[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 326-329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34784]



[[Page 325]]

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Part VI





Department of Agriculture





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Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service



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National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Fiscal Year 
1999: Amendment of Solicitation of Applications and Request for Input; 
Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 1999 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service


National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Fiscal 
Year 1999: Amendment of Solicitation of Applications and Request for 
Input

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

ACTION: Notice of Amendment of Solicitation of Applications Fiscal Year 
1999 National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program and 
Request for Input.

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SUMMARY: This notice amends the fiscal year (FY) 1999 Solicitation of 
Applications for competitive grant awards in agricultural, forest, and 
related environmental sciences under the National Research Initiative 
(NRI) Competitive Grants Program published at 63 FR 46110, August 28, 
1998. This amendment replaces the estimated amounts of funds available 
in each research program area with the actual amounts available and 
imposes a lower indirect cost ceiling in accordance with subsequent 
legislation. This amendment also adds a new research program area and 
new topics within two previously published research program areas. By 
this notice, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) additionally solicits stakeholder input from any 
interested party regarding the FY 1999 NRI solicitation of applications 
for use in the development of the next request for proposals for this 
program.

DATES: This amendment does not alter the original deadlines for receipt 
of proposals as set forth previously in this solicitation of 
applications as published on August 28, 1998 (63 FR 46110). Proposals 
submitted in response to the amended research topics for animal genome 
and genetic mechanisms and for agricultural systems must be postmarked 
by February 15, 1999. Proposals submitted in response to the new 
research program area Epidemiological Approaches to Food Safety must be 
postmarked by April 5, 1999. Comments regarding this solicitation of 
applications are requested within six months from the issuance of this 
notice. Comments received after that date will be considered to the 
extent practicable.
    For Further Information Contact: USDA/CSREES/NRI, Stop 2241, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-2241. Phone: (202) 401-
5022. E-mail: [email protected]. 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, D.C. 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.

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). This section requires the Secretary to solicit and 
consider input on a current request for proposals from persons who 
conduct or use agricultural research, education, or extension for use 
in formulating the next request for proposals for an agricultural 
research program funded on a competitive basis.
    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,

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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
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 with the available funding:

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     Natural Resources and the Environment ($19,177,982).
     Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health ($14,947,581).
     Plant Systems ($38,255,800).
     Animal Systems ($27,076,707).
     Markets, Trade, and Policy ($4,304,510).
     New Products and Processes ($7,670,370).
    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 ($11.1M) 
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 ($2.2M) of the available funds 
listed above will be made available for equipment grants. Further, no 
less than 30 percent ($33.4M) 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 ($44.6M) of the funds listed above 
shall be made available for grants for mission-linked systems research.
    Pursuant to section 711 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year 1999, (section 101(a) of Pub. L. No. 105-277), CSREES is 
prohibited from paying indirect costs exceeding 14 per centum of the 
total Federal funds provided under each award on competitively awarded 
research grants.
    Research Opportunities: In addition to those published in the 
Federal Register August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES is soliciting 
proposals, for support of high priority research of importance to 
agriculture, forestry, and related environmental sciences, in the 
following Research Program areas:
    Epidemiological Approaches for Food Safety: Deadline date: April 5, 
1999.
    Anticipated Program: Based on availability of funds, CSREES 
anticipates a future NRICGP solicitation of applications for a United 
States Rice Genome Sequencing Project Program, to be jointly 
administered by USDA, the National Science Foundation and Department of 
Energy.
    CSREES is broadening the scope of existing program areas in the 
following manner:
    Animal Genetics and Genome: In addition to topics solicited in the 
Federal Register announcement of August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES 
encourages research proposals on Animal Genome Basic Reagents and 
Tools. Deadline Date remains at February 15, 1999.
    Agricultural Systems: In addition to topics solicited in the 
Federal Register announcement of August 28, 1998, (63 FR 46110) CSREES 
encourages systems research that will impact the small or mid-sized 
producer, land manager or land owner. Deadline date remains at February 
15, 1999.

Application Materials

    The FY 1999 Supplemental 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, D.C. 
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 Supplemental Program Description

    This document is available for supplemental programs or emphasis 
areas offered for the current fiscal year. 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 mailserver 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 for this supplementary Solicitation of 
Applications. 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.

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             Postmarked dates               Program codes                      Program areas
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February 15, 1999........................            43.0  Animal Genome and Genetic Mechanisms.
                                                    100.0  Agricultural Systems.
April 5, 1999............................            31.1  Epidemiological Approaches to Food Safety.
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    Done at Washington, D.C., this 28 day of December 1998.
Colien Hefferan,
Acting Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and 
Extension Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34784 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P