[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42376-42379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20656]



[[Page 42375]]

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Part V





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



_______________________________________________________________________



Applications for FY 1998, National Research Initiative Competitive 
Grants Program; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 1997 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Applications for FY 1998, National Research Initiative 
Competitive Grants Program

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Program Description and Solicitation 
for Applications for Fiscal Year 1998 National Research Initiative 
Competitive Grants Program.

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SUMMARY: Applications are invited for competitive grant awards in 
agricultural, forest, and related environmental sciences under the 
National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRICGP) 
administered by the Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management 
Division, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES), for fiscal year (FY) 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA/CSREES/NRICGP, Stop 2241, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241. Phone: (202) 401-
5022. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

Authority
Applicable Regulations and Statutory Guidance
Conflicts of Interest
Project Types
    I. Conventional Projects
    II. Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards
Funding Categories for FY 1998
Research Topic Areas
Application Materials
Materials Available on Internet
Electronic Subscription to NRICGP Documents
NRICGP Deadline Dates

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 United 
States 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 submitted by non-
United States organizations will not be considered for support.
    It is expected that Congress, in the Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1998, will prohibit CSREES from using the funds 
available for the NRICGP for FY 1998 to pay indirect costs exceeding 14 
per centum of the total Federal funds provided under each award on 
competitively awarded research grants. It is also expected that 
Congress, in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, will 
encourage entities to use grant funds to purchase only American-made 
equipment or products in the case of any equipment or product that may 
be authorized to be purchased with the funds provided under this 
program.

Applicable Regulations and Statutory Guidance

    The regulations governing the NRICGP currently are found at 7 CFR 
part 3411. 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.
    Other regulations and statutes applicable to this program (as 
specified in those regulations) include, but are not limited to, the 
following: (a) The USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Agreements with Institutions of Higher-Education, Hospitals, and 
Other Non-Profit Organizations, 7 CFR part 3019; (b) the USDA Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Governments, 7 CFR part 3016; (c) the USDA Uniform 
Federal Assistance Regulations, 7 CFR part 3015; (d) Section 1402 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101); 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.''

Conflicts of Interest

    For the purpose of determining conflicts of interest in accordance 
with 7 CFR 3411.12, the academic and administrative autonomy of an 
institution shall be determined by reference to the January 1997 issue 
of the Codebook for Compatible Statistical Reporting of Federal Support 
to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions, prepared by 
Quantum Research Corporation for the National Science Foundation. 
Copies may be obtained from Quantum Research Corporation, 7315 
Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 400W, Bethesda, MD 20814.

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 agricultural experiment station, college, university, 
other research institution or organization, Federal agency, private 
organization, corporation, or individual may apply. Proposals submitted 
by 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 submitted by 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; however, further eligibility requirements are defined in 7 
CFR 3411.3(d) and restated in the FY 1998 NRICGP Program Description. 
Applications submitted by non-United States organizations will not be 
considered for support. However, United States citizens applying as 
individuals for Postdoctoral Fellowships may perform all or part of the 
proposed work at a non-United States organization. Agricultural 
Research Enhancement Awards are available in the following categories:

[[Page 42377]]

    (a) Postdoctoral Fellowships.
    (b) New Investigator Awards.
    (c) Strengthening Awards: Institutions in USDA EPSCoR entities are 
eligible for strengthening awards. For FY 1998, 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
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming

    For FY 1998, other USDA-EPSCoR entities consist of the following:

    American Samoa
    District of Columbia
    Guam
    Micronesia
    Northern Marianas
    Puerto Rico
    Virgin Islands

    Investigators at small and mid-sized institutions (total enrollment 
of 15,000 or less) may also be eligible for Strengthening Awards. An 
institution in this instance is an organization that possesses a 
significant degree of autonomy, as determined by reference to the 
January 1997 issue of the Codebook for Compatible Statistical Reporting 
of Federal Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit 
Institutions, prepared by Quantum Research Corporation for the National 
Science Foundation. Copies may be obtained from Quantum Research 
Corporation, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 400W, Bethesda, MD 20814.
    Institutions which are among the top 100 universities and colleges, 
except those in USDA EPSCoR states, are ineligible for strengthening 
awards. The top 100 institutions excluding those in USDA EPSCoR states, 
as listed in the table Federal obligations for science and engineering 
research and development to the 100 universities and colleges receiving 
the largest amounts, ranked by total amount received, by agency: Fiscal 
year 1995 of the Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to 
Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions (National Science 
Foundation, accessible through the Internet at www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/
fedsuppt/start.htm), are as follows:

Arizona State University Main
Baylor College of Medicine
Boston University
California Institute of Technology
Carnegie-Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
Colorado State University
Columbia University
Cornell University
CUNY Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Duke University
Emory University
Florida State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Indiana University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Johns Hopkins University
Louisiana State University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michigan State University
New York University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Oregon Health Sciences University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Rockefeller University
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Stanford University
State University of New York Stony Brook
State University of New York at Buffalo
Texas A&M University
Thomas Jefferson University
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of Alabama Birmingham
University of Arizona
University of California Santa Barbara
University of California San Francisco
University of California Irvine
University of California San Diego
University of California Davis
University of California Los Angeles
University of California Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Illinois Urbana
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland Baltimore Prof Sch
University of Maryland College Park
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Med Schl Worcester
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Missouri Columbia
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
University of Texas Health Sci. Center San Antonio
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
University of Texas SW Medical Center Dallas
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin Madison
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Polytech Institute and State University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wake Forest University
Washington University
Wayne State University
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Yeshiva University

    See the FY 1998 Program Description for complete details on 
programs and eligibility.

