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This grant is used to support continuing agricultural research at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University. Funds appropriated under this section shall be used for expenses of conducting agricultural research, printing, disseminating the results of such research, contributing to the retirement of employees subject to the provisions of the Act of March 4, 1940 (54 Stat. 3940, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 331), administrative planning and direction, and purchase and rental of land and the construction, acquisition, alteration, or repair of buildings necessary for conducting agricultural research. The eligible institutions are authorized to plan and conduct agricultural research in cooperation with each other and such agencies, institutions and individuals as may contribute to the solution to the solution of agricultural problems, and funds appropriated pursuant to section 1445 shall be available for paying the necessary expenses of planning, coordinating and conducting such cooperative research. RESTRICTIONS: (1) Approved NIFA Evans-Allen Research Projects

NIFA will fund the Evans-Allen Research Program for authorized activities. Funds may be used on approved Evans-Allen Research Program projects.

(2) Matching

NARETPA section 1449 (7 U.S.C. 3222d) states that the State shall provide matching funds from non-Federal sources. Such matching funds shall be for an amount equal to not less than ... 100 percent of the formula [grant] funds to be distributed to the eligible institution for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter.... Notwithstanding [redistributing the funds], the Secretary may waive the matching funds requirement... above the 50 percent level for any fiscal year for an eligible institution of a State if the Secretary determines that the State will be unlikely to satisfy the matching requirement.

7 CFR 3419.1 defines matching funds as funds from non-Federal sources made available by the State to the eligible institutions ... [for] programs or activities that fall within the purposes of agricultural research and cooperative extension under sections 1444 and 1445 of NARETPA ... or [for] qualifying educational activities. Matching funds means cash contributions and excludes in-kind matching contributions. It defines non-Federal sources as funds made available by the State to the eligible institution either through direct appropriation or under any authority (other than authority to charge tuition and fees paid by students) provided by a State to an eligible institution to raise revenue, such as gift acceptance authority or user fees. Finally, it defines qualifying educational activities as programs that address food and agricultural sciences components of an eligible institution.

7 CFR 3419.6 states that The required matching funds for the formula programs shall be used by an eligible institution for agricultural research and extension activities that have been approved in the plan of work required under sections 1444(d) and 1445(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977... or for .. qualifying education activities.

Please note that while Federal funds must be expended on agricultural research, the matching funds may be used for agricultural research, agricultural extension, or qualifying educational activities. NIFA may consider and approve matching waivers above the 50 percent level.

(3) Indirect Costs and Tuition Remission

In accordance with NARETPA section 1473 (7 U.S.C. 3319), indirect costs and tuition remission are unallowable as Evans-Allen Research Program formula grant expenditures. Fully discretionary.

Applicant Eligibility:

Applications may be submitted by 1890 Land-Grant Universities, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University.

Beneficiary Eligibility:

Applications may be submitted by 1890 Land-Grant Universities, including
Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University.
Credentials/Documentation:

No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Preapplication Coordination:

All Formula Grant Opportunities (FGOS) 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.

Pre-award form submissions must be submitted to the Hatch as a new application on the

www.grants.gov website. As noted previously, these application packages complement, rather than duplicate, the information collected via the Plan of Work (POW) system and the Current Research Information System (CRIS), and together satisfy all legislative and regulatory pre-award requirements.

Section 202 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended the Smith-Lever Act and the Hatch Act to require approved plans of work for agricultural extension and research activities at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal funding. Therefore, each 1862 Land-Grant Institution must submit both a Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update (i.e., submitted each year as an update) and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results. Both reports were due by April 1.

