from Quantum Research

Corporation, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue,

Suite 400W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Institutions which are among the top

100 universities and colleges, except

those in USDA EPSCoR states, are

ineligible for strengthening awards. The

top 100 institutions excluding those in

USDA EPSCoR states, as listed in the

table Federal obligations for science and

engineering research and development

to the 100 universities and colleges

receiving the largest amounts, ranked by

total amount received, by agency: Fiscal

year 1995 of the Survey of Federal

Science and Engineering Support to

Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit

Institutions (National Science

Foundation, accessible through the

Internet at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/

fedsuppt/start.htm), are as follows:

Arizona State University Main

Baylor College of Medicine

Boston University

California Institute of Technology

Carnegie-Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Colorado State University

Columbia University

Cornell University

CUNY Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Duke University

Emory University

Florida State University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Harvard University

Indiana University

Iowa State University of Science and

Technology

Johns Hopkins University

Louisiana State University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michigan State University

New York University

North Carolina State University at

Raleigh

Northwestern University

Ohio State University

Oregon Health Sciences University

Oregon State University

Pennsylvania State University

Princeton University

Purdue University

Rockefeller University

Rutgers the State University of New

Jersey

Stanford University

State University of New York Stony

Brook

State University of New York at Buffalo

Texas A&M University

Thomas Jefferson University

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of Alabama Birmingham

University of Arizona

University of California Santa Barbara

University of California San Francisco

University of California Irvine

University of California San Diego

University of California Davis

University of California Los Angeles

University of California Berkeley

University of Chicago

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Illinois Urbana

University of Illinois Chicago

University of Iowa

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

University of Maryland Baltimore Prof

Sch

University of Maryland College Park

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Med Schl

Worcester

University of Medicine and Dentistry of

New Jersey

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

University of Missouri Columbia

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rochester

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas Health Science

Center Houston

University of Texas Health Sci. Center

San Antonio

University of Texas MD Anderson

Cancer Center

University of Texas Medical Branch

Galveston

University of Texas SW Medical Center

Dallas

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin Madison

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Polytech Institute and State

University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Wake Forest University

Washington University

Wayne State University

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Yeshiva University

See the FY 1998 Program Description

for complete details on programs and

eligibility.

Funding Categories for FY 1998

CSREES is soliciting proposals,

subject to the availability of funds, for

support of high priority research of

importance to agriculture, forestry, and

related environmental sciences, in the

following research categories

(Anticipated FY 1998 funding and

Actual FY 1997 funding, rounded to the

$0.1M, follows in parentheses):

• Natural Resources and the

Environment (FY98: $16.0M, FY97:

$16.0M)

• Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health

(FY98: $6.7M, FY97: $6.7M)

• Plant Systems (FY98: $33.5M,

FY97: $33.5M)

• Animal Systems (FY98: $21.5M,

FY97: $21.5M)

• Markets, Trade, and Policy (FY98:

$3.6M, FY97: $3.6M)

• New Products and Processes (FY98:

$6.3M, FY97: $6.3M)

Support for research areas listed

below may be derived from one or more

of the above funding categories based on

the nature of the scientific topic to be

supported.
42378 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 1997 / Notices

Pursuant to the provisions of section

2(b)(10) of the Act of August 4, 1965, as

amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)), no less

than 10 percent (FY98: $8.7M, FY97:

$8.7M) of the available funds listed

above will be made available for

Agricultural Research Enhancement

Awards (excluding New Investigator

Awards), and no more than 2 percent

(FY98: $1.7M, FY97: $1.7M) of the

available funds listed above will be

made available for equipment grants.

Further, no less than 30 percent (FY98:

$26.3M, FY97: $26.3M) of the funds

listed above shall be made available for

grants for research to be conducted by

multidisciplinary teams, and no less

than 40 percent (FY98: $35.1M, FY97:

$35.1M) of the funds listed above shall

be made available for grants for missionlinked research.

Research Topic Areas

The funds appropriated as listed

above will be used to support research

grants in the following areas:

Natural Resources and the Environment

Plant Responses to the Environment

Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic Ecosystems

(not offered in FY 1998)

Soils and Soil Biology

Water Resources Assessment and

Protection

Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health

Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal

Health

Ensuring Food Safety

Animals

Animal Reproductive Efficiency

Animal Growth, Development, and

Nutrient Utilization

Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene

Mapping

Animal Health and Well-Being

Pest Biology and Management

Plant Pathology

Entomology and Nematology

Weed Biology and Management

Biologically Based Pest Management

Plants

Plant Genome

Plant Genetic Mechanisms

Plant Growth and Development

Photosynthesis and Respiration

Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism

Markets, Trade, and Rural Development

Markets and Trade

Rural Development

Enhancing Value and Use of

Agricultural and Forest Products

Value-Added Products Research

Food Characterization/Process/

Product Research

Non-Food Characterization/Process/

Product Research

Improved Utilization of Wood and

Wood Fiber

Agricultural Systems Research

(integrated, multidisciplinary research

on agricultural systems)

Application Materials

The solicitation, which contains

research topic descriptions, and the

NRICGP Application Kit, which

contains detailed instructions on how to

apply and the requisite forms, may be

obtained by writing or calling the office

indicated below. Please note that

applicants who submitted NRICGP

proposals for FY 1997 or who have

recently requested placement on the list

for FY 1998 will automatically receive

a copy of the FY 1998 solicitation and

any supplements.

