14574 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service

Request for Proposals (RFP):

Community Food Projects Competitive

Grants Program

ACTION: Announcement of availability of

grant funds and request for proposals for

the Community Food Projects

Competitive Grants Program.

SUMMARY: The Federal Agriculture

Improvement and Reform Act of 1996

established new authority for a program

of Federal grants to support the

development of community food

projects designed to meet the food needs

of low-income people; increase the selfreliance of communities in providing for

their own food needs; and promote

comprehensive responses to local food,

farm, and nutrition issues.

This notice sets out the objectives for

these projects, the eligibility criteria for

projects and applicants, and the

application procedures. Proposals are

requested for (1) projects designed to

increase food security in a community

(termed Community Food Projects) and,

(2) projects designed to provide training

and technical assistance (T&TA) to

entities that are, or might be interested

in, developing community food security

projects for funding (termed T&TA

Projects). Applicants may request expert

consultation as a part of their proposal

request in order to subcontract to

consultants or other groups to provide

assistance for technical voids of the

applicant organization.

This notice contains the entire set of

instructions needed to apply for a

Community Food Projects Competitive

Grants Program (CFPCGP) grant.

DATES: Applications must be received

on or before June 6, 1997. Proposals

received after June 6, 1997 will not be

considered for funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Elizabeth Tuckermanty, Cooperative

State Research, Education, and

Extension Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, STOP 2225, 1400

Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20250–2225;

telephone (202) 720–5997; Internet:

etuckermanty@reeusda.gov; or Dr. Mark

Bailey, Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, STOP 2241,

1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20250–2241;

telephone: (202) 401–1898; Internet:

mbailey@reeusda.gov.

Table of Contents

Part I—General Information

A. Legislative Authority

B. Definitions

C. Eligibility

Part II—Program Description

A. Purpose and Scope of the Program

B. Available Funds and Award Limitations

C. Matching Funds Requirement

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

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

F. Evaluation of Program

Part I—General Information

A. Legislative Authority

Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of

1977, as amended by Section 401(h) of

the Federal Agriculture Improvement

and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104–

127) (7 U.S.C. 2034), authorized a new

program of Federal grants to support the

development of community food

projects; $16 million is authorized over

seven years (1996–2002). For fiscal year

1997, approximately $2.5 million is

available ($2.5 million has been

authorized in each subsequent year

through fiscal year 2002). These grants

are intended to assist eligible private

nonprofit entities that need a one-time

infusion of Federal dollars to establish

and sustain multi-purpose community

food projects.

B. 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,

director, 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) Cash contributions means the

applicant’s cash outlay, including the

outlay of money contributed to the

applicant by non-Federal third parties.

(6) Community Food Project is a

project that requires a one-time infusion

of Federal assistance to become selfsustaining and is designed to: (i) meet

the food needs of low-income people;

(ii) increase the self-reliance of

communities in providing for their own

food needs; and (iii) promote

comprehensive responses to local food,

farm, and nutrition issues. These

activities help to increase food security

in a community.

(7) Department or USDA means the

United States Department of

Agriculture.

(8) Grant means the award by the

Secretary of funds to a private, nonprofit entity 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 CFPCGP as identified

in these guidelines.

(9) Grantee means the organization

designated in the grant award document

as the responsible legal entity to which

a grant is awarded.

(10) Matching means that portion of

project costs not borne by the Federal

Government, including the value of inkind contributions.

(11) Peer review experts 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.

(12) Private non-profit entity means

any corporation, trust, association,

cooperative or other organization which

(i) is operated primarily for scientific,

educational, service, charitable, or

similar purposes in the public interest;

(ii) is not organized primarily for profit;

and (iii) uses its net proceeds to

maintain, improve, and/or expand its

operations. For this purpose, the term

nonprofit organization excludes (i)

colleges or universities or their research

foundations or other nonprofit elements;
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices 14575

(ii) hospitals; (iii) State, local, and

Federally recognized Indian tribal

governments; and (iv) those

corporations, because of their size and

nature of operations, which can be

considered to be similar to commercial

concerns.

