Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2001 / Notices 6205

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

This program is listed in the Catalog

of Federal Domestic Assistance under

No. 10.210, Food and Agricultural

Sciences National Needs Graduate

Fellowship Grants.

Part I. Food and Agricultural Sciences

National Needs Graduate Fellowship

Grants

A. Administrative Provisions and

Legislative Authority

This Program is subject to the

provisions found at 7 CFR part 3402. 7

CFR part 3402 sets forth procedures to

be followed when submitting grant

proposals for food and agricultural

sciences national needs graduate

fellowship grants, rules governing the

evaluation of proposals and the

awarding of grants, and regulations

relating to the post-award

administration of such grant projects.

Legislative authority for this program

is contained in section 1417(b)(6) of the

National Agricultural Research,

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of

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

3152(b)(6)).

In accordance with the statutory

authority, subject to the availability of

funds, the Secretary of Agriculture, who

has delegated the authority to the

Administrator of CSREES, may make

competitive grants, for periods not to

exceed five years, to land-grant colleges

and universities, to colleges and

universities having significant minority

enrollments and a demonstrable

capacity to carry out the teaching of

food and agricultural sciences, and to

other colleges and universities having a

demonstrable capacity to carry out the

teaching of food and agricultural

sciences, to administer and conduct

graduate fellowship programs to help

meet the Nation’s needs for

development of scientific and

professional expertise in the food and

agricultural sciences. For this program,

the term ‘‘food and agricultural

sciences’’ means basic, applied, and

developmental research, extension, and

teaching activities in food and fiber,

agriculture, renewable natural

resources, forestry, and physical and

social sciences, including activities

related to subject areas defined in

section 1404(8) of NARETPA, 7 U.S.C.

3103(8).

B. Program Description

1. Purpose of the Program

This program seeks to award grants

for training students for a doctoral

degree at colleges and universities

which have demonstrable teaching and

research competencies in the food and

agricultural sciences. The grants are

specifically intended to support

fellowship programs that encourage

outstanding students to pursue and

complete their degree at such

institutions in an area of the food and

agricultural sciences for which there is

a national need for the development of

scientific and professional expertise.

2. Targeted National Need Areas

Food and agricultural science areas

appropriate for fellowship grant

applications are those which are

directly related to one of the following:

(1) Animal, microbial, or plant

molecular biology including genomics

or bioinformatics; (2) natural resources

and environment; (3) agricultural

systems or natural resource engineering;

(4) marketing or management; (5) food

science or human nutrition; or (6)

human sciences. A proposal is restricted

to one national need area.

3. Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by

institutions that confer a doctoral degree

in a national need area. For proposals

involving more than one institution, all

institutions must meet the eligibility

requirements. Proposals also may be

submitted by a research foundation

maintained by an eligible college or

university. Eligibility requirements are

discussed further in 7 CFR 3402.3.

4. Degree Level Supported

In FYs 2001 and 2002, only the

doctoral level of study will be

supported.

5. Proposal Submission Limitations

No limitations are placed on the

number of proposals which can be

submitted by a college or university.

6. Limitations on Number of

Fellowships

There is no limit on the number of

fellowships in the single national need

area which can be requested in the

proposal. While proposals must

document institution willingness to

recruit and train the number of fellows

requested, CSREES may fund fewer

fellows than requested in a proposal.

Also, the maximum total amount of

funds from this program that may be

awarded to an institution in FYs 2001

and 2002 is limited to $276,000.

7. Available Funding

Subject to the enactment of the

appropriations acts that will provide

funds to CSREES for this program in

FYs 2001 and 2002, CSREES anticipates

that approximately $5.6 million will be

available for fellowship grants for the

FYs 2001 and 2002 combined

competition, including approximately

$2.8 million in anticipated FY 2001

appropriations and approximately $2.8

million in anticipated FY 2002

appropriations. Contingent on the

availability of these funds,

approximately $934,000 will be

allocated to each of the six national

need areas. This program is highly

competitive, and it is anticipated that

available funding will support

approximately 81 doctoral fellows. Noyear funds drawn from expired

fellowship grants with unspent funds

remaining may be used to fund

additional fellows. Please note that

Congress has not enacted the FY 2002

appropriation bills for the Department.

Therefore, the $5.6 million cited for FYs

2001 and 2002 grants is only tentative,

and USDA is not bound by this

estimate.