Funding Categories for FY 1998

    CSREES 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 categories (Anticipated FY 1998 funding and Actual 
FY 1997 funding, rounded to the $0.1M, follows in parentheses):
     Natural Resources and the Environment (FY98: $16.0M, FY97: 
$16.0M)
     Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health (FY98: $6.7M, FY97: 
$6.7M)
     Plant Systems (FY98: $33.5M, FY97: $33.5M)
     Animal Systems (FY98: $21.5M, FY97: $21.5M)
     Markets, Trade, and Policy (FY98: $3.6M, FY97: $3.6M)
     New Products and Processes (FY98: $6.3M, FY97: $6.3M)
    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.

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    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 
(FY98: $8.7M, FY97: $8.7M) 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 (FY98: $1.7M, 
FY97: $1.7M) of the available funds listed above will be made available 
for equipment grants. Further, no less than 30 percent (FY98: $26.3M, 
FY97: $26.3M) of the funds listed above shall be made available for 
grants for research to be conducted by multidisciplinary teams, and no 
less than 40 percent (FY98: $35.1M, FY97: $35.1M) of the funds listed 
above shall be made available for grants for mission-linked research.

Research Topic Areas

    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 (not offered in FY 1998)
Soils and Soil Biology
Water Resources Assessment and Protection
Nutrition, Food Safety, and Health
Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health
Ensuring Food Safety
Animals
Animal Reproductive Efficiency
Animal Growth, Development, and Nutrient Utilization
Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene Mapping
Animal Health and Well-Being
Pest Biology and Management
Plant Pathology
Entomology and Nematology
Weed Biology and Management
Biologically Based Pest Management
Plants
Plant Genome
Plant Genetic Mechanisms
Plant Growth and Development
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
Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber
Agricultural Systems Research (integrated, multidisciplinary research 
on agricultural systems)

Application Materials

    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 FY 1997 or who have recently requested placement 
on the list for FY 1998 will automatically receive a copy of the FY 
1998 solicitation and any supplements.

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 Ave., SW., 
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, (not e-mail), phone number, and materials that you are 
requesting to [email protected]. Materials will be mailed to you (not e-
mailed) as quickly as possible.

Materials Available on Internet

The following materials are available on the NRICGP Home Page on the 
Internet (www.reeusda.gov/nri).

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.

NRICGP Application Kit

    This document contains guidelines for proposal preparation and the 
requisite forms.

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 FY 1993. Each entry also includes the 
title, principal investigator(s), 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.

NRICGP Annual Report

    The NRICGP Annual Reports starting with FY 1995 are available. 
These reports include descriptions of the program concept, the 
authorization, policy, inputs to establish research needs, program 
execution, and outcomes, including relevant statistics. Also included 
are examples of recent research funded by the NRICGP.

Electronic Subscription to NRICGP Documents

    The NRICGP has set up a mailserver which will notify subscribers 
when publications such as its Program Description or Abstracts of 
Funded Research are available electronically on the World Wide Web. 
Subscribers will not receive the document itself, but instead will 
receive an e-mail containing an announcement regarding the document's 
availability on the Web.
    To subscribe: Send an e-mail message to: [email protected]
    In the body of the message, include only the words: subscribe nri-
epubs
    To unsubscribe: Send an e-mail message to: [email protected]
    In the body of the message, include only the words: unsubscribe 
nri-epubs
    Please note that this is not a forum. Messages, other than those 
related to subscription, can not be posted to this address.

NRICGP Deadline Dates

    The following fixed dates have been established for proposal 
submission deadlines within the NRICGP, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture. To be considered for funding in any fiscal year, proposals 
must be transmitted by the date listed below (as indicated by postmark 
or date on courier bill of lading). When the deadline date falls on a 
weekend or Federal holiday, transmission must be made by the following 
business day.
    Programs offered in any fiscal year depend on availability of funds 
and deadlines may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Consult 
the pertinent NRICGP solicitation in the Federal Register, the NRICGP 
Program Description, or the NRICGP Home Page (www.reeusda.gov/nri) for 
up-to-date information.

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             Postmarked dates                   Program codes                       Program areas               
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November 15..............................                     22.1  Plant Responses to the Environment.         
                                                              25.0  Soils and Soil Biology.                     
                                                              26.0  Water Resources Assessment and Protection.  
                                                              31.0  Human Nutrition for Optimal Health.         
                                                              51.4  Weed Biology and Management.                
December 15..............................                     52.1  Plant Genome.                               
                                                              52.2  Plant Genetic Mechanisms.                   
                                                              53.0  Plant Growth and Development.               
                                                              54.1  Photosynthesis and Respiration.             
                                                              61.0  Markets and Trade.                          
                                                              62.0  Rural Development.                          
                                                              71.1  Food Characterization/Process/Product       
                                                                     Research.                                  
                                                              71.2  Non-Food Characterization/Process/Product   
                                                                     Research.                                  
January 15...............................                     32.0  Ensuring Food Safety.                       
                                                              41.0  Animal Reproductive Efficiency.             
                                                              44.0  Animal Health and Well-Being.               
                                                              51.1  Plant Pathology.                            
                                                              51.2  Entomology and Nematology.                  
                                                              51.7  Biologically Based Pest Management.         
                                                              73.0  Improved Utilization of Wood and Wood Fiber.
February 15..............................                     42.0  Animal Growth, Development, and Nutrient    
                                                                     Utilization.                               
                                                              43.0  Animal Genetic Mechanisms and Gene Mapping. 
                                                              54.2  Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism.      
                                                              80.1  Research Career Enhancement Awards.         
                                                              80.2  Equipment Grants.                           
                                                              80.3  Seed Grants.                                
                                                             100.0  Agricultural Systems.                       
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    The Forest/Range/Crop/Aquatic Ecosystems program will not be 
offered in FY 1998.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 31st day of July 1997.
B.H. Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20656 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P