(13) Prior approval means written

approval evidencing prior consent by an

authorized departmental officer as

defined in (2) above.

(14) Project means the particular

activity within the scope of the program

supported by a grant award.

(15) 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.

(16) Project period means the period,

as stated in the award document and

modifications thereto, if any, during

which Federal sponsorship begins and

ends.

(17) Secretary means the Secretary of

Agriculture and any other officer or

employee of the Department to whom

the authority involved may be

delegated.

(18) Third party in-kind contributions

means non-cash contributions of

property or services provided by nonFederal third parties, including real

property, equipment, supplies and other

expendable property, directly benefiting

and specifically identifiable to a funded

project or program.

(19) Training and Technical

Assistance (T&TA) Project is a project

that requests a one-time infusion of

Federal assistance (i) to help one or

more community-based entities develop

high-quality proposals for funding

under the CFPCGP and/or (ii) to provide

information, education, and skills

training to applicants, potential

applicants, and/or past and current

grantees to meet the goals of a

Community Food Project (as described

in Item 6 above).

C. Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by

private, nonprofit entities. Because

proposals for Community Food Projects

must promote comprehensive responses

to local food, farm, and nutrition issues,

applicants are encouraged to seek and

create partnerships among public,

private nonprofit, and private for-profit

entities. However, no more than onethird of an award for Community Food

Projects or T&TA Projects may be

subawarded to a for-profit organization

or firm.

To be eligible for a grant for a

Community Food Project, a private

nonprofit applicant must meet four

requirements:

(1) have experience in the area of:

(a) community food work, particularly

concerning small and medium-sized

farms, including the provision of food to

people in low-income communities and

the development of new markets in lowincome communities for agricultural

producers; or

(b) job training and business

development activities for food-related

activities in low-income communities;

(2) demonstrate competency to

implement a project, provide fiscal

accountability and oversight, collect

data, and prepare reports and other

appropriate documentation;

(3) demonstrate a willingness to share

information with researchers,

practitioners, and other interested

parties; and

(4) directly carry out the proposed

activities in the community. Entities

that supply expertise and/or materials to

communities or projects in which they

are not an integral part are not eligible

for awards.

To be eligible for a grant for a T&TA

Project, a private nonprofit applicant

must meet three requirements:

(1) have experience and skills in

providing education and training in

community food security, assessing

community food needs, coalition

building, project development and

evaluation, grant preparation and fund

raising, and any other relevant

component of training and technical

assistance to be provided;

(2) demonstrate competency to

implement a project, provide fiscal

accountability and oversight, collect

data, and prepare reports and other

appropriate documentation; and

(3) demonstrate a willingness to share

information with researchers,

practitioners, and other interested

parties.

The intent of the CFPCGP is to

encourage and support communitybased, grass-roots efforts that enhance

food security. Applicants are strongly

encouraged to link with academic

experts and Cooperative Extension

personnel in the planning,

implementation, and evaluation of their

projects. In addition, academic experts

and Cooperative Extension personnel

may wish to involve relevant

community-based nonprofit

organizations in developing proposals of

mutual interest and serve as technical

advisors to the applying entity.

Successful applicants must provide

matching funds, either in cash or inkind, amounting to at least 50 percent

of the total cost of the project during the

term of the grant award as provided by

section 25(e) of the Food Stamp Act of

1977.

Part II—Program Description

A. Purpose and Scope of the Program

Proposals are invited for competitive

grant awards under the CFPCGP for

fiscal year 1997. This program is

administered by the Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service (CSREES) of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA). The

purpose of this program is to support

the development of community food

projects with a one-time infusion of

Federal dollars to make such projects

self-sustaining. Community Food

Projects should be designed to: (i) Meet

the food needs of low-income people;

(ii) increase the self-reliance of

communities in providing for their own

food needs; and (iii) promote

comprehensive responses to local food,

farm, and nutrition issues. T&TA

Projects, under this program, should be

designed to assist nonprofit community

entities to develop programs that meet

these goals.

