This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

69925 

Vol. 70, No. 222 

Friday, November 18, 2005 

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT 

Notice of Public Information Collection 

Requirements Submitted to OMB for 

Review 

Summary: U.S. Agency for 

International Development (USAID) has 

submitted the following information 

collections to OBM for review and 

clearance under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104– 

13. Comments regarding this 

information collection are best assured 

of having their full effect if received 

within 30 days of this notification. 

Comments should be sent via e-mail to 

David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov or fax to 

202–395–7285. Copies of submission 

may be obtained by calling (202) 712– 

1365. 

Supplementary Information: 

OMB Number: OMB 0412–0514. 

Form Number: N/A. 

Title: USAID Regulation 1—Rules and 

Procedures Applicable to Commodity 

Transactions Financed by USAID (22 

CFR part 201). 

Type of Submission: Renewal of 

Information Collection. 

Purpose: The U.S. Agency for 

International Development (USAID) 

finances transactions under Commodity 

Import Programs and needs to assure 

that the transaction complies with 

applicable statutory and regulatory 

requirements. In order to assure 

compliance and request refunds when 

appropriate, information is required 

from host country importers, suppliers 

receiving USAID funds, and banks 

making payments for USAID. 

Annual Reporting Burden: 

Respondents: 335. 

Total annual responses: 2,643. 

Total annual hours requested: 1,042 

hours. 

Dated: November 7, 2005. 

Joanne Paskar, 

Chief, Information and Records Division, 

Office of Administrative Services, Bureau for 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 05–22847 Filed 11–17–05; 8:45am] 

BILLING CODE 6116–01–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Farm Service Agency 

Notice of Funds Availability Inviting 

Applications for Innovative Ways To 

Enhance the Economic Viability of 

Underserved and Limited-Resource 

Farmers and Ranchers 

Announcement Type: Notice of Funds 

Availability (NOFA) inviting 

applications from qualified 

organizations for fiscal year (FY) 2006 

funding. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number and Program: 

10.443 Outreach and Assistance for 

Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and 

Ranchers. 

SUMMARY: This is a request by the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) for proposals for 

applications for cooperative agreements 

for FY 2006 to help underserved and 

limited resource farmers and ranchers 

become more efficient operators and 

more economically viable. FY 2005 

funding for similar cooperative 

agreements was $2 million. This notice 

is being issued prior to passage of a final 

Department of Agriculture 

Appropriations Bill to allow applicants 

sufficient time to prepare and submit 

proposals and give FSA sufficient time 

to process applications within FY 2006. 

An additional Notice of Funding 

Availability will be published 

announcing the funding level for FY 

2006 once an appropriations act has 

been enacted. FSA requests proposals 

from eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit 

organizations, land grant institutions, 

including Tuskegee University, State 

governments, and Federally-Recognized 

Indian Tribal Governments, interested 

in competitively awarded cooperative 

agreements, to demonstrate innovative 

and unique approaches to equip 

underserved and limited-resource 

farmers and ranchers, including 

beginning farmers and ranchers, to 

become more efficient and economically 

viable. 

Proposals should demonstrate 

innovative and unique ways to help 

underserved and limited-resource 

farmers and ranchers improve their 

economic viability through training, 

technical assistance, improved farming 

practices, and more effective marketing 

approaches. 

Underserved and limited-resource 

farmers and ranchers have different 

challenges to economic viability due to 

location, educational assets, age, and 

landownership. The need to properly 

address these challenges through 

education, training, technical assistance 

and the most creative ways of outreach 

is critical to the continued existence of 

the small farm. 

People in, or entering into, farming 

have an array of backgrounds and varied 

levels of current farm and farm business 

experience and knowledge. More and 

more qualified alien immigrants are 

entering American farming. Often, they 

are unfamiliar with productive 

marketing practices, acquisition of land, 

government assistance, and crop and 

animal production diversity. 

While there are no significant legal 

obstacles to becoming a farmer in the 

United States, many barriers to 

successful farming exist. Among those 

barriers are (1) increasing capital 

expenses, (2) progressive managerial 

requirements, and (3) competition with 

large-scale producers. 

Among limited-resource farmers, a 

subgroup, the underserved farmer, faces 

even more barriers to achieving success. 

In recognition of the dynamic needs of 

limited-resource and underserved 

farmers, FSA solicits proposals for 

innovative approaches to assisting the 

diverse limited-resource and 

underserved farm community. 

