[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12003]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 18, 1994]
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Part II
Department of Agriculture
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Extension Service
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Agricultural Telecommunications Program; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Extension Service (ES)
Agricultural Telecommunications Program
AGENCY: Extension Service, Department of Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUBJECT: Agricultural Telecommunications Program; Fiscal Year 1994;
Request for Proposals; Application Guidelines.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Barbara A. White, 202-720-1949 for program information, or Margaret
Bell, Cooperative Funds Division, Extension Service, USDA, 202-401-
4314, for fiscal or budget information.
Program Description
(a) Purpose
Proposals are requested for the purpose of awarding competitive
grants for fiscal year 1994 under the Agricultural Telecommunications
Program. Grants will be awarded to eligible institutions to assist in
development and utilization of an agricultural communications network
to facilitate and to strengthen agricultural extension, resident
education and research, and domestic and international marketing of
United States commodities and products through a partnership between
eligible institutions and the Department of Agriculture. The network
will employ satellite and other telecommunications technology to
disseminate and to share academic instruction, cooperative extension
programming, agricultural research, and marketing information. The
authority for this program is contained in section 1673 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, Public Law 101-624.
The program is administered by the Extension Service (ES) of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
(b) Available Funding
For fiscal year 1994, $1.221 million is available for the program.
For the purpose of determining the non-Federal share of such costs,
consideration will be given to contributions in cash and in-kind,
fairly evaluated, including, but not limited to premises, equipment and
services. Grants under this program may provide funds for no more than
50 percent (50%) of the cost of a proposed project, unless otherwise
determined by the Secretary.
(c) Eligibility
Proposals are invited from accredited institutions of higher
education. Applicants must demonstrate that they participate in a
network that distributes programs consistent with the following
objectives:
(1) Make optimal use of available resources for agricultural
extension, resident education, and research by sharing resources
between participating institutions;
(2) Improve the competitive position of United States agriculture
in international markets by disseminating information to producers,
processors, and researchers;
(3) Train students for careers in agriculture and food industries;
(4) Facilitate interaction among leading agricultural scientists;
(5) Enhance the ability of United States agriculture to respond to
environmental and food safety concerns, and;
(6) Identify new uses for farm commodities and to increase the
demand for United States agricultural products in both domestic and
foreign markets.
In addition to the above, an applicant must qualify as a
responsible applicant in order to be eligible for a grant under the
program. To qualify as responsible, an applicant must meet the
following standards:
(1) Adequate financial resources for performance, the necessary
experience, organizational and technical qualifications, and
facilities, or a firm commitment, arrangement, or ability to obtain the
same (including any to be obtained through sub-agreements(s)/
contract(s);
(2) Ability to comply with the proposed or required completion
schedule for the project;
(3) Adequate financial management system and audit procedures that
provide efficient and effective accountability and control of all
funds, property, and other assets;
(4) Satisfactory record of integrity, judgment, and performance,
including, in particular, any prior performance under grants and
contracts from the Federal Government; and
(5) Otherwise be qualified and eligible to receive Federal
assistance under the applicable laws and regulations.
(d) Definitions
For the purpose of awarding funding under this program, the
following definitions are applicable:
(1) ``Administrative costs'' means the total of direct and indirect
costs as defined in the Departmental Assistance Regulations, related to
the operation of a project under this program;
(2) ``Agricultural telecommunications'' means those activities
established to encourage development and utilization of an agricultural
communications network employing satellite and other telecommunications
technologies to disseminate and to share academic instruction,
cooperative extension programming, agricultural research, and marketing
information;
(3) ``Awarding official'' means the Administrator, Extension
Service, USDA;
(4) ``Communications network'' refers to television or cable
television origination or distribution equipment, signal conversion
equipment (including both modulators and demodulators), computer
hardware and software, programs or terminals, or related devices, used
to process and exchange data through a telecommunications system in
which signals are generated, modified or prepared for transmission, or
received, via telecommunications terminal equipment or via
telecommunications transmission;
(5) ``Delivery'' means the transmission and reception of programs
by facilities that transmit, receive, or carry data between
telecommunications terminal equipment at each end of a
telecommunications circuit or path;
(6) ``Facilities'' includes microwave antennae, fiberoptic cables
and repeaters, coaxial cables, communications satellite ground station
complexes, copper cable electronic equipment associated with
telecommunications transmission;
(7) ``Grant'' means the award by the Administrator to an awardee to
develop agricultural telecommunication programs utilizing an
agricultural telecommunications network;
(8) ``Grantee'' means the entity designated in the grant award
document as the responsible legal entity to whom a grant is awarded;
(9) ``Peer Review Panel'' means a panel of appropriate employees of
the Federal Government;
(10) ``Project'' means the particular activity within the scope of
the program as identified herein;
(11) ``Project Director`` means the individual who is responsible
for technical direction of the project, as designated by the awardee in
the award proposal and approved by the Administrator, Extension
Service, USDA;
(12) ``Project Period'' means the total time approved by the
Administrator, Extension Service, USDA, for conducting the proposed
project as outlined in the approved Federal assistance proposal or the
approved portions thereof.
