[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53476-53478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25421]




[[Page 53475]]

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Part III





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Solicitation for Applications for Fiscal Year 1996 National Research 
Initiative Competitive Grants Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 53476]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Solicitation for Applications for Fiscal Year 1996 National 
Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program

    Applications are invited for competitive grant awards in 
agricultural, forest, and related environmental sciences under the 
National Competitive Research Initiative Grants Program (NRICGP) 
administered by the Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management 
Division, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES), for fiscal year 1996.

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.
    It is expected that Congress, in the final version of the 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (H.R. 1976), will prohibit 
CSREES from using the funds available for the NRICGP for fiscal year 
1996 to pay indirect costs exceeding 14 per centum of the total Federal 
funds provided under each award on competitively-awarded research 
grants. In addition, it is expected that, pursuant to the final version 
of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (H.R. 1976), in the case 
of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with 
the funds provided under this program, entities will be encouraged to 
use such funds to purchase only American-made equipment or products.

Applicable Regulations and Statutory Guidance

    The regulations governing the NRICGP currently are found at 7 CFR 
part 3200. The regulations 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.
    CSREES published a proposed amendment to those regulations on May 
11, 1995 (60 FR 25594). The proposed amendment, among other things, 
would move the regulations at 7 CFR part 3200 to 7 CFR part 3411. With 
the one change of deleting ``full-time'' in proposed 7 CFR 
3411.3(d)(3)(ii)(C), CSREES expects to publish the text of the proposed 
rule as the final rule within one month. Any new requirements contained 
in the proposed 7 CFR part 3411 are incorporated in this solicitation 
and the Program Description for the FY 1996 NRICGP. Therefore, when 
effective, 7 CFR part 3411 will apply to the NRICGP, including 
proposals submitted in response to this solicitation, for the FY 1996 
program year.
    Other regulations applicable to this program include, but are not 
limited to, the following: (a) the USDA Uniform Federal Assistance 
Regulations, 7 CFR Part 3015; (b) the USDA Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local 
Governments, 7 CFR part 3016; (c) Section 1402 of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 3101); and (d) 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.''

Project Types

    The project types for which proposals are solicited include:

I. Conventional Projects

    (a) Standard Research Grants: Research will be supported that is 
fundamental or mission-linked, conducted by individual investigators, 
co-investigators within the same discipline, or multidisciplinary 
teams. Any State agriculture experiment station, college, university, 
other research institution or organization, Federal agency, private 
organization, corporation, or individual may apply. Proposals from 
scientists at non-United States organizations will not be considered 
for support.
    (b) Conferences: Scientific meetings that bring together scientists 
to identify research needs, update information, or advance an area of 
research are recognized as integral parts of research efforts. Any 
State agricultural experiment station, college, university, other 
research institution or organization, Federal agency, private 
organization, corporation, or individual is an eligible applicant in 
this area. Proposals from scientists at non-United States organizations 
will not be considered for support.

II. Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards

    In order to contribute to the enhancement of research capabilities 
in the research program areas described herein, applications are 
solicited for Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards. Such 
applications may be submitted by any State agricultural experiment 
station, college, university, other research institution or 
organization, Federal agency, private organization, corporation, or 
individual. Applications from scientists at non-United States 
organizations will not be considered for support. Agricultural Research 
Enhancement Awards are available in the following categories, for which 
the eligibility requirements are defined in 7 CFR 3411.3 and restated 
in the FY 1996 NRICGP Program Description:
    (a) Postdoctoral Fellowships.
    (b) New Investigator Awards.
    (c) Strengthening Awards: Institutions in USDA EPSCoR states are 
eligible for strengthening awards. For FY 1996, USDA EPSCoR states 
consist of the following:

Alaska
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming
All U.S. territories and possessions, including the District of 
Columbia.

    Investigators at other institutions may also be eligible for 
Strengthening Awards. See the FY 1996 Program Description for complete 
details on programs and eligibility.