DATES: Applications should be 

submitted as soon as possible, but no 

later than 5 p.m. eastern time, December 

19, 2005. Applications received after 

that date will not be accepted and will 

be returned to the applicant. Applicants 

must ensure that the service they use to 

deliver their applications can do so by 

the deadline. Due to security concerns, 

packages sent to the Agency by mail 

have been delayed several days or even 

weeks. 

I. Paperwork Reduction Act 

This notice requires a new collection 

of information only for the Project 

Proposal. An emergency request for 

69926 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 

approval of that collection has been 

approved by OMB through January 31, 

2006, under OMB Control Number 

0560–0250. FSA intends to publish in 

the Federal Register a notice requesting 

public comments on this collection and 

will request a regular 3-year approval 

from OMB. 

II. Funding Opportunity Description 

Background 

This solicitation is issued pursuant to 

7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) authorizing the 

Secretary of Agriculture to enter into 

cooperative agreements to improve the 

coordination and effectiveness of 

Federal programs affecting rural areas. 

The primary objective of this 

solicitation for cooperative agreements 

is to assist limited-resource and 

underserved farmers and ranchers to 

become economically viable. Thousands 

of rural residents have chosen or will 

choose to farm but lack the essential 

skills and resources to acquire and 

maintain economic viability. Therefore, 

FSA will provide financial assistance 

via cooperative agreements to increase 

opportunities of the most needy limited 

resource and underserved farmers and 

ranchers to achieve economic viability 

as the result of increased technical 

assistance and training. FSA is 

publishing this NOFA prior to passage 

of a final appropriations act to give 

applicants time to complete their 

applications and to provide the Agency 

sufficient time to select and process the 

selected applications within the current 

fiscal year. Cooperative agreements will 

only be awarded if the project is 

determined to be economically viable 

and technically feasible. Also, the 

cooperative agreements in this 

solicitation are subject to the availability 

of adequate funding and may not be 

awarded if funds are not appropriated to 

the agency that may be used for this 

purpose, or budgetary authority for this 

program is otherwise revoked or not 

available. 

Definitions 

The following definitions are 

applicable to this NOFA: 

Agency or FSA: The Department of 

Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency or its 

successor. 

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers: 

Farmers and ranchers who have not 

operated a farm or ranch, or have 

operated a farm or ranch for not more 

than ten years. 

Farm Land: Land used for commercial 

agriculture crops, poultry and livestock 

enterprises, or aquaculture. 

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal 

Government: The governing body or a 

governmental agency of any Indian 

tribe, band, nation, or other organized 

group or community (including any 

Native village as defined in section 3 of 

the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

Act, (85 Stat. 688) certified by the 

Secretary of the Interior as eligible for 

the special programs and services 

provided through the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs. Their Web site is www.doi.gov/ 

bureau-affairs.html. 

Land Grant Institution: 

(1) An 1890 institution, including 

Tuskegee University, or 1862 

institution, (as defined in section 2 of 

the Agricultural Research, Extension, 

and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 

U.S.C. 7601)), including West Virginia 

State College. 

(2) An Indian tribal community 

college or an Alaska Native cooperative 

college. 

(3) A Hispanic-serving institution (as 

defined in section 1404 of the National 

Agricultural Research, Extension, and 

Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

3103)). 

(4) A 1994 institution (as defined in 

section 2 of the Agricultural Research, 

Extension, and Education Reform Act of 

1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601). 

Limited-resource farmer or rancher: A 

low-income owner or operator of a 

family-size farm. 

National Office: FSA Headquarters in 

Washington, DC. 

Non-Profit Organization: Any 

corporation, trust, association, 

cooperative, or other organization that: 

(1) Is operated primarily for scientific, 

educational, service, charitable, or 

similar purposes in the public interest; 

(2) Is not organized primarily for 

profit; and 

(3) Is an organization that is 

recognized by the Internal Revenue 

Service as being exempt from Federal 

income tax under section 501(3)(c) of 

the Internal Revenue Code. 

Socially disadvantaged farmer or 

rancher: One of a group whose members 

have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or 

gender prejudice because of their 

identity as members of the group 

without regard to their individual 

qualities. For purposes of this program, 

socially disadvantaged groups are 

women, African Americans, American 

Indians, Alaskan Natives, Hispanics, 

and Asian Americans and Pacific 

Islanders. 

Underserved and Limited-Resource 

Farmers and Ranchers: Farmers and 

ranchers who do not have easy access to 

information and resources due to 

barriers such as language, cultural and 

other socio-economic factors, including 

socially disadvantaged farmers and 

ranchers, limited-resource farmers and 

ranchers, and beginning farmers and 

ranchers. 

