[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16689]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 11, 1994]


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Part III





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research Service



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National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program (Competitive 
Research Grants Program) Fiscal Year 1994: Supplementary Solicitation 
for Applications; Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research Service

 
National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program 
(Competitive Research Grants Program) Fiscal Year 1994: Supplementary 
Solicitation for Applications; Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring

    Applications are invited for competitive grant awards in 
agricultural, forest, and related environmental sciences under the 
National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program (NCRIGP) 
administered by the Office of Grants and Program Systems, Cooperative 
State Research Service (CSRS), for fiscal year 1994. This solicitation 
is supplementary to those previously released in the Federal Register 
on September 7, 1993 (58 FR 47184) and on October 8, 1993 (58 FR 
52570).

Authority

    The authority for this program is contained in section 2(b) of the 
Act of August 4, 1965, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)). Under this 
program, subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary may award 
competitive research grants, for periods not to exceed five years, for 
the support of research projects to further the programs of the 
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Proposals may be submitted by any 
State agricultural experiment station, college, university, other 
research institution or organization, Federal agency, private 
organization, corporation, or individual. Proposals from scientists at 
non-United States organizations will not be considered for support.
    Pursuant to Section 719 of Public Law No. 103-111, (the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1994), funds available in Fiscal 
Year 1994 to pay indirect costs on research grants awarded 
competitively by CSRS may not exceed 14 per centum of the total Federal 
funds provided under each award.
    In addition, pursuant to Section 727 (b) of Public Law No. 103-111, 
in case any equipment or products may be authorized to be purchased 
with funds provided under this program, entities receiving such funds 
are encouraged to use such funds to purchase only American-made 
equipment or products.

Applicable Regulations and Statutory Guidance

    Regulations applicable to this program include, but are not limited 
to, the following: (a) the regulations governing the NCRIGP, 7 CFR Part 
3200, which 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; (b) the USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, 7 
CFR Part 3015; (c) the USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, 7 CFR 
Part 3016; (d) Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), 
which sets forth purposes that research supported by the NCRIGP should 
address; and (e) Section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3103), 
which defines ``sustainable agriculture.''
    RESEARCH PROGRAM TO BE SUPPORTED (Supplementary to those published 
in the September 7, 1993 Federal Register (58 FR 47184) and in the 
October 8, 1993 Federal Register (58 FR 52570)):
    CSRS is soliciting proposals, subject to the availability of funds, 
for support of high priority research of importance to agriculture, 
forestry, and related environmental sciences, in the following Research 
Program:

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring

    The total amount available in fiscal year 1994 for grant awards in 
the research program area of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring is 
approximately $800,000.
    The National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, in 
addition to providing support for research on biological response to 
predicted effects of stratospheric ozone depletion, invited 
applications in 1991 for development of instrumentation for a solar 
ultraviolet radiation monitoring network. Based on the results now 
available from that earlier activity, the Department desires to support 
continued development of high quality spectroradiometers for 
measurements of ultraviolet-B radiation and utilization of the 
spectroradiometers in research to accurately determine ultraviolet-B 
radiation at ground level. Such information will more accurately 
document levels of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Such 
knowledge is needed in order to develop an understanding of the 
response of living systems to current conditions, to forecast future 
effects, and to develop response strategies for mitigating effects 
resulting from any future increases in UV radiation. The following 
specific program area and guidelines are provided as a base from which 
proposals may be developed.
    Proposals developed for the Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring 
program should include field instrumentation for high quality spectral 
irradiance measurements and a research plan for data collection, 
analysis, and use. Emphasis should be placed on the following 
instrumentation specifications and operating protocols:
    General: The instrument should measure the global horizontal 
terrestrial solar UV-B spectral irradiance over the spectral wavelength 
region from 280-400 nm. Overall network radiometric uncertainty should 
be no more than 10% (3 sigma) at 295 nm decreasing to less than 5% (3 
sigma) at 340 nm. These and following specifications are applicable 
over the ambient range of temperature, humidity, and pressure found in 
northern temperate latitudes.
    Wavelength range: 280-400 nm.
    Dynamic range: Spectral irradiance measurements are to be made over 
a maximum solar signal of 1.0 W/m2 nm at 400 nm decreasing to less 
than 10-6 W/m2 nm at 290 nm.
    Accuracy and precision: Instruments must maintain their calibration 
in the field without shelter up to 40 deg. Celsius for a month time 
period.
    Wavelength:
    a. Resolution of wavelength setting (smallest setable difference): 
0.02 nm;
    b. Repeatability: 0.02 nm;
    c. Accuracy: 0.02 nm;
    d. Bandpass: <=0.3 nm;
    e. Straylight: < 10-8 at greater than +5 bandwidths from 
center wavelength.
    Intensity:
    a. Resolution: is to be 0.001 of full scale from all decade ranges 
from 1 to 1 x 10-5 W/m2 nm and 2 x 10-8 W/m2 nm for 
ranges less than or equal to 1 x 10-6.
    b. Repeatability: must be within 0.2% of the decade range value.
    c. Accuracy: instrument shall hold a calibration to an accuracy of 
 1% of signal level between 1.0 W/m2 nm and 10-6 
W/m2 nm.
    Finally, instrument calibration and characterization with regard to 
the criteria specified herein, and standardization among the several 
instruments, is considered critical. The research plan should give 
consideration to data collection, storage, retrieval, processing, and 
statistical analysis. It is expected that these data will be handled in 
a manner appropriate for use by the U.S. and international scientific 
communities; for support of atmospheric science research; model 
development and validation; and documentation of UV-B climatology.
    In accordance with Section 2(b)(7) of the Act of August 4, 1965, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)), funds will not be awarded for the planning, 
repair, rehabilitation or acquisition, or construction of a building or 
facility or purchase or installation of fixed equipment.
    Proposals are invited from investigator(s) at a single or multiple 
institutions with the proper competence and facilities to accomplish 
the objectives.
    Investigators are encouraged to contact the Program Director at 
202-401-4871 prior to developing a proposal for this program.

When to Submit

    To be considered for funding during fiscal year 1994, proposals 
submitted in response to this announcement must be postmarked by August 
15, 1994. It is preferable that proposals be submitted via Express Mail 
or overnight courier to assure their prompt receipt. The bill of lading 
for such submissions must be dated no later than the above postmark 
date.

Where to Obtain Additional Materials

    The solicitation, which contains Research Program descriptions and 
detailed instructions on how to apply, may be obtained by contacting 
the office indicated below. Please note that Part 1 of the Program 
Description is necessary for preparing a proposal. If you do not 
already have Part 1, please request that document as well.

NRICGP, c/o Proposal Services Branch AMD/CSRS/USDA, Room 303 Aerospace 
Center, AG BOX 2245, Washington, DC 20250-2245, Telephone: (202) 401-
5048

    These materials may also be requested via Internet by sending a 
message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail), phone number, and 
list of materials that you are requesting to [email protected]. The 
materials will then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as 
possible.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 5th day of July 1994.

William D. Carlson,
Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16689 Filed 7-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-M