by an internal staff member, an evaluation firm or both. The applicant should state the amount of time needed to evaluate, how the feedback will be distributed among the proposed staff, and a schedule for review and comment for this type of communication. Evaluation designs may start at the beginning, middle or end of a project, but the applicant should specify a start-up time. It is practical to submit an evaluation design at the start of a project for two reasons: 1. Convincing evaluations require the collection of appropriate data before and during program operations; and, 2. If the evaluation design cannot be prepared at the outset then something may be faulty with the program design. Even if the evaluation design has to be revised as the project progresses, it is much easier and cheaper to modify a good design. If the problem is not well-defined and analyzed for relation ships between facts and explanations then a good evaluation design may be difficult to achieve. Sometimes a pilot study is needed to begin the identification of facts and relationships. Often a thorough literature search may be sufficient. Evaluation requires both coordination and aggreement among program decision makers (if known). Above all, the Federal grantor agency's requirements should be highlighted in the eval uation design. Also, Federal grantor agencies may require specific evaluation techniques such as designated data formats (an existing information collection system) or they may offer financial inducements for voluntary participation in a national evaluation study. The applicant should ask specifically about these points. Also, consult the Criteria For Funding Proposals section of the Catalog program description to determine the exact evaluation methods to be required for the program if funded. V. BUDGET FORMULATION A. Planning the Budget Funding levels in Federal assistance programs change yearly. It is useful to review the appropri ations over the past several years to try to project future funding levels (see Financial Informa tion section of the Catalog program description). However, it is safer to never anticipate that the income from the grant will be the sole suppor for the project. This consideration should be given to the overall budget requirements, and ir particular, to budget line items most subject to inflationary pressures. Restraint is important in determining lationary cost projections (avoid padding budget line items), but attempt to antici pate possible future increases. Some vulnerable budget areas are: utilities, rental of building and equipment, salary increases, food, telephones, insurance and tranportation. Budget adjust ments are sometimes made after the grant award, but this can be a lengthy process. Be certai that implementation, continuation and phasedown costs can be met. Consider costs associate with leases, evaluation systems, hard/soft match requirements, audits, development, implemen tation and maintenance of information systems and accounting systems and other long-term fi nancial commitments. It is very important to become familiar with government-wide circular requirements. The Cata log identifies in the program description section the particular circulars applicable to a Federa program, and summarizes circular requirements in Appendix I. The applicant should thoroughl review the appropriate circulars since they are essential in determining items such as cost prin ciples and conforming with government guidelines for Federal domestic assistance. XXX state the a VI. REVIEW osed staff At some point, perhaps after the first or second draft is completed, seek out a neutral third party to review the proposal working draft for continuity, clarity and reasoning. Ask for constructive criticism at this point, rather than wait for the Federal grantor agency to volunteer this information during the review cycle. Proposals should be typed, collated, copied and packaged correctly and neatly. Each package should be inspected to ensure uniformity from cover to cover. Binding may require either clamps or hard covers. Check with the Federal agency to determine its preference. A cover letter should always accompany a proposal. Standard U.S. Postal Service requirements apply unless otherwise indicated by the Federal agency. Make sure there is enough time for the proposals to reach their destinations. Otherwise, special arrangements may be necessary. Always coordinate such arrangements with the Federal grantor agency project office (the agency which will ultimately have the responsibility for the project), the grant office (the agency which will coordinate the grant review) and the contract office if necessary (the agency responsible disbursement, grant award notices, etc.). VII. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION Below are resources for mode detail about grants and grantwriting. There are several very good private resources available which can be identified by consulting a public library. The Federal Register Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office United States Government Manual OMB Circular Nos. A-21, A-95 (Parts I and III), A-102, A-110, A-111, and FMC 74-4. Publications Office Office of Administration 726 Jackson Place, N.W., Room G-236 Washington, D.C. 20503 The Federal Granting System: A Guide for Local Governments in Massachusetts University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts 01003 Guide for Preparation of Proposals and Operations of Projects National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education in Science Washington, D.C. Guide for the Preparation of Proposals