[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38524-38531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18808]



[[Page 38523]]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part IV





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



_______________________________________________________________________



Request for Proposals: Community Food Projects Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 143 / Wednesday, July 24, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38524]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Request Proposals (RFP): Community Food Projects Program

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of grant funds and request for 
proposals for the Community Food Projects Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
established new authority for a program of Federal grants to support 
the development of community food projects designed to meet the food 
needs of low-income people; increase the self-reliance of communities 
in providing for their own food needs; and promote comprehensive 
responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.
    This notice sets out the objectives for these projects, the 
eligibility for criteria for projects and applicants, and the 
application procedures. The legislation also allows technical 
assistance under the program. Therefore, the applicants may request 
technical assistance as a part of their proposal request in order to 
subcontract to consultants or other groups to provide assistance for 
technical voids of the applying organization.
    This notice contains the set of instructions needed to apply for a 
Community Food Project grant. To obtain application forms, please 
contact Proposal Services, Grants Management Branch; Office of 
Extramural Programs; USDA/CSREES at (202) 401-5048. When calling 
Proposal Services please indicate that you are requesting forms for the 
Community Food Projects Program.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 23, 1996. Proposals 
received after August 23, 1996, will not be considered for funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Elizabeth Tuckermanty, Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Stop 2225, Washington, DC 20250-2225; telephone (202) 720-
5997; Internet:[email protected]: or Dr. Mark Bailey, 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Stop 2241, Washington, DC 20250-2241; 
telephone: (202) 401-1898; Internet:[email protected].

Table of Contents

Part I--General Information

A. Legislative Authority
B. Definitions
C. Eligibility

Part II--Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program
B. Available Funds and Award Limitations
C. Matching Funds Requirement
D. Scope of Program

Part III--Preparation of a Proposal

A. Program Application Materials
B. Content of a Proposal

Part IV--Submission of a Proposal

A. What to Submit
B. Where and When to Submit
C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

Part V--Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process
B. Technical Evaluation Criteria

Part VI--Supplementary Information

A. Access to Peer Review Information
B. Grant Awards
C. Use of Funds; Changes
D. Other Federal Statutes and Regulations that Apply
E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards
F. Evaluation of Program

Part I--General Information

A. Legislative Authority

    Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended by Section 
401(h) of the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 
(Pub. L. No. 104-127) (7 U.S.C. 2034) authorized a new program of 
Federal grants to support the development of community food projects. 
These grants are intended to help eligible private nonprofit entities 
that need a one-time infusion of Federal assistance to establish and 
carry out multi-purpose community food projects.

B. Definitions

    For the purpose of awarding grants under this program, the 
following definitions are applicable:
    (1) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the Cooperative 
State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and any other 
officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture to whom the 
authority involved may be delegated.
    (2) ``Authorized departmental officer'' means the Secretary or any 
employee of the Department who has the authority to issue or modify 
grant instruments on behalf of the Secretary.
    (3) ``Authorized organizational representative'' means the 
president or chief executive officer of the applicant organization or 
the official, designated by the president or chief executive officer of 
the applicant organization, who has the authority to commit the 
resources of the organization.
    (4) ``Budget period'' means the interval of time (usually 12 
months) into which the project period is divided for budgetary and 
reporting purposes.
    (5) ``Cash contributions'' means the applicant's cash outlay, 
including the outlay of money contributed to the applicant by non-
Federal third parties.
    (6) ``Community food project'' is a project that requires a one-
time infusion of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining and is 
designed to: (i) meet the food needs of low-income people; (ii) 
increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own 
food needs; and (iii) promote comprehensive responses to local food, 
farm, and nutrition issues.
    (7) ``Department'' or ``USDA'' means the United State Department of 
Agriculture.
    (8) ``Grant'' means the award by the Secretary of funds to a 
private, non-profit entity to assist in meeting the costs of 
conducting, for the benefit of the public, an identified project which 
is intended and designed to accomplish the purpose of the program as 
identified in these guidelines.
    (9) ``Grantee'' means the organization designated in the grant 
award document as the responsible legal entity to which a grant is 
awarded.
    (10) ``Matching'' means that portion of project costs not borne by 
the Federal Government, including the value of in-kind contributions.
    (11) ``Peer review panel'' means a group of experts qualified by 
training and experience in particular fields to give expert advice on 
the merit of grant applications in such fields, who evaluate eligible 
proposals submitted to this program in their personal area(s) of 
expertise.
    (12) ``Private non-profit entity'' means any corporation, trust, 
association, cooperative or other organization which (1) is operated 
primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar 
purposes in the public interest; (2) is not organized primarily for 
profit; and (3) uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or 
expand its operations.
    (13) ``Project director'' means the single individual designated by 
the grantee in the grant application and approved by the secretary who 
is responsible for the direction and management of the project.
    (14) ``Prior approval'' means written approval evidencing prior 
consent by an authorized departmental officer as defined in (2) above.