Application Categories
Applicants may submit proposals in any of the following program
areas as specified in the authorization: (a) Program Delivery, (b)
Staff/Faculty Training, (c) Program Development/Production.
(a) Program Delivery
Applicants may submit a proposal requesting funding to operate an
agricultural communications network, employing satellite and other
telecommunications technology, to deliver Cooperative Extension
programming, academic instruction, agricultural research and marketing
information through partnership(s) between eligible institutions and
the Department of Agriculture. In addition to the initial required
information under Project Description, the proposal must include a
business plan which defines a structure for the technical design and
development of the delivery system, scheduling and operation,
including:
(1) Development and employment of distance learning technologies,
such as satellite, computer, multimedia, audio/visual and other
telecommunications technologies;
(2) Providing learner and program support:
(3) Satellite transponder booking, receiving and turn-around
service;
(4) A satellite operations center, including technical trouble-
shooting;
(5) Marketing of network programs.
(b) Staff/Faculty Training
Applicants may submit a proposal requesting funding to establish a
network training concept targeting faculty/staff development in
distance learning, in cooperation with eligible institution(s).
Delivery system(s) for training will be designed/developed using
appropriate distance learning technologies with emphasis on satellite
delivery and the Internet. In addition to the required information in
Program Description, the proposal must contain detail regarding
targeted audience including rationale for selected delivery methods as
well as emphasis on learner control and/or flexibility. Curriculum
content in the following areas must also be addressed:
(1) Distance education as a process including review of both human
and technical infrastructure;
(2) Systematic approach to the design of distance learning
experiences emphasizing the instructional design process for developing
distance learning opportunities based on an acceptable model from
literature;
(3) Research targeting effectiveness of selected technologies in
the teaching-learning process implemented at a distance;
(4) Mechanism(s) for evaluating distance learning using qualitative
and/or quantitative approaches, including but not limited to learning
outcome, preference for delivery, learning style, and level of
interaction.
An integrated approach to instructional design should be evident
including subject-matter content, educational methodology, and
compatible production and delivery techniques. This section should
include the following:
(a) Specific Learning Objectives: These should be stated in terms
of behavioral changes expected to occur in the audience(s) based on
participation in the program, not in terms of what the program will
deliver.
(b) Instructional Methodology/Strategies: Fully explain the
instructional/educational method or strategy to be implemented
including appropriateness for audience and learning environment.
Explanation should demonstrate knowledge of how people learn and/or
interact in a mediated environment.
(c) Detailed outline of subject-matter content/curriculum to be
included in the program.
(d) Production Techniques: Provide detailed explanation of
production techniques used in producing and delivery of program. It
should be clear from the narrative how subject-matter content,
instructional method/strategy, and production will be integrated.
(e) Multiple Media/Wrap-Around: Applicants are encouraged to use a
full range of available options in support/and delivery of projects
such as satellite video teleconferencing, audio conferencing, computer
mediated instruction, and Internet electronic communication network
with print materials available in digital format for future reference/
modification. Fully describe the use of multiple media delivery modes
and any plans for integration in wrap-around programs.
(f) Interactivity: Fully describe the expected level of
interactivity necessary based on principles underlying teaching-
learning transaction, sound instructional design, and mode of delivery
used.