for the Prefreshman and Cooperative Department of Energy Washington, D.C. Guide for the Submission of Unsolicited Research and Development Proposals Washington, D.C. Guide for the Submission of Research and Development Proposals by Individuals and Organizations Other than Educational Institutions Department of Energy Washington, D.C. Guidelines for the Preparation of Unsolicited Proposals, National Science Foundation Washington, D.C. Treasury Circular 1082 Department of Treasury Budget and Program Analysis, Room 2449 XXXII AGENCY INDEX tive sals - AGENCY PROGRAM INDEX The alphabet(s) in parentheses following the program title, shows the e(s) of assistance available through that program. The alphabet codes h accompanying types of assistance are as follows: A-Formula Grants; -Project Grants; C-Direct Payments for Specified Use; D-Direct ments with Unrestricted Use; E-Direct Loans; F-Guaranteed/Ined Loans; G-Insurance; H-Sale, Exchange, or Donation of Property Goods; 1-Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment; J-Provision of cialized Services; K-Advisory Services and Counseling; L-Disseminaof Technical Information; M-Training; N-Investigation of Comints: O-Federal Employment; P-Research Contracts. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 10.422 10.423 10.424 10.425 10.426 10.427 10.428 10.429 Business and Industrial Loans (F) Emergency Livestock Loans (F) Area Development Assistance Planning Grants (B) Economic Emergency Loans (F) Above Moderate Income Housing Loans (F) FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION 10.450 Crop Insurance (G) iduals IMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE 025 Plant and Animal Disease and Pest Control (J,L) 10.475 10.476 RICULTURAL STABILIZATION AND CONSERVATION 10.477 10.478 051 Commodity Loans and Purchases (D,E) 052 Cotton Production Stabilization (D) 053 Dairy Indemnity Payments (D) 10.551 054 Emergency Conservation Program (B) Food Stamps (C) School Breakfast Program (A,H) 056 Storage Facilities and Equipment Loans (E) 10.554 058 Wheat Production Stabilization (D) 10.555 059 National Wool Act Payments (D) 10.556 Equipment Assistance for School Food Service Programs (A) Special Milk Program for Children (A) 060 Beekeeper Indemnity Payments (D) 10.557 062 Water Bank Program (B,K) Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and 363 Agricultural Conservation Program (B) 10.558 Child Care Food Program (A,H) 064 Forestry Incentives Program (B) 365 Rice Production Stabilization (D) 10.560 State Administrative Expenses for Child Nutrition (A) 66 Emergency Feed Program (D) 10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for Food Stamp Program (A) 10.563 67 Grain Reserve Program (D) RICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 150 Agricultural Product Grading (J) 153 Market News (L) 154 Market Supervision (J,K,M,N) 155 Marketing Agreements and Orders (J,K) 156 Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (B) 159 Livestock and Poultry Market Supervision (N) ONOMICS, STATISTICS, AND COOPERATIVES SERVICE 250 Agricultural and Rural Economic Research (L) 251 Technical Assistance to Cooperatives (K,L) 252 Agricultural Statistical Reports (L) RMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION 404 Emergency Loans (F) Nutrition Education Experimental or Demonstration Projects (B) 10.564 Nutrition Education and Training Program (A) 405 Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants (B,F) 10.875 406 Farm Operating Loans (F) 10.876 407 Farm Ownership Loans (F) 408 Grazing Association Loans (F) 10.877 409 Irrigation, Drainage, and Other Soil and Water Conservation 10.878 Loans (F) Payments to Agricultural Experiment Stations Under Hatch 10 Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans (F) 10.879 411 Rural Housing Site Loans (E,F) 10.880 13 Recreation Facility Loans (F) 14 Resource Conservation and Development Loans (F) 10.881 416 Soil and Water Loans (F) 15 Rural Rental Housing Loans (F) 17 Very Low-Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants (B,E) 418 Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities (B,F) 419 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Loans (F) Payments to 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Tuskegee Institute (A) Cooperative Extension Service (A) Technical Information Systems (I) Grants for Agricultural Research-Competitive Research— SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE 10.900 Great Plains Conservation (C,K) (J) Flood Plain Management Services (K,L) Protection of Essential Highways, Highway Bridge proaches, and Public Works (J) Flood Control Projects (J) Navigation Projects (J) Snagging and Clearing for Flood Control (J) Protection, Clearing and Straightening Channels (J) DEFENSE CIVIL PREPAREDNESS AGENCY 12.309 Civil Defense-Industrial Participation (L,M) .. Civil Defense-Radiological Systems Maintenance and Trai ing of Radiological Personnel (B,J) Civil Defense-National Shelter Survey (J) Civil Defense-Staff College (B,M) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 12.104 11.405 Anadromous and Great Lakes Fisheries Conservation (B) 12.105 11.406 Commercial Fisheries Disaster Assistance (B) 11.407 Commercial Fisheries Research and Development (A) 12.106 11.410 Fishermen-Reimbursement of Losses (G) 12.107 11.411 Fishery Cooperative Services (K,L) 12.108 11.413 Fishery Products Inspection and Certification (J) 12.109 11.415 Fishing Vessel Obligation Guarantees (F) 12.110 11.417 Sea Grant Support (B) 11.418 11.419 11.420 11.421 11.422 11.423 Coastal Zone Management Program Development (B) 12.310 12.312 12.314 |