Educational Enhancement Team projects. The accomplishment report for 2011 will be posted by October 2012 at: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/bfrdp/bfrdp.html. Fiscal Year 2012: Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding for this program is set to expire with the 2008 Farm Bill. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Grant Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Production and Sustainablity, Division of Agricultural Systems, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2240, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2240 Phone: (202) 401-0151 Fax: (202) 401-5179 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Workshops, conferences, apprenticeships, on-line resources and mentoring services geared especially towards beginning farmer needs, will provide intensive hands on training for more than 1200 farmers by 2014. Based on IRCs current work with refugee and new immigrant food and farming entrepreneurs in City Heights, IRC San Diego will continue to develop innovative business and marketing models for urban farming and microenterprise in food and farming that can be adopted by many ethnic immigrant communities as well as lower-income residents in urban communities. The project targeting the Southern region, will improve BFR training programs ability to provide financial education, enhancing the success of BFRS. The EET will accomplish its goals through a Community of Practice that links experienced business and financial literacy experts with BFR training staff. Fiscal Year 2012: Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding for this program is set to expire with the 2008 Farm Bill. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFAS. 10.312 BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM (BRDI) BRDI FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Collaboration between Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a Biomass Research and Development Initiative is directed under various statutory authorities, primarily the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Public Law 110-246) and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) (Public Law 109-58; Section 941). USDAS authorization appears in Section 9008 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (Public Law 110-246) which replaced section 9008 of the Farm Security, and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA) (Public Law 107-171) [7 U.S.C. 8108]; thereby amending section 307 of the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 (BRDA) (7 U.S.C. 7624 note, and 7 U.S.C. 8101 note; Public Law 106224). Pursuant to Executive Order 13134, BRDA can be found at (7 U.S.C .8601 et seq). BRDA authorizes the Biomass Research and Development., Public Law 109-58, 7 U.S.C 8606. OBJECTIVES: To carry out research on and development and demonstration of (A) biofuels and biobased products; and (B) the methods, practices, and technologies, for the production of biofuels and biobased products. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved research and extension objectives. Funds shall not be used for the construction of a new building or facility or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement, and architect fees). Funds may not be used for any purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents. Indirect costs may not exceed 22% of Federal Funds Awarded. Special Note on Indirect Costs as in-kind matching contributions: Indirect costs may be claimed under the Federal portion of the award budget or, alternatively, indirect costs may be claimed as a matching contribution (if no indirect costs are requested under the Federal portion of the award budget). However, unless explicitly authorized in the RFA, indirect costs may not be claimed on both the Federal portion of the award budget and as a matching contribution, unless the total claimed on both the Federal portion of the award budget and as a matching contribution does not exceed the maximum allowed indirect costs or the institutions negotiated indirect cost rate, whichever is less. An awardee may split the allocation between the Federal and non-Federal portions of the budget only if the total amount of indirect costs charged to the project does not exceed the maximum allowed indirect costs or the institutions negotiated indirect cost rate, whichever is less. For example, if an awardees' indirect costs are capped at 30 percent pursuant to FY 2012 appropriated funds, Section 720 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Division A of Pub. L. 112-55), the awardee may request 15 percent of the indirect costs on both the Federal portion of the award and as a matching contribution. Or, the awardee may request any similar percentage that, when combined, does not exceed the maximum indirect cost rate of 30 percent. Matching Requirements: 20% for Research and Development Projects / 50% for Demonstration and Commercial Projects. Applicant Eligibility: Eligible entities include: (A) an institution of higher education; (B) a National Laboratory; (C) a Federal research agency; (D) a State research agency; (E) a private sector entity; (F) a nonprofit organization; or (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). Beneficiary Eligibility: Eligible entities include: (A) an institution of higher education; (B) a National Laboratory; (C) a Federal research agency; (D) a State research agency; (E) a private sector entity; (F) a nonprofit organization; or (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). Credentials/Documentation: No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: All RFAs are published on Grants.gov. Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. Please see the following Grants.gov link for more information: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. An environmental impact statement is required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications should be submitted as outlined in the RFA. Applications must follow the instructions provided per Grants.Gov and in the Agency guide to submitting applications via Grants.gov. This information collection is approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0039, CSREES Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs. Award Procedure: Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA. Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: :094 Deadlines: Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the RFAs for each fiscal year. :095 Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 30 to 180 days. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Specific details are announced in the RFAs for each fiscal year. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Funds are awarded competitively. No formula grants are awarded under this authority. The minimum required recipient cost share must be at least 20% of the total allowable costs for Research and Development (R&D) projects and 50% of the total allowable costs for Demonstration projects. Applicant cost share must come from non-Federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law. No blending of R&D and Demonstration or associated cost share will be permitted. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The term of a competitive grant under this authority may not exceed five (5) years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Reports: Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAS electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAs electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. A final Financial Status Report (SF-269) or Federal Financial Report (SF-425) is due within 90 days of the expiration date of the grant and should be submitted to the address listed below, in accordance with instructions contained in 2 CFR 3430.55 (also refer to Section 3015.82 of the Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations). Awards Management Division (AMD) Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) STOP 2271 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-2271 Telephone: (202) 401-4986. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFAS electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit Organizations, and implemented in 7 CFR 3052. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Records: In accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-profit Organizations [2 CFR 215, Subpart C, Section 215.53, (OMB Circular A-110)] grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. Account Identification: 12-1003-0-1-352. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 11 $28,456,422; FY 12 est $38,315,000; and FY 13 est $0The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislative authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years. This program represents no year funds. This program is authorized under the FY 2008 Farm Bill, which expires at the end of the FY 2012. To date no new legislation has been enacted. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Minimum and maximum amounts of funding per grant are established by the annual program announcement or RFA. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: FY 2011 Activities: USDA-NIFA and DOE collaborated to make five to seven awards in FY2011 (NIFA is finalizing five awards and DOE is finalizing one to two). Collaboration between DOE and USDA on BRDI is directed under Section 9008(e)(1) of FSRIA, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 8108(e)(1)). DOE administers the Pre-Application process and USDA administers the Full Application process. BRDI technology priorities are broad and are not prescriptive. The program solicits for technologies that are largely driven by trends in biomass-based energy and materials markets. The program affords the flexibility for the balance of investment to shift toward technical challenges of increasing importance in the market. The program objectives are defined in the Farm Bill section 9008(e)(2): a) Technologies and processes necessary for abundant commercial production of biofuels at prices competitive with fossil fuels; b) high-value bio-based products to enhance the economic viability of biofuels and biopower, to serve as substitutes for petroleum-based feedstocks and products, and to enhance the value of coproducts produced using the technologies and processes; and c) a diversity of economically sustainable domestic sources of renewable biomass for conversion to biofuels, bioenergy, and bio-based products. Fiscal Year 2012: NIFA and DOE are in the process of administering the FY 2012 competitive program. Fiscal Year 2013: FY 2013 BRDI program is contingent upon the re-authorization of the Farm Bill. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Grant None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and Environment, Division of Bioenergy, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2210, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2210 Phone: (202) 401-5244 Fax: (202) 401-2653 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.212 Small Business Innovation Research; 10.215 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education; 10.320 Sun Grant Program EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Project will retrofit an existing corn starch ethanol plant to add value to its byproducts, which will be marketed to the non-ruminant feed markets and to the biodiesel industry. This project enables creation of diverse product streams from this facility, opening new markets for the cooperative and contributing to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's goals for cellulosic ethanol production and use. Project will optimize rapeseed/canola, mustard and camelina oilseed crops for oil quality and yield using recombinant inbred lines. Remote sensing and crop modeling will enhance production strategies to incorporate these crops into existing agricultural systems across four ecoregions in the Western United States. The oils will be hydrotreated to produce diesel and jet fuel. Guayule is a hardwood perennial natural rubber-producing shrub grown in the semi-arid southwestern United States. This project will optimize production and quality of guayule rubber using genomic sequencing and development of molecular markers. The extracted rubber will be used in tire formulations, and the remaining plant residue will be evaluated for use in biopower and for conversion to jet fuel precursors. Project will utilize dairy manure as a source of fiber and fertilizer. Fiber will be converted to ethanol, manure used for fertilizer, and oil from the crops will be converted to biodiesel used in farm equipment. The project goal is to develop closed-loop systems with new product streams that benefit the environment. Project will optimize the production of grasses in Hawaii, including napier grass, energycane, sugarcane and sweet sorghum. Harvest and preprocessing will be optimized to be compatible with the biochemical conversion to jet fuel and diesel. Fiscal Year 2012: Work is in progress. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: FY 2013 BRDI program is contingent upon the re-authorization of the Farm Bill. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFAS. 10.313 VETERINARY MEDICINE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM VLMRP FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (NAREPTA), Section 1415A [7 U.S.C. 3151a]., Public Law 95-113, 7 U.S.C 3151a. OBJECTIVES: The program responds to the current shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural areas by encouraging veterinarians, through loan repayment, to provide veterinary service in designated shortage areas. To carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which the Secretary shall pay specified amounts of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Direct Payments for Specified Use USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: (1) SERVICE IN SHORTAGE SITUATIONS. The Secretary shall carry out a program of entering into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. For each year of such service under an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians. (2) SERVICE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. (A) IN GENERAL.The Secretary may enter into agreements of 1 year duration with veterinarians who have agreements pursuant to paragraph (1) for such veterinarians to provide services to the Federal Government in emergency situations, as determined by the Secretary, under terms and conditions specified in the agreement. Pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph, the Secretary shall pay an amount, in addition to the amount paid pursuant to the agreement in paragraph (1), as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians. (B) REQUIREMENTS.Agreements entered into under this paragraph shall include the following: (i) A veterinarian shall not be required to serve more than 60 working days per year of the agreement. (ii) A veterinarian who provides service pursuant to the agreement shall receive a salary commensurate with the duties and shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as appropriate for the duration of the service. None of the funds appropriated to the Secretary under subsection (f) may be used to carry out section 5379 of title 5, United States Code. None of the funds appropriated to the Secretary under subsection (f) may be used to carry out section 5379 of title 5, United States Code. Fully discretionary. Agreements with veterinarians under which the Secretary shall pay specified amounts of the principal and interest of qualifying educational loans of the veterinarians. Applicant Eligibility: The Secretary may enter into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. Beneficiary Eligibility: The Secretary may enter into agreements with veterinarians under which the veterinarians agree to provide, for a period of time as determined by the Secretary and specified in the agreement, veterinary services in veterinarian shortage situations. Credentials/Documentation: Applicants must furnish the information required in the request for applications (RFAs), which include: (1) a Loan Information Form for each loan to be considered for repayment; (2) an Intent of Employment form providing assurance that the applicant will be engaged in employment at a NIFA-designated veterinary shortage area for not less than three years from the anticipated effective date of the VMLRP contract between the individual and NIFA; and (3) a signed VMLRP Contract by which the applicant agrees to serve the obligated minimum period of three years providing veterinary service in a designated veterinary shortage area. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication Coordination: Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedures: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications should be submitted as outlined in the RFA. Applications must follow the instructions provided per the VMLRP website at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp. Qualified individuals interested in participating in the VMLRP should visit the VMLRP website for all application forms and requirements. The application will be evaluated by a peer review panel, convened for this purpose by the NIFA. In selecting applicants for participation in the VMLRP, the panel will consider eligibility status, quality of the applicant, and the applicants career plan focus. All selections are subject to final approval by the VMLRP manager. The NIFA will notify the State Animal Health Official and the applicant of the outcome of the review. Several Federal statutes and regulations apply to VMLRP applications considered for review and to service agreements awarded under this program. These include, but are not limited to: 7 CFR Part 1, subpart AUSDA implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. 7 CFR Part 3USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129 regarding debt collection. 7 CFR Part 15, subpart AUSDA implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. 7 CFR Part 331 and 9 CFR Part 121USDA implementation of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. 7 CFR Part 3015USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, implementing OMB directives (e.g., OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-122 (2 CFR Parts 220 and 230)), and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-224), as well as general policy requirements applicable to recipients of Departmental financial assistance. 7 CFR Part 3017USDA implementation of Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement). 7 CFR Part 3018USDA implementation of 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 3019USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations (2 CFR Part 215). 7 CFR Part 3021 Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance). 7 CFR Part 3052USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations. 7 CFR Part 3407NIFA procedures to implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. 7 CFR Part 3431 Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program 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). Award Procedure: Once the applicant is selected to participate in the VMLRP, the applicant and the NIFA Director (or Secretary of Agriculture) will sign a written binding contract stating the terms and conditions for participating in the VMLRP. The effective date of the contract will be the date it is signed by the NIFA Director, or the date employment/service begins at an NIFA-designated veterinary shortage area, whichever is later. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the RFAS or guidelines for each fiscal year. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: A VMLRP participant completing the initial 3-year period of qualified veterinary service has an option to extend the obligatory period of service on an annual basis. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The VMLRP will pay equal quarterly payments to the lenders. Each payment will be made shortly after the end of each full quarter of satisfactory service. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly. Reports: 1) Quarterly Report: VMLRP recipients will be required to verify that the terms of the VMLRP contract are being met on a quarterly basis. Subsequent quarterly loan repayments will not be disbursed until this verification is provided. This report will be due ten business days after the end of each 3 month interval during the VMLRP contract for the previous 3 month period and must include the following information: (a) A listing of states, counties, and/or insular areas served (b) A listing of veterinary services and activities provided in the shortage situation (c) Percentage time (on a 40-hour week basis) providing service to veterinary shortage situation identified in the agreement. Program participants are responsible for notifying NIFA of any changes in the service being provided in the specified shortage situation during the 3-year period. It is strongly recommended that program participants advise NIFA of these changes at least 2 months in advance to allow sufficient processing time. Failure to provide the updated information may result in the termination of the VMLRP contract and the program participant may be subject to penalties as outlined in Section C, Paragraph 3 of the contract. SPECIAL NOTES: See below for information regarding submission of the Termination Report. Please refer to 7 CFR Part 3431 and annual RFA for further details. Cash reports are not applicable. See above for information regarding submission of Quarterly Reports. See below for information regarding submission of the Termination Report. SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to 7 CFR Part 3431 and annual RFA for further details. Expenditure reports are not applicable. 2) Termination Report: At the end of the term of the agreement, the recipient and his/her supervisor will each prepare and submit to NIFA a Termination Report that addresses the following, as well as any other information the participants wish to share with NIFAS VMLRP leadership: a. A summary of the services provided toward mitigation of the original veterinary shortage situation, as well as other veterinary services provided to the local community, institution, or other employing entity, b. An assessment of the current state of veterinary services in the recipients service area and adjacent service areas, or specialty area, with emphasis on identification of ongoing shortage situations. c. An assessment of future veterinary service needs and trends in the recipients service (or specialty area) and, to the extent such information may be known, adjacent service areas, with emphasis on identification of ongoing shortage situations, either geographic or disciplinary. d. An appraisal of the overall effectiveness of the VMLRP in addressing the specific veterinary shortage situation served by the awardee, including the role of the mentor (where applicable). The Termination Report must be submitted by email See above for specific details regarding submission of the Quarterly Reports. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Records: Please refer to 7 CFR Part 3431 for guidance. Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352. Obligations: (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 11 $4,230,157; FY 12 est $4,270,000; and FY 13 est $4,270,000 - The difference between the appropriation and obligation numbers reflects legislatively authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligational authority from prior years. This program represents no year funds. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Minimum and maximum amounts of funding per grant are established by the annual program announcement. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Approximately 80 veterinarians received loan repayment awards in exchange for their commitment to provide professional food supply or public health-related veterinary services in designated US veterinary shortage situations for 3 years. Fiscal Year 2012: It is anticipated that 40 to 50 veterinarians will receive loan repayment awards in exchange for their commitment to provide professional food supply or public health-related veterinary services in designated US veterinary shortage situations for 3 years. Fiscal Year 2013: It is anticipated that 40 to 50 veterinarians will receive loan repayment awards in exchange for their commitment to provide professional food supply or public health-related veterinary services in designated US veterinary shortage situations for 3 years. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: The Final Rule for the VMLRP was published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2010, Document 2010-8628 [ FR Vol 75, No. 74 - (Pages 20239 - 20248). Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Production and Sustainablity, Division of Animal Systems, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2240, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2240 Phone: (202) 401-6134 Fax: (202) 401-1602 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp RELATED PROGRAMS: Not Applicable. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: N/A (Awards under this program are loan repayments not projects; see veterinary shortage maps for 2011 at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp to review the locations and types of veterinary service shortages that were filled.). Fiscal Year 2012: N/A - (Awards under this program are loan repayments not projects; see veterinary shortage maps for 2011 at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp to review the locations and types of veterinary service shortages that were filled.). Fiscal Year 2013: N/A - (Awards under this program are loan repayments not projects; see veterinary shortage maps for 2011 at www.nifa.usda.gov/vmlrp to review the locations and types of veterinary service shortages that were filled.). CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: In carrying out its review, the peer review panel will take into account the quality of match between an applicants professional training and experience and the circumstances and needs of the designated shortage situation the applicant proposes to fill. The following evaluation criteria will be considered in the context of the factors and circumstances necessary for 1) most effective mitigation of the specific veterinary shortage situation, 2) prioritizing the relatively more severe shortages and, 3) achieving the highest likelihood that awardees will realize employment satisfaction and professional success during and beyond the term of the VMLRP agreement. Additional guidelines are described in the RFAS. 10.314 NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM Rural Technology Program (RTP) FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching |