[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 326-329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34784]
[[Page 325]]
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Part VI
Department of Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
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National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Fiscal Year
1999: Amendment of Solicitation of Applications and Request for Input;
Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 326]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Fiscal
Year 1999: Amendment of Solicitation of Applications and Request for
Input
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Amendment of Solicitation of Applications Fiscal Year
1999 National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program and
Request for Input.
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SUMMARY: This notice amends the fiscal year (FY) 1999 Solicitation of
Applications for competitive grant awards in agricultural, forest, and
related environmental sciences under the National Research Initiative
(NRI) Competitive Grants Program published at 63 FR 46110, August 28,
1998. This amendment replaces the estimated amounts of funds available
in each research program area with the actual amounts available and
imposes a lower indirect cost ceiling in accordance with subsequent
legislation. This amendment also adds a new research program area and
new topics within two previously published research program areas. By
this notice, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) additionally solicits stakeholder input from any
interested party regarding the FY 1999 NRI solicitation of applications
for use in the development of the next request for proposals for this
program.
DATES: This amendment does not alter the original deadlines for receipt
of proposals as set forth previously in this solicitation of
applications as published on August 28, 1998 (63 FR 46110). Proposals
submitted in response to the amended research topics for animal genome
and genetic mechanisms and for agricultural systems must be postmarked
by February 15, 1999. Proposals submitted in response to the new
research program area Epidemiological Approaches to Food Safety must be
postmarked by April 5, 1999. Comments regarding this solicitation of
applications are requested within six months from the issuance of this
notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the
extent practicable.
For Further Information Contact: USDA/CSREES/NRI, Stop 2241, 1400
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-2241. Phone: (202) 401-
5022. E-mail: nricgp@reeusda.gov. Written comments should be submitted
by first-class mail to: Office of Extramural Programs; Competitive
Research Grants and Awards Management; USDA-CSREES; STOP 2299; 1400
Independence Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C. 20250-2299, or via e-mail to:
[email protected] In your comments, please include the name of the
program and the fiscal year solicitation of applications to which you
are responding.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
Stakeholder Input
Authority and Applicable Regulations
Conflicts of Interest
Project Types and Eligibility Requirements
I. Conventional Projects
II. Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards
Funding Categories for FY 1999
Research Opportunities
Application Materials
Materials Available on Internet
Electronic Subscription to NRI Documents
NRI Deadline Dates
Stakeholder Input
CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this solicitation of
applications from any interested party. These comments will be
considered in the development of the next request for proposals for the
program. Such comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or his
designee for use in meeting the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998
(Pub. L. 105-185). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and
consider input on a current request for proposals from persons who
conduct or use agricultural research, education, or extension for use
in formulating the next request for proposals for an agricultural
research program funded on a competitive basis.
In your comments, please include the name of the program and the
fiscal year solicitation of applications to which you are responding.
Comments are requested within six months from the issuance of the
solicitation of applications. Comments received after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable.
Authority and Applicable Regulations
The authority for this program is contained in 7 U.S.C. 450i(b).
Under this program, subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary
may award competitive research grants, for periods not to exceed five
years, for the support of research projects to further the programs of
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Regulations applicable to this program include the following: (a)
the regulations governing the NRI, 7 CFR part 3411, which set forth
procedures to be followed when submitting grant proposals, rules
governing the evaluation of proposals and the awarding of grants, and
regulations relating to the post-award administration of grant
projects; (b) the USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Agreements with Institutions of Higher-Education, Hospitals, and
Other Non-Profit Organizations, 7 CFR part 3019; (c) the USDA Uniform
Federal Assistance Regulations, 7 CFR part 3015; (d) the USDA Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and Local Governments, 7 CFR part 3016; and (e) 7 U.S.C. 3103,
which defines ``sustainable agriculture.''
Conflicts of Interest
For the purpose of determining conflicts of interest in accordance
with 7 CFR part 3411.12, the academic and administrative autonomy of an
institution shall be determined by reference to the January 1998 issue
of the Codebook for Compatible Statistical Reporting of Federal Support
to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions, prepared by
Quantum Research Corporation for the National Science Foundation.
Copies may be obtained from Quantum Research Corporation, 7315
Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 400W, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Project Types and Eligibility Requirements
The project types for which proposals are solicited include:
I. Conventional Projects
(a) Standard Research Grants: Research will be supported that is
fundamental or mission-linked, and that is conducted by individual
investigators, co-investigators within the same discipline, or
multidisciplinary teams. Any State agricultural experiment station,
college, university, other research institution or organization,
Federal agency, national laboratory, private organization, corporation,
or individual may apply. Proposals submitted by non-United States
organizations will not be considered for support.
