[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50438-50439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25408]
[[Page 50437]]
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Part II
Department of Agriculture
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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
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1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program
for Fiscal Year 1998; Solicitation of Applications; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 50438]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants
Program for Fiscal Year 1998; Solicitation of Applications
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of application.
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SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is announcing the 1890 Institution Teaching and
Research Capacity Building Grants Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998.
Proposals are hereby requested from eligible institutions as identified
herein, for competitive consideration of capacity building awards.
The authority for this program is contained in section 1417(b)(4)
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977, as amended (NARETPA)(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)). Under this
authority, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Higher
Education Programs (HEP) of CSREES will award competitive grants of
eighteen months to three-years duration, subject to the availability of
funds. These grants will be made to the historically black 1890 Land-
Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University to strengthen their programs
in the food and agricultural sciences in the targeted need areas as
described herein. The Capacity Building Grants Program is designed
specifically to build the institutional capacities of the eligible
colleges and universities through cooperative initiatives with Federal
and non-Federal entities. This program addresses the need to (1)
Attract more minority students into the food and agricultural sciences,
(2) expand the linkages among the 1890 Institutions and with other
colleges and universities, and (3) strengthen the teaching and research
capacity of the 1890 Institutions to more firmly establish them as full
partners in the food and agricultural science and education system. In
addition, through this program, USDA will strive to increase the
overall pool of qualified applicants for the Department to make
significant progress toward achievement of the Department's goal of
increasing participation of under represented groups in Departmental
programs.
DATES: Project grant applications must be received on or before January
26, 1998. Proposals received after January 26, 1998 will not be
considered for funding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. Hood, Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 2251, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250-2251; Telephone: (202) 720-1973; E-mail: rhood@reeusda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program is subject to the provisions
found at 7 CFR part 3406, 62 FR 39330, July 22, 1997. These provisions
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.
This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under No. 10.216, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants
Program.
Eligibility
Proposals may be submitted by any of the sixteen historically black
1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University. The 1890 Land-
Grant Institutions are: Alabama A&M University; University of
Arkansas--Pine Bluff; Delaware State University; Florida A&M
University; Fort Valley State University; Kentucky State University;
Southern University and A&M College; University of Maryland--Eastern
Shore; Alcorn State University; Lincoln University (MO); North Carolina
A&T State University; Langston University; South Carolina State
University; Tennessee State University; Prairie View A&M University;
and Virginia State University. An institution eligible to receive an
award under this program includes a research foundation maintained by
an 1890 land-grant institution or Tuskegee University.
Available Funds
The amount available for this program in FY 1998 is $9.2 million.
After administrative and other deductions of approximately 4 percent
(including peer panel and related costs), it is anticipated that $8.8
million will be available for project grants. Of this amount,
approximately $4.45 million will be used to support teaching projects
and $4.35 million will be used to support research projects. Awards
will be based upon peer review panel recommendations; however, up to
ten percent of the funds allocated for teaching and up to ten percent
of the funds allocated for research may be used to support projects in
either area based upon administrative decision by CSREES.
Program Areas
In FY 1998, the Capacity Building Grants Program will support both
teaching and research projects.
Targeted Areas
The targeted need areas to be supported by capacity building grants
in FY 1998 are:
For teaching project grants--curricula design and materials
development, faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching,
instruction delivery systems, scientific instrumentation for teaching,
student experiential learning, and student recruitment and retention.
For research project grants--studies and experimentation in food
and agricultural sciences, centralized research support systems,
technology delivery systems, and other creative projects designed to
provide needed enhancement of the Nation's food and agricultural
research system.
In FY 1998, eligible institutions may propose projects in any
discipline(s) of the food and agricultural sciences; there are no
limits on the specific subject matter/emphasis areas to be supported.
Degree Levels Supported
In FY 1998, proposals may be directed to the undergraduate or
graduate level of study leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree in
the food and agricultural sciences.
Proposal Submission Limitations
In FY 1998, there is no limit on the number of proposals an
eligible institution may submit. However, there are funding limitations
in FY 1998 that will affect the number of awards eligible institutions
and individuals may receive. Therefore, institutions are encouraged to
establish on-campus quality control panels to ensure that only high
quality proposals having the greatest potential for improving academic
and research programs are submitted for consideration. Eligible
institutions may submit grant applications for either category of
grants (teaching or research); however, each application must be
limited to either a teaching project grant proposal or a research
project grant proposal.
Maximum Grant Size
In FY 1998, the following limitations apply: A teaching proposal
may request a grant for up to $200,000. A research proposal may request
a grant for up to $300,000.
Note: These maximums are for the duration of the project, not
per year.
[[Page 50439]]
Project Duration
A regular, complementary, or joint project proposal may request
funding for a period of eighteen months to three-years duration.