[[Page 38525]]

    (15) ``Project'' means the particular activity within the scope of 
the program supported by a grant award.
    (16) ``Project period'' means the period, as stated in the award 
document and modifications thereto, if any, during which Federal 
sponsorship begins and ends.
    (17) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture and any other 
officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture to whom the 
authority involved may be delegated.
    (18) ``The Third party in-kind contributions'' means non-cash 
contributions of property or services provided by non-Federal third 
parties, including real property, equipment, supplies and other 
expendable property, directly benefiting and specifically identifiable 
to a funded project or program.

C. Eligibility

    Proposals may be submitted by private, nonprofit entities. Because 
the projects must promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, 
and nutrition issues, applicants are encouraged to seek and create 
partnerships among public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit 
entities, applicants are encouraged to seek and create partnerships 
among public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit entities. 
However, no more than \1/3\ of an award may be subawarded to a for-
profit organization or firm.
    To be eligible for a grant, a private nonprofit applicant must meet 
three mandatory requirements:
    (1) have experience in the area of:
    (a) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-
sized farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income 
communities and the development of new markets in low-income 
communities for agricultural producers; or
    (b) job training and business development activities for food-
related activities in low-income communities;
    (2) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal 
accountability and oversight, collect data, and prepare reports and 
other appropriate documentation; and
    (3) demonstrate a willingness to share information with 
researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
    Matching Funds. Successful applicants must provide matching funds, 
either in cash or in kind, amounting to at least 50 percent of the 
total cost of the project during the term of the grant award as 
provided by section 25(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
    In addition to the mandatory requirements above, applicants are 
encouraged to address how projects will be designed to:
    (1) develop linkages between two or more sectors of the food 
system;
    (2) support the development of entrepreneurial projects;
    (3) develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and non-
profit food sectors; or
    (4) encourage long-term planning activities and multi-system, 
interagency approaches.

Part II--Program Description

A. Purpose of the Program

    Proposals are invited for competitive grant awards under the 
Community Food Projects Program for fiscal year 1996. The purpose of 
this grant program is to support the development of community food 
projects. Such projects must require a one-time infusion of Federal 
assistance to become self-sustaining and be designed to: (1) meet the 
food needs of low-income people; (2) increase the self-reliance of 
communities in providing for their own food needs; and (3) promote 
comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues. This 
program is administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service (CSREES) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA).

B. Available Funds and Award Limitations

    The total amount of funds available in fiscal year 1996 for support 
of this program which is approximately $1,000,000.
    Because the projects funded by this grant authority will be 
community-based and funded substantially by non-federal sources, it is 
expected that no one grant should command a significant portion of the 
total funds available for support of this program which is 
approximately $1,000,000.
    Because the projects funded by this grant authority will be 
community-based and funded substantially by non-federal sources, it is 
expected that no one grant should command a significant portion of the 
total funds available. Applicants should request a budget commensurate 
with the project proposed. However, due to the effort required to 
properly evaluate proposals, USDA strongly urges that requests for 
support do not fall below $10,000. Awards will be made based on the 
merit of proposed projects with budgets that do not exceed $200,000. 
Awards will be made based on the merit of the proposed project with 
budgets considered only after the merits of the project have been 
determined. USDA reserves the right to negotiate final budgets with 
successful applicants. It is intended that the awardee non-profit 
organization will perform the substantive portion of the project. No 
more than one-third of the award, as determined by budget expenditures, 
may be subawarded to for-profit organizations. For purposes of 
obtaining additional knowledge that is not currently within the 
applicant organization, funds for technical assistance may be included 
in the All Other Direct Costs section of the proposed budget. (See 
budget instructions included with the budget form.)
    Applicants may request one, two, or three years of funding, but in 
all cases, USDA funding may not exceed three years for any one project. 
Applicants may submit only one proposal for the same project 
objectives.
    Based on this guidance, USDA has concluded that no single grant 
shall exceed $250,000 in any single year or more than $500,000 over the 
life of the project.
    A community food project may be supported by only a single grant 
under this program. If an applicant is interested in receiving a multi-
year award, this must be proposed when the application is first 
submitted. For example, an applicant may want funding for a planning 
phase in the first year of the project and funding for an 
implementation phase in the subsequent year(s). The total funds 
required for all phases of the project must be specified in the initial 
proposal.