III. Award Information 

Eight to ten cooperative agreements 

are expected to be awarded; however, 

no agreements will be awarded if no 

submitted proposal meets the needs of 

the agency or the requirements of this 

notice. FSA anticipates approximately 

$3 million will be available to fund 

proposals in FY 2006. Awards are 

expected to average approximately 

$300,000. If lesser or no funds are made 

available to the agency for this purpose, 

fewer or no agreements may be 

awarded. Cooperative agreement funds 

may be used to cover allowable costs 

incurred by the recipient and approved 

by the Agency. Allowable costs will be 

governed by 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, 

and 3019 and applicable Office of 

Management and Budget Circulars. 

IV. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants 

Applicants must be non-profit 

organizations, federally-recognized 

Indian Tribal Governments, or land 

grant institutions as defined in the 

‘‘Definitions’’ section of this NOFA. 

Applications without sufficient 

information to determine their 

eligibility will not be considered. 

2. Cost-Sharing or Matching 

There are no provisions for costsharing or matching. 

V. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package 

The forms required for an application 

as described below and for subsequent 

reporting by the successful applicant 

may be obtained from Darlene Smith, 

Program Analyst, Outreach Staff, 

telephone (202) 260–6069, facsimile 

(202) 690–4727, Email: 

Darlene.Smith@wdc.usda.gov. 

Application materials can also be 

downloaded from the FSA Outreach 

Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ 

outreach or from the Government grants 

Web site at www.grants.gov. Click on 

‘‘Find Grant Opportunities,’’ then 

‘‘Search Grant Synopsis.’’ From the 

search results, select ‘‘Outreach and 

Assistance Partnership Program’’ to 

access forms for this program. All other 

information described below is to be 

provided by the applicant. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

(a) Form SF–424, ‘‘Application for 

Federal Assistance.’’ 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 69927 

(b) Form SF–424A, ‘‘Information—

Non-Construction Programs.’’

(c) Form SF–424B, ‘‘Assurances—

Non-Construction Programs.’’

(d) Table of Contents—For ease of 

locating information, each application 

must contain a detailed Table of 

Contents immediately following the 

required Federal forms. The Table of 

Contents should include page numbers 

for each component of the application. 

Pagination should begin immediately 

following the Table of Contents. 

(e) Proposal Summary—A summary 

of the Project Proposal, not to exceed 

one page, that includes the title of the 

project, a description of the project 

(including goals and tasks to be 

accomplished), the names of the 

individuals responsible for conducting 

and completing the tasks, and the 

expected time frame for completing all 

tasks (which should not exceed twelve 

months). 

(f) Eligibility—A detailed discussion, 

not to exceed two pages, describing how 

the applicant meets the definition of 

land grant institution, non-profit 

organization, or federally recognized 

Indian tribal government, as outlined in 

the ‘‘Recipient Eligibility Requirements’’

section of this NOFA. In addition, the 

applicant must describe all other 

collaborative organizations that may be 

involved in the project. 

(g) Proposal Narrative—The narrative 

portion of the project proposal must be 

in a font such as Times New Roman, 12 

pt. or comparable font, and must 

include the following: 

(h) Project Title—The title of the 

proposed project must be brief, not to 

exceed 100 characters, yet represent the 

major thrust of the project. 

(i) Information Sheet—A separate one 

page information sheet that lists each of 

the evaluation criteria listed in this 

NOFA under the ‘‘Evaluation Criteria 

and Weights’’ subsection followed by 

the page numbers of all relevant 

material and documentation contained 

in the proposal which address or 

support that criteria. 

(j) Goals and Objectives of the 

Project—A clear statement of the 

ultimate goals and objectives of the 

project must be presented. 

(k) All relevant material and 

documentation addressing the criteria in 

section VI(1) of this NOFA. 

3. Submission Date 

The deadline for receipt of all 

applications is 5 p.m. Eastern Time, 

December 19, 2005. The Agency will not 

consider any applications received after 

the deadline. Late applications will not 

be accepted and will be returned to the 

applicant. Applicants must ensure that 

the service they use to deliver their 

applications can do so by the deadline. 

Due to recent security concerns, 

packages sent to the Agency by mail 

have been delayed several days or even 

weeks. 

4. Submission of Applications 

An original and two paper copies of 

the completed and signed application, 

and one electronic copy (Microsoft 

Word format preferred) on diskette or 

compact disc must be submitted in one 

package at the time of initial 

submission. 

