[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 36192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17428]



[[Page 36191]]

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Part IV





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1998; 
Solicitation of Applications; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 128 / Thursday, July 3, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36192]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 
1998; Solicitation of Applications

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

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that under the authority of the Small 
Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-219), as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 638) and Section 630 of the Act making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies 
programs for fiscal year ending September 30, 1987, and for other 
purposes, as made applicable by Section 101(a) of Public Law Number 99-
591, 100 Stat. 3341, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects 
to award project grants for certain areas of research to science-based 
small business firms through phase I of its Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) Grants Program.

DATES: All phase I proposals must be received at USDA by September 4, 
1997. Proposals not received by this date will be returned to the 
proposing organization without evaluation or consideration for an 
award, with the following exceptions. Proposals received after 
September 4, 1997, will be accepted provided they are postmarked (1) 
September 3, 1997, if sent by overnight courier; (2) September 2, 1997, 
if sent by priority mail; (3) or August 28, 1997, if sent by regular 
first class mail.

ADDRESSES: All proposals must be submitted to the following address:

Proposal Services Unit, Grants Management Branch, Office of Extramural 
Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2245, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-2245.

    Note: The address for hand-delivered proposals or proposals 
submitted using an express mail or overnight courier service is:

Proposal Services Unit, Grants Management Branch, Office of Extramural 
Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 303, Aerospace Center, 901 D 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024, Telephone: (202) 401-5048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Charles F. Cleland; Director, SBIR 
Program; Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; 
U.S. Department of Agriculture; STOP 2243; 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-2243. Telephone: (202) 401-4002. 
Facsimile: (202) 401-6070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program will be administered by the 
Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management, Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service. Firms with strong 
scientific research capabilities in the topic areas listed below are 
encouraged to participate. Objectives of the three-phase program 
include stimulating technological innovation in the private sector, 
strengthening the role of small businesses in meeting Federal research 
and development needs, increasing private sector commercialization of 
innovations derived from USDA-supported research and development 
efforts, and fostering and encouraging participation of women-owned and 
socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns in 
technological innovation.
    The total amount expected to be available for phase I of the SBIR 
Program in fiscal year 1998 is approximately $4,000,000. The 
solicitation is being announced to allow adequate time for potential 
recipients to prepare and submit applications by the closing date of 
September 4, 1997. The research to be supported is in the following 
topic areas:

1. Forests and Related Resources
2. Plant Production and Protection
3. Animal Production and Protection
4. Air, Water and Soils
5. Food Science and Nutrition
6. Rural and Community Development
7. Aquaculture
8. Industrial Applications
9. Marketing and Trade

    The award of any grants under the provisions of this solicitation 
is subject to the availability of appropriations.
    This program is subject to the provisions found at 7 CFR Part 3403, 
as amended by 61 FR 25366, May 20, 1996, and 62 FR 26168, May 12, 1997. 
These provisions 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. In addition, USDA Uniform Federal 
Assistance Regulations, (7 CFR Part 3015), Governmentwide Debarment and 
Suspension (Non-procurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-
free Workplace (Grants) (7 CFR Part 3017, as amended by 61 FR 250), New 
Restrictions on Lobbying (7 CFR Part 3018), and Managing Federal Credit 
Programs (7 CFR Part 3) apply to this program. Copies of 7 CFR Part 
3403, 7 CFR Part 3015, 7 CFR Part 3017, 7 CFR Part 3018, and 7 CFR Part 
3 may be obtained by writing or calling the office indicated below.
    The solicitation, which contains research topic descriptions and 
detailed instructions on how to apply, may be obtained by writing or 
calling the office indicated below. Please note that applicants who 
submitted SBIR proposals for fiscal year 1997 or who have recently 
requested placement on the list for fiscal year 1998 will automatically 
receive a copy of the fiscal year 1998 solicitation.

Proposal Services Unit, Grants Management Branch, Office of Extramural 
Programs, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 2245, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-2245, Telephone: (202) 401-5048.

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 27th day of June 1997.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17428 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
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