8. Stipend Level

Each institution funded will receive

$69,000 for each doctoral fellowship

awarded. However, it is anticipated that

total program funds available will not be

evenly divisible by $69,000. Therefore,

one fellowship may be supported on a

partial basis with a lesser amount of

funds, or one fellowship may be

supported fully by a combination of FYs

2001 and 2002 funds and unspent funds

remaining from expired fellowship

grants. Except in the case of a partially

funded fellowship, fellowship monies

must be used to: (1) Support the same

doctoral fellow for three years at

$22,000 per year; and (2) provide for an

institution annual cost-of-education

allowance of $1,000. Total funds

awarded to an institution under the

program in FYs 2001 and 2002 shall not

exceed $276,000.

C. Selection Process and Evaluation

Criteria

Section 223 of the Agricultural

Research, Extension, and Education

Reform Act of 1998, Pub. L. No. 105–

185, amended section 1417 of

NARETPA to require that priorities be

given in awarding grants for certain

teaching enhancement projects under

section 1417(b) of NARETPA. This

program is authorized under section

1417(b). CSREES considers all

applications received in response to this

solicitation as teaching enhancement

project applications. To implement the

new priorities for proposals submitted

for the FYs 2001 and 2002 competition,

the evaluation criteria used to evaluate

proposals, as provided in the

administrative provisions for this

program (7 CFR 3402.19), have been

6206 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2001 / Notices

modified to include new criteria for

proposals demonstrating enhanced

coordination among eligible institutions

and focusing on innovative,

multidisciplinary education programs,

material, or curricula. The following

criteria and weights will be used to

evaluate proposals submitted for

funding to the FYs 2001 and 2002

competition:

(A) 25 points—The degree to which

the proposal establishes clearly that the

proposed program of graduate study

will result in the development of

outstanding scientific/professional

expertise related to a national need area

and will do so in a reasonable period of

time.

(B) 25 points—The degree to which

the proposal contains any special

features such as a focus on innovative,

multidisciplinary education programs,

material, or curricula; enhanced

coordination among institutions eligible

for grants under the Food and

Agricultural National Needs Fellowship

Grant Program; an inter-disciplinary,

multi-disciplinary, or cross-disciplinary

approach, an unusual collateral

specialization in a related discipline,

experiential learning opportunities,

unique mentoring programs, seminars,

or a multi-university collaborative

approach.

(C) 20 points—The degree to which

the proposal substantiates clearly that

the institution’s faculty, facilities and

equipment, instructional support

resources, and other academic attributes

are excellent for providing outstanding

graduate study and research at the

forefront of science and technology

related to the chosen area of national

need.

(D) 20 points—The degree to which

the institution’s plans and procedures

for recruiting and selecting

academically outstanding Fellows and

for advising and guiding Fellows

through a program of study reflect

excellence as documented in the

proposal.

(E) 5 points—The degree to which

supplementary summary data

substantiate program quality in the

targeted need area.

(F) 5 points—The quality of the

proposal as reflected by its substantive

content, organization, clarity, and

accuracy.

D. How To Obtain Application Materials

An Application Kit containing

program application materials can be

downloaded from the CSREES, Office of

Higher Education Programs (HEP) web

site at http://www.reeusda.gov/serd/

hep/hep.htm or will be made available

to eligible institutions upon request.

These materials include the

administrative provisions, this Request

for Proposals, Summary Information,

forms, instructions, and other relevant

information needed to prepare and

submit grant proposals. Copies of the

Application Kit may be requested from

the Proposal Services Unit; Office of

Extramural Programs; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

STOP 2245; 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250–

2245. The telephone number is 202–

401–5048. When contacting the

Proposal Services Unit, please indicate

that you are requesting forms for the

FYs 2001 and 2002 National Needs

Graduate Fellowship Grants Program.

Application materials also may be

requested via Internet by sending a

message which states that you want to

receive a copy of the application

materials for the FY 2001/2002 National

Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants

Program with your name, mailing

address (not e-mail) and phone number

to psb@reeusda.gov. The materials will

then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as

quickly as possible.

E. Submission of a Proposal

1. Intent To Submit a Proposal

Submission of an Intent to Submit a

Proposal (Form CSREES–706) is

requested for the FYs 2001 and 2002

competition and is due May 11, 2001.

Form CSREES–706 can be sent by FAX

to 202–720–2030; by courier to Graduate

Fellowship Program; CSREES/SERD/

HEP; Waterfront Centre; 3rd Floor,

Room 3251; 800 9th Street, SW.;

Washington, DC 20024; or by mail to

Graduate Fellowship Program, USDA/

CSREES/SERD/HEP, 1400

Independence Ave., SW.; STOP 2251;

Washington, DC 20250–2251.

