[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31063-31064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14767]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service
[RFP #126-FW-NRCS-97]


Soil Survey Division Research Program

AUTHORITY: Pub. L. 74-46, 16 U.S.C. 590(a-f), Pub. L. 89-560.

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of funds for Request for Proposal.

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Survey 
Division through Congressional authority, has provided soil related 
research primarily through the National Soil Survey Laboratory (NSSL), 
and the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS), in Lincoln, Nebraska. 
The Soil Survey Division has focused its research on soil genesis and 
processes, soil-landscape relationships, and development of criteria 
for Soil Taxonomy.
    The Soil Survey Laboratories, in concert with University 
collaborators, led in the development of laboratory procedures for 
physical, chemical, and mineralogical methods in support of the NCSS. 
Historically, geomorphic projects constituted prominent research 
activities.
    The Soil Survey Division has funds for selected proposals and will 
utilize these funds specifically for research and development within 
its budget.

DATES: The solicitation release date is June 10, 1997. Request for 
Proposal must be received on or before July 10, 1997. Proposals 
received after July 10, 1997, will not be considered for funding.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the following address: USDA, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Business Management 
Center, FWFC, Bldg. 23, 501 Felix St., P.O. Box 6567, Ft.Worth, TX 
76115-0567. The telephone number is (817) 334-5461; Internet: 
jlowe9ftw.nrcs. usda.gov. Hand-delivered proposal, including those 
submitted through an express mail or a courier service, must be 
submitted to the following address: USDA, Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, National Business Management Center, FWFC, Bldg 
23, 501 Felix St., Ft. Worth, TX 76115. The telephone number is: (817) 
334-5461.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kimble, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, National Soil Survey Center, Federal Building, Room 152, 
100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866; telephone (402) 437-
5376; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that under the 
authority for Soil Survey, awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 will 
be awarded for support of any one proposal, regardless of the amount 
requested. The total amount of funds available for proposals is 
$300,000.

Eligibility and Limitations on Use of Funds

    Under this program, subject to the availability of funds, the 
Secretary may award proposal to land-grant colleges and universities, 
State agricultural experiment stations, colleges, universities, private 
entities, and to Federal laboratories having a demonstrable capacity in 
soil research. Proposal received from scientists at non-United States 
organizations or institutions will not be considered for support.
    This request for proposal is subject to the provision found in 7 
CFR part 3019, the Uniform Administrative Requirement for Grants and 
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other 
Non-profit Organizations, which sets forth procedures to be followed 
when submitting grant proposals, rules governing the evaluation of 
proposals, processes regarding the awarding of grants, and regulations 
relating to the post-award administration of grant projects. In 
addition, other Federal statutes and regulations, such as 7 CFR 3051, 
the Audits of Institutions of Higher Education and Other Nonprofit 
Institutions, and OMB Circular A-110 and A-21, apply to this program.

Specific Areas of Research To Be Supported in Fiscal Year 1997

    A research framework has been developed to advance the fundamental 
goals of understanding and portraying (T.E.C.) the pedosphere, to 
develop and quantify soil interpretations, and to provide efficient 
technology transfer relevant for the NRCS and its cooperators. Methods 
development is important within this framework. In the past, much of 
the laboratory's focus was on development and improvement of laboratory 
methods. These efforts need to be continued. Also, additional needs are 
to focus more on field methods used to help in mapping, scaling of 
data, and model development for prediction of soil properties and 
extension of single point information for use in description of complex 
natural ecosystems. Within the critical research issues, both methods 
development (laboratory and field) and information delivery techniques 
are extremely important.
    This framework includes the following integrative elements:

1. Soil-Water and Temperature
2. Geomorphic Modeling
3. Soil Quality/Soil Health
4. Soil Biological Processes in Soils and Carbon Cycling
5. Soil Genesis and Taxonomy
6. Spatial Variability & Scaling

Critical Research Issues

    Research is needed in the following general focus areas:
    1. Utilization of the NRCS Soil database. The NRCS has an excellent 
and extensive database consisting of measured soil physical, chemical, 
and mineralogical properties from soils throughout the world. The 
database is an under utilized tool that has significant potential for 
use in improving soil quality, increasing agricultural production, and 
providing information to our customers. Development of new uses for the 
soils data is encouraged.

