To fund competitive research, education, and extension
grants to address critical and emerging agriculture issues.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
This competitive grants program awards large grants to multi-State,
multi-institutional, and multi-disciplinary projects across priority topic
areas. These priority areas include: Agricultural genomics, agricultural
biotechnology, food safety, new uses for agricultural products, natural
resource management, and farm efficiency and profitability.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: State Agricultural Experiment
Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, other U.S. research institutions and
organizations, Federal agencies,private organizations or corporations, and
individuals. Proposals from scientists at non-U.S. organizations will not be
considered for support.
Beneficiary Eligibility: State Agricultural
Experiment Stations, U.S. colleges/universities, other U.S. research
institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or
corporations, and individuals. Proposals from scientists at non-U.S.
organizations will not be considered for support.
Credentials/Documentation: Each prospective
grantee organization must furnish the organizational information and
assurances specified in the guidelines. This program is excluded from coverage
under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Pre-application Coordination: All proposal
solicitations are published in the Federal Register. This program is excluded
from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Formal proposal to USDA/CSREES
as outlined in the guidelines. Application procedures are contained in CSREES
Research Grant Application Kit. This program is subject to the provisions of 7
CFR 3019.
Award Procedure: CSREES program staff members
review and evaluate all proposals with the assistance and advice of a peer
panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are
specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Proposals are accepted in
order of merit to the extent permitted by available funds.
Deadlines: As announced in the Federal Register
for each fiscal year.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 90 to
180 days.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Proposals for renewal, should be
submitted at the announced deadline. Renewals are treated in competition with
all other pending proposals.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Normally,
competitive research projects will be supported for periods of up to 3 years.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Annual progress reports are due within 90
days after anniversary of grant effective date and final technical reports are
due 90 days after expiration of grant. Federal cash transaction reports and
financial status reports as stated in 7 CFR 3019.52.
Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB
Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," non federal 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 insure that funds are used for the purpose
for which the grant was made. Records are subject to inspection during life of
the grant and for 3 years thereafter.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 12-1503-0-1-352.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $113,379,694; FY 02
$0; and FY 03 est $0. Note: Grants are competitively awarded.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: From
$65,000 to $4,375,000; Average:$1,313,085.
Funding helped initiate a biologically based control project for the area-wide
management of invasive weeds in several Western states; Researchers studied
the removal of poorly digestible corn fiber used in swine feed, which
substantially reduces the excretions of total dry manure, nitrogen, and odor.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Pages 61290-61306 Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 231, Part II, December 2,
1991; 7 CFR 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part
3017, Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and
Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants); 7 CFR Part 3018,
New Restrictions on Lobbying. National Competitive Research Initiative Grants
Program Administrative Provisions, Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 220, Pages
57950-57958, November 14, 1991; and 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: None.
Headquarters Office: Administrator, Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Ag Box 2201, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-2201. Telephone: (202) 720-4423.
Web Site Address: http://www.reeusda.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Comparative Genomics of Domestication Traits in Lettuce and Sunflower; Genetic
Resistance to Paratuberculosis in Dairy Cattle; Sustainability of BT Cotton in
the Southwest; Consortium to Address Social, Economic and Ethical Aspects of
Biotechnology; Improving Bone Health in Adolescence Through Targeted
Behavioral Intervention.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
(1) The scientific merit of the proposal, including the suitability and
feasibility of the approaches and methodology; (2) the probability that the
research will contribute to important discoveries or significant breakthroughs
in food production or human nutrition, in relation to the mission of this
program; (3) the qualifications of the principal investigator and other senior
personnel, such as training, demonstrated awareness of previous and
alternative approaches to the problem, and performance record and/or potential
for future accomplishment; and (4) the probable adequacy of available or
obtainable facilities, equipment, instrumentation, and technical support.
Research grants will be considered in selected areas of plant systems; animal
systems; natural resources and environment; and nutrition, food quality and
health which have been considered by a number of scientific groups to possess
exceptional opportunity for fundamental scientific discovery and for
contributing, in the long run, to applied research and development vitally
needed on important food and nutrition problems. Consideration will be given
to research proposals which address fundamental questions in the relevant
areas and which are consistent with the long-range missions of USDA.