Submit applications and other 

required materials to Darlene Smith, 

Program Analyst, Outreach Staff, Farm 

Service Agency, USDA, STOP 0511, 

Room 3724–S, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–

0511. 

Receipt of applications will be 

acknowledged by e-mail whenever 

possible. Therefore, applicants are 

encouraged to provide an e-mail address 

in the application. If an e-mail address 

is not indicated on an application, 

receipt will be acknowledged by letter. 

Incomplete or non-responsive 

applications will be returned to the 

applicant and evaluated further. When 

received by FSA, applications will be 

assigned an identification number. This 

number will be communicated to 

applicants in the acknowledgement of 

receipt of applications. An application’s 

identification number should be 

referenced in all correspondence 

regarding the application. If the 

applicant does not receive an 

acknowledgement within 15 days of the 

submission deadline, the applicant 

should contact Darlene Smith at 

(202)260–6069, or electronically at 

Darlene.Smith@wdc.usda.gov. 

5. Intergovernmental Review 

Not applicable. 

6. Funding Restrictions 

The awarding of cooperative 

agreements is subject to adequate 

funding and will only be awarded to the 

extent funds are made available to the 

agency for this purpose. Cooperative 

agreement funds cannot be used to: 

(a) Support the organization’s general 

operations; 

(b) Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, 

or construct a building or facility 

(including a processing facility); 

(c) Purchase, rent, or install fixed 

equipment, including mobile and other 

processing equipment; 

(d) Pay for the preparation of the grant 

application; 

(e) Pay expenses not directly related 

to the funded venture; 

(f) Fund political or lobbying 

activities; 

(g) Pay costs incurred prior to 

receiving a Cooperative Agreement; 

(h) Fund any activity prohibited by 7 

CFR parts 3015, 3016, 3018 and 3019; or 

(i) Fund architectural or engineering 

design work for a specific physical 

facility. 

VI. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria 

The proposal will be evaluated using 

the following criteria and weights. Each 

criterion must be addressed specifically 

and individually by category. These 

criteria should be in narrative form with 

any specific supporting documentation 

attached as addenda and directly 

following the proposal narrative. If other 

materials, including financial 

statements, will be used to support any 

evaluation criteria, they should also be 

placed directly following the proposal 

narrative. The applicant must also 

propose and delineate significant 

agency participation in the project. 

Failure to address any one of the criteria 

will disqualify the application. All 

proposals must be in compliance with 

this NOFA and applicable statutes. 

(a) Proposer’s Commitment and 

Resources (20 points)—The standard 

evaluates the degree to which the 

organization is committed to the project, 

and the experience, qualifications, 

competency, and availability of 

personnel and resources to direct and 

carry out the project. 

(b) Feasibility and Policy Consistency 

(20 points)—The standard evaluates the 

degree to which the proposal clearly 

describes its objectives and evidences a 

high level of feasibility. This criterion 

relates to the adequacy and soundness 

of the proposed approach to the solution 

of the problem and evaluates the plans 

of operation, evaluation and 

dissemination, and timetable. 

(c) Detailed description of the 

anticipated number of underserved and 

limited resource farmers and ranchers, 

and beginning farmers and ranchers to 

be served by this initiative and 

collaborative partnerships, if any (20 

points)—This standard evaluates the 

degree to which the proposal reflects 

partnerships and collaborative 

initiatives with other agencies or 

organizations to enhance the quality and 

effectiveness of the program. 

Additionally, the number of limited 

resources and underserved farmers and 

ranchers who would benefit from the 

services offered, and the socio-economic 

characteristics of the areas in which 

they are located will be evaluated. 

(d) Socially Disadvantaged 

Applicants—Outreach (20 points)—This 

69928 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 

standard evaluates the degree to which 

the proposal contains efforts to reach 

persons identified as socially 

disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. 

The proposal will be evaluated for its 

potential for encouraging and assisting 

socially disadvantaged farmers and 

ranchers to own and operate farms and 

ranches and participate in agricultural 

programs. Elements considered include 

impact, continuation plans, and 

expected products and results. 

(e) Preparatory Features—Statement 

of Work (15 points)—This standard 

evaluates the degree to which the 

proposal reflects innovative strategies 

for reaching the population targeted in 

the proposal and achieving the project 

objectives. Elements evaluated include 

originality, practicality, and creativity in 

developing and testing innovative 

solutions to existing or anticipated 

issues or problems of underserved and 

limited-resource farmers and ranchers. 