Community food projects are

intended to take a comprehensive

approach to developing long-term

solutions that help to ensure food

security in communities by linking the

food production and processing sectors

to community development, economic

opportunity, and environmental

enhancement. Comprehensive solutions

may include elements such as: (i)

Improved access to high quality,

affordable food among low-income

households; (ii) expanded economic

opportunities for community residents

through local businesses or other

economic development, improved

employment opportunities, job training,

youth apprenticeship, school-to-work

transition, and the like, and (iii) support

for local food systems, from urban

gardening to local farms that provide

high quality fresh foods, ideally with

minimal adverse environmental impact.

Any solution proposed must tie into

community food needs.

Project goals should integrate

multiple objectives into their design.

Proposed projects should seek to

address impacts beyond a specific goal

such as increasing food produced or

available for a specific group. Goals and

objectives should integrate economic,

social, and environmental impacts such

as job training, employment

opportunities, small business

expansion, neighborhood revitalization,

open space development, transportation

assistance or other community

enhancements.
14576 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices

Proposed projects should seek

solutions rather than focusing on shortterm food relief. They should seek

comprehensive solutions to problems

across all levels of the food system from

producer to consumer. This point is

emphasized because many proposals

submitted in fiscal year 1996 were

primarily for expanding applicant

efforts in food relief and assistance or

for connecting established or partially

established programs (such as

community gardens and farmers

markets) with little evidence of strategic

planning and participation by

stakeholders in the proposed project

design. Successful proposals must

emphasize a food system and/or food

security approach (i.e., an applicant

must describe the large food-related

picture in the community and the place

of the proposed project within it). They

must also show evidence of coalition

building and substantial community

linkages.

Applicants should be aware of several

USDA policy themes and initiatives that

have the potential to strengthen the

impact and success of some community

food projects. These include food

recovery and gleaning excess food;

connecting the urban consumer with the

rural producer; aiding citizens in

leaving public assistance and achieving

self-sufficiency; and utilizing micro

enterprise and/or development projects

related to community food needs.

Relevant ongoing initiatives include

farmers markets; U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development

designated Empowerment Zones,

Enterprise Communities, and Champion

Communities; and the AmeriCorps

national service program (a potential

source of contributors for community

food projects).

The community, not the individual

per se, is the unit of analysis and

medium for action. Many solutions to

food access problems may come from

beyond a community’s own boundaries,

since most food also comes from

outside. In that context, wherever

possible community food projects

should support food systems based on

strategies that improve the availability

of high-quality locally-or regionallyproduced foods to low-income people.

Community food projects are

intended to bring together stakeholders

from the distinct parts of the food

system. Solutions to hunger and access

to food should reflect a process that

involves partnership building among

the public, private nonprofit, and

private for-profit sectors. Together, these

parties can address issues such as the

capacity of the community to produce

food and support local growers; the

need for, and location of, grocery stores

that market affordable, high quality

food; transportation constraints;

economic opportunities for residents to

increase income, thereby increasing

access to high quality nutritious food;

community development issues; the

environment; and so on.

Community food projects should not

be designed to merely support

individual food pantries, farmers

markets, community gardens or other

established projects. Rather, proposed

community food projects should build

on these experiences and encourage

innovative long-term efforts. A

successful project should be able to

endure and outlive the one-time

infusion of government and other

matching funds. Community food

projects should be designed to become

self-supporting (or have a sustainable

funding source) and expand or prove to

be a replicable model.

The primary objectives of the CFPCGP

are to increase the food self-reliance of

communities; promote comprehensive

responses to local food, farm and

nutrition issues; develop innovative

linkages between the for-profit and

nonprofit food sectors; and encourage

long-term planning activities and multisystem inter-agency approaches. The

following are some examples of these

objectives in practice:

• Developing a working link between

a food bank and area farmers to market

fresh produce to a community through

community-supported agriculture.