C. Matching Funds Requirement

    The Federal share of the cost of establishing or carrying out a 
community food project that receives assistance under this program may 
not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project during the term of the 
grant. Grantees may provide for the non-Federal share through a payment 
in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, 
or services. A grantee may provide for the non-Federal share of the 
funding through State government, local government, or private sources.

D. Scope of the Program

    Community food projects are intended to take a comprehensive 
approach to developing long-term solutions that help to ensure food 
security in communities by linking the food sector to community 
development, economic opportunity, and environmental enhancement.

[[Page 38526]]

Comprehensive solutions may include elements such as: (1) improved 
access to high quality, affordable food among low-income households; 
(2) support for local food systems, from urban gardening to local farms 
that provide high quality fresh foods, ideally with minimal adverse 
environmental impact; (3) expanded economic opportunities for community 
residents through local business or other economic development, 
improved employment opportunities, job training, youth apprenticeship, 
school-to-work transition, and the like. Any solution proposed must tie 
into community food needs.
    Project goals should integrate multiple objectives into their 
design. The project should seek to address impacts beyond a specific 
goal such as increasing food produced or available for a specific 
group. Goals and objectives should integrate economic, social and 
environmental impacts such as job training, employment opportunities, 
small business expansion, neighborhood revitalization, open space 
development, transportation assistance or other community enhancements. 
All goals and objectives should be directed at arriving at these three 
outcomes; (1) Low-income people's food needs are met; (2) increased 
self-reliance of communities in providing for their food needs; and (3) 
Responses are comprehensive addressing local food, farm, nutrition, 
environmental and economic issues.
    Community food projects are intended to go beyond the models 
offered by emergency and Federal food assistance programs by creating 
the opportunity for all community members to gain better access to 
affordable food. Ideally these projects will seek solutions over the 
longer term rather than focusing on short-term food relief. They will 
seek comprehensive solutions to problems across all levels of the food 
system from farmer to consumer.
    Applicants should be aware of several USDA policy themes and 
initiatives that have the potential to strengthen the impact and 
success of some community food projects. These include food recovery 
and gleaning excess food; connecting the urban consumer with the rural 
producer; aiding citizens in leaving public assistance and achieving 
self-sufficiency; and utilizing micro enterprise and/or assets 
development projects related to community food needs. Relevant ongoing 
initiatives include the following:
    (1) Farmers Markets. The Federal-State Market Improvement Program 
(FSMIP) administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 
provides $1.2 million in matching grants to state governments for 
marketing projects that carry out the purposes of the Agriculture 
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). AMS also provides technical 
assistance to farmers' and alternative markets through its Wholesale 
and Alternative Markets Branch.
    (2) EZ/EC Presidential Initiative. The President and Vice 
President, along with the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development have designated Empowerment Zones, 
Enterprise Communities, and Champion Communities in both urban and 
rural areas. These have been targeted for services by Federal 
departments, including USDA. These are economically disadvantaged areas 
and are likely to face community food needs.
    (3) AmeriCorps. The AmeriCorps national service program is a 
potential source of members interested in working on community food 
projects.
    (4) Food recovery--Gleaning workbook.
    The community, not the individual per se, is the unit of analysis 
and medium for action. Many solutions to food access problems may come 
from beyond a community's own boundaries, since most food also comes 
from outside. In that context, wherever possible community food 
projects should support food systems based on regional agriculture and 
strategies that improve the availability of high-quality locally-
produced foods to low-income areas.
    Community food projects are intended to bring together stakeholders 
from the distinct parts of the food system. Solutions to hunger, and 
access to food, should reflect a process that involves partnership 
building among the public, private nonprofit and private for-profit 
sectors. Together, these parties can address issues such as the 
capacity of the community to produce food and support local growers; 
the need for, and location of grocery stores that market affordable, 
high-quality food; transportation constraints; economic opportunities 
for residents to increase income thereby increasing access to high-
quality nutritious food; community developments issues; the 
environment; and so on.
    Community food projects should not be designed to merely support 
individual food pantries, farmers' markets, community gardens or other 
established projects. Rather, the community food projects should build 
on these experiences and encourage innovative long-term efforts. A 
successful project should be able to endure and outlive the one-time 
infusion of government and matching funds. Community food projects 
should be designed to become self-supporting (or have a sustainable 
funding source) and expand or prove to be a replicable model.
    The primary objectives of the community food projects are to 
increase the food self-reliance of communities; promote comprehensive 
responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; develop innovative 
linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors, and 
encourage long-term planning activities and multi-system inter-agency 
approaches. The following are some examples of these objectives in 
practice:
    * Developing a working link between a food bank and area farmers to 
market fresh produce to a community through community-supported 
agriculture. Community members provide the financial support while the 
project develops links to institutions such as restaurants, food 
pantries, schools or other institutions. The process increases 
community awareness and commitment to local agriculture, while 
providing farmers a local market and consumers, and to expand the 
supply of and access to quality food.
    * Implementing a comprehensive strategic plan for a lower-income 
neighborhood to increase residents' access to quality, affordable food 
through farmers' markets, community gardens, supermarkets, and other 
food programs related to access, such as transportation assistance, 
business development and neighborhood improvement. As with other sector 
planning, the community participates in identifying its food-related 
priorities, and works with institutions through a collaborative 
interagency process to meet its objectives.
    * Developing a system of community farm stands sponsored by 
neighborhood organizations and managed by youth that sell locally-grown 
produce in low-income communities. The project provides skills training 
and/or jobs, and aims to become self-supporting within a reasonable 
time. It increases participants' understanding of the food system, 
including food production and distribution, expands interest in good 
nutrition, and provides entrepreneurial training opportunities for 
young people.
    * A local food policy council may develop an implement a plan that 
creates several new food ventures, including a new supermarket in a 
low-income neighborhood. The council serves as the planning and 
coordinating entity that brings together local farms, for-profit food 
operators such as restaurants, processors, and retailers

