FEDERAL
AGENCY:
COOPERATIVE
STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
AUTHORIZATION:
The
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act
of 1977 (NARETPA), as amended, Section 1372, U.S.C. 3318.
To
provide funding to protect the food supply and agricultural production,
protect USDA facilities and other agricultural infrastructure and
protect USDA staff and manage emergency preparedness.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants.
Place Cursor Here for Definition
|
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
These funds are subject
to the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1301 requiring their use only for
the purpose for which they were appropriated.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Recipients must be eligible under Section 1472(c) of NARETPA.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Beneficiaries must be eligible under Section 1472(c).
Credentials/Documentation:
Each first-time recipient must furnish organizational management
information requested by the funding agency, and each applicant
must provide assurances specified in the annual solicitation of
applications.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:
Pre-application
Coordination: Letters of intent are requested
prior to the submission of project proposals. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
Applicants submit project proposals along with OMB-approved application
forms to CSREES for approval.
Award Procedure:
Proposals are reviewed and evaluated by CSREES staff members with
the assistance and advice of peer panels of qualified educators,
administrators, industrialists, and other appropriate persons
who are specialists in the fields covered by the proposals, as
needed. Grant payments will be made through the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services Payment Management System.
Deadlines:
Not applicable.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Not applicable.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Grants are awarded for project
periods of 12 to 36 months duration.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Grant terms and conditions will specify reporting requirements.
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-specified 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 expended for authorized purposes. Grant
related records must be retained at least 3 years; records must
be retained beyond the 3-year period if litigation is pending
or audit findings have not been resolved.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
12-0115-0-1-352.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $0; FY 02 est $20,600,000; and FY 03 est $0.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
It is anticipated that awards will range from $250,000
to $2,000,000.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Not applicable. This is
a newly funded program.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
7 CFR 3015, 7 CFR 3016;
7 CFR 3017; 7 CFR 3018; 7 CFR 3019; and Grant Terms and Conditions.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: None.
Headquarters Office:
CSREES Administrators Office, Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 305-A,
Stop 2201, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2201.
Web Site Address:
http://www.reeusda.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Current funding is directed
solely to the establishment of two diagnostic networks: One for
plant diseases and pests and one for animal diseases and pests.
Funding is not available under this section for research projects.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
In fiscal year 2002, a
panel of USDA scientists knowledgeable in the Nations plant and
animal disease diagnostic capability, recommended to the Secretary
a plan of initiating a comprehensive national network of laboratories
for the rapid detection and diagnosis of plant and animal diseases.
The institutions selected by the panel for initial inclusion in
the network were recommended using the following criteria: (1) Existing
scientific capacity; (2) existing laboratory capacity which could
be modified to meet biosafety level 3 requirements; (3) both animal
and plant diagnostic capabilities; (4) geographical location meeting
one or more of the following requirements: located in an area with
a high risk of disease/pest incursions; located in an area with
high concentration of vulnerable agricultural activity; complements
or supplements regional Federal laboratory activity or is in an
area not effectively served by an existing Federal facility; (5)
state-of-the-art communication and information technology systems.
Must be capable of managing secure communications with other laboratories
and central reporting unit; and (6) an effective outreach/extension
system.