The proposal will be reviewed for its 

responsiveness to the need to provide 

underserved and limited-resource 

farmers and ranchers with information 

and assistance on various USDA 

programs, farm management, and other 

essential information to enhance 

participation in agricultural programs 

and conduct successful farming 

operations. 

(f) Overall Quality of the Proposal (5 

points)—This standard evaluates the 

degree to which the proposal complies 

with this NOFA and is of high quality. 

Elements considered include adherence 

to instructions, accuracy, and 

completeness of forms, clarity and 

organization of ideas, thoroughness and 

sufficiency of detail in the budget 

narrative. 

(g) Accuracy of Proposed Budget and 

Justification (5 points)—This standard 

evaluates the accuracy of the proposed 

budget and the accompanying budget 

justification and should sufficiently 

provide the reviewer with a detailed 

description of each budget category that 

includes categorical subtotals as well as 

an attached budget justification that 

clearly defines and explains every 

proposed budget line item. 

2. Review and Selection Process 

Prior to technical examination, a 

preliminary review will be made by 

FSA Outreach Staff for responsiveness 

to this solicitation. Proposals that do not 

fall within the solicitation guidelines or 

are otherwise ineligible will be 

eliminated from competition. 

All responsive proposals will be 

reviewed by a panel of career National 

Office FSA and/or USDA Agency 

employees chosen to provide maximum 

expertise and objective judgment in the 

evaluation of proposals. The panel will 

review applications using the evaluation 

criteria stated above for eligibility, 

completeness, and responsiveness to 

this NOFA. Incomplete or nonresponsive applications will be returned 

to the applicant and not evaluated 

further. 

Successfully evaluated proposals will 

be ranked by the FSA Outreach Staff 

based on merit. Final approval of those 

proposals will be made by the 

Administrator of FSA (the 

Administrator). 

When the reviewers have completed 

their individual evaluations, the panel 

reviewers, based on the individual 

reviews, will make recommendations to 

the Administrator. Prior to award, the 

Administrator reserves the right to 

negotiate with an applicant or 

applicants whose projects are 

recommended for funding regarding 

project revisions (e.g., change in scope 

of work or the Agency’s significant 

involvement), funding level, or period 

of support. A proposal may be 

withdrawn at any time before a final 

funding decision is made. 

VII. Award Administration 

1. Award Notices 

The successful applicant will be 

notified by FSA when selected by the 

Administrator. Within the limit of funds 

available for such purpose, the 

Administrator shall enter into a 

cooperative agreement with the 

successful applicant. The successful 

applicant will be required to sign an 

Agency-approved cooperative 

agreement. 

Unsuccessful applicants will be 

notified within 90 days after the receipt 

of applications. 

2. Access to Panel Review Information 

Upon written request from the 

applicant, scores from the evaluation 

panel, not including the identity of 

reviewers, will be sent to the applicant 

after the review and awards process has 

been completed. 

3. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

In addition to the requirements 

provided in this notice, other Federal 

statutes and regulations apply to 

proposals considered for review and to 

the cooperative agreements awarded. 

These include, but are not limited to: 

(a) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A—

Nondiscrimination in FederallyAssisted Programs of the Department of 

Agriculture—Effectuation of Title VI of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 

(b) 7 CFR part 3015—Uniform Federal 

Assistance Regulations; 

(c) 7 CFR part 3016—Uniform 

Administrative Regulations for Grants 

and Cooperative Agreements and State 

and Local Governments; 

(d) 7 CFR part 3017—Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Government-wide 

Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace 

(Grants); 

(e) 7 CFR part 3018—New Restrictions 

on Lobbying; 

(f) 7 CFR part 3019—Uniform 

Administrative Requirements for Grants 

and Agreements with Institutions of 

Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other 

Non-profit Organizations; and 

(g) 7 CFR part 3052-Audits of States, 

Local Governments, and Non-Profit 

Organizations. 

4. Reporting 

Cooperators will be required to: 

(a) Sign required Federal assistance 

forms including: 

(i) Form AD–1047, Certification 

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and 

Other Responsibility Matters-Primary 

Covered Transactions; 

(ii) Form AD–1048, Certification 

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 

Ineligibility and Voluntary ExclusionLower Tier Covered Transactions; 

(iii) Form AD–1049, Certification 

Regarding a Drug-Free Workplace 

Requirements (Grants); and 

(iv) Form RD 400–4, Assurance 

Agreement (Civil Rights). 

(b) Use Standard Form 270, Request 

for Advance or Reimbursement to 

request payments. 