(b) Conferences: Scientific meetings that bring together scientists
to identify research needs, update information, or advance an area of
research are recognized as integral parts of research efforts. Any
State agricultural experiment station, college, university,
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other research institution or organization, Federal agency, national
laboratory, private organization, corporation, or individual is an
eligible applicant in this area. Proposals submitted by non-United
States organizations will not be considered for support.
II. Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards
To contribute to the enhancement of research capabilities in the
research program areas described herein, applications are solicited for
Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards. Such applications may be
submitted by any State agricultural experiment station, college,
university, other research institution or organization, Federal agency,
national laboratory, private organization, corporation, or individual;
however, further eligibility requirements are defined in 7 CFR part
3411.3(d) and restated in the FY 1999 NRI Program Description.
Applications submitted by non-United States organizations will not be
considered for support. However, United States citizens applying as
individuals for Postdoctoral Fellowships may perform all or part of the
proposed work at a non-United States organization. Agricultural
Research Enhancement Awards are available in the following categories:
(a) Postdoctoral Fellowships
(b) New Investigator Awards
(c) Strengthening Awards: Institutions in USDA EPSCoR entities are
eligible for strengthening awards. For FY 1999, USDA EPSCoR states
consist of the following:
Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming
For FY 1999, other USDA-EPSCoR entities consist of the following:
American Samoa
District of Columbia
Guam
Micronesia
Northern Marianas
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Investigators at small and mid-sized institutions (total enrollment
of 15,000 or less) may also be eligible for Strengthening Awards. An
institution in this instance is an organization that possesses a
significant degree of autonomy, as determined by reference to the
January 1998 issue of the ``Codebook for Compatible Statistical
Reporting of Federal Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit
Institutions'', prepared by Quantum Research Corporation for the
National Science Foundation. Copies may be obtained from Quantum
Research Corporation; 7315 Wisconsin Avenue; Suite 400W; Bethesda, MD
20814.
Institutions which are among the top 100 universities and colleges,
except those in USDA EPSCoR states, are ineligible for strengthening
awards. The top 100 institutions excluding those in USDA EPSCoR states,
as listed in the table ``Federal obligations for science and
engineering research and development to the 100 universities and
colleges receiving the largest amounts, ranked by total amount
received, by agency: fiscal year 1996'' of the ``Survey of Federal
Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and
Nonprofit Institutions'' (National Science Foundation, accessible
through the Internet at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/sfsucni/start.htm), are as
follows:
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie-Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
Colorado State University
Columbia University
Cornell University
CUNY Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Duke University
Emory University
Florida State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Indiana University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Johns Hopkins University
Louisiana State University (All Campuses)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Michigan State University
New York University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Oregon Health Sciences University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rockefeller University
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Stanford University
State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Buffalo
Texas A&M University
Thomas Jefferson University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Alabama Birmingham
University of Arizona
University of California Santa Barbara
University of California San Francisco
University of California Irvine
University of California San Diego
University of California Davis
University of California Los Angeles
University of California Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky (All Campuses)
University of Maryland Baltimore Prof Sch
University of Maryland College Park
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Med Schl Worcester
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
University of Texas Health Sci. Center San Antonio
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
University of Texas SW Medical Center Dallas
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin Madison
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Polytech Institute and State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wake Forest University
Washington University
Wayne State University
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Yeshiva University, New York
See the FY 1999 NRI Program Description for complete details on
programs and eligibility.
Funding Categories for FY 1999
CSREES is soliciting proposals, subject to the availability of
funds, for support of high priority research of importance to
agriculture, forestry, and related environmental sciences, in the
following research categories with the available funding:
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Natural Resources and the Environment ($19,177,982).
Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health ($14,947,581).
Plant Systems ($38,255,800).
Animal Systems ($27,076,707).
Markets, Trade, and Policy ($4,304,510).
New Products and Processes ($7,670,370).
Support for research opportunities listed below may be derived from
one or more of the above funding categories based on the nature of the
scientific topic to be supported.
Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10), no less than 10 percent ($11.1M)
of the available funds listed above will be made available for
Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards (excluding New Investigator
Awards), and no more than 2 percent ($2.2M) of the available funds
listed above will be made available for equipment grants. Further, no
less than 30 percent ($33.4M) of the funds listed above shall be made
available for grants for research to be conducted by multidisciplinary
teams, and no less than 40 percent ($44.6M) of the funds listed above
shall be made available for grants for mission-linked systems research.