Funding Categories for Fiscal Year 1996

    CSREES is soliciting proposals, subject to the availability of 
funds, for support of high priority research of importance to 
agriculture, forestry, and 

[[Page 53477]]
related environmental sciences, in the following research categories 
(ANTICIPATED FY 1996 funding and ACTUAL FY 1996 funding, rounded to the 
$M, follows in parentheses):
     Natural Resources and the Environment (FY96: $16M, FY95: 
$15M).
     Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health (FY96: $7M, FY95: 
$7M).
     Plant Systems (FY96: $34, FY95: $34M).
     Animal Systems (FY96: $22M, FY95: $21M).
     Markets, Trade, and Policy (FY96: $3M, FY95: $3M).
     New Products and Processes (FY96: $6M, FY95: $6M).
     Water Quality (FY96: $0M, FY95: $4M).*
     Integrated Pest Management (FY96: $0M, FY95: $2M).**
     Pesticide Impact Assessment (FY96: $0M, FY95: $1M).**
    Support for research areas listed below may be derived from one or 
more of the above funding categories based on the nature of the 
scientific topic to be supported.

    *Water quality issues will continue to be supported by programs 
in the Natural Resources and the Environment research program area.
    **Integrated pest management and pesticide impact assessment 
issues will continue to be supported by programs in the Pest 
Biology, Biological Control, and Integrated Pest Management research 
program area.

    Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b)(10) of the Act of August 
4, 1965, as amended (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10)), no less than 10 percent 
(FY96: $9M, FY95: $9M) of the available funds listed above will be made 
available for Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards (excluding New 
Investigator Awards), and no more than 2 percent (FY96: $2M, FY: $2M) 
of the available funds listed above will be made available for 
equipment grants. Further, no less than 30 percent (FY96: $27M, FY95: 
$28M) of the funds listed above shall be made available for grants for 
research to be conducted by multidisciplinary teams, and no less than 
20 percent (FY96: $18M, FY95: $19M) of the funds listed above shall be 
made available for grants for mission-linked research.
    The funds appropriated as listed above will be used to support 
research grants in the following areas:
NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Plant Responses to the Environment
Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic Ecosystems
Soils and Soil Biology
Water Resources Assessment and Protection
NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, AND HEALTH
Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health
Ensuring Food Safety
ANIMALS
Enhancing Animal Reproductive Efficiency
Improving Animal Growth and Development
Identifying Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene Mapping
Sustaining Animal Health and Well-Being
PEST BIOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Plant Pathology
Entomology
Nematology
Weed Science
Biological Control Research
Assessing Pest Control Strategies
PLANTS
Genomes, Genetics, and Diversity
    Plant Genome
    Plant Genetic Mechanisms
Plant Growth and Development
Energy and Metabolism
    Photosynthesis and Respiration
    Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism
MARKETS, TRADE, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Markets and Trade
Rural Development
ENHANCING VALUE AND USE OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST PRODUCTS
Value-Added Products Research
    Food Characterization/Process/Product Research
    Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product Research
Biofuels Research
Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
    The solicitation, which contains research topic descriptions, and 
the NRICGP Application Kit, which contains detailed instructions on how 
to apply and the requisite forms, may be obtained by writing or calling 
the office indicated below. Please note that applicants who submitted 
NRICGP proposals for fiscal year 1995 or who have recently requested 
placement on the list for fiscal year 1996 will automatically receive a 
copy of the fiscal year 1996 solicitation and any supplements.

Proposal Services Branch, Office of Extramural Programs, Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, AG Box 2245, Washington, DC 20250-2245, Telephone: (202) 
401-5048

    Requests for solicitations and application materials may also now 
be made via Internet by sending a message with your name, complete 
mailing address, phone number, and materials that you are requesting to 
[email protected]. Materials will be mailed as quickly as possible.