2. What To Submit

An original and six (6) copies of a

proposal must be submitted. Proposals

should contain all requested

information when submitted. Each

proposal should be typed on 81⁄2′′ x 11′′

white paper, double-spaced, and on one

side of the page only. Please note that

the text of the proposal should be

prepared using a font no smaller than 12

point and one-inch margins. All copies

of the proposal must be submitted in

one package. Each copy of the proposal

must be stapled securely in the upper

left-hand corner (DO NOT BIND).

The proposal should be paginated and

a Table of Contents should be included

preceding the proposal narrative.

Applicants are cautioned to comply

with the 20-page limitation for the

narrative section of the proposal.

Applicants also are cautioned to include

summary faculty vitae using Summary

Vita—Teaching Proposal (Form

CSREES–708). More detailed

information on the narrative, summary

vita, and other portions of a proposal is

provided in subpart C of 7 CFR part

3402.

3. Where and When To Submit

Hand-delivered proposals (brought in

person by the applicant or through a

courier service) must be received on or

before July 10, 2001, at the following

address: National Needs Graduate

Fellowship Grants Program; c/o

Proposal Services Unit; Office of

Extramural Programs; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

Room 1307, Waterfront Centre; 800 9th

Street, SW.; Washington, DC 20024. The

telephone number is (202) 401–5048.

Proposals transmitted via facsimile (fax)

machine will not be accepted.

Proposals submitted through the mail

must be received on or before July 10,

2001. Proposals submitted through the

mail should be sent to the following

address: National Needs Graduate

Fellowship Grants Program; c/o

Proposal Services Unit; Office of

Extramural Programs; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

STOP 2245; 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–

2245.

4. Acknowledgment of Proposals

The receipt of all proposals will be

acknowledged via e-mail. Therefore it is

important to include an e-mail address

on the Proposal Cover Page (Form

CSREES–701) when applicable. This

acknowledgment will contain a

proposal identification number. Once

your proposal has been assigned a

proposal number, please cite that

number in future correspondence.

F. Current Research Information System

(CRIS) Reports and Impact Reports

Institutions will be asked to submit

annual CRIS Reports in partial

fulfillment of the reporting requirements

of 7 CFR 3402.25(a). Also, institutions

will be asked to submit reports

describing significant impacts generated

by the activities and accomplishments

of the fellows in partial fulfillment of

the reporting requirements of 7 CFR

3402.25.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2001 / Notices 6207

Part II. 2001 Special International

Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research

Travel Allowances

A. Administrative Provisions and

Legislative Authority

This Program is subject to the

provisions found at 7 CFR part 3402. 7

CFR 3402.5(e) sets forth procedures to

be followed when submitting

supplemental grant proposals for special

international study or thesis/

dissertation research travel allowances.

7 CFR part 3402, subparts E and F set

forth rules governing the evaluation of

proposals and the awarding of grants,

and regulations relating to the postaward administration of such grant

projects.

Legislative authority for this program

is contained in section 1417(b)(6) of the

National Agricultural Research,

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of

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

3152(b)(6)).

B. Program Description

CSREES has determined that a new

competition for special international

study or thesis/dissertation research

travel allowances will be held during

FY 2001, and hereby solicits proposals

for competitive supplemental grants.

Proposals may be submitted by

universities or colleges who currently

have active Food and Agricultural

Sciences National Needs Graduate

Fellowship Grants. Eligibility for this

opportunity is limited to any current

Fellow with sufficient time to complete

the international experience before the

termination date of the fellowship grant

under which he/she is supported. These

supplementary grants provide support

for a Fellow to conduct thesis/

dissertation research or to undertake

studies at a site outside of the United

States. Before the international study or

thesis/dissertation research travel may

commence, a Fellow must have

completed one academic year of fulltime study, as defined by the institution,

under the fellowship appointment and

arrangements must have been

formalized for the Fellow to study and/

or conduct research in the foreign

location(s).

Estimated funds for supplemental

grants in FY 2001 are approximately

$60,000. These funds are obtained from

no-year funds drawn from expired

fellowship grants with unspent funds

remaining. CSREES has determined that

no FY 2001 appropriations will be

targeted to supplemental grants

supporting special international study

or thesis/dissertation research travel

allowances. For each travel allowance,

the institution may request up to

$10,000. Travel allowance monies may

be used only to pay travel and living

expenses for the Fellow while the

Fellow is on the specific international

assignment as proposed in the

application for the special international

study or thesis/dissertation research

travel allowance. No limitation is placed

on the number of applications an

institution may submit. Awards will be

made to the extent possible based on the

review of the proposal and subject to the

availability of funds.

