(NARETPA) of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3121)., 7 U.S.C 3121. OBJECTIVES: To establish a competitive grants program to provide funding for technology development, applied research, and training to aid in the development of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants); Project Grants USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: In General: In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish a program to make grant funds available for approved technology development, applied research, and training to aid in the development of an agriculture-based renewable energy workforce. Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct the program. The initiative shall support the following fields: (A) bioenergy; (B) pulp and paper manufacturing; and (C) agriculture-based renewable energy resources. Grant Priority: In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities working in partnership (1) to improve information-sharing capacity; and (2) to maximize the ability to meet the following requirements for funding delineated in (A), (B) and (C) of Section :081 below. Pursuant to Section 7132 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) (P.L. 110-246), indirect costs are limited to 22 percent of the total Federal funds provided under each award. Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institutions official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 22 percent of total Federal funds awarded. Indirect costs for Conference/Planning grants are not allowed. Fully discretionary. Applicant Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by either: (1) public or private nonprofit community colleges, or (2) advanced technological centers. Must see RFA (Part III.A) for specific eligibility requirements. Beneficiary Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by either: (1) public or private nonprofit No Credentials or documentation are required. 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. 091 Preapplication Coordination: All RFAs are published on the Agencys website and 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. :092 Application Procedure: 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. 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. 1613) 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. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the RFA. Priority: In providing grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities: (1) to improve information-sharing capacity; and (2) to maximize the ability to meet the requirements as delineated in (A), (B) and (C) of Section :081 above. Deadlines: Not Applicable. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 30 to 180 days. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Not Applicable. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. The term of competitive project grants and/or cooperative agreements under this program may not exceed three (3) 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) 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 Nonprofit 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: 12-1500-0-1-352. Obligations: (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 11 $808,160; FY 12 est $0; and FY 13 est $0 - The difference between the appropriation and obligatin numbers reflects legislatively authorized set-asides deducted as appropriate, and in some cases the availability of obligatioinal authority from prior years. Effective Fiscal Year 2012, this program is no longer being funded. If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive project grant or cooperative agreement are established, these will be announced in the annual program announcement or RFA. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: For the FY 2011 award cycle, $ 808,160 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 12 applications requesting a total of $2,217,422 were received in this years competition. In June 2011, a six-member peer review panel evaluated these applications. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community. Funded projects should address one or more of the following RTP Project Issues: (a) Bio-energy, (b) Pulp and paper manufacturing, or (c) Agriculture-based renewable energy. A funded project must be aligned with one or more of the five NIFA Priority Areas: a. Global Food Security and Hunger b. Climate Change c. Sustainable Energy d. Childhood Obesity e. Food Safety A funded project is also required to advance the two RTP Program Goals; a. To increase the number of students encouraged to pursue and complete a two (2) year postsecondary degree, or a certificate of completion, within an occupational focus of this grant program; and b. To assist rural communities to develop a viable workforce for bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, or agriculture-based renewable energy by helping students achieve their career goals. Fiscal Year 2012: For the FY 2012 award cycle, no funds were available. Congress did not fund the grant program for this fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding is not anticipated for FY 2013. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Grant None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Youth, Family, and http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.217 Higher Education Challenge Grants EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Establish a consortium with First Quality of Anderson, SC, and Abitibi Bowater of Catawba, SC, to meet the growing demand for skilled workers, specifically in the pulp and paper industry, in their respective rural service areas. The consortium will accomplish this by developing innovative programs to meet the new technological requirements of a paper manufacturing workforce that will expand the global competitiveness of these two rural-based companies, contribute toward the economic development of the distressed region, and advance the quality of applied research in this area. Specifically, this collaboration will create customized pulp and paper manufacturing technology hybrid curriculum to a) support the creation of