Materials Available on Internet

    Information is available on the USDA Cooperative Research, 
Education, and Extension Service Home Page at http://www.reeusda.gov.
    Information is also available on the USDA Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service Internet Gopher (which may 
still be listed as the USDA Extension Service). To reach these items 
using a gopher, starting with ``Gopher Servers in the USA,'' make the 
following selections:

``Washington, DC''
``Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service USDA 
Information''

(The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service USDA 
Gopher is on port 70 of zeus.esusda.gov.)
    The following materials are among those available through these 
services:
NRICGP Program Description
    This document is available for the current fiscal year, and 
describes all of the NRICGP funding programs. To apply for a grant, it 
is also necessary to obtain the NRICGP Application Kit as described 
above (not available electronically).
 NRICGP Abstracts of Funded Research
    The abstracts available on this searchable database are 
nontechnical abstracts written by the principal investigator of each 
individual grant, starting with Fiscal Year 1993. Each entry also 
includes the title, principal investigators, awardee institution, 
dollar amount, and proposal number for each grant. The first two digits 
of the proposal number indicate the fiscal year in which the proposal 
was submitted.
    To be considered for funding during FY 1996, proposals must be 
shipped by the following dates (as indicated by postmark or date on 
courier bill of lading):

                                                                        

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                                                                                                                    Contacts                            
          Postmarked dates                                           Program areas                                   (202)        E-Mail @reeusda.gov   
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November 27, 1995...................  Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic Ecosystems......................................     401-4082  tstrickland.             
                                      Soils and Soil Biology....................................................     401-4082  tstrickland.             
                                      Plant Genome..............................................................     401-1901  ekaleikau.               
                                      Plant Genetic Mechanisms..................................................     401-5042  llin.                    
December 4, 1995....................  Photosynthesis and Respiration............................................     401-6030  jsmith.                  
                                      Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health..............................     205-0250  kellwood.                
                                      Plant Responses to the Environment........................................     401-4871  adatko.                  
                                      Plant Pathology...........................................................     401-6466  apark.                   
December 18, 1995...................  Ensuring Food Safety......................................................     205-0250  kellwood                 
January 8, 1996.....................  Entomology................................................................     401-5114  srockey.                 
                                      Nematology................................................................     401-5114  srockey.                 
                                      Weed Science..............................................................     401-6466  apark.                   
                                      Enhancing Animal Reproductive Efficiency..................................     401-6234  cprofater.               
January 16, 1996....................  Food Characterization/Process/Product Research............................     401-1952  jconrad.                 
                                      Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product Research........................     401-1952  jconrad.                 
                                      Biofuels Research.........................................................     401-1952  jconrad.                 
                                      Sustaining Animal Health and Well-Being...................................     401-6303  pjohnson or pbrayton.    
January 22, 1996....................  Plant Growth and Development..............................................     401-5042  llin.                    
January 29, 1996....................  Assessing Pest Control Strategies.........................................     401-5114  srockey.                 
                                      Markets and Trade.........................................................     401-3487  mbailey.                 
February 5, 1996....................  Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism.....................................     401-6030  jsmith.                  
                                      Improving Animal Growth and Development...................................     401-6234  cprofater.               
February 12, 1996...................  Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber...............................     401-4871  adatko.                  
                                      Identifying Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene Mapping....................     401-4399  pbrayton.                
                                      Rural Development.........................................................     401-3487  mbailey.                 
February 20, 1996...................  Research Career Enhancement Awards........................................     401-5042  llin or pbrayton.        
                                      Equipment Grants..........................................................     401-5042  .........................
                                      Seed Grants...............................................................     401-5042  .........................
                                      Agricultural Systems......................................................     401-6303  pjohnson or ekaleikau.   
March 11, 1996......................  Water Resources Assessment and Protection.................................     401-4501  bschmidt.                
May 6, 1996.........................  Biological Control Research...............................................     401-5114  srockey.                 
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    Done at Washington, D.C., this 5th day of October, 1995.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 95-25421 Filed 10-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-M