C. Selection Process and Evaluation

Criteria

Applications for the special

international travel allowances will be

evaluated as they are received until

available funds for the supplemental

grants are exhausted. Upon receipt of an

application, CSREES staff will first

determine the eligibility of the Fellow

for whom the application was submitted

for an international travel experience.

Eligible and complete requests then will

be reviewed by professional staff from

USDA or other Federal agencies, as

appropriate. Since awards for

supplemental grants will be made as

reviews are completed, there is no

assurance funds will be available late in

the application period for every

acceptable proposal.

The six evaluation criteria are:

1. 10 points—Destination and

duration—the degree to which the

destination and duration of the travel

experience is appropriate for enhancing

the Fellow’s academic program.

2. 30 points—Travel experience

activities—the degree to which the

specific international experiences

contribute to the Fellow’s program of

study.

3. 20 points—Advance preparations—

the degree to which the proposed study

or research activities are well-planned,

including the likelihood that these

activities will come to fruition and that

the participation of identified personnel

will materialize.

4. 10 points—Budget—the degree to

which the budget for the international

experience is justified.

5. 20 points—Personnel—the degree

to which the personnel, both U.S. and

international, involved with the travel

experience have the appropriate

credentials and experience to direct the

Fellow’s international experience, and

the likelihood that their participation as

mentors, trainers, advisors, or teachers

will contribute to the educational value

of the travel experiences.

6. 10 points—Supporting

documentation—the degree to which

letters from the dean of the college (or

equivalent administrative unit) and the

fellowship grant project director support

the application.

D. How To Obtain Application Materials

An Application Kit containing

program application materials can be

downloaded from the HEP web site at

http://www.reeusda.gov/serd/hep/

hep.htm or will be made available to

eligible institutions upon request. These

materials include the administrative

provisions, Request for Proposals,

Summary Information, forms,

instructions, and other relevant

information needed to prepare and

submit grant applications. Copies of the

Application Kit may be requested from

the Proposal Services Unit; Office of

Extramural Programs; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

STOP 2245; 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250–

2245. The telephone number is (202)

401–5048. When contacting the

Proposal Services Unit, please indicate

that you are requesting the Application

Kit for the FY 2001 Graduate Fellowship

(International) Supplemental Grants

Program.

Application materials may also be

requested via Internet by sending a

message, that states that you wish to

receive a copy of the application

materials for the 2001 Graduate

Fellowship (International)

Supplemental Grants Program with your

name, mailing address (not e-mail) and

telephone number to psb@reeusda.gov.

The materials will then be mailed to you

(not e-mailed) as quickly as possible.

E. What To Submit

An original plus six (6) copies of each

application must be submitted.

Proposals should contain all requested

information when submitted. Each

proposal should be typed on 81⁄2’’ × 11′′

white paper, double-spaced, and on one

side of the page only. Please note that

the text of the proposal should be

prepared using a font no smaller than 12

point and one-inch margins. Each copy

of the application should be stapled

securely in the upper left-hand corner

(DO NOT BIND). All copies of the

application must be submitted in one

package. Applications transmitted via a

facsimile (FAX) machine will not be

accepted.

A separate application must be

submitted by a fellowship grant project

director at an eligible institution on

behalf of each Fellow for which a

special international study or thesis/

dissertation research travel allowance is

requested.

Each application must include an

‘‘Application for Funding,’’ Form

6208 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2001 / Notices

CSREES–661, and a ‘‘Budget,’’ Form

CSREES–55. To provide HEP with

sufficient information upon which to

evaluate the merits of the requests for a

special international study or thesis/

dissertation research travel allowance,

each application for a supplemental

grant must contain a narrative which

provides the following: (1) The specific

destination(s) and duration of the travel;

(2) the specific study or thesis/

dissertation research activities in which

the Fellow will be engaged; (3) how the

international experience will contribute

to the Fellow’s program of study; (4) a

budget narrative specifying and

justifying the dollar amount requested

for the travel; (5) summary credentials

of both the U.S. and international

faculty or other professionals with

whom the Fellow will be working

during the international experience

(summary credentials must not exceed

three pages per person; ‘‘Summary

Vita—Teaching Proposal,’’ Form

CSREES–708, may be used for this

purpose); (6) a letter from the dean of

the Fellow’s college or equivalent

administrative unit supporting the

Fellow’s travel request and certifying

that the travel experience will not

jeopardize the Fellow’s satisfactory

progress toward degree completion; and

(7) a letter from the fellowship grant

project director certifying the Fellow’s

eligibility, the accuracy of the Fellow’s

travel request, and the relevance of the

travel to the Fellow’s advanced degree

objectives.