[[Page 38527]]

with low-income neighborhood development organizations and job training 
groups, emergency food providers, city hall and other community 
services entities.

Part III--Preparation of a Proposal

A. Program Application Materials

    Program application materials will be made available to eligible 
entities upon request. These materials include information about the 
purpose of the program, how the program will be conducted, and the 
required contents of a proposal, as well as the forms needed to prepare 
and submit grant applications under the program.

B. Content of a Proposal

    To obtain application forms, please contract Proposal Services, 
Grants Management Branch; Office of Extramural Programs; USDA/CSREES at 
(202) 401-5048. When calling Proposal Services please indicate that you 
are requesting forms for the Community Food Projects Program.
1. Cover Page: Complete the ``Application for Funding'' Form in its 
Entirety
    a. Note that providing a Social Security Number is voluntary, but 
is an integral part of the CSREES information system and will assist in 
the processing of the proposal.
    b. One copy of the ``Application for Funding'' form must contain 
the pen-and-ink signatures of the project director(s) and authorized 
organizational representative for the applicant organization.
    c. Note that by signing the ``Application for Funding'' form the 
applicant is providing the required certifications set forth in 7 CFR 
Part 3017, as amended, regarding Debarment and Suspension and Drug-Free 
Workplace, and 7 CFR Part 3018, regarding Lobbying. The certification 
forms are included in this application package for informational 
purposes only. It is not necessary to submit the forms to USDA.
2. Table of Contents
    For ease in locating information, each proposal must contain a 
detailed table of contents just after the proposal cover page. The 
Table of Contents should include page numbers for each component of the 
proposal. Pagination should begin immediately following the Table of 
Contents.
3. Project Summary
    The proposal must contain a project summary of 250 words or less on 
a separate page. This page must include the title of the project and 
the names of the primary project director(s) and the applicant 
organization, followed by the summary. The summary should be self-
contained, and should described the overall goals and relevance of the 
project. The summary should also contain a listing of all organizations 
involved in the project. The Project Summary should immediately follow 
the Table of Contents.
4. Project Narrative
    The Project Narrative for a community food project must be prepared 
on only one side of the page using standard size (8\1/2\''  x  11''; 
21.6 cm  x  27.9 cm) white paper, one inch margins, typed or word 
processed using no type smaller than 10 point font regardless of 
whether it is single or double spaced. The project narrative shall not 
exceed 10 pages. The community food project narrative must repeat and 
answer each of the following 10 questions:
    a. What is the community to be served by the proposed project?
    Describe the local food economy or food system, demographics, 
income, geographic characteristics of the area to be served and any 
other pertinent information.
    b. What organizations will be involved in carrying out the proposed 
project and which segments of the local food economy or system do they 
link?
    Include a description of the relevant experience of the 
organizations that will be involved and any project history. Letters 
acknowledging the support of these organizations should be provided in 
the appendix to the proposal.
    c. What are the goals or purposes to be achieved by the proposed 
community food project?
    d. How will the goals be achieved?
    Provide a description of the approach by which the goals will be 
accomplished.
    e. What are the major milestones that will indicate progress toward 
achieving the project goals?
    Provide a time line for accomplishing major project objectives.
    f. The legislation outlines three major outcomes of the Community 
Food Projects: (1) meet the food needs of low-income people, (2) 
increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own 
food needs; and (3) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm 
and nutrition issues. What measures will be used to assess project 
progress on the above three outcomes? How will you assess performance 
on the outcomes?
    For example, an applicant may propose to develop a farmers' market 
in a low-income urban area, selling produce grown by farmers in the 
surrounding area, and employing staff from both the urban and rural 
communities. The goals may be to increase access to fresh produce by 
community residents, (addresses outcome 1) increase employment and the 
income of farmers (addresses outcome 2). Possible outcome measures are 
the change in the consumption of produce by customers, the number of 
jobs created by the market, and the change in income experienced by the 
farmers supplying the market.
    g. What are the plans for achieving self-sustainability?
    Describe why a one-time infusion of Federal funds will be 
sufficient for the proposed project.
    h. Additional information: Provide any additional information which 
supports the need for and usefulness of the project.
5. Key Personnel
    Idenfiy the primary project director and the co-project manager(s) 
and other key personnel required for this project. An organizational 
chart should be provided if available. What is their relevant 
experience? Include vitae that provide adequate information so that 
proposal reviewers can make an informed judgment as to their 
capabilities and experience.
6. Budget
    A. Budget Form: Prepare the budget form in accordance with 
instructions provided with the form. A budget form is required for each 
year of requested support. In addition, a summary budget is required 
detailing the requested total support for the overall project period. 
The budget form may be reproduced as needed by applicants. Funds may be 
requested under any of the categories listed on the form, provided that 
the item or service for which support is requested is allowable under 
the authorizing legislation, the applicable Federal cost principles, 
and these program guidelines, and can be justified as necessary for the 
successful conduct of the proposed project.
B. Matching Funds
    (1) Proposals must include written verification of commitments of 
matching support (including both cash and in-kind contributions) from 
third parties. Written verification means:
    (a) For any third party cash contributions, a separate pledge 
agreement for each donation, signed by the authorized organizational 
representatives of the donor organization and the applicant 
organization, which must include: (1)