(c) Submit Form SF–269, Financial 

Status Report, and list expenditures 

according to agreed upon budget 

categories on a semi-annual basis. A 

semi-annual financial report is due 

within 45 days after the first 6-month 

project period and an annual financial 

report is due within 60 days after the 

second 6-month project period. 

(d) Submit quarterly performance 

reports that compare accomplishments 

to the objectives; if established 

objectives are not met, discuss 

problems, delays, or other problems that 

may affect completion of the project; 

establish objectives for the next 

reporting period; and discuss 

compliance with any special conditions 

on the use of awarded funds. 

(e) Maintain a financial management 

and document retention system that is 

acceptable to the Agency. 

(f) Sign an agency-approved 

cooperative agreement. 

(g) Submit a final project performance 

report. 

VIII. Agency Contact 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Darlene Smith, Program Analyst, 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 69929 

Outreach Staff, Farm Service Agency, 

USDA, STOP 0511, Room 3724–S, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–0511, phone: 

(202) 260–6069, fax: (202) 690–4727, email: Darlene.Smith@wdc.usda.gov. 

IX. Other Information 

1. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) 

A DUNS number is a unique ninedigit sequence recognized as the 

universal standard for identifying and 

keeping track of over 70 million 

businesses worldwide. The Office of 

Management and Budget published a 

notice of final policy issuance in the 

Federal Register June 27, 2003 (68 FR 

38402) that requires a DUNS number in 

every application (i.e., hard copy and 

electronic) for a grant or cooperative 

agreement on or after October 1, 2003. 

Therefore, potential applicants should 

verify that they have a DUNS number or 

take the steps needed to obtain one. For 

information about how to obtain a 

DUNS number, go to http:// 

www.grants.gov. Please note that the 

registration may take up to 14 business 

days to complete. 

2. Required Registration for Electronic 

Submission of Proposals 

The Central Contract Registry (CCR) is 

a database that serves as the primary 

Government repository for contractor 

information required for the conduct of 

business with the Government. This 

database will also be used as a central 

location for maintaining organizational 

information for organizations seeking 

and receiving grants from the 

Government. Such organizations must 

register in the CCR prior to the 

submission of applications. A DUNS 

number is needed for CCR registration. 

For information about how to register in 

the CCR, visit ‘‘Get Started’’ at the Web 

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

minimum of 5 days to complete the CCR 

registration. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on November 9, 

2005. 

Thomas B. Hofeller, 

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. 

This Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) 

dated____, between____(Cooperator), and the 

United States of America, acting through the 

Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the 

Department of Agriculture (Grantor), for 

$____ in cooperative agreement funds under 

the program, delineates the agreement of the 

parties. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration for 

the mutual agreements and promises in this 

cooperative agreement, the parties hereto 

agree as follows: 

The parties agree that: 

1. All the terms and provisions of the 

NOFA published____, 2005 (insert date) and 

application submitted by the Cooperator in 

connection therewith, including any 

attachments or amendments, are 

incorporated and included as part of this 

Cooperative Agreement. Any changes to 

these documents or this Cooperative 

Agreement must be approved in writing by 

FSA. 

2. As a condition of the Agreement, the 

Cooperator certifies that it is in compliance 

with and will comply in the course of the 

Agreement with all applicable laws, 

regulations, Executive Orders, and other 

generally applicable requirements, including 

those contained in 7 CFR 3015.205(b), which 

are incorporated into this agreement by 

reference, and such other statutory 

provisions as are specifically contained 

herein. The Cooperator will comply with 7 

CFR part 15, subpart A, Title VI of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Executive 

Order 12250. 

3. The provisions of 7 CFR part 3015, 

‘‘Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations’’, 7 

CFR part 3019, ‘‘Uniform Administrative 

Requirements for Grants and Agreements 

with Institutions of Higher Education, 

Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit 

Organizations,’’ 7 CFR part 3017 

‘‘Governmentwide Requirements for a DrugFree Workplace (Grants),’’ 7 CFR part 3018 

‘‘New Restrictions on Lobbying,’’ and 7 CFR 

part 3052 ‘‘Audits of States, Local 

Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations’’, 

as applicable, are incorporated herein and 

made a part hereof by reference. 

4. The following certifications and forms 

are required and will become a part of the 

Agreement. These certifications, which are 

included as part of the Attachment 1, must 

be signed. The SF 424 and SF 424A may be 

revised and re-submitted to the Agency upon 

execution of this agreement if necessary. 