Funding Limitations per Institution
In FY 1998, the following two limitations will apply to the
institutional maximum: (1) No institution may receive more than four
grants, and (2) no institution may receive more than 10 percent of the
total funds available for grant awards (approximately $880,000).
For a Joint Project Proposal (submitted by an eligible institution
and involving two or more other colleges or universities assuming major
roles in the conduct of the project), only that portion of the award to
be retained by the grantee will be counted against the grantee's
institutional maximum. Those funds to be transferred to the other
colleges and universities participating in the joint project will not
be applied toward the maximum funds allowed the grantee institution.
However, if any of the other colleges and universities participating in
the joint project are 1890 Institutions or Tuskegee University, the
amount transferred from the grantee institution to such institutions
will be counted toward their institutional maximums. For Complementary
Project Proposals, only those funds to be retained by the grantee
institution will be counted against the grantee's institutional
maximum.
Funding Limitation per Individual
In FY 1998, the maximum number of new awards that an individual
(Project Director or Principal Investigator) may receive is two grants.
This restriction does not apply to joint projects.
Funding Limitation per Targeted Need Area
In FY 1998, the maximum number of new awards that an individual may
receive in a given fiscal year, in any one targeted need area, that
focuses on a single subject matter area or discipline, is one grant.
This restriction would not apply to proposals that address multiple
targeted need areas and/or multiple subject matter areas.
Matching Funds
The Department strongly encourages non-Federal matching support for
the program. For FY 1998, the following incentive is offered to
applicants for committing their own institutional resources or securing
third-party contributions in support of capacity building projects:
Tie Breaker--The amount of cash and non-cash matching support for
each proposal, will be used as the primary criterion to break any ties
(cases where proposals are equally rated in merit) resulting from the
proposal review process conducted by the peer review panels. A grant
awarded on this basis will contain language requiring such matching
commitments as a condition of the grant.
Please Note: Proposals must include written verification from
the donor(s) of any actual commitments of matching support
(including both cash and non-cash contributions) derived from the
university community, business and industry, professional societies,
the States, or other non-Federal sources.
The cash contributions towards matching from the institution should
be identified in the column ``Applicant Contributions to Matching
Funds'' of the Higher Education Budget, Form CSREES-713. The cash
contributions of the institution and third parties as well as non-cash
contributions should be identified on Line N., as appropriate, of Form
CSREES-713.
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria as provided in the Administrative
Provisions, 7 CFR part 3406, will be used to evaluate proposals for the
FY 1998 competition.
Program Application Materials
An Application Kit containing program application materials will be
made available to eligible institutions upon request. These materials
include the Administrative Provisions, forms, instructions, and other
relevant information needed to prepare and submit grant applications.
Copies of the Application Kit may be requested from the Proposal
Services Unit; Grants Management Branch; 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. The telephone number is (202) 401-5048.
When contacting the Proposal Services Unit, please indicate that you
are requesting forms for the FY 1998 1890 Institution Capacity Building
Grants Program.
Application materials may also be requested via Internet by sending
a message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and telephone
number to psb@reeusda.gov that states that you wish to receive a copy
of the application materials for the FY 1998 1890 Institution Capacity
Building Grants Program. The materials will then be mailed to you (not
e-mailed) as quickly as possible.
When and Where to Submit Proposals
An original and seven (7) copies of a proposal must be submitted.
Each copy of the proposal must be stapled securely in the upper left-
hand corner (DO NOT BIND). All copies of the proposal must be submitted
in one package. Proposals submitted through the mail must be received
on or before January 26, 1998. Proposals submitted through the U.S.
mail should be sent to the following address: 1890 Institution Capacity
Building Grants Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; Grants Management
Branch; 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. The
telephone number is (202) 401-5048. Hand-delivered proposals (brought
in person by the applicant or through a courier service) must be
received on or before January 26, 1998 at the following address: 1890
Institution Capacity Building Grants Program; c/o Proposal Services
Unit; Grants Management Branch; 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. Proposals transmitted via a facsimile
(fax) machine will not be accepted.
Note that in FY 1998, Form CSREES-711, ``Intent to Submit a
Proposal,'' is not requested nor required for the 1890 Institution
Capacity Building Grants Program.
Program Contacts
The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program is managed by
the CSREES Higher Education Programs. For further information
concerning the FY 1998 program, contact Mr. Richard Hood, National
Program Leader, Higher Education Programs, CSREES, USDA, at (202) 720-
1973; or via the Internet: rhood@reeusda.gov. Dr. McKinley Mayes, 1890
College Program Coordinator, CSREES, USDA is also available to assist
you. He can be reached at (202) 720-3511; or via the Internet:
mmayes@reeusda.gov.
Done at Washington, D.C., this 19th day of September 1997.
Colien Hefferan,
Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25408 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