Community members provide the

financial support while the project

develops links to institutions such as

restaurants, food pantries, schools, and

other institutions. The process increases

community awareness and commitment

to local agriculture, while providing

farmers a local market for consumers,

and expands the supply of and access to

high-quality food.

• Implementing a comprehensive

strategic plan for a lower-income

neighborhood to increase residents’

access to high-quality, affordable food

through farmers’ markets, community

gardens, supermarkets, and other food

programs. Such a plan should include

transportation assistance, business

development, and/or neighborhood

improvement. As with other sector

planning, the community participates in

identifying its food-related priorities

and works with institutions through a

collaborative interagency process to

meet its objectives.

• Developing a system of community

farm stands sponsored by neighborhood

organizations and managed by youth

that sell locally-grown produce in lowincome communities. The project

provides skills training and/or jobs and

aims to become self-supporting within a

reasonable time. It increases

participants’ understanding of the food

system, including food production and

distribution, expands interest in good

nutrition, and provides entrepreneurial

training opportunities for young people.

• A local food policy council may

develop and implement a plan that

creates several new food ventures,

including a new supermarket in a lowincome neighborhood. The council

serves as the planning and coordinating

entity that brings together local farmers,

for-profit food operators such as

restaurants, processors, and retailers

with low-income neighborhood

development organizations and job

training groups, emergency food

providers, city hall, and other

community service entities.

• Developing a comprehensive

community response to job and food

needs by creating job opportunities that

respond to the needs of local businesses,

building technical expertise that leads

to well-paid jobs. It will be necessary to

bring together resources that facilitate

the development of work skills, work

ethics, education completion and that

respond to community food and

nutrition needs.

B. Available Funds and Award

Limitations

The total amount of funds available in

fiscal year 1997 for support of this

program is approximately $2,500,000.

Up to 10% of available funds

(approximately $250,000) will be

available for T&TA Projects, and the

remainder for Community Food

Projects. Applicants should request a

budget commensurate with the project

proposed. However, due to the effort

required to properly evaluate proposals,

USDA strongly urges that requests for

support do not fall below $10,000.

The intent of the authorizing

legislation is that no one grant should

command a significant portion of the

total funds available and that many

grants be awarded each year. Therefore,

USDA has concluded that no single

grant shall exceed $100,000 in any

single year or more than $250,000 over

the life of the project.

Applicants may request one, two, or

three years of funding, but in all cases,

USDA funding may not exceed three

years for any one project. A Community

Food Project or a T&TA Project may be

supported by only a single grant under

this program.

Awards will be made based on the

merit of the proposed project with

budgets considered only after the merits

of the project have been determined.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices 14577

USDA reserves the right to negotiate

final budgets with successful applicants.

It is intended that the grantee will

perform the substantive effort on the

project. No more than one-third of the

award, as determined by budget

expenditures, may be subawarded to

for-profit organizations. For purposes of

obtaining additional knowledge or

expertise that is not currently within the

applicant organization, funds for expert

consultation may be included in the All

Other Direct Costs section of the

proposed budget.

C. Matching Funds Requirement

The Federal share of the cost of

establishing or carrying out a

community food project that receives

assistance under this program may not

exceed 50 percent of the cost of the

project during the term of the grant.

Grantees may provide for the nonFederal share through cash and/or in

kind contributions, fairly evaluated,

including facilities, equipment, and

services. A grantee may provide for the

non-Federal share of the funding

through State government, local

government, or private sources.

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.

B. Content of a Proposal

(1) General

The proposal should follow these

guidelines, enabling reviewers to more

easily evaluate the merits of each

proposal in a systematic, consistent

fashion:

(a) The proposal should be prepared

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 spaced. Use an

easily readable font face (e.g., Geneva,

Helvetica, CG Times).