SF 424, ‘‘Application for Federal Assistance’’

SF 424A, ‘‘Budget Information—NonConstruction Program’’

SF 424B ‘‘Assurance—Non-Construction 

Program’’

SF LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying Activities’’

‘‘Certification Regarding Lobbying’’

Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification Regarding 

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements 

(Grants) Alternative 1—For Grantees Other 

Than Individuals’’

Form AD–1047 ‘‘Certification Regarding 

Debarment, Suspension, and Other 

Responsibility Matter-Primary Covered 

Transactions’’

5. Disbursements by FSA to the Cooperator 

will be made as soon as possible upon receipt 

and approval of a SF 270. Disbursement 

requests will be sent to: 

lllllllllllllllllllll

(Name) 

lllllllllllllllllllll

(Address of FSA) 

6. The FSA Project Coordinator is____, 

(name). All notices to FSA will be sent to the 

FSA Project Coordinator at the following 

address____, (address). Notices to Cooperator 

will be sent to the following: (insert name 

and address) 

FURTHER, the Cooperator agrees that it 

will: 

1. Not use cooperative agreement funds to 

plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or 

construct a building or facility (including a 

processing facility); or to purchase, rent, or 

install fixed equipment. 

2. Use funds only for the purpose and 

activities specified in the proposal approved 

by FSA including the approved budget and 

Work Plan. Any uses not provided for in the 

approved budget and Work Plan must be 

approved in writing by FSA in advance of 

obligation by FSA. 

3. Keep an account of the expenditures of 

the funds provided by FSA and submit a 

Standard Form 269, ‘‘Financial Status 

Report’’ and list expenditures according to 

agreed upon budget categories on a semiannual basis. Reports are due by April 30 and 

October 30 after the Cooperative Agreement 

is awarded. 

4. Immediately refund to FSA, at the end 

of the Cooperative Agreement, any balance of 

unobligated funds received from the FSA. 

5. Provide periodic reports as required by 

FSA. A financial status report and a project 

performance report will be required on a 

semi-annual basis. The financial status report 

must show how FSA provided funds have 

been used to date and project the funds 

needed and their purposes for the next six 

months. A final report may serve as the last 

semi-annual report. Cooperators shall 

constantly monitor performance to ensure 

that time schedules are being met and 

projected goals by time periods are being 

accomplished. The project performance 

reports shall include the following: 

(a) A comparison of actual 

accomplishments to the objectives for that 

period. 

(b) Reasons why established objectives 

were not met, if applicable. 

(c) Reasons for any problems, delays, or 

adverse conditions which will affect 

attainment of overall program objectives, 

prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, 

or preclude the attainment of particular 

objectives during established time periods. 

This disclosure shall be accomplished by a 

statement of the action taken or planned to 

resolve the situation. 

(d) Objectives and timetables established 

for the next reporting period. 

(e) The final report will also address the 

following: 

(i) What have been the most challenging or 

unexpected aspects of this program? 

(ii) What advice you would give to other 

organizations planning a similar program? 

This advice should include strengths and 

limitations of the program. If you had the 

opportunity, what would you have done 

differently? 

(iii) If an innovative approach was used 

successfully, the cooperator should describe 

their program in detail so that other 

organizations might consider replication in 

their programs. 

Provide Financial Management Systems 

that will include: 

(a) Records that identify adequately the 

source and application of funds for activities 

supported under this cooperative agreement. 

Those records shall contain information 

69930 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 

pertaining to grant and cooperative 

agreement awards and authorizations, 

obligations, un-obligated balances, assets, 

liabilities, outlays, and income. 

(b) Effective control over and 

accountability for all funds, property, and 

other assets. Cooperator shall adequately 

safeguard all such assets and shall ensure 

that they are used solely for authorized 

purposes. 

(c) Accounting records supported by 

source documentation. 

7. To retain financial records, supporting 

documents, statistical records, and all other 

records pertinent to the Cooperative 

Agreement for a period of at least 3 years 

after the closeout, except that the records 

shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if 

audit findings have not been resolved or if 

requested by FSA. Microfilm, photocopies or 

similar methods may be substituted in lieu of 

original records. FSA and the Comptroller 

General of the United States, or any of their 

duly authorized representatives, shall have 

access to any books, documents, papers, and 

records of the Cooperator that are pertinent 

to this Cooperative Agreement for the 

purpose of making audits, examinations, 

excerpts, and transcripts. 

8. Not encumber, transfer, or dispose of the 

equipment or any part thereof, acquired 

wholly or in part with FSA funds provided 

under this Cooperative Agreement without 

the written consent of FSA. 

9. Not duplicate other program purposes 

for which monies have been received, are 

committed, or are applied to from other 

sources, public or private. 