[[Page 31064]]

    2. New and developing issues in agriculture. Site specific 
management (production maximization and critical area management) and 
soil quality are current examples of new areas holding promise of 
improving agricultural production while maintaining or proving soil 
conditions.
    3. Global Climate Change. Studies in this area include 
understanding future effects on agriculture and forestry of climate 
change, whether natural or human caused. Priority areas are effects of 
soil carbon sequestration and release, monitoring changes in soil 
moisture and temperature over time, and contributions of agriculture 
and forestry to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and to 
project the capability to adapt to these changes. Studies related to 
developing data on soil properties that can be used by others in Global 
Climate research are also of interest.
    4. Use-dependent and temporal soil properties. Studies in these 
areas may be closely related to other research activities such as site 
specific management or to development of long-term soil climate indices 
through analyses of continuously-monitored properties such as soil 
water status and soil temperature.
    5. Relationship of the pedosphere to other ``spheres.'' The 
relationship of the pedosphere to the atmosphere, geosphere, 
hydrosphere and biosphere should be investigated in a globally 
integrated manner. Included in this area is the development of models 
linking the soil environment to global models of the earth's 
interactions.
    6. Paleo-environment. Studies of paleo-environmental parameters, as 
proxy models, can be used to predict climatic effects. This is an 
extremely important area in this era of global climate changes.
    7. Scaling data. Included in this area are the needs to aggregate 
data from different sources and different scales and to develop means 
for dealing with geographically variable data.
    8. Ecosystem management. Studies should be oriented to integrated 
units such as watersheds rather than individual farm fields, political 
areas such as counties, individual soil map units or point-location. 
The concept of soil landscape should be developed and refined.

How to Obtain Application Materials

    Copies of this solicitation, and the Administrative provisions for 
this program (7 CFR and 3019) may be obtained by writing to the address 
or calling the telephone number which follows: USDA, National Business 
Management Center, Acquisition Management, Attn: Mr. James Lowe, P.O. 
Box 6567, 501 Felix Street, Ft. Worth, TX 76115-0567, (817) 334-5461. 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for proposal information (Braille, large print, 
audiotapes, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at 
(202) 720-2791.
    These materials may also be requested via internet by sending a 
message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and phone number, 
to [email protected]. The material will be mailed to you as 
quickly as possible.

Preparation and Submission of Proposals

    Proposals submitted in response to this announcement for research 
opportunities must be submitted in accordance with the following 
guidelines.
    Proposals shall be less than 10 pages in length. They must contain 
target dates and deadlines for the proposed research. The research 
proposal must include the hypotheses to be tested, expected results, 
and detailed budget, project (executive summary), statement of 
problem(s), a brief literature review, benefits of the proposed 
research to NCSS, science and society, proposed outreach program, and 
existing facilities/equipment. When the project is to be carried out in 
a cooperative nature with the NRCS, with an NCSS partner, or with 
another entity, the responsibilities of each partner must be described.
    A two page curriculum vitae for each researcher(s) needs to be 
included with the proposal. A description of the qualifications of the 
scientist(s) (including degrees, publications, related grants, and past 
work). Failure to provide full and complete information may reduce the 
possibility of receiving an award.

Proposal Review

    Proposal will be reviewed by NRCS and outside reviewers to ensure 
that they are within the areas outlined under critical issues and 
within established procedures of the NRCS. Strong consideration will be 
given to proposals that have the potential for enhancing the use of the 
existing data and information presently available at the NSSC.
    In accordance with Federal statutes and regulation and USDA, NRCS 
policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national 
origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied 
the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or 
activity receiving financial assistance from the Department of 
Agriculture. Entities or individuals will comply with P.L. 93-348 
regarding the protection of human subjects involved in research, 
development, and related activities support by this award of 
assistance.
Roy R. Twidt,
Director, National Business Management Center.
[FR Doc. 97-14767 Filed 6-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P