[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 104 (Monday, June 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14323]



[[Page 29899]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part XIII





Department of Agriculture





_______________________________________________________________________



Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 1999; 
Request for Proposals; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 104 / Monday, June 1, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 29900]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program for Fiscal Year 
1999; Request for Proposals

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of program solicitation and request for 
proposals for fiscal year 1999 Small Business Innovation Research 
Grants Program.

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

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 the 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 3, 
1998. 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 3, 1998, will be accepted provided they are postmarked before 
or on (1) September 2, 1998, if sent by overnight courier; (2) 
September 1, 1998, if sent by two-day priority mail; or (3) August 27, 
1998, if sent by regular first class mail.

ADDRESSES: All proposals must be submitted to the following address: 
Small Business Innovation Research Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; 
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:

Small Business Innovation Research Program; c/o Proposal Services Unit; 
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; 
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 
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 (FY) 1999 is approximately $4,800,000. The 
solicitation is being announced to allow adequate time for potential 
recipients to prepare and submit applications by the closing date of 
September 3, 1998. 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 program is 
subject to the availability of appropriations.
    This program is subject to the provisions found at 7 CFR Part 3402, 
as amended by 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, as amended), Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Non-procurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants) (7 CFR Part 3017), 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 program solicitation, which contains research topic 
descriptions and detailed instructions on how to apply, may be obtained 
by writing or calling the office indicated below. Application materials 
also may be requested via Internet by sending a message with your name, 
mailing address (not e-mail) and telephone number to [email protected] 
which states that you wish to receive a copy of the application 
materials for the FY 1999 Small Business Innovation Research Grants 
Program. The materials will then be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as 
quickly as possible. Please note that applicants who submitted SBIR 
proposals for FY 1998 or who have recently requested placement on the 
list for FY 1999 will automatically receive a copy of the FY 1999 
program solicitation.
    Proposal Services Unit; 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 21st day of May, 1998.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14323 Filed 5-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P