Pursuant to section 711 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1999, (section 101(a) of Pub. L. No. 105-277), CSREES is
prohibited from paying indirect costs exceeding 14 per centum of the
total Federal funds provided under each award on competitively awarded
research grants.
Research Opportunities: In addition to those published in the
Federal Register August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES is soliciting
proposals, for support of high priority research of importance to
agriculture, forestry, and related environmental sciences, in the
following Research Program areas:
Epidemiological Approaches for Food Safety: Deadline date: April 5,
1999.
Anticipated Program: Based on availability of funds, CSREES
anticipates a future NRICGP solicitation of applications for a United
States Rice Genome Sequencing Project Program, to be jointly
administered by USDA, the National Science Foundation and Department of
Energy.
CSREES is broadening the scope of existing program areas in the
following manner:
Animal Genetics and Genome: In addition to topics solicited in the
Federal Register announcement of August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES
encourages research proposals on Animal Genome Basic Reagents and
Tools. Deadline Date remains at February 15, 1999.
Agricultural Systems: In addition to topics solicited in the
Federal Register announcement of August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES
encourages systems research that will impact the small or mid-sized
producer, land manager or land owner. Deadline date remains at February
15, 1999.
Application Materials
The FY 1999 Supplemental NRI Program Description, which contains
research topic descriptions, and the NRI Application Kit, which
contains detailed instructions on how to apply and the requisite forms,
are available on the NRI home page, www.reeusda.gov/nri. Paper copies
of these application materials may be obtained by sending an e-mail
with your name, complete mailing address (not e-mail address), phone
number, and materials that you are requesting to psb@reeusda.gov.
Materials will be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as possible.
Alternatively, paper copies may be obtained by writing or calling the
office indicated below.
Proposal Services Unit, Office of Extramural Programs, Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 2245, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C.
20250-2245, Telephone: (202) 401-5048.
Materials Available on Internet
The following are among the materials available on the NRI home
page (www.reeusda.gov/nri).
NRI Program Description
This document is available for the current fiscal year, and
describes all of the NRI funding programs. To apply for a grant, it is
also necessary to obtain the NRI Application Kit.
NRI Supplemental Program Description
This document is available for supplemental programs or emphasis
areas offered for the current fiscal year. To apply for a grant, it is
also necessary to obtain the NRI Application Kit.
NRI Application Kit
This document contains guidelines for proposal preparation and the
requisite forms.
NRI Abstracts of Funded Research
The abstracts available on this searchable database are
nontechnical abstracts written by the principal investigator of each
individual grant, starting with FY 1993. Each entry also includes the
title, principal investigator(s), awardee institution, dollar amount,
and proposal number for each grant. The first two digits of the
proposal number indicate the fiscal year in which the proposal was
submitted.
NRI Annual Report
The NRI Annual Reports starting with FY 1995 are available. These
reports include descriptions of the program concept, the authorization,
policy, inputs to establish research needs, program execution, and
outcomes, including relevant statistics. Also included are examples of
recent research funded by the NRI.
Electronic Subscription to NRI Documents
The NRI mailserver will notify subscribers when publications such
as its Program Description or Abstracts of Funded Research are
available electronically on the World Wide Web. Subscribers will not
receive the document itself, but instead will receive an e-mail
containing an announcement regarding the document's availability on the
NRI home page.
To subscribe:
Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@reeusda.gov
In the body of the message, include only the words: subscribe nri-
epubs.
To unsubscribe:
Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@reeusda.gov
In the body of the message, include only the words: unsubscribe
nri-epubs.
Please note that this is not a forum. Messages, other than those
related to subscription, can not be posted to this address.
NRI Deadline Dates
The following fixed dates have been established for proposal
submission deadlines for this supplementary Solicitation of
Applications. To be considered for funding in any fiscal year,
proposals must be transmitted by the date listed below (as indicated by
postmark or date on courier bill of lading). When the deadline date
falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, transmission must be made by the
following business day.
Programs offered in any fiscal year depend on availability of funds
and deadlines may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Consult
the pertinent NRI solicitation in the Federal Register, the NRI Program
Description, or the NRI home page (www.reeusda.gov/nri) for up-to-date
information.
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Postmarked dates Program codes Program areas
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February 15, 1999........................ 43.0 Animal Genome and Genetic Mechanisms.
100.0 Agricultural Systems.
April 5, 1999............................ 31.1 Epidemiological Approaches to Food Safety.
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Done at Washington, D.C., this 28 day of December 1998.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34784 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
