cooperative linkages, originality, personnel, institutional commitment and resources; and overall quality of proposal. electronic transfer system, advance by Treasury check, or reim bursement by Treasury check. Deadlines: All deadlines are announced in the Federal Register. The deadline for submission of fiscal year 1992 proposals was January 13, 1993. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 90 to 180 days. Appeals: None. Renewals: None. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: Dollar-for-dollar matching funds from nonfederal sources is required. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants are awarded for a 1 to 3 year period and may receive no-cost extensions as appropriate up to a maximum of 5 years. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Annual progress reports. Quarterly financial reports. Final progress and financial reports are due within 90 days after project expiration. Audits: Audits will be conducted in accordance with the regulatory provisions of USDA's 7 CFR 3015 et seq., and all successor regulations. Additionally, this program is subject to audit by the cognizant Federal Audit Agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General Records: Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are expended for authorized purposes. Grant related records 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. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352. FY 94 est $1,495,740. $40,000 to $68,883; $58,200. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In fiscal year 1992, 131 applica tions were received and 25 awards were granted. Fiscal year 1992 funds supported projects involving the use of shared resources through partnership ventures among universities and with the private sector: High priority topics are being addressed such as ethics in agriculture and leadership training for women. In addition, both faculty and student skills are being enhanced in areas such as com puter technology and multicultural environments. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations (implementing the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-21 and A-110); 7 CFR Part 3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018, Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3405, Higher Education Challenge Grants, Adminis trative Provisions, and Grant Application Kit. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: None. Education Programs, Cooperative State Research Service, U.S. same 7-digit number for FTS.) RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.210, Food and Agricultural Sciences Na tional Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants; 10.216, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: (1) Develop and deliver an inter-institutional course on aquatic pathobiology for veterinary students; (2) develop the international skills and capacities of agriculture undergraduates; (3) ensure a highly competent nutrition and food science professional work force; (4) develop an entrepreneurial curriculum for the restaurant and apparel industries; and (5) use computer-mediated telecommunications as an instructional aid. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Proposals are evaluated using the following criteria: Intrinsic merit, overall approach and 10.218 BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES PROGRAM FEDERAL AGENCY: COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1992 and 1993, Public Laws 102-142 and 102-341. OBJECTIVES: This is a construction grants program designed to im prove and modernize program facilities to assist recipients in better responding to current challenges and opportunities in the food and agricultural sciences. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Funds may be used for architec tural-engineering, acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, or consolidation of program facilities, and the acquisition and installation of fixed equipment. Funds may not be used to establish, maintain, or enhance the research or education programs themselves; to purchase movable equipment; to pay indirect costs of grant recipients; or to pay operating or maintenance costs of completed facilities. Other unallowable costs are specified in the terms and conditions of the grant award which accompany the individual grant. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Specified by Congress in the Conference Re ports for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal years ending Sep tember 30, 1992 and 1993. Beneficiary Eligibility: Specified by Congress in the Conference Re ports for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal years ending Sep tember 30, 1992 and 1993. Credentials/Documentation: Each recipient receiving its first grant award from Cooperative State Research Service (CSRS) must fur nish organizational management information. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: This program is excluded from cover age under E.O. 12372. A preconstruction environmental assess ment is required. Application Procedure: Program guidelines are developed and for warded to identified institutions annually. As directed in the covering letter, institutional officials prepare either background materials or a formal grant application according to instructions provided in the guidelines. An on-site study is conducted by a team of subject-matter experts and the results are reported to Congress prior to recommending an initial grant award. Any award of funds to begin architectural-engineering or construction work is influenced by the panel's recommendations. In subsequent years, a grant application is submitted to CSRS for evaluation and approv al. Award Procedure: Upon receipt in CSRS, the grant application un dergoes internal programmatic, financial, and administrative eval. uation. If the project is recommended for an award, a grant award document consisting of a cover sheet, an approved budget, and the terms and conditions of the grant award is issued. Deadlines: For fiscal year 1993 projects, the due date for receipt of proposals is February 15, 1993. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: It takes between 60 and 120 days to review background materials, select review team members, conduct an on-site study, submit the report to Congress, and make funding decisions relating to initial project submissions. All fiscal year 1993 reports will be submitted to Congress by approximately June 1, 1993. For all other proposals, it takes between 45 and 180 days to complete the evaluation and award processes, depending upon the complexity of the project. All approved projects for which nding has been appropriated in fiscal year 1993 will be awarded by September 30, 1993. Appeals: None. conducted to: (1) Determine the need for and importance of the facility as it relates to the agricultural interest in the requesting State, the region, and the Nation; (2) determine the extent to which the facility is expected to contribute to the effectiveness of agricultural research, teaching, and extension programs; (3) examine alternatives to the facility proposed; (4) determine the local commitment to the facility and the programs it is intended to house; (5) assure that the requestor is able to provide the required matching support for the construction if Federal funding is forthcoming; and (6) assure that the intended use of the facility lies within the mission of USDA. Reports prepared by review teams are reviewed internally to ensure that they adequately address these issues. Grant proposals submitted to CSRS after the on-site visit are reviewed by CSRS faculty and staff for adherence to approved plans and Federal regulations, project accomplishments, and allowability of costs. Renewals: Depending upon the size and complexity of the construc tion project, it often takes several increments of funding assistance to complete the project. The initial award is issued as a new grant, with second and subsequent funding increments issued as renewals to existing grants. Projects remain active until facility completion. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: All projects are funded on a matching formula of not to exceed 50 percent Federal funds and not less than 50 percent nonfederal funds. All project costs are subject to prior written approval by CSRS. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: There is no statutory limit on the length of time an award may be in effect. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: A technical (i.e., performance) report is due 90 days after the first anniversary date of the grant award and annually thereafter during the life of the project. Performance reports submitted with renewal proposals will satisfy this requirement through the final increment of grant funding. Quarterly financial reports are due 15 days after the close of each quarter throughout the life of the project. Final technical and financial reports are due 90 days after the expiration date of the grant award. Audits: An organization wide audit is required at least every two years in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133 to ensure continuing adequacy of recipients' financial management and internal control systems. This program is subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of the Inspector General. Federal audits are made in accordance with the policies of OMB Circular No. A-88. Records: Grantees are required to maintain separate records for each construction project to ensure that funds are expended for authorized purposes. Grant-related records must be retained for a mini mum of 3 years after the expiration date of the grant award. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1501-0-1-352. FY 94 est $0. $1,433,809. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In fiscal year 1992, 10 pre award on-site studies were conducted and 41 grants were aw studies will be conducted and 42 grants will be awarded. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Buildings and Facilities Program: Program Guidelines; 7 CFR 3407, Agency Procedures to Implement the National Environmental Policy Act; 7 CFR 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; Federal Cost Principles; 7 CFR 3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (grants); and 7 CFR 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying. Regional or Local Office: None. Program Systems, Room 328, Aerospace Building, Cooperative phone: (202) 401-1761. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.203, Payments to Agricultural Experi ment Stations Under Hatch Act; 10.205, Payments to 1890 LandGrant Colleges and Tuskegee University; 10.207, Animal Health and Disease Research. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Center for Alternative Pest Control Research, Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture, Bioscience Research Laboratory, Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory, Nursery Crop Research Station, Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetics Facility, Center for Molecular Biology, Environmental Stress Laboratory, and Institute for Agricultural Health Sciences and Rural Medi cine. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Written criteria are used to evaluate projects during the on-site study. Each study is 10.219 BIOTECHNOLOGY RISK ASSESSMENT RESEARCH Program) SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (IN CON- SERVICE), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE fects of biotechnology. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants. USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Grant funds must be used for al lowable costs necessary to conduct approved research objectives. Funds may not be used for purposes other than those approved in the grant award documents. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicant Eligibility: Any public or private research or educational institution or organization. Beneficiary Eligibility: Any public or private research or education al institution or organization. Credentials/Documentation: None. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: All proposal solicitations are published in the Federal Register or sent to eligible institutions. This pro gram is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedure: Preproposals and/or formal proposals, as outlined in the solicitation, should be submitted to the Awards Management Division, CSRS-USDA. Application procedures are contained in the Research Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 and the Administrative Provisions for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Re search Grants Program. Award Procedure: Proposals are reviewed by a peer panel of quali fied scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are funded in order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds. Deadlines: As announced in the solicitation. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 4 to 6 months. Appeals: None. Renewals: Requests for renewal support must be submitted as new proposals at the announced deadline and are considered in equal competition with other proposals. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: None. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: From 1 to 5 years. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: Quarterly financial reports, annual progress reports, and final financial and final summary progress reports. Audits: Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's sys tems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. Federal audits will be made in accordance with the policies of OMB Circular No. A-88. Records: Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for the purpose for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspections during the life of the grant and for 3 years thereafter. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352. $1,716,360. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $56,200 to $210,000; $175,000. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 1992 marked the initial funding year for this program. Seventy-seven proposals were received and eight grants were awarded for a total amount of $1,405,000. It is anticipated that funded projects will advance the safe application of biotechnology to agriculture. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 7 CFR 3415, Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program Administrative Provisions, and regulations referenced therein (e.g., 7 CFR 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, and 3407). Regional or Local Office: None. Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Tele phone: (202) 720-4423. 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 Hatch Act; 10.206, Grants for Agricultural Research-Competi tive Research Grants; 10.207, Animal Health and Disease Research; 10.250, Agricultural and Rural Economic Research; 10.652, Forestry Research. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Predator avoidance, spawn ing, and foraging ability of transgenic catfish; spread of transgenic weeds with resistance to herbicides; assessing horizontal gene transfer from rhizosphere microorganisms to genetically engi neered microorganisms. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines es tablished for the program criteria include: Overall scientific and technological quality of proposal; research competence of the principal investigator(s), research team and support personnel; adequacy of facilities, equipment, and related program support; justification ofsupport requested in relation to objectives and procedures; feasibility of attaining objectives during life of proposed research; awareness of published literature and current research related to proposed research; relevance of importance of proposed research to solution of specific areas of inquiry; and estimate of expected benefits. ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION CENTER FEDERAL AGENCY: ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURAL RE SEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION (AARC) CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORIZATION: Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990; Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Act of 1990, Title 16, Subtitle G, Sections 1657-1664, Public Law 101-624, 7 U.S.C. 5901-5908; 7 U.S.C. 3318. OBJECTIVES: To search for new non-food, non-feed products that may be produced from agricultural commodities and for processes to produce such products. To conduct product and co-product/ process development and demonstration projects, as well as provide commercialization assistance for industrial products from ag. ricultural and forestry materials. To encourage cooperative development and marketing efforts among manufacturers, private and government laboratories, universities, and financiers to assist in bridging the gap between research results and marketable, competitive products and processes. To collect and disseminate information about commercialization projects that use agricultural or forestry materials and industrial products derived therefrom. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements). USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Pre-proposals/proposals should focus on products/processes from the following material categories: Starches/carbohydrates, fats and oils, fibers, forest materials, animal products, other plant materials uses as pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, encapsulation agents, rubber, etc. Primary interest is in providing assistance to technology development projects that will commercialize new non-food, non-feed uses from new and existing agricultural and forestry materials. Special emphasis will be given to these pre-proposals/proposals whose products are closest to commercialization. Pre-proposals/proposals that request funds for research may be considered; however, such requests must include an overall development plan that contains potential markets, development costs, and industry participation. No grant or cooperative agreement may be entered into for the acquisition or construction of a building or facility. Not more than 25 percent of the funds obligated each fiscal year shall be awarded only for projects concerning new non-food, non-feed products derived from animal Deadlines: As announced in the Federal Register for each fiscal year. Deadline for submission of fiscal year 1993 pre-proposals was October 30, 1992. Deadline to submit proposals to host AARC Re gional Centers was February 19, 1993. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 4 to 6 months. Appeals: None. Renewals: Requests for renewal support must be submitted as new proposals at the announced deadline, and are considered in equal competition with other proposals. ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Formula and Matching Requirements: Some level of matching of funds is required with the amount of such matching to be determined after pre-proposals are reviewed, but in no case will funds provided by the AARC Center exceed two-thirds of the total cost of the project. A preference may be given to those projects for which the ratio of Center funds to non-Center funds would be the lowest or those projects with the lowest effective overhead and administrative cost. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: From 1 to 5 years. POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS: Reports: This program is in the preliminary stage and reporting re quirements have not yet been determined. Audits: This program is in the preliminary stage and audit require ments have not yet been determined. Records: Grantees are expected to maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for the purpose for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and for 3 years thereafter. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Account Identification: 12-4144-0-3-352. the AARC Revolving Fund) FY 92 $0; FY 93 est $10,539,688; and FY 94 est $17,000,000. Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $10,000 to $5,000,000; $500,000. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None. This is a new program, no accomplishments have been made. REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Pages 36973 36974, Federal Register, Vol. 57, No. 159, August 17, 1992; 7 CFR 3015, Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR 3016, USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments; 7 CFR 3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Work place (Grant); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying. INFORMATION CONTACTS: Regional or Local Office: None. and Commercialization (AARC) Center, Department of Agricul ture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 401-4860. RELATED PROGRAMS: 10.001, Agricultural Research-Basic and Applied Research; 10.200, Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants; 10.212, Small Business Innovation Research; 10.215, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education; 11.612, Advanced Technology Program; 59.005, Business Development Assistance to Small Business. EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: None. This is a new pro gram, no awards have been made. CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Within guidelines estab lished for the program, the AARC Board seeks projects that will have market impact on new and existing agricultural products and will favor projects that are market-driven; have private sector involvement; incorporate sharing of resources and risks (cash and expertise), and have a high probability for commercial success. The statute indicates that the AARC Board may use the following criteria when the grants or cooperative agreements are made sources. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: stitutions and organizations, Federal agencies, and individuals. Beneficiary Eligibility: Public and private educational and research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, and individuals. Credentials/Documentation: This program is in the preliminary stage and credentials/documentation requirements have not yet been de termined. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS: Preapplication Coordination: Solicitations are published in the Feder al Register. This program is in the preliminary stage and preappli cation coordination requirements have not yet been determined. Application Procedure: Applications should be submitted to the Al ternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Center (AARC), USDA as outlined in the guidelines. Application proce dures are provided by the AARC Center. Award Procedure: Pre-proposals will receive both a business and a technical review. After review, the AARC Board will seek full proposals on projects that best address the evaluation criteria. Such proposals will be reviewed on a competitive basis by a peer review panel established by the AARC Board, with the AARC Board making the final award decisions. under the program: The prospect of developing technologies that could make it possible to use or modify existing agricultural commodities to provide an economically viable quantity of new nonfood, non-feed products; the potential market size of the new nonfood, non-feed product, the likely time period needed to bring the product into the stream of commerce for general use, and the likely availability of the agricultural commodity used to produce the product; the potential for job creation in an economically distressed rural area; the anticipated State or local participation; the anticipated financial participation of private entities; the likely impact on reducing Federal crop subsidies and other Federal agricultural assistance program costs; the likely positive impact on resource conservation and the environment. The unavailability of adequate funding from other sources; and the likely positive effect |