Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352. Obligations: (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 11 $1,437,120; FY 12 est $1,355,808; and FY 13 est $0 - The 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. NOTE: Funding of this program is not anticipated beyond FY '12. 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 Request for Application (RFA). PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Review Background: The amount available for support of this program in FY 2011 was approximately 1.4 million. After subtracting business cost an estimated amount of 1.398 million was awarded. Twelve proposals were submitted. Six proposals were not accepted in GAC. All six were incomplete. Six proposals were reviewed and ranked by six panel reviewers. Three programs received low scores and were not considered for funding. Three programs were considered for funding. Two programs needing minor changes and one program was recommended for funding as is. The Panel accepted two of these three programs to receive funding. Fiscal Year 2012: NIFA announced the availability of grant funds and requests applications for the Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program for fiscal year (FY) 2012 to improve the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers; and maintain a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. The amount available for support of this program in FY 2012 is approximately $1.3 million. Grant deadline was June 15, 2012. Eight proposals will be reviewed by reviewers of a panel in August 2012. Fiscal Year 2013: It is estimated that $1.4 million will be available. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs General Award Administrative Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations; 7 CFR Part 3021 USDA implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Financial Assistance) and 7 CFR 3052 - Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, Division of Family and Consumer Sciences, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2250, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2250 Phone: (202) 720-4795 Fax: (202) 720-9366 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: Not Applicable. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: This project will maintain and expand the national, publicly available online farm financial database that any U.S. producer can use for benchmarking and improving their farm management. It will improve the profitability and competitiveness of small and mid-sized U.S. farms and ranches by developing and providing benchmarking resources using high-quality farm financial management data. To develop and expand this database, increased collaboration between existing state-level farm management associations and farm and ranch business management education programs will be facilitated. Benchmarking is an important and growing tool used to improve producer's abilities to successfully manage the high risk and price volatility currently being experienced by farmers and ranchers throughout the U.S. This project will provide benchmarking capabilities to help producers manage risk, volatility and financial stress. Numerous researchers have indicated a desire to use the national farm financial benchmarking database to conduct research on cost of production, key determinants of farm profitability, and analyses of farm policy proposals. In conjunction with the national database, this project will develop a statistical tool that will allow researchers to conduct research without compromising the confidentiality of individual producer data. Benchmarking allows producers to compare their performance to farms and ranches of similar size that produce the same products. The benchmarking database helps producers identify their businesses strengths and weaknesses. The national database will be publicly available to all U.S. producers. Use of the database for benchmarking will improve producers' abilities to successfully manage risk and financial challenges and to become more globally competitive. Fiscal Year 2012: Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Request for Application (RFA). 10.320 SUN GRANT PROGRAM Sun Grant Program FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture The Sun Grant Program, was originally established in section 778 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-199), which amended the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.) adding section 9011, entitled the Sun Grant Research Initiative Act of 2003. Section 7526 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8114) establishes the Sun Grant Program, replacing the Sun Grant Research Initiative Act of 2003. Authority for the Sun Grant Program is delegated to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in title 7 Part 2.66 subpart (a) section (153) of the Code of Federal Regulations. OBJECTIVES: This program responds to the need to enhance national energy security with biobased energy technology; promote diversification and environmental sustainability through biobased technology; promote economic diversification in the rural U.S. through biobased technology; and enhance the efficiency of biobased technology research and development (R&D) through collaborations among USDA; Department of Energy (DOE); and Land Grant Institutions. Grants will be awarded to the sun grant centers and subcenter for the purposes of carrying out a competitive grants program and to conduct multi-institutional and multistate research, extension, and education programs on technology development; and integrated research, extension, and education programs on technology implementation. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements) USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: The Sun Grant Program was established to: (1) Enhance national energy security with biobased energy tech; (2) Promote diversification and environmental sustainability through biobased tech; (3) Promote economic diversification in the rural US through biobased technology; and (4) Enhance the efficiency of biobased technology R&D through collaborations among the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and Land Grant Institutions. A Sun Grant Center or Subcenter shall use 75 percent of the funds to provide competitive grants to entities that are (i) eligible to receive grants under subsection (b)(7) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(7)); and (ii) located in the region covered by the Sun Grant Center or Subcenter. 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. See FY '10 Request for Application (RFA) for specific details regarding Only the Sun Grant Centers and Subcenter as specifically designated in 7 Only the Sun Grant Centers and Subcenter as specifically designated in 7 No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. 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: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Award Procedure: 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. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. 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. Proposals submitted by Sun Grant Centers or the Subcenter are reviewed by a panel of qualified NIFA scientists and appropriate persons in accordance with the provisions of 7 U.S.C. 8114. Proposals are funded to the extent permitted by available funds on the basis of merit and compliance with provisions found in applicable legislation and regulations. Competitive grant applications awarded by the Sun Grant Centers or the Subcenter 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 solicitation available from the Sun Grant Centers or the Subcenter. Deadlines: Not Applicable. 