a highly skilled workforce for pulp and paper manufacturing and bio-energy and b) improve information-sharing capacity in this subject area, a NIFA priority for these rural communities; thus, advancing both the industry and the economy simultaneously. The creation of a pulp and paper training program to address the apparent that gaps exist within an existing program and the expressed needs and priorities of the pulp and paper industries in the surrounding communities in the northeast region of Minnesota. The gap analysis speaks to the need for advancing the training and knowledge amongst current and future worker-learners with regards renewable energy and pulp and paper manufacturing. In addition, there is a need to advance the current curriculum delivery system for maximum access and capture the experience of a retiree workforce by training them as instructors. The project audience will be prospective traditional and non-traditional students for the pulp and paper technology program at a local community college, employers and incumbent workers for the pulp and paper industry, and retiree employees interesting in teaching the necessary skills required for this program. Development of an associate degree and certificate program that can be replicated across those regions of the country where bioenergy technologies have been adopted by businesses and organizations, thus having an impact on local and state economies across the country. The primary audience for this initiative will include traditional students entering postsecondary education upon high school graduation and/or non-traditional students who seek a change in career or occupation. Initially, emphasis will center on recruiting and enrolling a minimum of 40 individuals from the aforementioned populations into an associate degree or credit certificate program. To support the growth and expansion of the program over time, outreach materials will be developed to provide professional development opportunities targeted towards secondary educators. The curriculum development processes will include other institutions either with existing bioenergy educational programs or those who aspire to create such a program. A curriculum development ideation workshop will be conducted to involve relevant educational institutions and members of the bioenergy industry in better defining the needs of a robust educational program. Fiscal Year 2012: N/A Not funded by Congress. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding is not anticipated for FY 2013. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFAs. 10.315 TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS TRAINING COORDINATION PROGRAM (TAAF) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Training Coordination Program (TAAF) FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Subtitle C of Title 1 of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the TAAF program is to provide U.S. agricultural producers whose commodities have been certified as affected by imports, and who have been approved through individual application, with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to make adjustments to their operations, business plans, marketing plans for their operations, with the goal of enhancing farm profitability and ability to adjust to imports. Producers of commodities certified by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and who meet the eligibility requirements by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) are eligible for TAAF program participation. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Cooperative Agreements USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: General Uses: Through this RFA NIFA requests applications for the TAAF Training Coordination Program to establish a National TAAF Training Coordination Center responsible for the development and delivery of training and technical assistance to TAAF-eligible producers for business planning, diversification of enterprises, marketing, and other beneficial subjects as needed to aid producers in adjusting to the impact of imported commodities. The National TAAF Training Coordination Center will design and administer the training requirements of TAAF, develop communications regarding TAAF training and technical assistance, and comply with reporting requirements as described under Part I(B) and in Part VI(D). The successful National TAAF Training Coordination Program applicant will enter into a cooperative agreement with NIFAfor establishment of the National TAAF Training Coordination Center to coordinate and implement the training and technical assistance component of the TAAF program under section 296(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2401e). Please be advised that the following components of the TAAF program will be administered by FAS/FSA: certification of agricultural commodities eligibility certifications, approval of applications for cash benefits, and payments to implement business plans. FAS, NIFA, FSA, and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will all be involved in the TAAF outreach effort. FAS has established a website for TAAF which is now linked to USDA, FSA, NIFA, AMS websites and can be found at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/ITP/TAA/taa.asp. Implementing regulations governing the TAAF program (including specific requirements for the provision of training and technical assistance) are expected to be published shortly in the Federal Register (as a Final Rule). Applicants to the National TAAF Training Coordination Program must show their capacity to provide TAAF program coordination and training as described below: 1. Coordination of TAAF Awardee will establish a National TAAF Training Coordination Center The National TAAF Training Coordination Center will: o Develop rapid response implementation procedures for TAAF training and associated reporting activities; o Contract with or make grants to state Cooperative Extension services or other qualified provider(s) to deliver TAAF training and technical assistance to TAAF-eligible producers; o Conduct regional training workshops for TAAF trainers on