Specific project details and pertinent information should be entered in the Current Research Information System (CRIS) as in prior years. CRIS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for ongoing agricultural, food and nutrition, and forestry research and education. CRIS contains over 30,000 descriptions of current, publicly-supported research and education activities. This work is sponsored or conducted by the USDA research agencies, the State agricultural experiment stations, the State Land-Grant Institutions and universities, State schools of forestry, cooperating schools of veterinary medicine, and USDA grant recipients. See Part VI.C. of the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO) for specific CRIS requirements. 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 FGO. Applications must follow the instructions provided per Grants.Gov. Applicants are required to submit applications in response to both an interim FGO and a final FGO. The final FGO reflects the final formula allocations for the current fiscal year (FY).

Award Procedure:

The Office of Planning and Accountability and the OEP Formula Grants Section will be reviewing submitted documents to determine if all program, financial, and administrative requirements have been met and are current. To receive an annual allotment of funds, each eligible institution or State must first submit a plan of work to NIFA for approval. During the grant period, the Office of Planning and Accountability will notify the OEP Formula Grants Section and the institution regarding each institutions compliance with the Plan of Work reporting requirements (i.e., Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results). If all current program and administrative requirements have been met by the eligible institution, funding will continue to be released on a quarterly basis. The OEP Formula Grants Section will notify the institutions when all requirements have been met or approved. The Office of Planning and Accountability will notify the OEP Formula Grants Section and the institution regarding each institutions compliance with the Plan of Work reporting requirements (i.e., Five (5) Year Plan of Work Update and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results). If all current program and administrative requirements have been met by the eligible institution, funding will continue to be released on a quarterly basis. The OEP Formula Grants Section will notify the institutions when all requirements have been met or approved.

Deadlines:

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:

From 30 to 60 days. Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the FGO each fiscal year (FY).

Appeals:

Not Applicable.

Renewals:

Not applicable, each year of funding is awarded as a new grant.

Formula and Matching Requirements:

Statutory Formula: Title Evans-Allen Research, Public Law 95-113. 7 U.S.C. 321326 and 328

The 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West
Virginia State University, are eligible for funds appropriated under this Act
according to the following formula: Funds up to the total amount made
available to all eligible institutions in the fiscal year ending September 30,
1978, under section 2 of the Act of August 4, 1965 (79 Stat.431; 7 U.S.C. 450i),
shall be allocated among the eligible institutions in the same proportion as
funds made available under section 2 of the Act of August 4, 1965, for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1978, are allocated among the eligible
institutions. Of the funds in excess of that amount, 20 per cent shall be allotted
among eligible institutions in equal proportions; 40 per cent shall be allotted
among the eligible institutions in the proportion that the rural population of the
State in which each eligible institution is located bears to the total rural
population of all the States in which eligible institution are located, as
determined by the last preceding decennial census current at the time each such
additional sum is first appropriated; and the balance shall be allotted among the
eligible institutions in the proportion that the farm population of the State in
which each eligible institution is located bears to the total farm population of all
the States in which the eligible institutions are located, as determined by the last
preceding decennial census current at the time each such additional sum is first
appropriated. In computing the distribution of the allocated funds, the
allotments to Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University shall be
determined as if each institution were in a separate State.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 100.%. NARETPA section1449 (7 U.S.C.
3222d) states that the State shall provide matching funds from non-Federal
sources. Such matching funds shall be for an amount equal to not less than ...
100 percent of the formula [grant] funds to be distributed to the eligible
institution for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter. ...
Notwithstanding [redistributing the funds], the Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement ... above the 50 percent level for any fiscal year for
an eligible institution of a State if the Secretary determines that the State will be
unlikely to satisfy the matching requirement..

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:

Evans-Allen Research Program funds are fiscal year appropriated and expected to be fully expended in the fiscal year of appropriation; however, funds may be carried over for up to one additional year. Please note there is no limitation on the amount of Federal funds that may be carried over for this one additional fiscal year. No prior approval from NIFA is required. Since this limitation is legislatively mandated, NIFA is not authorized to grant any carryover requests beyond this one additional year. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

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.