[[Page 38528]]

the name, address, and telephone number of the donor; (2) the name of 
the applicant organization; (3) the title of the project for which the 
donation is made; (4) the dollar amount of the cash donation; and (5) a 
statement that the donor will pay the cash contribution during the 
grant period; and
    (b) For any third party in-kind contributions, a separate pledge 
agreement for each contribution, signed by the authorized 
organizational representatives of the donor organization and the 
applicant organization, which must include: (1) the name, address, and 
telephone number of the donor; (2) the name of the applicant 
organization; (3) the title of the project for which the donation is 
made; (4) a good faith estimate of the current fair market value of the 
in-kind contribution; and (5) a statement that the donor will make the 
contribution during the grant period.
    (2) The sources and amount of all matching support from outside the 
applicant institution should be summarized on a separate page and 
placed in the proposal immediately following the budget form. All 
pledge agreements must be placed in the proposal immediately following 
the summary of matching support.
    (3) Applicants should refer to OMB Circulars A-110, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions 
of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-profit Organizations,'' 
and A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,'' for 
further guidance and other requirements relating to matching and 
allowable costs.
7. Current and Pending Support
    All proposals must list any other current public or private support 
(including in-house support) to which key personnel identified in the 
proposal have committed portions of their time, whether or not salary 
support for person(s) involved is included in the budget. Analogous 
information must be provided for any pending proposals that are being 
considered by, or that will be submitted in the near future to, other 
possible sponsors, including other USDA programs or agencies. 
Concurrent submission of identical or similar proposals to the possible 
sponsors will not prejudice proposal review or evaluation by the 
Administrator for this purpose. However, a proposal that duplicates or 
overlaps substantially with a proposal already reviewed and funded (or 
that will be funded) by another organization or agency will not be 
funded under this program. The application material includes Form 
CSREES-663 which is suitable for listing current and pending support.
8. Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
    As outlined in 7 CFR Part 3407 (the Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service regulations implementing NEPA), the 
environmental data for any proposed project is to be provided to CSREES 
so that CSREES may determine whether any further action is needed. In 
some cases, however, the preparation of environmental data may not be 
required. Certain categories of actions are excluded from the 
requirements of NEPA.
    In order for CSREES to determine whether any further action is 
needed with respect to NEPA, pertinent information regarding the 
possible environmental impacts of a particular project is necessary; 
therefore, Form CSREES-1234, ``NEPA Exclusions Form,'' must be included 
in the proposal indicating whether the applicant is of the opinion that 
the project falls within a categorical exclusion and the reasons 
therefor. If it is the applicant's opinion that the proposed project 
falls within the categorical exclusions, the specific exclusion must be 
identified. Form CSREES-1234 and supporting documentation should be 
placed after the Form CSREES-661, ``Application for Funding,'' in the 
proposal.
    Even though a project may fall within the categorical exclusions, 
CSREES may determine that an Environmental Assessment or an 
Environmental Impact Statement is necessary for an activity, if 
substantial controversy on environmental grounds exists or if other 
extraordinary conditions or circumstances are present which may cause 
such activity to have a significant environmental effect.
9. Organizational Management Information
    Specific management information relating to an applicant shall be 
submitted on a one-time basis prior to the award of a grant under this 
program if such information has not been provided previously under this 
or another program for which the sponsoring agency is responsible. 
Copies of forms recommended for use in fulfilling the requirements 
contained in this section will be provided by USDA once a grant has 
been recommended for funding.