(g) Program Evaluation: Describe both formative and summative
design for evaluation success in meeting learning objective(s) listed
under (a). In addition, describe strategy for evaluating overall
effectiveness of program delivery in terms such as teaching and
learning style, behavior change/problem-solving, immediate application,
meeting learner need, and potential for replication.
(h) Promotion and Marketing: Describe how the educational effort
will be promoted and marketed to targeted audience(s) identified such
as marketing strategy, methods of promotion (print, media, flyers,
radio), collaborative efforts, and time line.
(c) Program Development/Production
Proposals for development of educational programs should consider
high priority national issues and should clearly describe the
importance of the topic selected to the target audience(s). Applicants
may submit proposals in one of two categories; (1) Targeted Programs or
(2) Innovative Programs.
(1) Targeted Programs
(a) Extension System National Initiatives:
--Communities in Economic Transition
--Decisions for Health
--Food Safety and Quality
--Plight of Young Children
--Sustainable Agriculture
--Waste Management
--Water Quality
--Youth at Risk
(b) Other base programs within the scope of agricultural science
and education and in line with the purpose of this funding:
--Agricultural Competitiveness and Profitability
--Community Resource and Economic Development
--Family Development and Resource Management
--4-H and Youth Development
--Leadership and Volunteer Development
--Natural Resources and Environmental Management
--Nutrition, Diet and Health
(c) Resident instruction courses/programs as appropriate under
authorizing language (see (c) Eligibility).
(2) Innovative Programs
In addition to the required Program Description information,
applicants requesting funds for innovative programs must emphasize a
creative approach to distance education programming. Examples might
include: meeting an identified high-priority need; inclusion of limited
resource audiences; pilot projects demonstrating innovative
combinations of satellite/video, computer networking, audio
conferencing, and/or wrap-around plans and materials; match of audience
needs/characteristics to delivery system; and design of evaluation
protocol for measuring teaching-learning transaction.
An integrated approach to instructional design should be evident
including subject-matter content, educational methodology and
compatible production and delivery techniques. This section should
include the following:
(a) Specific Learning Objectives: These should be stated in terms
of behavioral changes expected to occur in the audience(s) based on
participation in the program, not in terms of what the program will
deliver.
(b) Instructional Methodology/Strategies: Fully explain the
instructional/educational method or strategy to be implemented
including appropriateness for audience and learning environment.
Explanation should demonstrate knowledge of how people learn and/or
interact in a mediated environment.
(c) Detailed outline of subject-matter content/curriculum to be
included in the program.
(d) Production Techniques: Provide detailed explanation of
production techniques used in producing and delivery of program. It
should be clear from the narrative how subject-matter content,
instructional method/strategy, and production will be integrated.
(e) Multiple Media/Wrap-Around: Applicants are encouraged to use a
full range of available option in support/and delivery of projects such
as satellite video teleconferencing, audio conferencing, computer
mediated instruction, and Internet electronic communication network
with print materials available in digital format for future reference/
modification. Fully describe the use of multiple media delivery modes
and any plans for integration in wrap-around programs.
(f) Interactivity: Fully describe the expected level of
interactivity necessary based on principles underlying teaching-
learning transaction, sound instructional design, and mode of delivery
used.
(g) Program Evaluation: Describe both formative and summative
design for evaluating success in meeting learning objective(s) listed
under (a). In addition, describe strategy for evaluating overall
effectiveness of program delivery in terms such as teaching and
learning style, behavior change/problem-solving, immediate application,
meeting learner need, and potential for replication.
(h) Promotion and Marketing: Describe how the educational effort
will be promoted and marketed to target audience(s) identified such as
marketing strategy, methods of promotion (print, media flyers, radio),
collaborative efforts, and time line.
Proposal Preparation
(a) Proposal Cover Page
(1) Title of Proposal
The title of the proposal must be brief (80-character maximum) yet
represent the major thrust of the project.
(2) Other Information
Include the following information on the proposal cover page:
(a) Name, address, telephone, fax number, and e-mail address of
applicant and project director.
(b) Signatures and date. The cover page must contain the original
signatures of the Project Director and the Authorized Organizational
Representative who possesses the necessary authority to commit the
applicant's time and other relevant resources.
