[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50438-50439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25408]



[[Page 50437]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part II





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



_______________________________________________________________________



1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants Program 
for Fiscal Year 1998; Solicitation of Applications; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50438]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


1890 Institution Teaching and Research Capacity Building Grants 
Program for Fiscal Year 1998; Solicitation of Applications

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

ACTION: Notice of application.

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

SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) is announcing the 1890 Institution Teaching and 
Research Capacity Building Grants Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 1998. 
Proposals are hereby requested from eligible institutions as identified 
herein, for competitive consideration of capacity building awards.
    The authority for this program is contained in section 1417(b)(4) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977, as amended (NARETPA)(7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(4)). Under this 
authority, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Higher 
Education Programs (HEP) of CSREES will award competitive grants of 
eighteen months to three-years duration, subject to the availability of 
funds. These grants will be made to the historically black 1890 Land-
Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University to strengthen their programs 
in the food and agricultural sciences in the targeted need areas as 
described herein. The Capacity Building Grants Program is designed 
specifically to build the institutional capacities of the eligible 
colleges and universities through cooperative initiatives with Federal 
and non-Federal entities. This program addresses the need to (1) 
Attract more minority students into the food and agricultural sciences, 
(2) expand the linkages among the 1890 Institutions and with other 
colleges and universities, and (3) strengthen the teaching and research 
capacity of the 1890 Institutions to more firmly establish them as full 
partners in the food and agricultural science and education system. In 
addition, through this program, USDA will strive to increase the 
overall pool of qualified applicants for the Department to make 
significant progress toward achievement of the Department's goal of 
increasing participation of under represented groups in Departmental 
programs.

DATES: Project grant applications must be received on or before January 
26, 1998. Proposals received after January 26, 1998 will not be 
considered for funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard M. Hood, Cooperative State 
Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 2251, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20250-2251; Telephone: (202) 720-1973; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program is subject to the provisions 
found at 7 CFR part 3406, 62 FR 39330, July 22, 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.
    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.216, 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants 
Program.

Eligibility

    Proposals may be submitted by any of the sixteen historically black 
1890 Land-Grant Institutions and Tuskegee University. The 1890 Land-
Grant Institutions are: Alabama A&M University; University of 
Arkansas--Pine Bluff; Delaware State University; Florida A&M 
University; Fort Valley State University; Kentucky State University; 
Southern University and A&M College; University of Maryland--Eastern 
Shore; Alcorn State University; Lincoln University (MO); North Carolina 
A&T State University; Langston University; South Carolina State 
University; Tennessee State University; Prairie View A&M University; 
and Virginia State University. An institution eligible to receive an 
award under this program includes a research foundation maintained by 
an 1890 land-grant institution or Tuskegee University.

Available Funds

    The amount available for this program in FY 1998 is $9.2 million. 
After administrative and other deductions of approximately 4 percent 
(including peer panel and related costs), it is anticipated that $8.8 
million will be available for project grants. Of this amount, 
approximately $4.45 million will be used to support teaching projects 
and $4.35 million will be used to support research projects. Awards 
will be based upon peer review panel recommendations; however, up to 
ten percent of the funds allocated for teaching and up to ten percent 
of the funds allocated for research may be used to support projects in 
either area based upon administrative decision by CSREES.

Program Areas

    In FY 1998, the Capacity Building Grants Program will support both 
teaching and research projects.

Targeted Areas

    The targeted need areas to be supported by capacity building grants 
in FY 1998 are:
    For teaching project grants--curricula design and materials 
development, faculty preparation and enhancement for teaching, 
instruction delivery systems, scientific instrumentation for teaching, 
student experiential learning, and student recruitment and retention.
    For research project grants--studies and experimentation in food 
and agricultural sciences, centralized research support systems, 
technology delivery systems, and other creative projects designed to 
provide needed enhancement of the Nation's food and agricultural 
research system.
    In FY 1998, eligible institutions may propose projects in any 
discipline(s) of the food and agricultural sciences; there are no 
limits on the specific subject matter/emphasis areas to be supported.

Degree Levels Supported

    In FY 1998, proposals may be directed to the undergraduate or 
graduate level of study leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree in 
the food and agricultural sciences.

Proposal Submission Limitations

    In FY 1998, there is no limit on the number of proposals an 
eligible institution may submit. However, there are funding limitations 
in FY 1998 that will affect the number of awards eligible institutions 
and individuals may receive. Therefore, institutions are encouraged to 
establish on-campus quality control panels to ensure that only high 
quality proposals having the greatest potential for improving academic 
and research programs are submitted for consideration. Eligible 
institutions may submit grant applications for either category of 
grants (teaching or research); however, each application must be 
limited to either a teaching project grant proposal or a research 
project grant proposal.

Maximum Grant Size

    In FY 1998, the following limitations apply: A teaching proposal 
may request a grant for up to $200,000. A research proposal may request 
a grant for up to $300,000.

    Note: These maximums are for the duration of the project, not 
per year.