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 Ave., SW., Washington,

DC 20250–2245, Telephone: (202)

401–5048.

Requests for solicitations and

application materials may also now be

made via Internet by sending a message

with your name, complete mailing

address, (not e-mail), phone number,

and materials that you are requesting to

psb@reeusda.gov. Materials will be

mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly

as possible.

Materials Available on Internet

The following materials are available on

the NRICGP Home Page on the

Internet (www.reeusda.gov/nri).

NRICGP Program Description

This document is available for the

current fiscal year, and describes all of

the NRICGP funding programs. To apply

for a grant, it is also necessary to obtain

the NRICGP Application Kit.

NRICGP Application Kit

This document contains guidelines

for proposal preparation and the

requisite forms.

NRICGP Abstracts of Funded Research

The abstracts available on this

searchable database are nontechnical

abstracts written by the principal

investigator of each individual grant,

starting with FY 1993. Each entry also

includes the title, principal

investigator(s), awardee institution,

dollar amount, and proposal number for

each grant. The first two digits of the

proposal number indicate the fiscal year

in which the proposal was submitted.

NRICGP Annual Report

The NRICGP Annual Reports starting

with FY 1995 are available. These

reports include descriptions of the

program concept, the authorization,

policy, inputs to establish research

needs, program execution, and

outcomes, including relevant statistics.

Also included are examples of recent

research funded by the NRICGP.

Electronic Subscription to NRICGP

Documents

The NRICGP has set up a mailserver

which will notify subscribers when

publications such as its Program

Description or Abstracts of Funded

Research are available electronically on

the World Wide Web. Subscribers will

not receive the document itself, but

instead will receive an e-mail

containing an announcement regarding

the document’s availability on the Web.

To subscribe: Send an e-mail message

to: majordomo@reeusda.gov

In the body of the message, include

only the words: subscribe nri-epubs

To unsubscribe: Send an e-mail

message to: majordomo@reeusda.gov

In the body of the message, include

only the words: unsubscribe nri-epubs

Please note that this is not a forum.

Messages, other than those related to

subscription, can not be posted to this

address.

NRICGP Deadline Dates

The following fixed dates have been

established for proposal submission

deadlines within the NRICGP,

Cooperative State Research, Education,

and Extension Service, United States

Department of Agriculture. To be

considered for funding in any fiscal

year, proposals must be transmitted by

the date listed below (as indicated by

postmark or date on courier bill of

lading). When the deadline date falls on

a weekend or Federal holiday,

transmission must be made by the

following business day.

Programs offered in any fiscal year

depend on availability of funds and

deadlines may be delayed due to

unforeseen circumstances. Consult the

pertinent NRICGP solicitation in the

Federal Register, the NRICGP Program

Description, or the NRICGP Home Page

(www.reeusda.gov/nri) for up-to-date

information.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 1997 / Notices 42379

Postmarked dates Program codes Program areas

November 15 .............. 22.1 Plant Responses to the Environment.

25.0 Soils and Soil Biology.

26.0 Water Resources Assessment and Protection.

31.0 Human Nutrition for Optimal Health.

51.4 Weed Biology and Management.

December 15 .............. 52.1 Plant Genome.

52.2 Plant Genetic Mechanisms.

53.0 Plant Growth and Development.

54.1 Photosynthesis and Respiration.

61.0 Markets and Trade.

62.0 Rural Development.

71.1 Food Characterization/Process/Product Research.

71.2 Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product Research.

January 15 .................. 32.0 Ensuring Food Safety.

41.0 Animal Reproductive Efficiency.

44.0 Animal Health and Well-Being.

51.1 Plant Pathology.

51.2 Entomology and Nematology.

51.7 Biologically Based Pest Management.

73.0 Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber.

February 15 ................ 42.0 Animal Growth, Development, and Nutrient Utilization.

43.0 Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene Mapping.

54.2 Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism.

80.1 Research Career Enhancement Awards.

80.2 Equipment Grants.

80.3 Seed Grants.

100.0 Agricultural Systems.

The Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic

Ecosystems program will not be offered

in FY 1998.

Done at Washington, DC, this 31st day of

July 1997.

B.H. Robinson,

Administrator, Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20656 Filed 8–5–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P