[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 46110-46113] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-23225] [[Page 46109]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service _______________________________________________________________________ Applications for FY 1999 National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program; Notice Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 1998 / Notices [[Page 46110]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Applications for FY 1999 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 1999 National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Applications are invited for competitive grant awards in agricultural, forest, and related environmental sciences under the National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program administered by the Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management Division, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), for fiscal year (FY) 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA/CSREES/NRI, Stop 2241, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-2241. Phone: (202) 401- 5022. E-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents Stakeholder Input Authority and Applicable Regulations Conflicts of Interest Project Types and Eligibility Requirements I. Conventional Projects II. Agricultural Research Enhancement Awards Funding Categories for FY 1999 Research Opportunities Application Materials Materials Available on Internet Electronic Subscription to NRI Documents NRI Deadline Dates Stakeholder Input CSREES is soliciting comments regarding this solicitation of applications from any interested party. These comments will be considered in the development of the next request for proposals for the program. Such comments will be forwarded to the Secretary or his designee for use in meeting the requirements of section 103(c)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-185). Written comments should be submitted by first-class mail to: Office of Extramural Programs; Competitive Research Grants and Awards Management; USDA-CSREES; STOP 2299; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2299, or via e-mail to: [email protected]. In your comments, please include the name of the program and the fiscal year solicitation of applications to which you are responding. Comments are requested within six months from the issuance of the solicitation of applications. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. Authority and Applicable Regulations The authority for this program is contained in 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). Regulations applicable to this program include the following: (a) The regulations governing the NRI, 7 CFR part 3411, which 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; (b) the USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher-Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations, 7 CFR part 3019; (c) the USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations, 7 CFR part 3015; (d) the USDA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, 7 CFR part 3016; and (e) 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 part 3411.12, the academic and administrative autonomy of an institution shall be determined by reference to the January 1998 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 and Eligibility Requirements 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, and that is 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, national laboratory, 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, national laboratory, 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 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, national laboratory, private organization, corporation, or individual; however, further eligibility requirements are defined in 7 CFR part 3411.3(d) and restated in the FY 1999 NRI 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: (a) Postdoctoral Fellowships (b) New Investigator Awards (c) Strengthening Awards: Institutions in USDA EPSCoR entities are eligible for strengthening awards. For FY 1999, USDA EPSCoR states consist of the following: Alaska Arkansas [[Page 46111]] 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 1999, 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 1998 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 1996 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/ sfsucni/start.htm), are as follows: 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 (All Campuses) Massachusetts Institute of Technology Medical College of Wisconsin 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 at 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-Champaign University of Illinois Chicago University of Iowa University of Kansas University of Kentucky (All Campuses) 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 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, New York See the FY 1999 NRI Program Description for complete details on programs and eligibility. Funding Categories for FY 1999 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 1999 funding and ACTUAL FY 1998 funding, rounded to the $0.1M, follows in parentheses):Natural Resources and the Environment (FY99: $16.3M, FY98: $16.3M). Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health (FY99: $7.4M, FY98: $7.4M). Plant Systems (FY99: $34.4M, FY98: $34.4M). Animal Systems (FY99: $22.4M, FY98: $22.4M). Markets, Trade, and Policy (FY99: $3.6M, FY98: $3.6M). New Products and Processes (FY99: $6.3M, FY98: $6.3M). Support for research opportunities 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. Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(10), no less than 10 percent (FY99: $9.0M, FY98: $9.0M) 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 (FY99: $1.8M, FY98: $1.8M) of the available funds listed above will be made available for equipment grants. Further, no less than 30 percent (FY99: $27.2M, FY98: $27.2M) 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 (FY99: $36.3M, FY98: $36.3M) of the funds listed above shall be made available for grants for mission-linked systems research. CSREES is prohibited from paying indirect costs exceeding 19 per centum of the total Federal funds provided under each award on competitively awarded research grants (7 U.S.C. 3310). However, it is expected that Congress, in the Agriculture, Rural Development, [[Page 46112]] Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, will prohibit CSREES from using the funds available for the NRI for FY 1999 to pay indirect costs exceeding 14 per centum of the total Federal funds provided under each award on competitively awarded research grants. It is expected that Congress, in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, 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. Research Opportunities 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 Ecosystem Science Soils and Soil Biology Water Resources Assessment and Protection NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, AND HEALTH Improving Human Nutrition for Optimal Health Food Safety ANIMALS Animal Reproductive Efficiency Animal Growth, Development, and Nutrient Utilization Animal Genome and Genetic Mechanisms 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 FY 1999 NRI Program Description, which contains research topic descriptions, and the NRI Application Kit, which contains detailed instructions on how to apply and the requisite forms, are available on the NRI home page, www.reeusda.gov/nri. Paper copies of these application materials may be obtained by sending an e-mail with your name, complete mailing address (not e-mail address), phone number, and materials that you are requesting to [email protected]. Materials will be mailed to you (not e-mailed) as quickly as possible. Alternatively, paper copies may be obtained by writing or calling the office indicated below. Proposal Services Unit, 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 Materials Available on Internet The following are among the materials available on the NRI home page (www.reeusda.gov/nri). NRI Program Description This document is available for the current fiscal year, and describes all of the NRI funding programs. To apply for a grant, it is also necessary to obtain the NRI Application Kit. NRI Application Kit This document contains guidelines for proposal preparation and the requisite forms. NRI 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. NRI Annual Report The NRI 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 NRI. Electronic Subscription to NRI Documents The NRI 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 NRI home page. 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. NRI Deadline Dates The following fixed dates have been established for proposal submission deadlines within the NRI. 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 NRI solicitation in the Federal Register, the NRI Program Description, or the NRI home page (www.reeusda.gov/nri) for up-to-date information. [[Page 46113]] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Program Postmarked dates codes Program areas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 15..................................... 22.1 Plant Responses to the Environment. 23.0 Ecosystem Science. 25.0 Soils and Soil Biology. 26.0 Water Resources Assessment and Protection. 31.0 Improving 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 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 Genome and Genetic Mechanisms. 54.2 Nitrogen Fixation/Nitrogen Metabolism. 80.1 Research Career Enhancement Awards. 80.2 Equipment Grants. 80.3 Seed Grants. 100.0 Agricultural Systems Research. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: Starting in fiscal year 2000, the submission deadline for the Agricultural Systems (100.0), the Research Career Enhancement Awards (Sabbatical Awards)(80.1), the Equipment Grants (80.2), and the Seed Grants (80.3) programs will be November 15. Done at Washington, DC, this 21st day of August 1998. Colien Hefferan, Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. [FR Doc. 98-23225 Filed 8-27-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-22-P