[[Page 50439]]

Project Duration

    A regular, complementary, or joint project proposal may request 
funding for a period of eighteen months to three-years duration.

Funding Limitations per Institution

    In FY 1998, the following two limitations will apply to the 
institutional maximum: (1) No institution may receive more than four 
grants, and (2) no institution may receive more than 10 percent of the 
total funds available for grant awards (approximately $880,000).
    For a Joint Project Proposal (submitted by an eligible institution 
and involving two or more other colleges or universities assuming major 
roles in the conduct of the project), only that portion of the award to 
be retained by the grantee will be counted against the grantee's 
institutional maximum. Those funds to be transferred to the other 
colleges and universities participating in the joint project will not 
be applied toward the maximum funds allowed the grantee institution. 
However, if any of the other colleges and universities participating in 
the joint project are 1890 Institutions or Tuskegee University, the 
amount transferred from the grantee institution to such institutions 
will be counted toward their institutional maximums. For Complementary 
Project Proposals, only those funds to be retained by the grantee 
institution will be counted against the grantee's institutional 
maximum.

Funding Limitation per Individual

    In FY 1998, the maximum number of new awards that an individual 
(Project Director or Principal Investigator) may receive is two grants. 
This restriction does not apply to joint projects.

Funding Limitation per Targeted Need Area

    In FY 1998, the maximum number of new awards that an individual may 
receive in a given fiscal year, in any one targeted need area, that 
focuses on a single subject matter area or discipline, is one grant. 
This restriction would not apply to proposals that address multiple 
targeted need areas and/or multiple subject matter areas.

Matching Funds

    The Department strongly encourages non-Federal matching support for 
the program. For FY 1998, the following incentive is offered to 
applicants for committing their own institutional resources or securing 
third-party contributions in support of capacity building projects:
    Tie Breaker--The amount of cash and non-cash matching support for 
each proposal, will be used as the primary criterion to break any ties 
(cases where proposals are equally rated in merit) resulting from the 
proposal review process conducted by the peer review panels. A grant 
awarded on this basis will contain language requiring such matching 
commitments as a condition of the grant.

    Please Note: Proposals must include written verification from 
the donor(s) of any actual commitments of matching support 
(including both cash and non-cash contributions) derived from the 
university community, business and industry, professional societies, 
the States, or other non-Federal sources.

    The cash contributions towards matching from the institution should 
be identified in the column ``Applicant Contributions to Matching 
Funds'' of the Higher Education Budget, Form CSREES-713. The cash 
contributions of the institution and third parties as well as non-cash 
contributions should be identified on Line N., as appropriate, of Form 
CSREES-713.

Evaluation Criteria

    The evaluation criteria as provided in the Administrative 
Provisions, 7 CFR part 3406, will be used to evaluate proposals for the 
FY 1998 competition.

Program Application Materials

    An Application Kit containing program application materials will be 
made available to eligible institutions upon request. These materials 
include the Administrative Provisions, forms, instructions, and other 
relevant information needed to prepare and submit grant applications. 
Copies of the Application Kit may be requested from the 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. The telephone number is (202) 401-5048. 
When contacting the Proposal Services Unit, please indicate that you 
are requesting forms for the FY 1998 1890 Institution Capacity Building 
Grants Program.
    Application materials may also be requested via Internet by sending 
a message with your name, mailing address (not e-mail) and telephone 
number to [email protected] that states that you wish to receive a copy 
of the application materials for the FY 1998 1890 Institution Capacity 
Building Grants Program. The materials will then be mailed to you (not 
e-mailed) as quickly as possible.

When and Where to Submit Proposals

    An original and seven (7) copies of a proposal must be submitted. 
Each copy of the proposal must be stapled securely in the upper left-
hand corner (DO NOT BIND). All copies of the proposal must be submitted 
in one package. Proposals submitted through the mail must be received 
on or before January 26, 1998. Proposals submitted through the U.S. 
mail should be sent to the following address: 1890 Institution Capacity 
Building Grants Program; c/o 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. The 
telephone number is (202) 401-5048. Hand-delivered proposals (brought 
in person by the applicant or through a courier service) must be 
received on or before January 26, 1998 at the following address: 1890 
Institution Capacity Building Grants Program; c/o 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. Proposals transmitted via a facsimile 
(fax) machine will not be accepted.
    Note that in FY 1998, Form CSREES-711, ``Intent to Submit a 
Proposal,'' is not requested nor required for the 1890 Institution 
Capacity Building Grants Program.

Program Contacts

    The 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants Program is managed by 
the CSREES Higher Education Programs. For further information 
concerning the FY 1998 program, contact Mr. Richard Hood, National 
Program Leader, Higher Education Programs, CSREES, USDA, at (202) 720-
1973; or via the Internet: [email protected]. Dr. McKinley Mayes, 1890 
College Program Coordinator, CSREES, USDA is also available to assist 
you. He can be reached at (202) 720-3511; or via the Internet: 
[email protected].

    Done at Washington, D.C., this 19th day of September 1997.
Colien Hefferan,
Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25408 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P