(b) Each page of the proposal,

beginning with the Project Summary

and including any appendices, should

be numbered sequentially in the top

right corner.

(c) The proposal should be stapled in

the upper left-hand corner. Do not bind.

An original and 9 copies (10 total) must

be submitted as one package, along with

20 copies of the ‘‘Project Summary’’ as

a separate attachment.

(2) Cover Page

Complete Form CSREES–661,

Application for Funding, in its entirety.

This form is to be utilized as the Cover

Page. In Block 14., note the total amount

of Federal dollars being requested.

(a) Blocks 7., 13., 18., 19., 20., and 21.

have been completed for you.

(b) In Block 8. enter Community Food

Project or T&TAP if the proposal is a

Training & Technical Assistance Project.

Ignore all references to a program

number.

(c) Note that providing a Social

Security Number is voluntary, but is an

integral part of the CSREES information

system and will assist in the processing

of the proposal.

(d) The original copy of the

Application for Funding form must

contain the pen-and-ink signatures of

the project director(s) and authorized

organizational representative for the

applicant organization.

(e) 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, regarding Debarment

and Suspension and Drug-Free

Workplace, and 7 CFR Part 3018,

regarding Lobbying. The three

certification forms are included in this

application package for informational

purposes only. It is not necessary to sign

and submit the forms to USDA as part

of the proposal.

(3) Compliance With the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

As outlined in 7 CFR Part 3407 (the

Cooperative State Research, Education,

and Extension Service 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 placed after

Form CSREES–661, Application for

Funding, in 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.

This will be the case 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.

(4) Table of Contents

For ease in locating information, each

proposal must contain a detailed table

of contents just after the NEPA

Exclusions Form. The Table of Contents

should include page numbers for each

component of the proposal. Page

numbers, shown in the top right corner,

should begin immediately following the

Table of Contents.

(5) Project Summary

The proposal must contain a project

summary of 250 words or less on a

separate page. The summary must be

self-contained and describe the overall

goals and relevance of the project. The

summary should also contain a listing of

the major organizations participating in

the project. The Project Summary

should immediately follow the Table of

Contents. In addition to the summary,

this page must include the title of the

project, the name of the applicant

organization, the authorized

organizational representative, and the

project director(s) followed by the

summary.

(6) Project Narrative

The Project Narrative shall not exceed

10 pages. It must repeat and answer

each of the following 9 questions:

(a) FOR COMMUNITY FOOD

PROJECTS: What is the community to

be served by the proposed project?

Describe the local food economy or

food system, demographics, income,

and geographic characteristics of the

area to be served and any other

pertinent information, such as the

community’s assets and needs.

FOR T&TA PROJECTS: What types of

communities are being targeted by the

proposed project?

Provide a general description of the

local food economies or food systems,

demographics, incomes, and geographic

characteristics of the areas to be served

and any other pertinent information,
14578 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices

such as the assets and needs of the

targeted communities.

(b) What organizations will be

involved in carrying out the proposed

project and which segments of the local

food economy or system do they link?

Include a description of the relevant

experience of the organizations,

including the applicant organization,

that will be involved and any project

history. Letters acknowledging the

support of these organizations are

strongly encouraged and should be

provided in the appendix to the

proposal. Proposals should demonstrate

extensive community linkages and

coalitions.

(c) What are the goals or purposes to

be achieved by the proposed project?

List these goals and/or purposes.

(d) How will the goals be achieved?

Provide a systematic description of

the approach by which the goals will be

accomplished.

(e) What are the major milestones that

will indicate progress toward achieving

the project goals?

Provide a time line or description for

accomplishing major project objectives.

(f) The legislation outlines three major

outcomes of the CFPCGP: (i) Meet the

food needs of low-income people; (ii)

increase the self-reliance of

communities in providing for their own

food needs; and (iii) promote

comprehensive responses to local food,

farm and nutrition issues. What

measures will be used to assess project

progress on each of these three

outcomes? How will you assess

performance on the outcomes?