Part IV--Submission of a Proposal

A. What to Submit

    An original and 14 copies must be submitted. Each copy of each 
proposal must be stapled in the upper lefthand corner. (DO NOT BIND) 
All copies of the proposal must be submitted in one package.

B. Where and When to Submit

    Proposals must be received by close of business on August 23, 1996. 
Proposals sent by First Class mail must be sent to the following 
address: Proposal Services, Grants Management Branch, Office of 
Extramural Programs, USDA/CSREES, Stop 2245, Washington, DC 20250-2245, 
Telephone: (202) 401-5048.

    Note: Hand-delivered proposals or those delivered by overnight 
express service should be brought to the following address: Proposal 
Services, Grants Management Branch; Office of Extramural Programs; 
USDA/CSREES; Room 303, Aerospace Center; 901 D Street, S.W.; 
Washington, DC 20024. The telephone number is (202) 401-5048.

C. Acknowledgment of Proposals

    The receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged in writing and 
this acknowledgment will contain an identifying proposal number. Once 
your proposal has been assigned an identification number, please cite 
that number in future correspondence.

Part V--Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

A. Selection Process

    Given the short period in which USDA has to process project 
proposals, proposals must be received on or before August 23, 1996. 
Applicants are highly encouraged to convey their completed proposals 
via over-night mail or delivery services to ensure timely receipt by 
the USDA. Proposals will be ranked relative to all those received, and 
ranking will be based primarily on technical merit, and potential for 
sustainment. Those proposals recommended for an award will be conveyed 
to the Administrator (or his designee) for final approval.
    Since the award process must be completed by September 30, 1996, 
applicants should submit fully developed proposals that meet all the 
requirements set forth in this RFP, and have fully developed budgets as 
well. However, USDA does retain the right to conduct discussions with 
applicants to resolve technical and/or budget issues as deemed 
necessary by USDA.
    Each proposal will be evaluated in a two-part process. First, each 
proposal

[[Page 38529]]

will be screened to ensure it meets the requirements as set forth in 
this RFP. Proposals that meet these requirements will be technically 
evaluated by a review panel. Each proposal will be judged on its own 
merits. Proposals not meeting the requirements as set forth in this RFP 
will be returned without review.
    A panel of individual experts will evaluate the proposed projects. 
The individual panel members will be selected from among those 
recognized as specialists who are uniquely qualified by training and 
experience in their respective fields to render expert advice on the 
merit of proposals being reviewed. It is anticipated that these experts 
will be drawn from a number of areas, among them government, 
universities, and entities involved in community food organizations or 
institutions, and rural development. The individual views of the panel 
members will be used to determine which proposal should be recommended 
to the Administrator (or his designee) for final funding decisions.
    There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular proposal or 
to make a specific number of awards. USDA also may elect to fund 
several or none of the proposed approaches to the same topic area. Care 
will be taken to avoid actual and potential conflicts of interest among 
reviewers. Evaluations will be confidential to USDA staff members, peer 
reviewers, and the proposed principal project director(s), to the 
extent permitted by law.
    The members of the review panel will take into consideration 
evaluation criteria that includes, but is not limited to the following: 
the amount of available funding; geographic distribution of 
applications; and balance and diversity among different approaches to 
community food needs; the quality of proposed internal project 
evaluations; and quantitative outcome measures and other considerations 
pertinent to assuring that the total mix of funded projects best serves 
the public purpose.