(c) Project Summary. Each proposal must contain a 200 work abstract
containing a brief description of the project. The abstract should
describe the situation, targeted audience, purpose of project, program
goal, methodology, and expected outcomes of the project.
Project Description
The project goal(s) and objectives(s) must be clearly stated in the
proposal. This narrative portion of the application must not exceed 15
pages. Business plan require for proposals submitted under the Program
Delivery category are not to exceed 20 pages. Proposals for all
categories must include the following components:
(1) Project Need
Each proposal must contain a clear and concise statement
identifying the background and situation leading to the project need,
goal(s) and supporting objectives.
(2) Audience Description
Describe targeted audience(s) for whom the project will be designed
including pertinent history identified in need, demographics, and
expected impact on audience.
(3) Partnerships and Collaboration
Describe partnerships and collaborations fostered through this
project including expected impact and benefit to those involved such as
learner, institution, agency, state, nation.
(4) Staffing Pattern and Procedure
Describe the staff needed for project administration, instructional
design/curriculum development, production, evaluation, and marketing/
promotion. Narrative should demonstrate that staffing and
implementation procedure will result in an integrated approach
involving content specialists, instructional designers, and quality
production resources. Provide an outline (management plan)
demonstrating integration.
(5) Budget
A budget and a detailed narrative in support of the budget is
required. Show all funding sources and itemize costs by the following
line items: salary costs, fringe benefits costs, equipment, materials
and supplies, travel, publication/printing/duplication costs, computer
costs and all other costs. While some funds are available for the
acquisition and installation of telecommunications transmission
facilities, applicants are cautioned that no more than 10 percent of
the funds available may be awarded for that purpose.
Funds may be requested under any of the line items listed above
provided that the item or service for which support is requested is
identified as necessary for successful conduct of the project, is
allowable under the authorizing legislation and the applicable Federal
cost principles, and is not prohibited under any applicable Federal
statute. Salaries of project personnel who will be working on the
project may be requested in proportion to the effort they will devote
to the project.
Proposal Submission
(a) What To Submit
An original and two copies of the proposal must be submitted. Each
copy of each proposal must be stapled securely in the supper left hand
corner (Do Not Bind). All copies of the proposal must be submitted in
one package.
Proposals may also be submitted electronically via the Internet in
addition to the required hard copy version to the address listed below.
To obtain a copy of the electronic application submission information,
send an electronic mail message to: [email protected] In the body of
the message, type the following one-line-only message: send aft-
guidelines. To submit a copy of your proposal electronically, send an
ascii text version to: atf-proposal@esusda.gov. Additionally, when
submitting electronically, applicants are still required to submit
three copies of the Proposal Cover Page which contains original
signatures and date (i.e., three cover pages with original signatures
and date must be submitted even though electronic submission is used).
(b) Where and When to Submit
Proposals submitted through regular mail must be postmarked by July
1, 1994 and sent to:
By Surface Mail (U.S. Postal Service): Extension Service, USDA
Cooperative Management Staff, Cooperative Funds Division, Ag Box 0995,
Washington, DC 20250-0995
By Overnight Mail or Courier: Extension Service, USDA, Cooperative
Management Staff, Cooperative Funds Division, 2nd Floor Mezzanine,
Cotton Annex, 300--12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0995.
Hard copy delivered proposals must be received by July 1, 1994.
Proposals submitted electronically, in addition to the required hard
copy Proposal Cover Pages, must be received by July 1, 1994.
Proposal Review, Evaluation, and Disposition
(a) Proposal Review
All proposals received will be acknowledged. Prior to technical
examination, a preliminary review will be made for responsiveness to
this solicitation. Proposals that do not fall within the solicitation
guidelines will be eliminated from competition. All accepted proposals
will be reviewed by a peer review panel comprised of full-time Federal
employees and will be evaluated objectively.
The peer review panel will be selected and organized to provide
maximum expertise and objective judgment in the evaluation of
proposals. In the event the number of proposals accepted outnumber
dollars available, proposals will be ranked and support levels will be
recommended by the panel(s) within the limitation of total funding
available in fiscal year 1994.