For example, an applicant may

propose to develop a farmers market in

a low-income urban area, selling

produce grown by farmers in the

surrounding area, and employing staff

from both the urban and rural

communities. The goals may be to

increase access to fresh produce by

community residents (addresses

outcome i) increase employment and

the income of farmers (addresses

outcome ii) and reduce the extent of

poor nutrition among low-income

residents (addresses outcome iii).

Possible outcome measures are the

change in the consumption of produce

by customers, the number of jobs

created by the market, and the change

in income experienced by the farmers

supplying the market.

Proposals should contain a strong

evaluation component. Those with

innovative evaluation strategies are

especially encouraged. One desirable

outcome of the CFPCGP is to learn more

about what happens to make such

projects succeed, only partially succeed,

or fail. Therefore, proposals are

encouraged that include both process

evaluations (developing and monitoring

indicators of progress towards the

objectives) and outcome evaluations (to

determine whether the objectives were

met). Applicants should seek the help of

experts in evaluation design and

implementation as appropriate.

(g) How does the proposed project

address each of the following issues: (i)

Develop innovative linkages and

coalitions between two or more sectors

of the food system; (ii) support

entrepreneurial and job-training

projects; and (iii) encourage long-term

planning activities and multi-system,

interagency approaches?

Provide a description of how each of

these issues, as appropriate, will be

addressed. Entrepreneurial projects

should provide evidence (e.g., in the

form of a market analysis or business

plan) to demonstrate that it is likely to

become self-sustaining and provide

employees with important job skills.

(h) What are the plans for achieving

self-sustainability?

Describe why a one-time infusion of

Federal funds will be sufficient for the

proposed project.

(i) Additional information

Provide any additional information

which supports the need for and

usefulness of the project.

(7) Key Personnel

Identify the primary project director

and the co-project director(s) and other

key personnel required for this project.

An organizational chart should be

provided if available. What is their

relevant experience? Include resumes or

vitae that provide adequate information

so that proposal reviewers can make an

informed judgment as to their

capabilities and experience.

(8) Budget

(a) Budget Form: Prepare the budget

form in accordance with instructions

provided with the form. A budget form

is required for each year of requested

support. In addition, a cumulative

budget is required detailing the

requested total support for the overall

project period. (For example, for a 3-

year project, the proposal would include

4 budget forms; one for each of the three

years of the project and one cumulative

budget for the full 3 years.) 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.

In addition to the budget form,

applicants should include remarks and

budget item justifications on a separate

page.

(b) Matching Funds

(1) Proposals must include written

verification of commitments of

matching support (including both cash

and in-kind contributions) from third

parties. Written verification means:

(i) For any third party cash

contributions, a separate pledge

agreement for each donation, signed by

the authorized organizational

representatives of the donor

organization and the applicant

organization, which must include: (a)

The name, address, and telephone

number of the donor; (b) the name of the

applicant organization; (c) the title of

the project for which the donation is

made; (d) the dollar amount of the cash

donation; and (e) a statement that the

donor will pay the cash contribution

during the grant period; and

(ii) For any third party in-kind

contributions, a separate pledge

agreement for each contribution, signed

by the authorized organizational

representatives of the donor

organization and the applicant

organization, which must include: (a)

The name, address, and telephone

number of the donor; (b) the name of the

applicant organization; (c) the title of

the project for which the donation is

made; (d) a good faith estimate of the

current fair market value of the in-kind

contribution; and (e) a statement that

the donor will make the contribution

during the grant period.

(2) The sources and amount of all

matching support from outside the

applicant institution should be

summarized on a separate page and

placed in the proposal immediately

following the budget form. All pledge

agreements must be placed in the

proposal immediately following the

summary of matching support.

(3) Applicants should refer to OMB

Circulars A–110, Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Agreements With Institutions of

Higher Education, Hospitals and Other

Non-profit Organizations, and A–122,

Cost Principles for Non-Profit

Organizations, for further guidance and

other requirements relating to matching

and allowable costs.