The Plan of Work Update and Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results should have been submitted by April 1 online at the web address: http://pow.NIFA.usda.gov. Institutions must submit a Form AD-416, Work Unit Description; Form AD-417, Project Classification; NIFA-2008, Assurance Form; and Project Listing through the Current Research Information System at the initiation of each Evans-Allen Research project. Each eligible institution shall submit a CRIS Form AD-421, Accomplishments Report, annually. Reports from institutions reporting on a calendar year should have been submitted by April 1, for the preceding calendar year. Reports from institutions reporting on a fiscal year should have been submitted by February 1, for the preceding fiscal year. An Accomplishments Report, CRIS Form AD-421, shall be submitted to NIFA for each completed or terminated project. Such reports

shall be submitted at the same time as are progress reports on active projects and should include a brief summary of accomplishments for the entire life of the project. A CRIS Form AD-419, Financial and Staff Support Report, shall be submitted to NIFA annually for all projects. CRIS Form AD-419 reports are also required for expenditures on all State projects that are to be included in the non-Federal funds and matching funds computation. Reports shall be made on a fiscal year basis and should have been submitted by February 1. 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.

The Plan of Work Update and Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results should have been submitted by April 1 online at the web address: http://pow.NIFA.usda.gov. Institutions are required to submit the SF-425, Federal Financial Report per Agency instructions. The office listed below provides agency oversight of these reports:

Formula Grant Branch

Awards Management Division

Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), STOP 2298
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2298
Telephone: (202) 401-6520, Fax: (202) 690-3002, E-mail:
formulagrantquestions@nifa.usda.gov. Pre-award form submissions must be
submitted to the Evans-Allen Research Program as a new application on the
www.grants.gov website. As noted previously, these application packages
complement, rather than duplicate, the information collected via the Plan of
Work (POW) and Current Research Information System (CRIS) systems, and
together satisfy all legislative and regulatory pre-award requirements. The Plan
of Work Update and Annual Report of Accomplishments and Results should
have been submitted by April 1 online at the web address:
http://pow.NIFA.usda.gov. Section 225 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (AREERA) amended
NARETPA to require an approved Plan of Work for agricultural extension and
research activities at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions in order to receive Federal
funding. Therefore, each 1890 Land-Grant Institution, including Tuskegee
University and West Virginia State University, must submit both a Five (5)
Year Plan of Work Update and an Annual Report of Accomplishments and
Results. Both reports are due April 1. Specific project details and pertinent
information should be entered in CRIS as in prior years. CRIS is the
Department of Agriculture's documentation and reporting system for ongoing
agricultural, food and nutrition, and forestry research and education. CRIS
contains over 30,000 descriptions of current, publicly-supported research and
education activities. This work is sponsored or conducted by the USDA
research agencies, the State agricultural experiment stations, the State
Land-Grant Institutions and universities, State schools of forestry, cooperating
schools of veterinary medicine, and USDA grant recipients. See Part IV.C. of
the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO) for specific CRIS requirements.

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 three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three (3) year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved.

Account Identification:

12-1500-0-1-352.

Obligations:

(Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 11 $48,018,903; FY 12 est $47,977,052; and FY 13 est $48,038,041 - 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:

If minimum or maximum amounts of funding are established, these will be announced in the Initial and/or Final Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO).

FY08: Financial assistance amounts ranged from 69,020 to 500,000. Average across 18 grants was $350,185

See Appendix A of the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO) for the specific allocations.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Fiscal Year 2011: $ 50,898,000 was appropriated for the Evans-Allen Program. After administrative costs and other assessments were deducted, a total of $ 48,018,903 supported this program at each of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. Institutions are expected to match the award amounts, but waivers may be granted. Fiscal Year 2012: A total of $ 50,898,000 was appropriated for the Evans-Allen Program. After administrative costs were deducted, a total of $47,977,052 was available to support research projects that each of the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions. Based on a formula, funds were distributed in range from $1,225,169 - $4,874,894. There is a matching requirement under this program. However, institutions may request waivers if matching funds cannot be secured. Fiscal Year 2013: Pending appropriations; it is estimated the funding levels will be the same as FY 2012. Specific details will be provided by Program Unit at a future date.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Administrative Manual for Evans-Allen Cooperative Agricultural Research,
May 1982; (manual is currently under review); 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; and 7 CFR Part 3021 USDA
implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace
(Financial Assistance).