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. Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. Funds allocated for competitive grants must be matched in an amount of 20 percent from non-Federal sources by all subawardees. Matching requirements do not apply to fundamental research. Additionally, the Sun Grant Center or Subcenter may reduce or eliminate the requirement for non-Federal funds for applied research if the Sun Grant Center or Subcenter determines that the reduction is necessary and appropriate pursuant to specific guidance issued by NIFA. Specific matching provisions are announced in the request for applications or guidelines for each fiscal year. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. The term of project grants and/or cooperative agreements under this program may not exceed 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. Pursuant to 7 U.S.C .8114, not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a Sun Grant Center or Subcenter receiving a grant shall submit to NIFA a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or Subcenter during the fiscal year, including (1) the results of all peer and merit review procedures conducted in association with the 75 percent of funds designated for competitive grants in 7 U.S.C. 8114; and (2) a description of progress made in facilitating the priorities planned for addressing the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification research priorities of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy at the State and regional levels. The plan must be jointly developed in cooperation with land-grant colleges and universities and private industry. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal financial Report to monitor cash. These are required on a quarterly basis and due within 30 days after the close of each quarter. 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. Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 8114, not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a Sun Grant Center or Subcenter receiving a grant shall submit to NIFA a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or Subcenter during the fiscal year, including (1) the results of all peer and merit review procedures conducted in association with the 75% of funds designated for competitive grants in 7 USC 8114; and (2) a description of progress made in facilitating the priorities planned for addressing the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification research priorities of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy at the State and regional levels. The plan must be jointly developed in cooperation with land-grant colleges and universities and private industry. A final 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) 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. Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 8114, not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a Sun Grant Center or Subcenter receiving a grant shall submit to NIFA a report that describes the policies, priorities, and operations of the program carried out by the center or Subcenter during the fiscal year, including (1) the results of all peer and merit review procedures conducted in association with the 75 percent of funds designated for competitive grants in 7 U.S.C. 8114; and (2) a description of progress made in facilitating the priorities planned for addressing the bioenergy, biomass, and gasification research priorities of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy at the State and regional levels. The plan must be jointly developed in cooperation with land-grant colleges and universities and private industry. 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 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 3 years. Records must be retained beyond the 3-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 $2,155,680; FY 12 est $2,112,000; and FY 13 est $0 - The 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. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Of available funds there will be equal distribution among each of the Sun Grant Centers in compliance with 7 U.S.C. 8114 and with the Terms and Conditions of the award with a portion of the funds allocated to the western Sun Grant Center to be made available to the western insular Pacific sun grant Subcenter in an amount as determined appropriate by NIFA. For competitive grants made by the Sun Grant Centers or the Subcenter, 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 Request for Application (RFA). PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Five Sun Grant Centers and one subcenter, as described in the 2008 Farm Bill, have identified priorities for their respective regions, and annual solicitations have been posted by the Centers. Projects supported by the Centers directly address regional issues for growing and processing biomass into energy and products. Fiscal Year 2012: FY 2012 accomplishments are the same as the accomplishments for FY 2011. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding is subject to authorization in the next Farm Bill. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs General Award Administrative Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations; 7 CFR Part 3021 USDA implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Financial Assistance) and 7 CFR 3052 - Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA. NIFA, National Program Leader; Institute of Bioenergy, Climate, and http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.306 BIODIESEL; 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI); 10.312 Biomass Research and Development Initiative Competitive Grants Program (BRDI) EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: The Northeast Sun Grant Center focused on developing dedicated and sustainable woody biomass and perennial grasses, optimizing agronomics, optimizing harvesting transport and storage systems, and developing an industrial ecology framework. The South Central Sun Grant Center focused on production of perennial grasses, energy cane, biomass sorghum, oil feedstocks, fast growth trees, CRP acres, feedstock logistics, and biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies. The Western Sun Grant Center initiated development of a crop suitability map server for regional feedstocks, an online agriculture operation energy assessment resource tool, and gathered preliminary data for a distributed biochar project. The North Central Sun Grant Center focused on emerging feedstocks for the region that included alfalfa gene cloning and expression experiments, optimizing a cyanobacterim for increased CO2 fixation and fine chemical production, and double and relay cropping systems for oil and biomass production. The Southeastern Sun Grant Center supported projects that address basic research on chemical transformations of lignin and carbohydrates generated by a biorefinery, rapid manufacture of carbon fiber from organolsolv lignins, and improving bioenergy sorghums. Fiscal Year 2012: Center solicitations have been announced and projects are pending or not yet selected. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. Fiscal Year 2013: Funding is subject to authorization in the next Farm Bill. Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines established for the program as described in the request for applications in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 8114 and applicable Terms and Conditions of the award. 10.322 DISTANCE EDUCATION GRANTS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN INSULAR AREAS Distance Education Grant (DEG) FEDERAL AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture AUTHORIZATION: 7 U.S.C. 3362. OBJECTIVES: To strengthen the capacity of Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: The purpose of Distance Education Grants for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas is to strengthen the capacity of Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas to carry out resident instruction, curriculum, and teaching programs in the food and agricultural sciences through distance education technology. Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved fundamental and applied research, extension and education objectives to address food and agricultural sciences. The use of grant funds to plan, acquire, or construct a building or facility is not allowed under this program. With prior approval, and in accordance with the cost principles set forth in OMB Circular No. A-21, some grant funds may be used for minor alterations, renovations, or repairs deemed necessary to retrofit existing teaching or research spaces in order to carry out a funded project. However, requests to use grant funds for such purposes must demonstrate that the alterations, renovations, or repairs are essential to achieving the major purpose of the project. Grant funds may not be used for endowment investing. Section 720 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub.L. No. 112-55) limits indirect costs to 30 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 30 percent of total Federal funds awarded. Fully discretionary. Applicant Eligibility: Individual land-grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land-grant status through Federal legislation, and which are located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under the DEG grants program, either as direct applicants or as parties to a consortium agreement. Beneficiary Eligibility: Individual land-grant colleges and universities, and other institutions that have secured land-grant status through Federal legislation, and which are located in Insular Areas are automatically eligible for awards under the DEG grants program, either as direct applicants or as parties to a consortium agreement. Credentials/Documentation: No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. 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: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. 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. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 120 to 180 days. Specific details are provided in the Request for Applications (RFA) each fiscal year. 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 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. 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 Awards Management Division, Office of Grants and Financial Management at 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). 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 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 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 3 years. Records must be retained beyond the 3-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 11 $718,560; FY 12 est $720,000; and FY 13 est $1,584,000 - The 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. NOTE: The Fiscal Year 2013 budget combines the two insular area programs. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: 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 Request for Application (RFA). PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2011: For the FY 2011 award cycle, $718,560 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. A total of 6 applications requesting a total of $2,217,422 were received in this years competition. In May 2011, a seven-member peer review panel evaluated these applications and three proposals were funded for $716,566. 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. Applications submitted to this grants program must state how the funded project will address the two DEG Program Goals: 1. To increase the number and diversity of students who will pursue and complete a 2- or 4-year postsecondary degree in the food and agricultural sciences, or other STEM fields closely related to the food and agricultural sciences, and for FY 2012, encourage study in areas that contribute to any of the five NIFA Priority Areas listed directly above in Part I, A; and 2. To enhance the quality of postsecondary instruction in order to help meet current and future national food and agricultural sciences workplace needs. Fiscal Year 2012: For the FY 2012 award cycle, $720,000 was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. One application was received this years application requesting $750,000. In May 3, 2012, a five-member combined panel with the RIIA and ANNH programs evaluated the application. The peer panel included faculty and administrators from land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities and federal employees. Fiscal Year 2013: Pertinent data to be provided by Program at a future date. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Federal Assistance Programs General Award Administrative Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations; 7 CFR Part 3021 USDA implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Financial Assistance) and 7 CFR 3052 - Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Regional or Local Office: None. Headquarters Office: USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, Division of Community and Education, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2250, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2250 Phone: (202) 720-2324 Fax: (202) 720-2030 Website Address: http://www.nifa.usda.gov RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.308 Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Area Activities EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2011: Providing students with alternate methods of learning to broaden their student experience and allow them to select the alternate method of learning that supports the evidence on learning styles theories. The outcomes of the project include increased satisfaction among students enrolled in the Program as a result of providing them with alternate methods of learning, as well as opportunities to reduce their time to complete the Program and become more proficient in the use of technology. Addressing the lack of access of UPRU students and faculty, and of local high school science teachers and students, to centers of high scientific activity in STEM areas. The project seeks to achieve this goal by promoting the integration of distance education (DE) technologies in the academic instruction of life and agricultural sciences at the University of Puerto Rico-Utuado (UPRU) and high schools of central Puerto Rico. The project's target objectives are to: a) train UPRU faculty and science high school teachers in DE technologies; b) designate one classroom of UPRU's Agricultural Technology building to DE activities; c) promote the interaction of high school science teachers and UPRU faculty; d) develop a pilot seminar course that incorporates |