B. Community Food Projects Technical Evaluation Criteria

    1. Applicability and Merit. The primary evaluation criteria will be 
based upon the merit of the proposed project in regard to its ability 
to meet the food needs of low-income people in the proposed community; 
increase the self-reliance of the proposed community for providing for 
its own food needs; and promote comprehensive responses to local food, 
farm, and nutrition issues.
    (Refer to Questions a. through e. in Part III, item B.4.) This area 
will comprise approximately 30 percent of the weight during evaluation.
    2. Capacity to become self-sustaining. Applications will be 
evaluated based on an assessment of the project's ability for 
continuing to term and becoming self-sufficient once Federal funding 
ends. (Refer to Questions f. and j. in Part III, item B.4.). 
Approximately 20 percent of the evaluation weight will be applied to 
this area.
    3. Organizational and staff qualifications and experience. Awards 
are provided to the non-profit organization. However, the working 
history of the organization and the experience of the principal project 
director will be key evaluation criteria. Experience in the area of 
community food work, particularly if that work also involved small or 
medium-size farms; provision of food to people in low-income 
communities; the development of new markets for agricultural goods in 
low-income communities, particularly as a means to enhance income for 
agricultural procedures; job training or business development for food-
related activities in low-income communities; competency to implement 
the proposed project; ability to provide the appropriate financial/
fiscal oversight; and the ability to collect data, prepare reports, and 
perform other necessary administrative functions. Approximately 20 
percent of the evaluation will be based on this area.
    4. Additional evaluation criteria. This area will comprise 
approximately 30 percent of the total evaluation. These criteria will 
be considered relative to the extent the proposed work contributes to:
    a. developing linkages between two or more sectors of the food 
system;
    b. supporting the development of entrepreneurial projects;
    c. developing innovative linkages between the for-profit and 
nonprofit food sectors;
    d. encouraging long-term planning activities and multi-system, 
interagency approaches; and
    e. incorporating linkages to one or more ongoing USDA themes or 
initiatives (such as, but not limited to, those described in the 
background section).

Part VI--Supplementary Information

A. Access to Peer Review Information

    After final decisions have been announced, CSREES will, upon 
request, inform the project director of the reasons for its decision on 
a proposal. Verbatim copies of summary reviews, not including the 
identity of the reviewers, will be made available to respective project 
directors upon specific request.

B. Grant Awards

    1. General: Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, 
the awarding official of CSREES shall make grants to those responsible, 
eligible applicants whose proposals are judged most meritorious in the 
announced program areas under the evaluation criteria and procedures 
set forth in this request for proposals. The date specified by the 
Administrator as the effective date of the grant shall be no later than 
September 30 of the Federal fiscal year in which the project is 
approved for support and funds are appropriated for such purpose, 
unless otherwise permitted by law. It should be noted that the project 
need not be initiated on the grant effective date, but as soon 
thereafter as practicable so that project goals may be attained within 
the funded project period. All funds granted by CSREES under this 
request for proposals shall be expended solely for the purpose for 
which the funds are granted in accordance with the approved application 
and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, the 
applicable Federal cost principles, and the Department's assistance 
regulations (part 3015, part 3016, and part 3019 of 7 CFR).
    2. Organizational Management Information: Specific management 
information relating to an applicant shall be submitted on a one-time 
basis prior to the award of a grant identified under this part if such 
information has not been provided previously under this or another 
program for which the sponsoring agency is responsible. Copies of forms 
recommended for use in fulfilling the requirements contained in this 
section will be provided by the sponsoring agency as part of the 
preaward process.
    3. Grant Award Document and Notice of Grant Award: The grant award 
document shall include at a minimum the following:
    a. Legal name and address of performing organization or institution 
to whom the Administrator has awarded a grant under the terms of this 
request for proposals;
    b. Title of Project;
    c. Name(s) and address(es) of project director(s) chosen to direct 
and control approved activities;
    d. Identifying grant number assigned by the Department;
    e. Project period, specifying the amount of time the Department 
intends to support the project without requiring recompetition for 
funds;
    f. Total amount of Department financial assistance approved by the 
Administrator during the project period;

[[Page 38530]]

    g. Legal authority(ies) under which the grant is awarded;
    h. Approved budget plan for categorizing allocable project funds to 
accomplish the stated purpose of the grant award; and
    i. Other information or provisions deemed necessary by CSREES to 
carry out their respective granting activities or to accomplish the 
purpose of a particular grant.
    4. Notice of Grant Award. The notice of grant award, in the form of 
a letter, will be prepared and will provide pertinent instructions or 
information to the grantee that is not included in the grant award 
document.
    5. CSREES will award standard grants to carry out this program. A 
standard grant is a funding mechanism whereby CSREES agrees to support 
a specified level of effort for a predetermined time period without 
additional support at a future date.