Regional or Local Office:

None.

Headquarters Office:

USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Youth, Family, and Community, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2250, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2250 Phone: (202) 720-9278 Fax: (202) 720-9366 Website Address:

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/

RELATED PROGRAMS:

10.001 Agricultural Research_Basic and Applied Research; 10.200 Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.202 Cooperative Forestry Research; 10.203 Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under the Hatch Act; 10.207 Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.219 Biotechnology

Risk Assessment Research; 10.250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service; 10.652 Forestry Research EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Fiscal Year 2011: Evaluation Of The Nutritional And Medicinal Value Of Moringa Oleifera For Performance And Disease Control In Cows, Goats And Pigs -- Moringa oleifera is a tropical plant that contains a variety of phyto-chemicals that may have great potential as a source for non- antibiotic treatments for diseases like mastitis and as a growth and as a performance enhancing feed supplement for ruminants and other farm animals. The overall aim of this project is to further understand and characterize the nutritional and health benefits of Moringa -- specifically, inflammation/oxidant stress, immune modulation, and infectious disease.

Funds will support the study of structural, evolutionary and comparative genomics of reniform nematode (RN) and its interaction with plants by developing methodology to explore the nature of rDNA and any variation inherent in its structure of reniform nematode as well as genomic and transcriptome level composition of this devastating pest of cotton.

The funding for this project is intended to enhance a well-organized and research-based shellfish aquaculture program and outreach effort. The proposed project uses shellfish aquaculture techniques appropriate for prevailing conditions, establishes more organized oyster restoration efforts through aquaculture tools and determines water bodies suitable for continuous spawning grounds for oysters.

The research aim is to develop new processes that will contribute to providing a cheap source of nutritious foods and thus address the risks of food insecurity amongst the low income populace. Enzymatic hydrolysis is complex but cost effective methods of improving food nutritional quality. Therefore, the objective of this project is to use enzymatic hydrolysis to breakdown and converting some of the anti-nutritional factors in dry red kidney beans into valuable nutrients with health benefits when consumed. Fiscal Year 2012: The project will decode and profile the whole active genome of the whole plant of individual cultivated peanut groups, for the first time. Genes will be used for comparisons among peanut groups to identify absolute differences and similarities. Resulting genes common to all four peanut groups will be used to compare it to soybean and medicago genes, respectively, to determine and profile genes that are common to all these species and potentially to all or most of the legume species.

This project addresses program priority areas in Global Food Security and Hunger, and Climate Change. The specific knowledge areas include: (1) appraisal of soil resources,

(2) soil, plant, water, nutrient relationships,

(3) processes and transformation in soil, water and air,

(4) weather and climate,

(5) nutrient utilization,

(6) economics of agricultural production and farm management,

(7) management and agricultural sustainability,

(8) pollution prevention and mitigation,

(9) waste disposal, recycling and use,

(10) communication, education and information delivery, and (11) domestic policy analysis.

Our overall goal is to assess soil microbial community dynamics in relation to nitrogen compositions, sequestration and biochemical processes in organic agriculture practices. This information will aid in the selection of organic agricultural systems/practices with enhanced or sustained biogeochemical process achieved when land is subsequently converted to organic agriculture practices.

It is proposed to develop and evaluate two systems of sustainable aquaculture to determine feasibility and merits for use by small farmers and limited-resource families to supplement their diets with home-grown animal protein and fresh vegetables. These systems will operate at two spatial/social scales: household, and small farm/community. The overriding goals for the research component of this project are to develop and evaluate several

aquaculture/gardening systems. Fiscal Year 2013: Pending appropriations, pertinent details will be provided at a future date.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Within guidelines established for the program as described in the Formula Grant Opportunity (FGO).