(9) Current and Pending Support

All proposals must list any other

current public or private support

(including in-house support) to which

key personnel identified in the proposal

have committed portions of their time,
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices 14579

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. The

application material includes Form

CSREES–663, Current and Pending

Support, which is suitable for listing

current and pending support. Note that

the project being proposed should be

included in the proposed section of the

form.

Part IV—Submission of a Proposal

A. What To Submit

An original and 9 copies of the

complete proposal must be submitted.

Each copy of each proposal must be

stapled in the upper left-hand corner.

DO NOT BIND. In addition, submit 20

copies of the proposal’s Project

Summary. All copies of the proposal

and Project Summary must be submitted

in one package.

B. Where and When To Submit

Proposals must be received by June 6,

1997. Proposals sent by First Class mail

must be sent to the following address:

Proposal Services Unit, Grants

Management Branch, Office of

Extramural Programs, USDA/CSREES,

STOP 2245, 1400 Independence

Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250–

2245, Telephone: (202) 401–5048.

Note: Hand-delivered proposals or those

delivered by an overnight express service

such as Federal Express should be brought to

the following address: Proposal Services

Unit, Grants Management Branch, Office of

Extramural Programs, USDA/CSREES, Room

303, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20024, Telephone: (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, please cite that

number in future correspondence.

Part V—Selection Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process

Proposals must be received on or

before June 6, 1997. Applicants are

highly encouraged to convey their

completed proposals via over-night mail

or delivery services to ensure timely

receipt by the USDA. Proposals will be

ranked relative to all those received, and

ranking will be based primarily on

technical merit and potential for

sustainment. Those proposals

recommended for an award will be

conveyed to the Administrator (or

designee) for final approval.

Since the award process must be

completed by September 30, 1997,

applicants should submit fully

developed proposals that meet all the

requirements set forth in this RFP and

have fully developed budgets as well.

However, USDA does retain the right to

conduct discussions with applicants to

resolve technical and/or budget issues

as it deems necessary.

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 by expert

reviewers. Second, each proposal will

be judged on its own merits. Proposals

not meeting the requirements as set

forth in this RFP will be returned

without review.

A panel of individuals will evaluate

the proposed projects. The individual

panel members will be selected from

among those recognized as specialists

who are uniquely qualified by training

and experience in their respective fields

to render expert advice on the merit of

proposals being reviewed. These panel

members will be drawn from a number

of areas, among them government,

universities, and entities involved in

community food organizations or

institutions, and rural development. The

individual views of reviewers will be

used to determine which proposals will

be recommended for funding.

There is no commitment by USDA to

fund any particular proposal or to make

a specific number of awards. USDA also

may elect to fund several or none of the

proposed approaches to the same topic

area. Care will be taken to avoid actual

and potential conflicts of interest among

reviewers. Evaluations will be

confidential to USDA staff members,

peer reviewers, and the project

director(s), to the extent permitted by

law.

The members of the review panel will

take into consideration evaluation

criteria that includes, but is not limited

to, the following: The amount of

available funding; geographic

distribution of applications; balance and

diversity among different approaches to

community food needs; the quality of

proposed internal project evaluations;

and quantitative outcome measures and

other considerations pertinent to

ensuring that the total mix of funded

projects best serves the public interest.

B. Technical Evaluation Criteria

(1) Applicability and Merit

The primary evaluation criteria will

be based upon the merit of the proposed

project in regard to its ability to meet

the food needs of low-income people in

the proposed community; increase the

self-reliance of the proposed community

for providing for its own food needs;

and promote comprehensive responses

to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.

(Refer to Questions a. through e. in Part

III, item B.(6))

(2) Capacity To Become Self-Sustaining

Applications will be evaluated based

on an assessment of the project’s ability

for continuing to term and becoming

self-sufficient once Federal funding

ends. (Refer to Questions f. and h. in

Part III, item B.(6)).

