[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 32628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16033]




[[Page 32627]]


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Part IX





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1997; 
Solicitation of Applications; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 122 / Monday, June 24, 1996 / 
Notices

[[Page 32628]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Cooperative State Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1997; 
Solicitation of Applications

    Notice is hereby given that under the authority of the Small 
Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-219), as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 638) and Section 630 of the Act making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies 
programs for fiscal year ending September 30, 1987, and for other 
purposes, as made applicable by Section 101(a) of Public Law Number 99-
591, 100 Stat. 3341, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects 
to award project grants for certain areas of research to science-based 
small business firms through phase I of its Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) Grants Program. This program will be administered by 
the Office of Extramural Programs, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service. Firms with strong scientific research 
capabilities in the topic areas listed below are encouraged to 
participate. Objectives of the three-phase program include stimulating 
technological innovation in the private sector, strengthening the role 
of small businesses in meeting Federal research and development needs, 
increasing private sector commercialization of innovations derived from 
USDA-supported research and development efforts, and fostering and 
encouraging participation of women-owned and socially and economically 
disadvantaged small business concerns in technological innovation.
    The total amount expected to be available for phase I of the SBIR 
Program in fiscal year 1997 is approximately $4,000,000. The 
solicitation is being announced to allow adequate time for potential 
recipients to prepare and submit applications by the closing date of 
September 5, 1996. The research to be supported is in the following 
topic areas:

1. Forests and Related Resources
2. Plant Production and Protection
3. Animal Production and Protection
4. Air, Water and Soils
5. Food Science and Nutrition
6. Rural and Community Development
7. Aquaculture
8. Industrial Applications
9. Marketing and Trade

The award of any grants under the provisions of this solicitation is 
subject to the availability of appropriations.
    This program is subject to the provisions found at 7 CFR Part 3403, 
as amended. These provisions set forth procedures to be followed when 
submitting grant proposals, rules governing the evaluation of proposals 
and the awarding of grants, and regulations relating to the post-award 
administration of grant projects. In addition, USDA Uniform Federal 
Assistance Regulations, as amended (7 CFR Part 3915), Governmentwide 
Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Grants) (7 CFR Part 3017), New 
Restrictions on Lobbying (7 CFR Part 3018), and Managing Federal Gredit 
Programs (7 CFR Part 3) apply to this program. Copies of 7 CFR Part 
3403, 7 CFR Part 3015, 7 CFR Part 3017, 7 CFR Part 3018, and 7 CFR Part 
3 may be obtained by writing or calling the office indicated below.
    The solicitation, which contains research topic descriptions and 
detailed instructions on how to apply, may be obtained by writing or 
calling the office indicated below. Please note that applicants who 
submitted SBIR proposals for fiscal year 1996 or who have recently 
requested placement on the list for fiscal year 1997 will automatically 
receive a copy of the fiscal year 1997 solicitation.

Proposal Services, Grants Management Branch, Office of Extramural 
Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, AG Box 2245, Washington, DC 20250-2245, 
Telephone: (202) 401-5048

    Done at Washington, DC, this 18th day of June 1996.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-16033 Filed 6-21-96; 8:45 am]
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