10.206 GRANTS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH_COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS

NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE COMPETITIVE GRANTS
PROGRAM (NRI)

FEDERAL AGENCY:

National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Department of Agriculture
AUTHORIZATION:

Competitive, Special and Facilities Research Grant Act, Section 2(2)(b), [7
U.S.C. 450i]., 7 U.S.C 450i.

OBJECTIVES:

To support research, education and extension grants that address key problems of national, regional and multistate importance in sustaining all components of agriculture (farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, rural communities, human nutrition and obesity, food and fiber processing, etc.) Providing this support to US agriculture requires that the NRI advance fundamental. Building on these discoveries will necessitate new efforts in education and extension that deliver science-based knowledge to people, allowing them to make informed practical decisions. All grants were awarded on a competitive basis. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

PROJECT GRANTS

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

NIFA Competitive Programs Unit administers the NRI. The purpose of the NRI Competitive Grants Program was to support research grants and integrated research, extension, and education grants that address key problems of National, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of agriculture (farming, ranching, forestry including urban and agroforestry, aquaculture, rural communities, human nutrition, processing, etc.). Providing this support requires that NRI advances fundamental sciences in support of agriculture and coordinates opportunities to build on these discoveries. Building on these discoveries will necessitate new efforts in education and extension that deliver science-based knowledge to people, allowing them to make informed practical decisions. Hence, the NRI accepted applications for fundamental research, mission-linked research, and integrated research, extension, and education projects. However, applicants should know that the NRI utilized no more than twenty-two percent (22%) of available funds to support integrated projects and that these funds were not distributed uniformly, but targeted to specific priorities. Targeted priorities for integrated projects were clearly identified within the detailed descriptions of program offerings [see Part II, E of the Fiscal Year (FY) 08 Request for Applications (RFAs)]. Funds may not be used for the renovation or refurbishment of research spaces (including energy retrofitting); purchase or installations of fixed equipment in such spaces; or planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities. Fully discretionary.

Applicant Eligibility:

For research projects, the eligibility requirements for the NRI were as follows: except where otherwise prohibited by law, State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, and individuals were eligible to apply for and to receive a competitive grant. The Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) have some notable differences from these requirements. See Part II C, 2. of Fiscal Year (FY) 08 Requests for Applications (RFAs).

For integrated projects, the eligibility requirements for the NRI were as follows: except where otherwise prohibited by law, State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, research foundations maintained by colleges or universities, private research organizations with established and demonstrated capacities to perform research or technology transfer, Federal research agencies, and national laboratories were eligible to apply for and

receive a competitive grant. The bridge grants have some notable differences from these requirements. See Part II, C, 3(b) of Fiscal Year (FY) 08 RFAs for details.

Unsolicited applications were not considered and applications from scientists at non-United States organizations were not accepted. Award recipients may subcontract to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations were necessary for the conduct of the project. Beneficiary Eligibility:

For research grants eligibility includes State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, other U.S. research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, and individuals. For integrated research, education and extension grants eligibility includes State Agricultural Experiment Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, research foundations maintained by colleges or universities, private research organizations with established and demonstrated capacities to perform research or technology transfer, Federal research agencies and national laboratories. Proposals from scientists at non-U.S. organizations will not be considered for support.

Credentials/Documentation:

A Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number must be obtained - A DUNS number is a unique number that identifies an organization. It has been adopted by the Federal government to help track how Federal grant money is distributed. If your organization does not have a DUNS number, call the special Dun & Bradstreet hotline at 1-866-705-5711 to receive one free of charge. You will receive a DUNS number within several days of your request. Please note, individual proprietorships (i.e. farmers, ranchers) can request and receive a DUNS number, but must register with Grants.gov as an organization, not as an individual.

