FEDERAL AGENCY:
COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND EXTENSION
SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AUTHORIZATION:
Section 1668, Public Law 101-624.
To carry out research focused on environmental effects
of biotechnology.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants.
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USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to conduct approved
research objectives. Funds may not be used for purposes other than those
approved in the grant award documents.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Any public or private
research or educational institution or organization.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Any public or private
research or educational institution or organization.
Credentials/Documentation: None.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application Coordination: All proposal
solicitations are published in the Federal Register or sent to eligible
institutions. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Preproposals and/or formal
proposals, as outlined in the solicitation, should be submitted to the Office
of Extramural Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and extension
Service (CSREES). Application procedures are contained in the Research Grant
Application Kit. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No.
A-110 and the Administrative Provisions for the Biotechnology Risk Assessment
Research Grants Program, 7 CFR 3415.
Award Procedure: Proposals are reviewed by a peer
panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are
specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are funded in
order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.
Deadlines: Deadline dates are published in the
Federal Register. Deadline for submission of fiscal year 2002 proposals was
February 15, 2002. More information may be obtained by contacting the Office
of Extramural Programs at (202) 401-4048.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 4 to 6
months.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Requests for renewal support must be
submitted as new proposals at the announced deadline and are considered in
equal competition with other proposals.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: From 1 to
5 years.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Quarterly financial reports, annual
progress reports, and final financial and final summary progress reports.
Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB
Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that
expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a
single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal
entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No.
A-133.
Records: Grantees are expected to maintain
separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for the purpose
for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspections during the
life of the grant and for 3 years thereafter.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 12-1500-0-1-352.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $756,036; FY 02 est
$593,445; and FY 03 est $593,445.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$50,220 to $223,269. Average: $147,583.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
It is anticipated that funded projects will advance the safe application of
biotechnology to agriculture.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
7 CFR 3415, Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program
Administrative Provisions, and regulations referenced therein (e.g., 7 CFR
3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, 3019 and 3407).
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: None.
Headquarters Office: Deputy Administrator,
Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
20250. Telephone: (202) 401-1761.
Web Site Address:
http://www.reeusda.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Factors Affecting Crop Gene Flow and Introgression into Natural Populations;
Transgenic Fish; Testing Models to Assess Risk; Risk Assessment of a
Recombinant Baculovirus Expressing a Protease; The Hazard of Pest Evolution:
Accuracy and Precision of Genetic Risk Assessments; Assessing Risk of Bt Corn
to Nontarget Soil Arthropods: Direct and Indirect Effects.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Within guidelines established for the program, criteria include: Overall
scientific and technological quality of proposal; research competence of the
principal investigator(s), research team and support personnel; adequacy of
facilities, equipment, and related program support; justification of support
requested in relation to objectives and procedures; feasibility of attaining
objectives during life of proposed research; awareness of published literature
and current research related to proposed research; relevance of importance of
proposed research to solution of specific areas of inquiry; and estimate of
expected benefits.