(3) Organizational and Staff

Qualifications and Experience

Awards are provided to the non-profit

organization. However, the working

history of the organization and the

experience of the authorized

organizational representative and/or

project director will be key evaluation

criteria. Experience in the area of

community food work, particularly if

that work also involved small or

medium-size farms; provision of food to

people in low-income communities; the

development of new markets for

agricultural goods in low-income

communities, particularly as a means to

enhance income for agricultural

producers; job training or business

development for food-related activities

in low-income communities;

competency to implement the proposed

project; ability to provide the

appropriate financial/fiscal oversight;

and the ability to collect data, prepare

reports, and perform other necessary

administrative functions.

(4) Additional Evaluation Criteria

These criteria will be considered

relative to the extent the proposed

project contributes to:

(a) developing linkages between two

or more sectors of the food system;

(b) supporting the development of

entrepreneurial projects;
14580 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices

(c) developing innovative linkages

between the for-profit and nonprofit

food sectors;

(d) encouraging long-term planning

activities and multi-system, interagency

approaches; and

(e) Incorporating linkages to one or

more ongoing USDA themes or

initiatives (such as, but not limited to,

those described in the background

section). (Refer to Question g. in Part III,

item B.(6))

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.

To the extent possible, verbatim copies

of summary reviews, not including the

identity of the reviewers, will be made

available to project directors after the

review process has been completed.

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

is approved for support and funds are

appropriated for such purpose, unless

otherwise permitted by law. It should be

noted that the project need not be

initiated on the grant effective date, but

as soon thereafter as practical so that

project goals may be attained within the

funded project period. All funds granted

by CSREES under this request for

proposals shall be expended solely for

the purpose for which the funds are

granted in accordance with the

approved application and budget, the

regulations, the terms and conditions of

the award, the applicable Federal cost

principles, and the Department’s

assistance regulations (part 3015, part

3016, and part 3019 of 7 CFR).

(2) Organizational Management

Information

Specific management information

relating to an applicant shall be

submitted on a one-time basis as part of

the responsibility determination prior to

the award of a grant identified under

this part 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.

CSREES will award standard grants to

carry out this program. A standard grant

is a funding mechanism whereby

CSREES agrees to support a specified

level of effort for a predetermined time

period without additional support at a

future date.

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) Reporting Requirements

The grantee will be expected to

prepare an annual report that details all

significant activities towards achieving

the goals and objectives of the project.

The narrative should be succinct and be

no longer than five pages, using 12-

point, single-spaced type. A budget

summary should be attached to this

report, which will provide an overview

of all monies spent during the reporting

period.

(3) 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

CSREES 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

CSREES ADO prior to effecting such

changes. In no event shall requests for

such changes be approved 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

awarding official of CSREES 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:

(i) Involve transfers of amounts

budgeted for indirect costs to absorb an

increase in direct costs;

(ii) Involve transfers of amounts

budgeted for direct costs to

accommodate changes in indirect cost

rates negotiated during a budget period
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 1997 / Notices 14581

and not approved when a grant was

awarded; or

(iii) 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 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. 95–224), as well as general

policy requirements applicable to

recipients of Departmental financial

assistance.

7 CFR Part 3016—Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements to State

and Local Governments.

7 CFR Part 3017, as amended by 61

Federal Register 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 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

higher education and other nonprofit

institutions.

7 CFR Part 3407—CSREES procedures

to implement the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended.

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.

F. Evaluation of Program

Section 25(h) of the Food Stamp Act

of 1997, as amended, requires USDA to

provide for an evaluation of the success

of community food projects supported

under this authority. All grantees shall

be expected to assist the USDA by

providing relevant information on their

respective projects. Applicants are also

encouraged to plan for their own

internal self-assessments and

evaluations to measure the effectiveness

of each project.

Done at Washington, D.C., this 21st day of

March 1997.

B.H. Robinson,

Administrator, Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7656 Filed 3–25–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P