Registration with Central Contractor Registry (CCR) is required - The CCR is the central government repository for organizations working with the Federal government. If your organization is not already registered, identify the primary contact who should register your organization. When your organization registers with CCR, it will be required to designate an e-Business Point of Contact (e-Business POC). The e-Business POC authorizes individuals to submit grant applications on behalf of the organization and creates a special password called a Marketing Partner ID Number (M-PIN) to verify individuals authorized to submit grant applications for the organization. Visit the CCR Web site at http://www.ccr.gov to begin this process. It may take several days to collect the information needed for your organizations registration. The CCR Assistance Center can be reached at 888-227-2423. This information collection is approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0039, NIFA Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs.

Applicants must furnish the information required in the RFAS. Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process. These include, but were not limited to the following:

Organizational Management Information - Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one (1) time basis, with updates on an as needed basis, as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of a grant identified under this RFA, if such information has not been provided previously under this or another NIFA program. NIFA will provide copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling these requirements as part of the preaward process. Although an applicant may be eligible based on its status as one of these entities, there were factors which may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under this program (e.g., debarment or suspension of an individual involved or a determination that an applicant is not responsible based on submitted organizational management information). This information collection is approved under OMB Circular Control No. 0524-0026, Assurance of Compliance with the Department of Agriculture Regulations Assuring Civil Rights, Compliance and Organization Information.. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication Coordination:

All RFAs were 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:

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 Grants.Gov and in the Agency guide to submitting applications via Grants.gov. This information collection is approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0039, NIFA Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs. Award Procedure:

Applications were 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 were 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 were judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA. This information collection is approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0039, NIFA Application Kit for Research and Extension Programs. Reviewers were 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 were announced in the RFA each fiscal year (FY).

:095 Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:

From 30 to 180 days.

Appeals:

Not Applicable.

Renewals:

Proposals for renewal, were submitted at the announced deadline. Renewals were treated in competition with all other pending proposals. Authority has been repealed Repealed per Section 7406 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) was established to replace NRI. (See CFDA 10.310.). Formula and Matching Requirements:

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Funds were awarded competitively. No formula grants were awarded under this authority.

For equipment grants Unless criteria was met to qualify for waiver by the Secretary, matching shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the special research equipment or other equipment acquired using funds from the grant.

For applied research if the grant was commodity-specific; and not of national scope, the grant recipient was required to match USDA funds awarded on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-Federal sources with cash and/or in-kind contributions.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:

Normally, competitive research projects were supported for periods of up to four (4) years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Reports:

Grantees were required to submit annual and summary progress reports via NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). This reporting requirement was approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0042, NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). CRIS is an electronic, web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submission of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects.

Quarterly Reports of Federal Cash Transactions (SF-272) were required by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (www.dpm.psc.gov) and were submitted online through the DHHS Payment Management System (PMS) website. If you become delinquent in these reports, you will not be able to access your funds. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. Grantees were required to submit annual and summary progress reports via NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). This reporting requirement was approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0042, NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). CRIS is an electronic, web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submission of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects.

Quarterly Reports of Federal Cash Transactions (SF-272) were required by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (www.dpm.psc.gov) and were submitted online through the DHHS Payment Management System (PMS) website. If you become delinquent in these reports, you will not be able to access your funds. 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 Branch, Office of Extramural Programs 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).

Awards Management Branch

Office of Extramural Programs

National Institute of Food and Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
STOP 2271

1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-2271

Telephone: (202) 401-4986. Grantees were required to submit annual and summary progress reports via NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). This reporting requirement was approved under OMB Control No. 0524-0042, NIFA Current Research Information System (CRIS). CRIS is an electronic, web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submission of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects.

Quarterly Reports of Federal Cash Transactions (SF-272) were required by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (www.dpm.psc.gov) and were submitted online through the DHHS Payment Management System (PMS) website. If you become delinquent in these reports, you will not be able to access your funds.

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

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