The narrative portion of the

application must not exceed 10 pages,

excluding the summary vita/vitae.

F. Where and When To Submit

Applications for the special

international study or thesis/

dissertation research travel allowance

supplemental grants may be submitted

at any time prior to October 1, 2001.

However, to allow time for CSREES to

process the applications, proposals

should be submitted at least three

months prior to the proposed beginning

date of the international research

project. Applicants are urged to submit

their proposals early.

Note: Proposals for these special

supplemental awards should not be

submitted as part of the application for a FY

2001/2002 Graduate Fellowship grant.)

Hand-delivered proposals (brought in

person by the applicant or through a

courier service) must be received prior

to October 1, 2001, at the following

address: Special International Study or

Thesis/Dissertation Research

Supplemental Grant; c/o Proposal

Services Unit; Office of Extramural

Programs; Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service; U.S.

Department of Agriculture; Room 1307,

Waterfront Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;

Washington, DC 20024. The phone

number is 202–401–5048. Proposals

transmitted via a facsimile (fax)

machine will not be accepted.

Proposals submitted through the U.S.

mail must be received prior to October

1, 2001. Proposals submitted through

the U.S. mail should be sent to the

following address: Graduate Fellowship

(International) Supplemental Grants

Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit;

Office of Extramural Programs;

Cooperative State Research, Education,

and Extension Service; U.S. Department

of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400

Independence Avenue, SW.;

Washington, DC 20250–2245.

G. Impact Reports

Awardees will be asked to submit an

impact report at the conclusion of the

international research experience. The

impact report describes the

accomplishments made by the Fellow as

a result of the international research

experience. This report should be

submitted to: Graduate Fellowship

Program; CSREES/SERD/HEP, USDA;

STOP 2251; 1400 Independence Ave.,

SW.; Washington, DC 20250–2251.

Done at Washington, DC, this 11th day of

January, 2001.

Colien Hefferan,

Administrator, Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service.

[FR Doc. 01–1492 Filed 1–18–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service

Request for Proposals: Special

Research Grants Program, Citrus

Tristeza Research

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research,

Education, and Extension Service,

Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals

and request for input.

SUMMARY: The Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service (CSREES) announces the

availability of grant funds and requests

proposals for the Special Research

Grants Program, Citrus Tristeza

Research for fiscal year (FY) 2001. The

purpose of the program is to support

research that focuses on problems

caused by Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV)

and the Brown Citrus Aphid. This

request for proposals (RFP) sets forth

procedures to be followed when

submitting grant proposals, rules

governing the evaluation of proposals,

the awarding of grants, and regulations

relating to the post-award

administration of such grants.

CSREES also is requesting comments

regarding this RFP from any interested

party. These comments will be

considered in the development of the

next RFP for this program. Such

comments will be used in meeting the

requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the

Agricultural Research, Extension, and

Education Reform Act of 1998.

DATES: All proposals must be received at

USDA on or before February 15, 2001.

Proposals not received on or before this

date will not be considered for funding.

User comments are requested within

six months from the issuance of this

RFP. Comments received after that date

will be considered to the extent

practicable.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be

submitted to the following mailing

address: Special Research Grants

Program, Citrus Tristeza Research; c/o

Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative

State Research, Education, and

Extension Service; U.S. Department of

Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400

Independence Avenue, SW.;

Washington, DC 20250–2245.

The address for hand-delivered

proposals or proposals submitted using

an express mail or overnight courier

service is: Special Research Grants

Program, Citrus Tristeza Research; c/o

Proposal Services Unit; Cooperative

State Research, Education, and

Extension Service; U.S. Department of

Agriculture; Room 1307, Waterfront

Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;

Washington, DC 20024. Telephone:

(202) 401–5048.

Written user comments should be

submitted by mail to: Policy and

Program Liaison Staff; Office of

Extramural Programs; USDA–CSREES;

STOP 2299; 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250–

2299; or via e-mail to: RFPOEP@reeusda.gov. (This e-mail address

is intended only for receiving comments

regarding this solicitation and not for

requesting information or forms.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Tom Bewick, Manager, Citrus Tristeza

Research Program; Cooperative State

Research, Education, and Extension

Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;

STOP 2220; 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20250–

2220; telephone (202) 401–3356; fax

(202) 401–6869; e-mail:

tbewick@reeusda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: