[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5562-5568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2538]
[[Page 5561]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Agriculture
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
National Science Foundation
Department of Energy
Office of the Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________
Rice Genome Sequencing Project; Interagency Program Announcement;
Request for Proposals and Request for Input; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 5562]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of the Secretary
The United States Rice Genome Sequencing Project; Interagency
Program Announcement; Request for Proposals and Request for Input
AGENCIES: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation
and U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of request for proposals and request for input.
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SUMMARY: As a collaborative, interagency effort, the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the Department
of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of
Energy are soliciting proposals for the United States Rice Genome
Sequencing Projects. Proposals are hereby requested from eligible
institutions as identified herein for competitive consideration of
awards. By this notice, the CSREES additionally solicits stakeholder
input from any interested party regarding the FY 1999 request for
proposals for use in the development of the next request for proposals
for The United States Rice Genome Sequencing Project.
DATES: Proposals are due May 4, 1999. Comments regarding this request
for proposals 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:
Dr. Ed Kaleikau; Plant Genome Program; NRI Competitive Grants
Program; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;
U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2241; 1400 Independence Avenue,
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2241; Telephone: 202-401-1901; Fax: 202-
401-6488; E-mail: ekaleikau@reeusda.gov; or Dr. David Meinke; Plant
Genome Research Program; Division of Biological Infrastructure;
National Science Foundation; 4201 Wilson Blvd; Arlington, VA 22230;
Telephone: 703-306-1470; Fax: 703-306-0339; E-mail: dmeinke@nsf.gov; or
Gregory L. Dilworth; Division of Energy Biosciences, ER-17; U.S.
Department of Energy; 19901 Germantown Road; Germantown, MD 20874;
Telephone: 301-903-2873; Fax: 301-903-1003; E-mail:
Greg.dilworth@oer.doe.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, S.W.;
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 request for proposals to which you are responding.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
Purpose
Background
Introduction
Authority
Applicant Eligibility
Principal Investigator and Other Senior Staff
Award Information and Available Funding
How to Obtain Application Materials
Proposal Format
Proposal Submission
What to Submit
When and Where to Submit Proposals
Proposal Evaluation
Award Administration
Awards
Use of Funds; Changes
Applicable Regulations
Additional Information
Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
Stakeholder Input
Purpose
The purpose of this interagency program announcement is to solicit
proposals to initiate systematic sequencing of the genome of rice in
the United States as part of an international effort that includes the
Rice Genome Program of Japan. The ultimate goal of this project is to
sequence the entire rice genome as a model monocot (grass) species. The
target date for completion is before the year 2008. Initially, it is
anticipated that up to three 3-year awards will be made through this
program in fiscal year (FY) 1999 contingent upon the quality of
proposals received and the availability of funds.
Background
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), in response to
a request of Congress, established an Interagency Working Group on
Plant Genomes (IWGPG) in May 1997. The IWGPG consisted of
representatives from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), National
Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), National
Institutes of Health (NIH), the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The IWGPG was
created to identify science-based priorities for a national plant
genome initiative and to plan for a collaborative interagency approach
to address these priorities. In January 1998, the IWGPG provided a
report describing a five-year plan and rationale for a National Plant
Genome Initiative. One of the Initiative's goals is to participate in
an international effort to sequence the rice genome in collaboration
with the Rice Genome Program of Japan, other countries and the private
sector where appropriate. It is expected that through these efforts the
resulting information, data, software, germplasm, and other research
tools and biological materials can be made readily and openly available
to the scientific community at large.
Grasses are one of the most diverse groups of plants and include
the world's major food crops such as rice, corn, wheat, rye, barley,
sorghum, sugarcane, and millet. While the genome size among grass
species varies greatly, they share common sets of genes. There has been
a strong interest among many plant biologists to sequence the rice
genome, as a representative monocot to complement and extend advances
made with the Arabidopsis thaliana (dicot) genome project. The rapid
advances in sequencing technologies have now made it a feasible
undertaking given the relatively small size of the rice genome
( 430 million base pairs).
Scientists interested in the genome sequencing of rice participated
in a workshop held in September 1997. An ad hoc international working
group, nominated in Singapore, met in February 1998 in Tsukuba, Japan
to develop a long-range plan for the International Rice Genome
Sequencing Project. A follow up Workshop on Rice Genome Sequencing was
held, with the support of USDA, NSF, and DOE, in Washington, D.C.,
April 1998, to address the U.S. response to this initiative. This
program announcement is an outcome of that workshop.
Introduction
Recognizing the potential of a rice genome sequencing effort to
contribute to their mission, NSF and DOE have joined with USDA to
initiate a U.S. Rice Genome Sequencing Project. This project will be
coordinated with other ongoing U.S. genome projects including the human
genome research project supported by NIH and DOE, the microbial genome
project supported by DOE, the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, and
the USDA Plant Genome Program in order to minimize duplication of
effort and to maximize efficient use of available resources. It is
intended that the U.S. efforts to
[[Page 5563]]
complete the sequence of rice will be coordinated on an international
level with other national and transnational programs.
As a member of the Gramineae and a crop plant, a wealth of
fundamental information about important aspects of plant biology,
including economically important characteristics, can be learned from
the genome sequence of rice. Because it shares collinear genomes, rice
is a key to knowledge of the genome organization of the other grasses.
Comparison of the sequence of the dicot, Arabidopsis thaliana, with
that of rice, a model monocot, will reveal what genome structures these
two different groups of angiosperms have in common and how they differ.
While the goals of the International Rice Genome Project must be
focused, the information provided by the International Project can be
exploited by the entire research community to learn: the functions and
relative map locations of all cereal genes; the use of map-based
sequence information to identify and provide markers for agronomically
significant genes; the molecular basis of plant growth and development
so that fundamental questions in plant p hysiology, biochemistry, cell
biology, and pathology can be addressed and; the relationship of genome
structure to gene expression.
Authority
The authority for the USDA participation in this program is found
in 7 U.S.C. 450i(b). The authority for NSF participation in this
program is found in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 1861, et seq. The authority for DOE participation in
this program is found in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended,
Sec. 31, Pub. L. 83-703, 68 Stat. 919, (42 U.S.C. 2051); Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, Title I, Sec. 107, Pub. L. 93-438, 88 Stat.
1240, (42 U.S.C. 5817); Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and
Development Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-577; Department of Energy
Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Pub. L. 95-91, (U.S.C. 7101).
Applicant Eligibility
Proposals are solicited from a broad community of scientists at
U.S. institutions, including any State agricultural experiment station,
college, university, other research institution or organization,
Federal agency, national laboratory, private organization, corporation,
or individual. Consortia of eligible individuals or organizations may
apply, but a single organization or individual must accept overall
management responsibility. Involvement of international collaborators
is encouraged, although primary support for foreign participants/
activities must be secured through their own national programs.
Principal Investigator and Other Senior Staff
The Principal Investigator (PI) and other senior staff responsible
for the project are expected to have expertise and experience in large-
scale, high-through-put genomic DNA sequencing. If the application is
submitted by a consortium of several groups from one or more
institutions, the consortium must make a convincing case that it can
function in an effective, efficient, timely and cost-conscious manner.
Award Information and Available Funding
The participating agencies currently have a total of approximately
$4 million available for this Program in FY 1999. Subject to the
availability of funds, the participating agencies anticipate that an
additional $4 million in funding will be available for this program in
each FY 2000 and FY 2001, for an anticipated total level of support for
this Program of $12 million over three years. The program anticipates
initially supporting up to three 3-year awards. These awards will be
made in the form of grants and cooperative agreements which will be
determined at the time of the award. The exact amount of the award will
depend on the advice of reviewers and on the availability of funds.
Each participating agency will obligate funds separately. However, a
proposal may be funded by one or more of the participating agencies.
How To Obtain Application Materials
All participating agencies have agreed to use the USDA guidelines
for proposal format (see below) and application kit. Other material may
be required at the time of funding to facilitate the implementation of
the award. The guidelines and application kit are available on the USDA
web site at the URL: http://www.reeusda.gov/crgam/nri/howto/applkit/
applkitdoc.htm.
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 Proposal Services Unit, Office of Extramural
Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;
U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400 Independence Ave.,
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2245. Telephone: (202) 401-5048.
Proposal Format
The proposals should be prepared following the guidelines and the
instructions below.
Each proposal must contain the following elements in the order
indicated:
1. Application For Funding Cover Page (Form CSREES-661). All
proposals must contain an Application for Funding (Form CSREES-661),
which must be signed by the proposed principal investigator(s) and by
the cognizant Authorized Organizational Representative who possesses
the necessary authority to commit the applicant's time and other
relevant resources. Principal investigators who do not sign the
proposal cover sheet will not be listed on the award document in the
event an award is made. The title of the proposal must be brief (80-
character maximum), yet represent the major emphasis of the project.
Because this title will be used to provide information to those who may
not be familiar with the proposed project, highly technical words or
phraseology should be avoided where possible. In addition, phrases such
as ``investigation of'' or ``research on'' should not be used.
2. Table of Contents. For ease in locating information, each
proposal must contain a detailed table of contents just after the
proposal cover page. The Table of Contents should include page numbers
for each component of the proposal. Pagination should begin immediately
following the Project Summary (see next section).
3. Project Summary (Form CSREES-1232). The proposal must contain a
Project Summary form (Form CSREES-1232). This form must be assembled as
the third page of the proposal (immediately after the Table of
Contents) and should not be numbered. The names and institutions of all
principal and co-investigators should be listed on this form (if space
is insufficient, please enter ``see attached'' in this space and
provide this information on a separate sheet immediately following the
Project Summary form in the proposal). The project summary itself MUST
fit within the space indicated (approximately 250 words). The summary
is not intended for the general reader; consequently, it may contain
technical language comprehendible by persons in disciplines relating to
the food and agricultural sciences. The project summary should be a
self-contained,
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specific description of the activity to be undertaken and should focus
on: Overall project goal(s) and supporting objectives; plans to
accomplish project goal(s); and relevance of the project to the
systematic sequencing of the genome of rice in the United States.
4. Project Description. A description of the project must not
exceed 20 pages inclusive of tables, diagrams and other visual
material. The project description should be numbered and single-spaced
with text on one side of the page using a 12 point (10 cpi) type font
size and one-inch margins. The following points must be addressed in
this section.
A. Sequencing Strategies--The proposal should include descriptions
of: 1. DNA substrates to be sequenced: Include source of the DNA
(clones), map of the chromosomal region involved, rationale for
choosing the region, method of substrate preparation and all other
pertinent information. The strategies proposed must be scalable and
applicable to efforts to sequence the entire rice genome.
2. Sequence quality and quantity: This section should include the
level of accuracy to be sought and how that will be measured, the
number of bases to be sequenced per unit time, and a discussion of the
finishing process and how that will be defined. Plans to fill sequence
gaps and coordinate sequencing efforts within the rice community must
be discussed in detail.
3. Genome sequencing technologies and strategies: Technologies/
strategies that will be used should be described as well as plans for
incorporating new developments and/or improvements in sequencing
protocols, strategies and technologies as they become available.
4. Costs of production sequencing in relation to the product
proposed: The cost-effectiveness of the sequences generated will be a
very important issue. An estimate of the dollars required to produce a
specific number of bases (which should include the costs of generating
clones, assembly and annotation) should be given. If investigators are
proposing a strategy that will yield less than the complete genome
sequence, they must provide an overall vision of how this strategy will
contribute to the cost-effective completion of the entire rice genome.
B. Project Management--The proposal should include descriptions of:
1. Plans for establishing coordination with the Rice Genome Program of
Japan and other existing or planned rice sequencing projects, both
nationally and internationally.
2. Plans for establishing a close linkage to the plant biology
research community at large in order to ensure a close collaboration
between the sequencing project and the ultimate user community of the
sequence information.
3. Ways to assess progress of the project, including establishing
milestones and measuring progress toward them. A common advisory
committee will be appointed based upon suggestions from all of the
participants, including the agencies, which will serve as a means of
advising all participants of problems or solutions which will benefit
all of the participants. Describe how such an advisory committee can be
incorporated into the management strategies of the proposed project.
4. Available facilities and equipment including a statement of
institutional commitment for the successful completion of the project.
C. Information Management--The proposal should include: 1. Data
management plan should address both internal and external data
management issues, including: (1) Mechanisms to assess validity and
accuracy of data obtained which will augment or complement procedures
to monitor accuracy which may be mandated by the agencies; (2)
mechanisms for annotation of data and release of both raw and finished
data into public databases--creative, cost-effective strategies for
annotating sequences are encouraged; and (3) community access to data
mechanisms of data distribution and interactions with other community
databases.
2. Data release policies including how rapidly sequence data will
be publicly released after production. The sponsoring agencies require
the rapid release of sequence data as described in the most recent
International Strategy Meeting on Human Genome Sequencing held in 1997
in Bermuda. The National Human Genome Research Institute has set forth
these principles on the NIH web site at the following URL: http://
www.nhgri.nih.gov/Grant__info/Funding/Statements/RFA/data__release.html
3. A statement signed by an authorized institutional official
should be included which clearly describes the institutional policy for
sharing information materials resulting from this work with other
researchers of the community of scientists.
5. References to Project Description. All references cited should
be complete, including titles and co-authors, and should conform to an
accepted journal format.
6. Facilities and Equipment. All facilities and major items of
equipment that are available for use or assignment to the proposed
research project during the requested period of support should be
described. In addition, items of nonexpendable equipment necessary to
conduct and successfully complete the proposed project and for which
support is requested under this program should be listed in the budget
narrative with the amount and justification for each item.
7. Collaborative Arrangements. If the nature of the proposed
project requires collaboration or subcontractual arrangements with
other research scientists, corporations, organizations, agencies, or
entities, the applicant must identify the collaborator(s) and provide a
full explanation of the nature of the collaboration. Funding
contributions by collaborators that will be used to accomplish the
stated objectives should be identified. Evidence (i.e., letters of
intent) should be provided to assure peer reviewers that the
collaborators involved have agreed to render this service. Note,
however, that the contributions of collaborators will not be a direct
factor in the awarding of any award. In addition, the proposal must
indicate whether or not such a collaborative arrangement(s) has the
potential for conflict(s) of interest.
8. Vitae and Publication List(s). (A) Curriculum vitae. The
curriculum vitae should be limited to a presentation of academic and
research credentials, or commodity production knowledge or experience
with that commodity (e.g., educational, employment and professional
history, and honors and awards). Unless pertinent to the project, to
personal status, or to the status of the organization, meetings
attended, seminars given, or personal data such as birth date, marital
status, or community activities should not be included. Each vitae
shall be no more than two pages in length, excluding the publication
lists; and
(B) Publication List(s). A chronological list of all publications
in refereed journals during the past four years, including those in
press, must be provided for each professional project member for whom a
curriculum vitae is provided. Authors should be listed in the same
order as they appear on each paper cited, along with the title and
complete reference as these items usually appear in journals.
9. Conflict of Interest List (Form CSREES-1233). A separate
Conflict of Interest List Form (Form CSREES-1233) must be submitted for
each investigator for whom a curriculum vitae is required (see above).
This form is necessary to assist program staff in excluding from
proposal review those individuals who have conflicts of interest with
the project personnel in the proposal.
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CSREES must be informed of additional conflicts of interest that arise
after the proposal has been submitted. Instructions below are
reiterated on Form CSREES-1233.
For each investigator (and other personnel as described in the
program description), list ALPHABETICALLY the full names of only the
individuals for each category. Other investigators working in the
applicant's specific research area are deemed not to be a conflict of
interest for the applicant unless those investigators fall within one
of the categories listed below. Additional pages may be used as
necessary. A conflict of interest list must be submitted before a
proposal is considered complete. Inclusion of a curriculum vitae or
publication list in lieu of Form CSREES-1233 is not sufficient.
All collaborators on research projects within the past
four years, including current and planned collaborations;
All co-authors on publications within the past four years,
including pending publications and submissions;
All persons in your field with whom you have had a
consulting, financial arrangement, or other arrangement that might give
rise to a conflict of interest within the past four years; and
All thesis or postdoctoral advisees/advisors within the
past four years.
10. Budget (Form CSREES-55). A detailed budget is required for each
year of requested support. In addition, a summary budget is required
detailing requested support for the overall project period. A copy of
the form which must be used for this purpose (Form CSREES-55), along
with instructions for completion, is included in the Application Kit
and may be reproduced as needed by applicants. Funds may be requested
under any of the categories listed, provided that the item or service
for which support is requested may be identified as necessary for
successful conduct of the proposed project, is allowable under
applicable Federal cost principles, and is not prohibited under any
applicable Federal statute.
11. Budget Narrative. A budget narrative should be included which
discusses how the budget specifically supports the proposed project
activities. It should explain how each budget item (such as salaries
and wages for professional and technical staff, student workers,
travel, equipment, etc.) is essential to achieving project objectives.
Funds may be requested under any of the categories listed on the budget
form, provided that the item or service for which support is sought is
allowable under the enabling legislation and the applicable Federal
cost principles.
The following guidelines should be used in developing your proposal
budget(s):
1. Salaries and Wages. Salaries and wages are allowable charges and
may be requested for personnel who will be working on the project in
proportion to the time such personnel will devote to the project. If
salary funds are requested, the number of Senior and Other Personnel
and the number of Funded Work Months must be shown in the spaces
provided. Award funds may not be used to augment the total salary or
rate of salary of project personnel or to reimburse them for time in
addition to a regular full-time salary covering the same general period
of employment. Salary funds requested must be consistent with the
normal policies of the institution. Administrative and Clerical
salaries are normally classified as indirect costs. (See Item 9.
below.) However, if requested under A.2.e., they must be fully
justified.
2. Fringe Benefits. Funds may be requested for fringe benefit costs
if the usual accounting practices of your institution provide that
institutional contributions to employee benefits (social security,
retirement, etc.) be treated as direct costs. Fringe benefit costs may
be included only for those personnel whose salaries are charged as a
direct cost to the project.
3. Nonexpendable Equipment. Nonexpendable equipment means tangible
nonexpendable personal property including exempt property charged
directly to the award having a useful life of more than one year and an
acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. Items of necessary
instrumentation or other nonexpendable equipment should be listed
individually by description and estimated cost. This applies to revised
budgets, as the equipment item(s) and amount(s) may change. NOTE: If
the organization has established a lower threshold, amounts less than
$5,000 may be included in this category.
No funds will be awarded for the purchase or installation of fixed
equipment. In the case of any equipment or product that may be
authorized to be purchased with funds provided under this program,
entities receiving such funds are encouraged to use such funds to
purchase only American-made equipment or products.
4. Materials and Supplies. The types of expendable materials and
supplies which are required to carry out the project should be
indicated in general terms with estimated costs.
5. Travel. The type and extent of travel and its relationship to
project objectives should be described briefly and justified. Provide
the purpose of the trip, destination, mode of transportation, number of
people, number of days, and cost per trip. Airfare allowances normally
should not exceed round-trip jet economy air accommodations. U.S. flag
carriers must be used when available. See 7 CFR Part 3015.205(b)(4) for
further guidance.
6. Publication Costs/Page Charges. Anticipated costs of preparing
and publishing results of the research being proposed (including page
charges, necessary illustrations, and the cost of a reasonable number
of coverless reprints) may be estimated and charged against the award.
7. Computer (ADPE) Costs. Reimbursement for the costs of using
specialized facilities (such as a university-or department-controlled
computer mainframe or data processing center) may be requested if such
services are required for completion of the work.
8. All Other Direct Costs. Anticipated direct project charges not
included in other budget categories must be itemized with estimated
costs and justified on a separate sheet of paper attached to Form
CSREES-55. This applies to revised budgets, as the item(s) and dollar
amount(s) may change. Examples may include space rental at remote
locations, subcontractual costs, charges for consulting services, and
fees for necessary laboratory analyses. You are encouraged to consult
the ``Instructions for Completing Form CSREES-55, Budget,'' of the
Application Kit for detailed guidance relating to this budget category.
9. Indirect Costs. When submitting a proposal, institutions should
use their current Federal negotiated rate for indirect costs. Please
note that indirect costs for proposals funded by USDA will be capped at
14% of total Federal funds provided under that award. Congress, in
section 711 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 1999,
Sec. 101(a) of Pub. L. No. 105-277, prohibits CSREES from using the
funds available for this Program for FY 1999 to pay indirect costs
exceeding 14 percent of the total Federal funds provided under each
award on competitively awarded research grants.
(Note: The FY 1999 Appropriations Act supercedes the limitation
on indirect costs of 19 percent of the total Federal funds provided
for competitively-awarded research grants in Section 230(a) of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform
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Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 3310). Therefore, awards made by CSREES are
limited to this 14 percent indirect costs limitation. This
limitation also applies to the recovery of indirect costs by any
subawardee or subcontractor, and should be reflected in the
subrecipient budget.)
To accommodate the differences in allowable indirect costs between
USDA, NSF and DOE, the applicant may be required at the time of award
to submit a separate budget with indirect cost rates appropriate to
each agency.
10. Cost-sharing. Cost-sharing is encouraged; however, cost-sharing
is not required nor will it be a direct factor in the awarding of any
award.
12. Current and Pending Support (Form CSREES-663). All proposals
must contain Form CSREES-663 listing this proposal and any other
current public or private research support (including in-house support)
to which key personnel identified in the proposal have committed
portions of their time, whether or not salary support for the person(s)
involved is included in the budget. Analogous information must be
provided for any pending proposals that are being considered by, or
that will be submitted in the near future to other possible sponsors,
including other USDA programs or agencies. Concurrent submission of
identical or similar proposals to other possible sponsors will not
prejudice proposal review or evaluation by the participating agency for
this purpose. However, a proposal that duplicates or overlaps
substantially with a proposal already reviewed and funded (or that will
be funded) by another organization or agency will not be funded under
this program.
13. Assurance Statements (Form CSREES-662) (Research Involving
Special Considerations). If it is anticipated that the research project
will involve recombinant DNA or RNA research, experimental vertebrate
animals, or human subjects, an Assurance Statement, Form CSREES-662,
must be completed and included in the proposal. Please note that funds
will not be released until the awarding agency receives and approves
documentation indicating approval by the appropriate institutional
committee(s) regarding DNA or RNA research, animal care, or the
protection of human subjects, as applicable.
14. Certifications Regarding Debarment and Suspension, Drug-Free
Work Place, and Lobbying. By signing the Application For Funding cover
page (Form CSREES-661), applicants are providing the required
certifications set forth in 7 CFR Part 3017, as amended, regarding
Debarment and Suspension and Drug-Free Workplace; and 7 CFR Part 3018
regarding Lobbying. Submission of the individual forms found in the
application kit is not required (Forms AD-1047, -1049, -1050, and the
Certification Regarding Lobbying). For additional information, refer to
the certification at the bottom of Form CSREES-661.
Form AD-1048 must be completed by a subcontractor or consultant and
retained by the awardee.
Questions specifically related to the completion of the above
certifications should be directed to the CSREES Office of Extramural
Programs, Grants Management Branch at (202) 401-5050.
15. National Environmental Policy Act Exclusions Form (Form CSREES-
1234). As outlined in 7 CFR Part 3407 (CSREES's implementation of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.)), the environmental data or documentation for any
proposed project is to be provided to CSREES in order to assist CSREES
in carrying out its responsibilities under NEPA. In some cases,
however, the preparation of environmental data or documentation may not
be required. Certain categories of actions are excluded from the
requirements of NEPA. The USDA and CSREES exclusions are listed in 7
CFR 1b.3 and 7 CFR 3407.6, respectively.
In order for CSREES to determine whether any further action is
needed with respect to NEPA (e.g., preparation of an environmental
assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS)), pertinent
information regarding the possible environmental impacts of a proposed
project is necessary; therefore, the National Environmental Policy Act
Exclusions Form (Form CSREES-1234) provided in the Application Kit must
be included in the proposal indicating whether the applicant is of the
opinion that the project falls within one or more of the categorical
exclusions. Form CSREES-1234 should follow Form CSREES-661, Application
for Funding, in the proposal.
Even though a project may fall within the categorical exclusions,
CSREES may determine that an EA or an EIS is necessary for an activity
if substantial controversy on environmental grounds exists or if other
extraordinary conditions or circumstances are present that may cause
such activity to have a significant environmental effect.
16. Additions to Project Description. The participating agencies
expect each project description to be complete while meeting the page
limit established in this section (Proposal Format). However, if the
inclusion of additional information is necessary to ensure the
equitable evaluation of the proposal (e.g., photographs that do not
reproduce well, reprints, and other pertinent materials that are deemed
to be unsuitable for inclusion in the text of the proposal), then 14
copies of the materials should be submitted. Each set of such materials
must be identified with the name of the submitting organization, and
the name(s) of the principal investigator(s). Information may not be
appended to a proposal to circumvent page limitations prescribed for
the project description. Extraneous materials will not be used during
the peer review process.
Proposal Submission
What To Submit
An original and 14 copies of a proposal must be submitted. Each
copy must be stapled securely in the upper left-hand corner (DO NOT
BIND). All copies of the proposal must be submitted in one package.
When and Where To Submit Proposals
Proposals must be received by May 4, 1999. Proposals sent by First
Class mail must be sent to the following address: The United States
Rice Genome Sequencing Project; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Office of
Extramural Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2245; 1400
Independence Avenue, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2245; Telephone:
(202) 401-5048.
Proposals that are delivered by express mail, a courier service, or
by hand must be submitted to the following address (note that the zip
code differs from that shown above): The United States Rice Genome
Sequencing Project; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Office of Extramural
Programs; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service;
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Room 303, Aerospace Center; 901 D
Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20024; Telephone: (202) 401-5048.
Facsimile (FAX) copies will not be accepted.
Proposal Evaluation
Selection of awards will be based on merit review by experts using
established peer review systems as described in these guidelines. A
special emphasis panel will be formed to review the applications and
site visits may be used as needed. The following evaluation factors
will be used in reviewing applications:
1. Performance competence: This criterion addresses the technical
merit of the proposed approach, the capabilities of the proposed
personnel, including those of the Principal
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Investigator and other senior staff as discussed above, the adequacy of
the resources available or proposed, and the likelihood that this
project will lead to a successful, timely, cost-effective completion of
the rice genome sequence.
2. Project management: This criterion addresses the overall quality
of the technical and managerial aspects of the proposal, including
plans for the release of the data and the sharing of the information
and resources resulting from the project to the scientific community as
noted below, and for management oversight and long-range planning.
3. Effect of the activity on the scientific and agricultural
infrastructure: This criterion addresses the potential of the proposed
activity to contribute to better understanding or improvement of the
quality and effectiveness of the Nation's scientific research,
education, and human resources capabilities. An important issue is a
likelihood of national impact and widespread, appropriate dissemination
and use of results in strengthening the scientific and agricultural
infrastructure of this nation.
4. Scientific collaboration and information sharing: Sequencing of
the genome of a model organism is a community activity. As such, a
close collaboration among the scientists and organizations involved in
sequencing activities and effective dissemination to the users of the
information are important components of this criterion.
5. Scientific merit of the project: This criterion addresses the
conceptual adequacy of the sequencing approach including suitability
and feasibility of methodology, clarity and delineation of objectives,
demonstration of feasibility through preliminary data, novelty,
uniqueness and originality.
6. Appropriateness of the proposed budget.
Award Administration
The U.S. Rice Genome Sequencing Project will be administered and
managed as an interagency program involving all participating agencies
throughout the entire process from the development of the program
announcement to the review and selection. USDA, NSF and DOE will fund
awards separately. The amount of each award will be determined jointly
by USDA/NSF/DOE representatives after the panel review process has been
completed. Other material may be required at the time of funding to
facilitate the implementation of the award from participating agencies.
Awards will be administered as follows:
Awards
1. General: Within the limit of funds available for such purpose,
the awarding official shall make awards to those responsible, eligible
applicants whose proposals are judged most meritorious in the announced
program area by procedures set forth in this request for proposals. The
date specified as the effective date of the award shall be no later
than September 30, of the Federal fiscal year in which the project is
approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose,
unless otherwise permitted by law. It should be noted that the project
need not be initiated on the award effective date, but as soon
thereafter as practicable so that project goals may be attained within
the funded project period. All funds awarded under this request for
proposals shall be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds
are awarded in accordance with the approved application and budget, the
terms and conditions of the award, the applicable Federal cost
principles, and the applicable participating agency assistance
regulations.
2. Organizational Management Information: Specific management
information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one-time
basis as part of the responsibility determination prior to the award of
an award if such information has not been provided previously under
this or another program for which the sponsoring agency is responsible.
Copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling the requirements
contained in this section will be provided by the awarding agency as
part of the pre-award process.
3. Award Document: The award document shall include at a minimum
the following:
a. Legal name and address of performing organization or institution
to whom the funding agency has awarded an award under this program;
b. Title of Project;
c. Name(s) and address(es) of principal investigator(s) chosen to
direct and control approved activities;
d. Award identification number assigned by the funding agency;
e. Project period, specifying the amount of time the funding agency
intends to support the project without requiring recompetition for
funds;
f. Total award amount approved by the funding agency during the
project period;
g. Legal authority(ies) under which the award is made;
h. Approved budget plan for categorizing project funds to
accomplish the stated purpose of the award; and
i. Other information or provisions deemed necessary by the funding
agency to carry out its respective awarding activities or to accomplish
the purpose of a particular award.
4. Notice of Award: The notice of award, in the form of a letter,
will be prepared and will provide pertinent instructions or information
to the awardee that is not included in the award document.
5. The awarding agency will make awards as either grants or
cooperative agreements to carry out this program.
Use of Funds; Changes
Unless otherwise stipulated in the terms and conditions of the
award, the following provisions apply:
1. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility: The awardee may not in
whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution,
or organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of funds.
2. Changes in Project Plans:
a. The permissible changes by the awardee, principal
investigator(s), or other key project personnel in the approved
research project award shall be limited to changes in methodology,
techniques, or other aspects of the project to expedite achievement of
the project's approved goals. If the awardee and/or the principal
investigator(s) are uncertain as to whether a change complies with this
provision, the question must be referred to the Authorized Departmental
Officer (ADO) for a final determination.
b. Changes in approved goals, or objectives, shall be requested by
the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such
changes. In no event shall requests for such changes be approved which
are outside the scope of the original approved project.
c. Changes in approved project leadership or the replacement or
reassignment of other key project personnel shall be requested by the
awardee and approved in writing by the awarding official prior to
effecting such changes.
d. Transfers of actual performance of the substantive programmatic
work in whole or in part and provisions for payment of funds, whether
or not Federal funds are involved, shall be requested by the awardee
and approved in writing by the ADO prior to effecting such transfers.
e. Changes in Project Period: The project period may be extended by
the awarding agency without additional financial support, for such
additional period(s) as the ADO determines may be necessary to complete
or fulfill the purposes of an approved project. Any
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extension of time shall be conditioned upon prior request by the
awardee and approval in writing by the ADO, unless prescribed otherwise
in the terms and conditions of an award.
f. Changes in Approved Budget: Changes in an approved budget must
be requested by the awardee and approved in writing by the ADO prior to
instituting such changes if the revision will involve transfers or
expenditures of amounts requiring prior approval as set forth in the
applicable Federal costs principles, Departmental regulations, or in
the award document.
Applicable Regulations
Several other Federal statutes and regulations apply to proposals
considered for review and to projects awarded under this program. These
include but are not limited to regulations cited in the section
entitled REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) for each of the participating
agencies. The CFDA numbers are as follows: USDA--10.206; NSF--47.074;
DOE--81.049. The OMB number for NSF is OMB No. 3145-0058. The USDA
component of this program is subject to the program regulations at 7
CFR 3411. Note that CSREES, consistent with those regulations, has
provided other terms in this RFP to govern proposal format and
evaluation.
Additional Information
Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
When a proposal results in an award, it becomes a part of the
record of the Agency's transactions, available to the public upon
specific request. Information that the Administrator determines to be
of a privileged nature will be held in confidence to the extent
permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes
to have considered as privileged should be clearly marked as such and
sent in a separate statement, two copies of which should accompany the
proposal. The original copy of a proposal that does not result in an
award will be retained by the Agency for a period of one year. Other
copies will be destroyed. Proposals that do not receive an award will
be released to others only with the consent of the applicant or to the
extent required by law. If such a request is made, the applicant will
be consulted prior to release of the proposal. A proposal may be
withdrawn at any time prior to the final selection action thereon.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact project
officers and discuss their plans. Inquiries regarding the announcement
can be directed to any one of the agency representatives identified at
the beginning of this request for proposals.
Stakeholder Input
CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this request for proposals
from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the
development of the next request for proposals for the program as
needed. 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 of Agriculture
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 request for proposals to which you are responding. Comments
are requested within six months from the issuance of the request for
proposals. Comments received after that date will be considered to the
extent practicable.
Done at Washington, D.C., on this 27th day of January, 1999.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.
Mary E. Clutter,
Assistant Director for Biological Sciences, National Science
Foundation.
Patricia Dehmer,
Associate Director, Office of Sciences, Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 99-2538 Filed 2-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