(b) Evaluation Criteria
In evaluating the proposal, the peer review panel will take into
account the degree to which the proposal demonstrates the following:
(1) High priority national need/issue as documented in the
proposal--20 pts
(2) Degree to which project is matched to audience needs/
characteristics including modular approach and adaptation for meeting
needs of more than one audience (appropriate multiple use designs will
be given highest consideration)--20 pts
(3) Sophistication of instructional design (Application Categories
(b) & (c) only) including:--20 pts
Incorporation of instructional design knowledge-base;
Learner objectives:
Selection of instructional strategy/methods and delivery;
Selection of production techniques;
Level of interactivity appropriate to instructional method
and delivery;
Appropriate combination of multiple media.
(4) Degree to which project reflects partnerships with other land
grant institutions and appropriate organizations and agencies--10 pts
(5) Demonstrated expertise of individuals providing project content
and satellite-delivered material, including on-air delivery skills--10
pts
(6) Demonstrated interdisciplinary approach as appropriate to
topic--10 pts
(7) Formative and summative evaluation strategy contributing to
further development of improved distance education programming--10 pts
(8) Degree to which project is an integrated and innovative
approach to meet an identified high priority need--10 pts
In addition, preference will be given proposals that:
(1) are submitted by institutions affiliated with an established
agricultural telecommunications network that distributes programs to a
wide geographical area; or
(2) demonstrate the need for such assistance, taking into
consideration the relative needs of all applicants and the financial
ability of the applicants to otherwise secure or create the
telecommunications system.
(c) Proposal Disposition
When the peer review panel has completed its deliberations, the
USDA program coordinator, based on the recommendations of the peer
review panel, will recommend to the Awarding Official that the project
be (a) approved for support from currently available funds or (b)
declined due to insufficient funds or unfavorable review.
USDA reserves the right to negotiate with the Project Director and/
or the submitting entity regarding project revisions (e.g., reductions
in scope of work), funding level, or period of support prior to
recommending any project for funding.
A proposal may be withdrawn at any time before a final funding
decision is made. One copy of each proposal that is not selected for
funding (including those that are withdrawn) will be retained by USDA
for one year and remaining copies will be destroyed.
Supplementary Information
(a) Federal Assistance Awards
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 under the evaluation
criteria and procedures set forth in these solicitation and application
guidelines.
The date specified by the awarding official as the beginning of the
project period shall be not later than September 30, 1994.
All funds awarded under the Program 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 any
resulting award, the applicable Federal cost principles, and the
Department's Federal assistance regulations.
(b) Obligation of the Federal Government
Neither the approval of any application nor the award of any
Federal assistance commits or obligates the United States in any way to
provide further support of a project or any portion thereof.
(c) Applicable Federal Statutes and Regulations That Apply
Federal statutes and regulations that apply to Federal assistance
proposals considered for review or grants awarded under the Program
include, but are not limited to, the following:
7 CFR part 1b--USDA Implementation of the National Environmental Policy
Act;
7 CFR part 3--USDA Implementation of OMB Circular A-129 regarding debt
collection;
7 CFR part 1.1--USDA Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act;
7 CFR part 15, Subpart A--USDA Implementation of title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964;
7 CFR part 3015--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations,
implementing OMB directives (i.e., Circular Nos. A-110, A-21, and A-
122) and incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6310-6308 (formerly, the
Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, P.L. 95-224), as
well as general policy requirements applicable to recipients of
Departmental financial assistance;
7 CFR part 3016--USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments;
7 CFR part 3017, as amended--USDA Implementation of Governmentwide
Debarment and Suspension (nonprocurement) and Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants);
7 CFR part 3018--USDA Implementation of New Restrictions on Lobbying.
Imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification
related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, grants,
cooperative agreements, and loans;
7 CFR part 3051--Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other
Nonprofit Institutions (58 Fed. Reg. 41,410 [August 3, 1993]),
implementing OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of Institutions of Higher
Education and Other Nonprofit Institutions'';
29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504--Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and 7 CFR part
15B (USDA implementation of the statute), prohibiting discrimination
based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs;
and,
35 U.S.C. 200, et seq.--Bayh-Dole Act controlling allocation of rights
to inventions made by employees of small business firms and domestic
nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally assisted
programs (implementing regulations are contained in 37 CFR part 401).
John S. Bottum,
Acting Associate Administrator, Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 94-12003 Filed 5-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-09-M