FSA agrees to make available to Cooperator 

for the purpose of this Agreement funds in 

an amount not to exceed the cooperative 

agreement funds. The funds will be 

reimbursed or advanced based on submission 

of Standard Form 270. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cooperator has 

this day authorized and caused this 

Agreement to be executed by 

Attest 

By lllllllllllllllllll

(Title) lllllllllllllllll

(Cooperator) 

United States of America, Farm Service 

Agency 

By lllllllllllllllllll

(Title) lllllllllllllllll

(Grantor) 

[FR Doc. 05–22821 Filed 11–17–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Information Collection; Request for 

Comment; Valuation of Private Forest 

Ecosystem Services in North Carolina 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Forest Service is seeking comments 

from all interested individuals and 

organizations on a new research study 

to evaluate the value of the ecosystem 

benefits provided by private forests in 

North Carolina to residents of that State. 

DATES: Comments must be received in 

writing on or before January 17, 2006 to 

be assured of consideration. Comments 

received after that date will be 

considered to the extent practicable. 

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this 

notice should be addressed to Thomas 

P. Holmes, Forestry Sciences Lab, 

Southern Research Station, USDA 

Forest Service, P.O. Box 12254, 

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 

27709. 

Comments also may be submitted via 

facsimile to (919) 549–4047 or by e-mail 

to: tholmes@fs.fed.us. 

The public may inspect comments 

received at Forestry Sciences Lab, 3041 

Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle 

Park, North Carolina, 27709 main 

building reception area during normal 

business hours. Visitors are encouraged 

to call ahead to (919) 549–4000 to 

facilitate entry to the building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas P. Holmes, Southern Research 

Station, (919) 549–4031. Individuals 

who use telecommunication devices for 

the deaf may call the Federal Relay 

Service at 1–800–877–8339, 24 hours a 

day, every day of the year, including 

holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Valuation of Private Forest 

Ecosystem Services in North Carolina. 

OMB Number: 0596–New. 

Expiration Date of Approval: N/A. 

Type of Request: New. 

Abstract: Private forests provide many 

benefits to the owners of forest land. 

Trees can be sold to mills that produce 

lumber or paper products; fuelwood can 

be sold or used by landowners; and the 

forest landscape may provide 

opportunities for landowners to hunt, 

fish, go walking, observe wildlife, or 

simply enjoy their privacy. In addition 

to private benefits, private forests 

provide ecosystem services to the 

general public. The public ecosystem 

services provided by private forests 

include supplying clean water, 

protecting wildlife habitat, maintaining 

populations of a variety of plants, and 

providing scenic views. Although 

private forest owners supply ecosystem 

services that benefit the public, 

members of the public usually do not 

have to pay for these services. Because 

ecosystem services provided by private 

forests are usually not bought or sold, 

forest landowners do not have an 

incentive to produce the amount of 

ecosystem services that the public 

demands. 

Forest Service and university 

researchers will collect information 

from residents of North Carolina about 

the value of the ecosystem services 

provided by private forest landowners 

in the State. The data and analyses will 

provide information to natural resource 

managers on the value of ecosystem 

services provided by private forests and 

the level of public support for 

alternative forestry programs that would 

enhance the supply of forest ecosystem 

services in the State. 

To gather the information, a random 

sample of people living in North 

Carolina will be contacted by mail and 

invited to participate in the study. The 

mailing will include a cover letter 

describing the purpose of the study, an 

information booklet describing current 

forest conditions and forest management 

practices in North Carolina, and a 

questionnaire to determine what the 

recipient thinks about forestry issues 

and alternative forestry programs in the 

State. 

The information will be collected by 

a university survey research center 

using scientific data collection methods. 

The information will be analyzed both 

by university and Forest Service 

researchers. The data and analyses will 

be provided to State and federal forest 

land managers and decision-makers to 

assist their development and 

implementation of programs that benefit 

forest landowners and the general 

public. 

Estimate of Annual Burden: The 

average annual burden estimated per 

respondent is 30 minutes. 

Type of Respondents: Respondents 

will be a random sample of heads of 

households in North Carolina. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: The total number of 

respondents per year is 1,500. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: Only one 

response per respondent will be 

requested. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: The total annual burden 

for this information collection, 

computed as the number of minutes per 

respondent times the number of 

respondents, is 750 hours. 

Comment is invited on: (1) Whether 

this collection of information is 

necessary for the stated purposes and 

the proper performance of the functions 

of the agency, including whether the 

information will have practical or 

scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and