existing or emerging TAAF topics; o Develop a National and regional outreach and communication plan in concert with relevant agencies of the Department of Agriculture to promote the TAAF program; o Provide effective TAAF communication at intra- and inter-regional and National levels, including use of media outlets and the distribution of TAAF materials; o Provide a National one-stop source of TAAF information (National TAAF Training Coordination Center website). o Coordinate with and report to CSREES, and report training activities and performance measures into associated ARRA data management systems (as described in Part VI. (D)); 2. Training and Technical Assistance for TAAF Provide Initial Technical Assistance Training that will: o Help TAAF-eligible producers improve their yield and marketing of certified agricultural commodities; and/or o Enhance the feasibility and desirability of initiating production of one or more alternative agricultural commodities in exchange for agricultural commodities certified as eligible for TAAF. Provide Intensive Technical Assistance Training that includes: o A series of courses to further assist TAAF-eligible producers in improving their competitiveness producing certified agricultural commodities with respect to which the producer was certified under this chapter; or one or more alternative agricultural commodities; o Assistance to TAAF-eligible producers with developing an initial business plan based on the initial technical assistance training that can be approved in accordance with the requirements that will be set out in 7 CFR 1580.32. An approved plan must reflect the skills gained by the producer through the intensive technical assistance courses, and demonstrate how the producer will apply those skills to make adjustments to its business and marking plans and operations with the goal of enhancing its farm profitability and ability to adjust to imports; and o Assistance in developing a long-term business adjustment plan that meets regulatory requirements and includes steps to materially contribute to the economic adjustment of producers to changing market conditions, while taking into consideration the interests of the workers employed by the producer and demonstrating that the producer will have sufficient resources to implement the business plan. Indirect costs may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total Federal funds provided under this award (TFFA). The recovery of indirect costs on the cooperative agreement made by NIFA under this program, as well as subawards may not exceed the lesser of the institutions official negotiated indirect cost rate or the equivalent of 10 percent (10%) of total Federal funds awarded. NIFA has determined that funds awarded under this authority may not be used for the renovation or refurbishment of research, education, or extension space; the purchase or installation of fixed equipment in such space; or the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities. Applicant Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by organizations and institutions that are part of the Land Grant system and/or State Cooperative Extension services. Beneficiary Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by organizations and institutions that are part of the Land Grant system and/or State Cooperative Extension services. Credentials/Documentation: No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication Coordination: All RFAs are published on the Agencys website and 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. 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. 1613) 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. Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the RFA. 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 RFA each fiscal year. :095 Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 30 to 180 days. Appeals: Not Applicable. Renewals: Specific details are provided in the Request for Applications (RFA) each fiscal year. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. NIFA does not require matching or cost sharing support for this program, and matching resources will not be factored into the review process as evaluation criteria. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Three (3) year project period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Reports: Funded projects will be expected to verify program accomplishments. Detailed information on the performance measures for TAAF can be found on the OMB website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail/10003023.2006.html#perfo rmanceMeasures. Successful applicants will be responsible for reporting to NIFA, and reporting activities into associated ARRA data management systems. NIFA 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. ARRA Reports: Funds awarded pursuant to this RFA were made available by section 1887 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (Div. B of ARRA). Specific reporting requirements under ARRA will be identified in the Terms and Conditions of the Award. 1. Award Level Transaction Data Feed Awardees are required to submit bimonthly reports to NIFA detailing funds distribution as technical training assistance is initiated (this information ultimately feeds to the USAspending.gov). Report frequency is currently bimonthly, however the frequency of report transmissions may change to be required weekly within the terms of the award. Detailed information can be at the OMB website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_fy2009/m09-15.pdf or via the direct link for OMB Guidance: M-09-15). PLEASE NOTE: These reports are made to NIFA by the awardee as agreed to in the Terms and Conditions of the award. 2. Funding Notifications This is a cumulative report that is to be completed immediately upon release of any type of public notification (local, regional, or National) including: press releases, significant web updates, public presentations that refer to TAAF, TAAF training opportunity announcements, and any other public sharing of information related to the use of ARRA funds. Detailed information can be at the OMB website at: |