C. Use of Funds; Changes

    1. Delegation of Fiscal Responsibility: The grantee may not in 
whole or in part delegate or transfer to another person, institution, 
or organization the responsibility for use or expenditure of grant 
funds.
    2. Changes in Project Plans:
    a. The permissible changes by the grantee, project director(s), or 
other key project personnel in the approved research project grant 
shall be limited to changes in methodology, techniques, or other 
aspects of the project to expedite achievement of the project's 
approved goals. If the grantee and/or the project director(s) are 
uncertain as to whether a change complies with this provision, the 
question must be referred to the CSREES Authorized Departmental Officer 
for a final determination.
    b. Changes in approved goals, or objectives, shall be requested by 
the grantee and approved in writing by the CSREES Authorized 
Departmental Officer prior to effecting such changes. In no event shall 
requests for such changes be approved which are outside the scope of 
the original approved project.
    c. Changes in approved project leadership or the replacement or 
reassignment of other key project personnel shall be requested by the 
grantee and approved in writing by the awarding official of CSREES 
prior to effecting such changes.
    d. Transfers of actual performance of the substantive programmatic 
work in whole or in part and provisions for payment of funds, whether 
or not Federal funds are involved, shall be requested by the grantee 
and approved in writing by the Department prior to effecting such 
transfers.
    e. Changes in Project Period: The project period may be extended by 
CSREES without additional financial support, for such additional 
period(s) as the Authorized Departmental Officer determines may be 
necessary to complete or fulfill the purposes of an approved project. 
Any extension of time shall be conditioned upon prior request by the 
grantee and approval in writing by the Authorized Departmental Officer, 
unless prescribed otherwise in the terms and conditions of a grant.
    f. Changes in Approved Budget: Changes in an approved budget must 
be requested by the grantee and approved in writing by the authorized 
departmental officer prior to instituting such changes if the revision 
will:
    (1) Involve transfers of amounts budgeted for indirect costs to 
absorb an increase in direct costs;
    (2) Involve transfers of amounts budgeted for direct costs to 
accommodate changes in indirect cost rates negotiated during a budget 
period and not approved when a grant was awarded; or
    (3) Involve transfers or expenditures of amounts requiring prior 
approval as set forth in the applicable Federal cost principles, 
Departmental regulations, or in the grant award.

D. Other Federal Statues and Regulations that Apply

    Several other Federal statutes and regulations apply to grant 
proposals considered for review and to project grants awarded under 
this program. These include but are not limited to:
    7 CFR Part 1, subpart A--USDA implementation of the Freedom of 
Information Act.
    7 CFR Part 3--USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-129 
regarding debt collection.
    7 CFR Part 15, subpart A--USDA implementation of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
    7 CFR Part 3015--USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, 
implementing OMB directives (i.e., Circular Nos. A-21, and A-122) and 
incorporating provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308 (formerly the Federal 
Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Pub. L. 95-224), as well 
as general policy requirements applicable to recipients of Departmental 
financial assistance.
    7 CFR Part 3016--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments.
    7 CFR Part 3017, as amended--USDA implementation of Governmentwide 
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants), as amended.
    7 CFR Part 3018--USDA implementation of New Restrictions on 
Lobbying. Imposes new prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and 
certification related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, 
grants, cooperative agreement, and loans.
    7 CFR Part 3019--USDA implementation of OMB Circular A-110, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions 
of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations.
    7 CFR Part 3051--USDA implementation of OMB Circular No. A-133 
regarding audits of institutions of higher education and other 
nonprofit institutions.
    7 CFR Part 3407--CSREES procedures to implement the National 
Environmental Policy Act;
    29 U.S.C. 794, section 504--Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and CFR 
Part 15B (USDA implementation of statue), prohibiting discrimination 
based upon physical or mental handicap in Federally assisted programs.
    35 U.S.C. 200 et seq.--Bayh-Dole Act, controlling allocation of 
rights to inventions made by employees of small business firms and 
domestic nonprofit organizations, including universities, in Federally 
assisted programs (implementing regulations are contained are contained 
in 37 CFR Part 401).

E. Confidential Aspects of Proposals and Awards

    When a proposal results in a grant, it becomes a part of the record 
of the Agency's transactions, available to the public upon specific 
request. Information that the Secretary determines to be of a 
privileged nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by 
law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to have 
considered as privileged should be clearly marked as such and sent in a 
separate statement, two copies of which should accompany the proposal. 
The original copy of a proposal that does not result in a grant will be 
retained by the Agency for a period of one year. Other copies will be 
destroyed. Such a proposal will be released only with the consent of 
the applicant or to the extent required by law. A proposal may be 
withdrawn at any time prior to the final action thereon.

[[Page 38531]]

F. Evaluation of Program

    Section 25(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1997, as amended, requires 
USDA to provide for an evaluation of the success of community food 
projects supported under this authority. All grantees shall be expected 
to assist the USDA by providing relevant information on their 
respective projects. Applicants are also encouraged to plan for their 
own internal self-assessments and evaluations to measure the 
effectiveness of each project.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 18th day of July 1996.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, 
and Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18808 Filed 7-19-96; 3:26 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-M